Thursday, January 29, 2015

The SASS draft report will be released in the month of February



The following letter to the editor was published in the latest edition of the Thousand Islands Sun


To the Editor

Regarding the efforts of municipalities along the river to obtain a designation of Scenic Area of Statewide Significance for the Thousand Islands region, it is important to note that both the Town of Hammond and the Town of Orleans have joined the Town of Alexandria in demonstrating a willingness to withhold judgment regarding the SASS project until all information gathered by the state contractor is processed into a draft report.

This report will be released in the month of February. Subsequent to that there will be a public hearing in April for additional public input regarding the draft report, after which the draft will be revised and made final. At that time, the participating municipalities will be asked to decide whether they wish to participate in the SASS designation or not.

As members of the Steering Committee, it is appropriate to thank the Town of Orleans and the Town of Hammond, and once again the Town of Alexandria, for recognizing their obligation to their constituents as board members to collect and examine all information relevant to the proposed SASS designation. Failure to participate in this process of information gathering - or even withdrawing from the process – is a disservice to their constituents.

As taxpayers and voters in this region, we are pleased and grateful that local elected officials are choosing to look after the best interests of their entire community.

SASS Steering Committee
c/o Clif Schneider
47243 Wood Cliff Dr.
Wellesley Is., NY 13640

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Thousand Islands Regional Assessment Project: Developing Scenic Areas of Statewide Significance

