I have written about former Amsterdamian Stephen Haven’s memoir about growing up in Amsterdam. Now Amsterdam resident, Bob Going, has written a murder mystery, The Evil Has Landed. Another former Amsterdamian is at work on a murder mystery based on a murder that took place in Amsterdam in the 1930s. I will post more details when the book is available.

Lester Freeman withdrew from New York State’s 2st Congressional District Race and endorsed fellow Congressional candidate Paul Tonko today at a joint news conference. Tonko and Freeman met with seniors at Townsend Park Apartments in Albany to discuss Medicare, prescription drugs, affordable housing and other issues facing the residents of the 21st Congressional District.

“Lester has brought a much needed voice to this race,” said Paul Tonko. “While I am disappointed to see him leaving so soon, I am confident that he will play a role in the ongoing discussion between the candidates and the voters.

“Since working on his first mayoral campaign in 1993, Lester has been a tireless advocate for Albany and a role model to others. Having run spirited campaigns for both City Council and County Legislature throughout the past decade and currently serving as the Coordinator of the Equal Employment Opportunity program in the City of Albany, Lester has a well documented record of public service.”

“Paul has effectively represented inner-city neighborhoods such as Hamilton Hill in Schenectady,” said Lester Freeman. “For this reason, I feel that Paul is the most qualified to represent urban areas throughout the 21st Congressional District and will do so with a passion that I feel is necessary.”

Paul Tonko is the former President and CEO of NYSERDA and served in the New York State Assembly from 1983 to 2007.

I watched Objective Burma the other night, a highly rated World War 2 film starring Errol Flynn. I had seen it years ago, but I had forgotten this scene in which a conversation takes place between a soldier from Schenectady and a reporter who is accompanying the unit on a raid into Burma.

If you could be someplace else right now,
Charlie, where would it be?

I don’t know. A football game.
How about you?

If I had my choice
I’d be sitting on a nice, soft stool…
in the National Press Club in Washington, D. C…
surrounding a tall, cold bourbon and soda.

What? I didn’t know newspapermen drank.

How about you?

A place you probably never heard of.
Cannonball Island in Central Park.

Really? New York?

Yeah, Schenectady, New York.
They have a central park, too,
with this island in the middle.
Sort of take your girl there
if you’re real friendly.

Sounds all right.
I have a lot of friends in Schenectady.

- No kidding.

Yeah. My column is syndicated there,
The Gazette. Your folks live there?

My father has a grocery store
on Crane Street, by the locomotive works.

Really? Where’d you go to school?

- Union College.
I’m supposed to be a schoolteacher.
After the war I have an appointment.
History teacher in Pleasant Valley High School.

That’s fine. Your folks will get
quite a kick out of reading about you.

You mean all that stuff
will be in the Schenectady paper?

Sure. You don’t mind, do you?

Heck no.
What do you know.
It’s a small world, isn’t it?

Yes, and it’s getting smaller.
If only more folks back home would realize…
Crane Street, Schenectady
runs all the way to Burma…
this would be the last war.

-Amen.

One of the screenwriters for Objective Burma was Ranald MacDougall, who was born in Schenectady.

All of these yearbooks are in very good condition. Price is $25 each, postage included, anywhere in the United States. New York State residents must add $2.00 sales tax for a total of $27. If you are interested in purchasing any of these contact me at info at thebookhound dot net, or leave a comment here. (I will respond to your comment personally, but will not post your comment or e-mail address.)

Discounts available if you order two or more books.

All are hard cover unless followed by (pb).

Amsterdam High School Yearbooks. The Senior

Years available: 1936 (pb), 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944(SOLD), 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1965.

Clara S. Bacon Elementary School 1979-1980. (pb)

Canajoharie. Black & Gold. 1965, 1968.

Fort Plain Portrait. 1968.

Fulton-Montgomery Community College. The Lamplighter. 1970.

Fultonville. 1937, 1948.

Gloversville High School. The Oracle.

Years available: 1950 (pb), 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957.

Johnstown High School. The Baronet.

1969 (One corner of front cover chipped off.), 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977.

Northville Central School. Falcon.

1992, 1993.

Oneonta High School. O. H. S. Annual.

1939, 1940.

There is no doubt that we have activist judges in many of our courts. Some of them are conservative and some are liberal. But to argue that the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Washington, D.C. vs. Heller was judicial activism is one of the silliest arguments I have ever heard. Yet it is what Carl Strock argued in his Sunday Gazette column, which is not available on the web. He makes the same argument, however, in his blog entry on June 27.

Gun control is a recent development. For the longest time there was no gun control in our country, so how a Supreme Court decision that knocks down a gun ban can be considered judicial activism is beyond me.

Judicial activism occurs when judges make law rather than interpret law. The United States Supreme Court did not create a new law in Washington D.C. vs Heller. The court interpreted law and said that the Washington D.C. handgun ban was unconstitutional.

Anyway, here are some quotes from Thomas Jefferson on guns and the right to bear arms. They are an excellent antidote to Strock’s column.

