Santa Visits The Town of Ulster

As reported on YNN this morning:

The Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa's 'Coming to Town' was enjoyed by an estimated 300 residents, (although the news segment estimated only 100), Sunday Evening around 6:30 at the new Senior Citizens Center at Town Hall.

Santa made it down to the ceremony courtesy of Ulster Hose #5, after all Santa's Sleigh might be capable of flight but taking off and landing without the benefit of snow makes things a bit iffy!

All the children attending were treated to a visit with Santa, (whose lap began to show some wear as the evening progressed), a complement of candy and stuffed animals seemed to satisfy even the most doubtful in the crowd.

Gift requests complete, hot chocolate and apple cider, donuts and cakes were enjoyed by all.

There is something about Small Town USA & Christmas, it's just a little bit special when friends and neighbors can share the Holiday Spirit without worrying about the PC police and Politics.

The Tree lighted and Santa heading back to the North Pole for some last minute details, it's safe to say:

'Merry Christmas to All & to All a Good Night'

Happy Thanksgiving!

The beginning of the holiday season 'is upon us, Thanksgiving and the feast that is sure to unite friends and family from near and far with food and fond memories is just a day or two away.

Enjoy the day, enjoy the Turkey or Ham, (or both), the candied yams, bean casseroles and punk'n pie and if your like me, FOOTBALL!

For the first time I can remember, the Jets will be sharing turkey with their fans. At 8:20 Thanksgiving night the feast begins, and if all goes well, the Bengals will be eating crow around midnight.

In any event I will be taking the week off, I hope you get to do the same.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your's and above all:


MAY GOD SEE TO ALL YOUR NEEDS
THAT YOU MAY, EVEN FOR A DAY,
FORGET ALL YOU WANT!

Biddy Basketball.... Basketball Done Right

200 plus kids off and running. Turnout was better than last year and better than expected.
At the end of November the youth of our town will begin their regular season. A planned 14 game, (week), schedule culminating in playoffs and a championship.
The coaches have their teams practicing hard and learning well. Defense, Offense and the rules of the game are being taught to boys and girls 6-14 years old. Many of them, having so much fun I doubt they realize what they have learned.
In the midst of budget cuts, election battles and the uncertanity of the economy, it's refreshing to see so many young men and women offer their time and talent to the youth of our town.
Kudos Town of Ulster, it is really all about the kids!

November 11th, Veteran's Day!

If you do nothing else today, thank a veteran for their sacrifice: WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Desert Storm, (the 1st Iraq War), Bosnia, Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan. Some served because of the Selective Service Act, (the Draft), many more volunteered, all for the freedom and liberty of strangers in far off lands.
American's, at times, tend to take liberty for granted. It's easy to do when you've enjoyed it for your entire life. There were times when freedom was in jeopardy after the Revolutionary War, the Nation was threatened by great Britian, the result: the War of 1812. In this century, WWI & WWII, if not for our military, the American landscape, indeed the landscape of the entire world, would be very different today, maybe even unrecognizable.
The American Military, more so the American Veteran has over our history insured and protected our way of life, although there are some that would detract from their sacrifice, they can do so because of their sacrifice.
They have given up so much, the horrors of war do not end for them when peace is won, the scars they endure, physical as well as psycological, remain with them forever. Most can assimilate into civilian life, many more will struggle with their experience for the rest of their lives. They fought and even died not because they are violent men, they did so often to protect what they valued most, 'freedom, family and country' and more often for strangers they did not know.
Black, white, Red, yellow and Brown, on the battlefield, the color of their skin meant little, their common goal and the color of their blood erased predjudices and fears and united them as the most formidable force the world has ever known.
Thank You, American Veteran, Soldier, Sailor, Flyer and Marine, Thank You!

Results In-No Change Here!

To go through the names of the winners and losers at this point is unnecessary, except for one or two races still too close to call, Incumbency is the word of the day.
Challenges in all State and most County races fell short, in many instances by a much larger margin than expected.
Local winners including Kevin Cahill, Eliot Auerbach and sheriff Van Blarcum secured victory early on. Maurice Hinchey also won by a wider margin than expected. A testament to heavy Democrat turnout opposed to Carl Paladino or, if you like pro Andrew Coumo.
The State Assembly is as dysfunctional today as it was before the election, we can expect more of the same for the next 2 years, good, bad or indifferent.
The State Senate on the other hand is still a question, with the balance of power within one or two senate seats it may take another day or two to unravel the mystery, don't hold your breath!
All in all the Tea Party wave didn't crest until it reached the Pennsylvania border where upsets spread throughout the state. This wave tore across the Politacl Landscape turning many solid blue states like Ohio and West Virgina to solid red or a peculiar shade of purple, it began to lose strength as it reached Colorado and Nevada and finally trickled up to California with little or no strength left.
Are New Yorker's truly satisfied with the establishment of Albany or are they so apathetic that helplessness and hopelessness took hold early in the election cycle?
The answer might be found in election result from the State of California where Senator Barbara Boxer defeated businesswoman Carly Fiorino handily and Meg Whitman fell prey to former California Governor Jerry Brown. It seems that $138 Billion State deficit wasn't enough to force a change of course in this once great State. Can New York be far behind? The East and West Coasts of the Nation vote quite differently than the rest of the Nation, could the tipping point of entitlements have been reached? Taxpayers beware!
Although a little patch of red, (symbol of the GOP), finally appeared in the New England area of the political map, the real surprises are the changes taking hold in Illinois, the State once known for it's dirty politics, (Politics, Chicago Style), recently demonstrated by disgraced Governor Blagoivitch and his attempt to auction the President's Senate seat to anyone with a dime, that Senate seat will not go to the failed banker, Giannoulis. It seems, unlike New York and California, Chicagoans have had enough.
To those of you hoping for a new face on the United States Senate, my condolences, it seems the ground machine, (big Unions), of Senate Majority leader Harry Reid has denied you the crown jewel of the Mid-term elections.
Congratulations to the winners and losers, it has been a tough campaign season, sometimes a dirty one but with so much at stake hard fought by both sides.

Is Today the Day?

After my voting visit to the polls this morning the workers voiced a unanimous opinion, "Turnout is UNUSUALLY HIGH"!
A sure sign that midterms do count.
The high turnout, if true is surely due to the state of the Nation and support for or upset with the 'status quo' in Washington. Will this have any effect on the results of State and Local Races as more voters take to the polls?
Only time will tell.

It has been this blogs intent to pose a question or celebrate a local event or sometimes report on local news and let the thread go where it will without censorship. I would like to thank the majority of comments for their sense of ethics while voicing their opinions, I understand that there are times when the choice between profanity and civility cannot escape passion and emotion and so these less than desirable comments have not been censored.
A healthy debate can make our subtle differencs seem irreconcilable or show both sides that the really improtant things in life are shared by all Americans, more so by most Ulstonians, a good job, a good education and a healthy family. I know quite a few people across this great Nation who wnat no more or no less.