 The Division of Coastal Resources seeks to “achieve a balance between economic development and preservation that will permit the beneficial use of coastal resources while preventing the loss of living marine resources and wildlife, diminution of open space areas or public access to the waterfront, shoreline erosion, impairment of scenic beauty, or permanent damage to ecological systems.”
~~~
Towns, villages, businesses and interest groups in the Thousand Islands have decided to partner with the New York Department of State’s Coastal Management Program (DOS) to evaluate, promote and protect the region’s unique business, tourism and scenic resources. The spectacular scenery of the Thousand Islands is central to our quality of life, many of our businesses and to our economy. Managing and protecting this resource for future generations and promoting the economy of the region is a central goal of the project, called the “Thousand Islands Regional Assessment Project (TIRAP)”.
The goals of the project include:
  • Increase recognition of the Thousand Islands area in order to attract visitors
  • Improve opportunities for grants related to economic development, natural and scenic resource protection
  • Identify scenic landscapes using state standards and local input
  • Involve community members in identifying important areas
  • Protect coastal scenic resources that are important to the communities

 TIRAP REPORT

Friday, January 16, 2015

Town of Alexandria’s residents well served

Whenever local municipal boards have to make decisions that have town or regional consequences, it is incumbent upon them to have as much accurate information about the issue at hand as possible. There is an effort two years in the making to have the Thousand Islands region designated as a Scenic Area of Statewide Significance. ~  Continue...

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Clarifying The Thousand Islands SASS Timeline

 January 15,2015
At tonight's Town of Orleans Town Board Meeting Supervisor Kevin Rarick stated that he had spoken to Stephen Ridler from the Department Of State about some of the concerns that have been heard about SASS.

Below is an email from Mr.Ridler that addresses those concerns.



Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Survey: infrastructure investment in Great Lakes shipping reaches several billion dollars

A survey on infrastructure investment has revealed billions of public and private American and Canadian dollars are being spent across the Great Lakes. ~ Watertown Daily Times

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Everything you ever wanted to know about SASS :but were afraid to ask

What is the SASS Project

Towns, villages, businesses and interest groups in the Thousand Islands have decided to partner with the New York Department of State’s Coastal Management Program (DOS) to evaluate, promote and protect the region’s unique business, tourism and scenic resources. The spectacular scenery of the Thousand Islands is central to our quality of life, many of our businesses and to our economy. Managing and protecting this resource for future generations and promoting the economy of the region is a central goal of the project, called the “Thousand Islands Regional Assessment Project (TIRAP)”.

Visit Scenic1000islands.com to learn more about the (SASS) project 


Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Utilities terminate Cape Wind power contracts

CAPE WIND FACED a potentially crippling blow Tuesday night as the state’s two largest utilities announced they were terminating their contracts to purchase roughly three-quarters of the power output of the proposed wind farm in Nantucket Sound because of the project’s failure to meet two critical deadlines. 

NStar officials, who released copies of the letter they sent Cape Wind, said the project had failed to complete financing for the wind farm and begin construction by the end of 2014, as required by the power purchase contract. NStar said Cape Wind could have extended the deadlines for two additional six-month periods by paying a deposit of nearly $1.3 million, but chose not to do that. Without the power contracts, it is unlikely Cape Wind would be able to finance and build the 130-turbine project that sought to become America’s first offshore wind farm. 


Utilities terminate Cape Wind power contracts ~ Commonwealth

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

White House Issues Veto Threat Over Keystone Pipeline

WASHINGTON -- The White House issued a veto threat Tuesday for pending legislation intended to force federal approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.
"The fact is this piece of legislation is not altogether different than legislation that was introduced in the last Congress...

White House Issues Veto Threat Over Keystone Pipeline ~ Huffington post

Save lake; protect the wetlands

For more than 50 years, the Moses Saunders Dam on the St. Lawrence River has slowly been killing Lake Ontario.
For half a century, the lake has been cut off from the natural ebb and flow of water that shapes and revitalizes coastal wetlands. And during these five decades, we have allowed one of New York's and the world's great ecological resources to wilt and begin to die.
We can change that today, with a single decision that will revive New York's northern coastlines, restore tens of thousands of acres of vital wetlands that fish, birds and other animals depend on, protect our water supply, enhance boating, hunting, fishing and birding, provide more clean and cheap energy, and create jobs.

Save lake; protect the wetlands ~ TimesUnion.com


Monday, January 5, 2015

When One Year Equals Two Weeks

By the time you read this, the production tax credit (PTC) will have already expired – again. That’s because the PTC – part of an extenders package that President Obama was expected to sign into law as of press time – was made retroactive to the beginning of 2014. In real terms, though, the so-called one-year extension allows wind developers about two weeks to make wind projects eligible for the PTC. Yes, two weeks – that’s barely enough time to shop for a smartphone, let alone qualify a wind project.


Link here to read entire article


Related story ~ Congress hands U.S.Wind Industry 'Worthless'Bill

Sunday, January 4, 2015

State Investigating prison Raffle game at Cape Vincent Correctional Facility

State investigating prison raffle game at NY facility

 


Anyone suspected of running an unlicensed game of chance could be charged with a misdemeanor under Article 225 of state Penal Law. While there are several criminal charges that could apply, the most likely is promoting gambling in the second degree, charged when someone “knowingly advances or profits from unlawful gambling activity.”


By Craig Fox
Watertown Daily Times
CAPE VINCENT — The state Inspector General’s office is investigating whether a progressive raffle game called the Queen of Hearts was operated illegally at the Cape Vincent Correctional Facility for nearly a year starting in the spring of 2012.
William P. Reynolds, a spokesman for the Inspector General, has confirmed to the Times that an investigation was launched by the Albany office after a whistleblower at the medium-security state prison filed a complaint early last year.
 Link here to read entire story posted by Corrections online.com

Friday, January 2, 2015

When New York City Police Walk Off the Job

Many members of the New York Police Department are furious at Mayor Bill de Blasio and, by extension, the city that elected him. They have expressed this anger with a solidarity tantrum, repeatedly turning their backs to show their collective contempt. But now they seem to have taken their bitterness to a new and dangerous level — by walking off the job.

When New York City Police Walk Off the Job ~ The New York Times

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo dead at 82

Former Gov. Mario Cuomo, a three-term leader of the state whose eloquence vaulted him to national prominence with a stirring speech at the 1984 Democratic National Convention, died Thursday.

Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo dead at 82~ New York Post

HAPPY NEW YEAR!