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Let it OUT

Posted by mcintyrej | 07/16/08

Something has changed on Spotlightnews.com.

It seems that all of you have found a forum for your comments. Teachers in Guilderland, New Laws in Bethlehem and anything related to government in Colonie are the hot topics at Spotlightnews.com.

We welcome your comments and debates. A community portal needs to provide space for YOUR voice, not just ours. New sites are popping up everywhere for you to comment, but we provide it at home.

To comment just click the link on the bottom of any of our postings including blogs. To see what a real community portal can provide see the latest from Guilderland here:

http://spotlightnews.com/247/article.php?article_id=tB1216044208t487b5cb0aae76

Thank you for your comments...

CATEGORY: News & Media

TAGS: comments guilderland bethlehem colonie spotlightnews.com

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The Definition of Communty

Posted by mcintyrej | 06/02/08

Have you ever looked for a definition of a community event?

We have some great ones here.

They do not have fancy name, at least not that often, but they are worth a lot in our hometown.

These are the events that more people march or take part in, than actually line the street to watch. These are not money-making events with celebrity participants. Heck no. It is about you.

Think about it. Where can you see all your neighbors in one place. Not Walmart, Not the local Home Depot they are too big and not always in town. The old General Store/Post Office disappeared long ago and very few events draw out most of the town...

CATEGORY: General Society

TAGS: Burnt Hills, Charlton, Niskaday, Delmar Dash, Flag Day, Founder's Day, Community

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The next big solution to Sex Offenders

Posted by mcintyrej | 05/21/08

I don't know about you, but I think this Sex Offender stuff is really getting stupid.

Last week we have new legislation that forces convicted and listed offenders to turn over their screen names and email addresses to authorities to reduce the risk to our children. Sounds great for a press release or a re-election slogan.

"I stopped the offenders from reaching your children and you should vote for me."

Ask Ed Kosiur how that worked out. The wanted-to-be-assemblyman sponsored another bit of useless legislation in Schenectady County which was to limit Sex Offenders from living within 2000 feet of where children frequent (schools, parks, etc.) The problem was that you can't live in many places in Schenectady County outside that scope...

CATEGORY: Government

TAGS: Sex Offenders law New York State

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Missing the Mayor

Posted by mcintyrej | 05/08/08

“Ok Joe, you need to help me with this,” he said referring to my youngest son Joseph,8.

“Really,” Joseph perked up from the chair he was slouching in.

“Yeah you. What, did you think that I would let your father help me do this? No way, he’ll just screw it up,” he replied to Joseph and shot me a wink.

Joseph bounced to attention and grabbed the cordless drill. Through careful coaching Mitch and Joseph put together the box, screw by screw, until it was whole. I just helped a bit with steadying the cordless drill.

“Nope, Joe this has to be straight” Or “Put a bit more pressure on the end, like this,” Mitch said softly while showing him the way...

CATEGORY: General Society

TAGS: Draina Mayor

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The Big DUH

Posted by mcintyrej | 05/01/08

Ok someone in government is brilliant.

Not because we now know we can save taxpayer money by combining services, consolidating taxing districts or just plain eliminating entire local governments altogether, but rather the fact that someone in government said it.

Gov. Patterson says it will save a billion or two by having less than 10,000 governmental bodies we have in this state.

DUH.

Brief History Moment: Subject - New York

In the New England states, local governmental entities are controlled by town form of government. No separate School taxes. No Villages. No Counties (except for sheriff for serving warrants). Water systems, Sewer, and Libraries are all part of the Town. The States fund education...

CATEGORY: Government

TAGS: New York State Government Consolidation

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Thank god I did not do this

Posted by mcintyrej | 04/28/08

A friend sent me an email this week with a link to Rick Reilly's blog from SI. I think back to my experiences as a reported and photographer and think.....At least this wasn't me.
This is from 1999, but I did not see it before now.
If you have flown on a military plane, you know what he was feeling.

Here is the link:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn...

CATEGORY: News & Media

TAGS: Reilly f-14 flying 109th

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A BLODdy Mess

Posted by mcintyrej | 04/25/08

What Is going on in Ballston?

A BLOD? The letters are short for Ballston Lake Overlay District and it really stands for more restrictions on people who live in Ballston.
For those lake residents who live in Clifton Park, don't worry you are not part of this mess eventhough you have most of the industrial runnoff on your side of the lake. Can you say Junk Yard. This won't do much for that.

I had the opportunity to attend the public meeting on this topic on Tuesday. I was surprised that so little information about this project hit the street until about two weeks ago. I guess a public hearing to see what people in the town would want wasn't in the cards. Only certain people were on the inside. Political BLOD is thicker than water...

CATEGORY: Environment

TAGS: Ballston Lake Overlay District BLOD NY Spotlightnews.com Spotlight Newspapers Burnt Hills

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