Mike Hein: Yesterday's Hero-Tomorrows Villain!

February 2011, County Executive Mike Hein reported victory in his battle to curtail turbid water dumping into the Lower Esopus by NYC Dept of Environmental Protection. While the news is received as positive, (the water quality of the Lower Esopus's chocolate brown and full of sediment and impurities as a direct result of the dumping), the situation that now exists is more alarming. Ashokan Reservoir levels have been at 100% since the NYC DEP stopped releasing excess water, with the return of warm weather and spring thaw, the excess water run off into the Lower Esopus has and will continue to cause flooding along it's length. This weekend will tell the tale, heavy rain and snow combined with an above average spring thaw will certainly complicate an already serious situation. With no further water releases planned by the NYC DEP, water levels will surge above flood levels. Will residents think of Executive Hein as hero or villain?

Biddy Basketball Championship

Just in time for the beginning of the Ulster Little League Baseball, the Ulster Biddy Basketball season ended at Miller Middle School tonight. The final game (league championship), between Binnewater & Adam's Fairacre Farms went down to the wire. With less than a minute to play and Binnewater ahead by 2 points 60-58 and both teams in bonus 1 and 1's, it was enough for the hard playing Adam's team to force fouls shots. Binnewater, led by Tyler Robinson was up to the task as he made all but one of his free throws to widen the gap to 5 points by games end. Congratulations to Binnewater and Coach Robinson with but one loss on the season, (a loss to Adams). All the coaches and players are to be congratulated for a successful season.

Open Forum, Your Questions Answered..............

With the Local Election Cycle on the horizon, Ulster is Your Town Too is opening the comment section of this blog up for questions, suggestions and grievances town residents might have for our current Board members and Town Supervisor Jim Quigley.
While it is true that Supervisor Quigley has made himself available to residents at Town Hall during business hours as well as weekends and evenings at his office and at coffee clutches around town, there remain many residents who have not had the opportunity to discuss issues regarding Town policy.

Friends and Neighbors, for the next 28 days the floor is yours, we are confident your issues will be addressed, with one caveat, 'Please keep it clean'!

Recreation Dept...Another Town Success Story!

I realize that the Posts have been few and far between, that's a good thing. With not much going on locally..........politically speaking anyway, there is not much to report out of the ordinary.

The mining operation in Eddyville was handled by the administration efficiently and to the satifaction of town residents, the Open House Saturdays was so well utilized that Supervisor Quigley continues to make himself available for the convenience of the residents.

All in all, the Biddy Basketball league is winding down, playoffs begin March 22nd, Kudos to Jeff Hayner and Eric Kitchen, (all the coaches and kids included), they did a great job making the Recreation Department the success it has become. Saturday was the last sign up for T of U Little League, tryouts are this Wed. March 9th, good luck to all the boys and girls, I'm sure the season will produce a few future High School All Stars.

With the snow finally melting Spring 2011 can't be far behind, just a few short weeks and the planting season will be in full swing.