The Right to Bear Arms

In a nation governed by the people themselves, the possession of arms to defend their nation against usurpers within and without was deemed absolutely necessary. This right is protected by the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. A gun was an everyday implement in early American society, and Jefferson recommended its use. “A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun, therefore, be the constant companion of your walks.” –Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 1785. ME 5:85, Papers 8:407

“The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that… it is their right and duty to be at all times armed.” –Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824. ME 16:45
“One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.” –Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1796. ME 9:341

“I learn with great concern that [one] portion of our frontier so interesting, so important, and so exposed, should be so entirely unprovided with common fire-arms. I did not suppose any part of the United States so destitute of what is considered as among the first necessaries of a farm-house.” –Thomas Jefferson to Jacob J. Brown, 1808. ME 11:432

“No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms (within his own lands or tenements).” –Thomas Jefferson: Draft Virginia Constitution (with his note added), 1776. Papers 1:353

“None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army. To keep ours armed and disciplined is therefore at all times important.” –Thomas Jefferson to —–, 1803. ME 10:365

These quotes were not obtained from a pro gun group, but from the University of Virginia.

Village of Canajoharie officials made the right move in threatening to file a lawsuit over Beech-Nut’s move to the Town of Florida from the Village of Canajoharie. Until Canajoharie threatened to file suit, Canajoharie had not received any guarantees in writing that the Village would be compensated for its loss.

Alan Briggs has argued that the move would cost the village $1.9 million. If Montgomery County and New York State can spend more than $100 million to help Beech-Nut move, they can easily provide Canajoharie guarantees of $2 million.

In a letter to State Senator Hugh Farley, Briggs said, “If Beech-Nut were using their own money to finance this move or if NY State and Montgomery County’s $104 million dollars total financial assistance in their move, were legally being expended, this financial loss to the Village would only be our sour grapes.” In other words, since county and state money was used to bring about a financial loss to the Village of Canajoharie, then county and state money must be used to compensate that loss.

I agree totally.

The lawsuit may be a moot point, however. Hugh Farley has come through with a half million dollar grant to help Canajoharie. Maybe George Amedore can come through with more. Until guarantees totally $2 million come through, however, Canajoharie should not shelve the idea of a lawsuit. Maybe the threat of a lawsuit will motivate the county and state to do what they should have already done, and an actual lawsuit won’t be necessary.

And shame on Supervisor Robert McMahon of the Town of Canajoharie for calling for the resignation of the Village of Canajoharie board for threatening the lawsuit. With their backs to the wall, the village has no other choice. If Canajoharie files a lawsuit, it will not be a frivolous one, but a serious one. McMahon should be supporting the Village not knocking it.

McMahon sees the empty factory buildings in Canajoharie as assets and believes they will eventually house new businesses. Maybe. But they may also become liabilities, just as most of the empty factory buildings in Amsterdam have been. The fact that these buildings sit in a flood plain and were damaged by floods two years ago will not help sell them.

Shame also on the Amsterdam Recorder for its negative spin on the lawsuit in yesterday’s paper. The Amsterdam Recorder, which rarely writes an editorial, finally got off of its corporate arse to write an editorial, only to knock the Canajoharie Village board, which is responsibly doing what it is supposed to be doing, protecting the interests of Canajoharie.

Here is a question from a former Amsterdamian. If anyone knows anything about how Brownie’s used to make their meat sauce, please leave a comment here.

“I relocated to North Carolina 20 years ago, and for about just as long I have been trying to duplicate a hot dog meat sauce that used to be served at Brownie’s in Amsterdam. Can you post this question on one of the local bulletin boards up there?”

Joanne C. Davey, 61, died June 26, 2008 at her Henrietta Boulevard home in Amsterdam, New York.

Mrs. Davey is survived by her husband, John T. Davey, Jr., whom she married on June 29, 1968, and their sixteen children: Theresa Pingitore, Christine Stanavich, Tricia Andrews, John Davey, Lisa Hotaling, Kathleen, Joey, Michael, Marie, Kim, Christopher, Meghan, Nicholas, Mandy, Bryan and Ashley Davey.

She is also survived by her brother, Norman Nilsen of New Jersey; and her two sisters, Judy Geiman of Maryland and Jeanne Hall of Michigan; her step-mother, Lillian Nilsen of Virginia. She is also survived by nineteen grandchildren, several nephews, nieces and cousins.

Mrs. Davey was born to Willy and Gertrude Phillips Nilsen in Freeport, Long Island on November 14, 1946. She was a graduate of Merrick High School on Long Island and St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Amsterdam.

Mrs. Davey was an RN and supervisor at St. Mary’s Hospital in Amsterdam, where she worked for forty-one years.

Calling hours are from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 30, 2008, in the chapel of St. Mary’s Church, 156 East Main Street in Amsterdam, where Mrs. Davey was a communicant.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 2008, at St. Mary’s Church. Internment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Fort Johnson, New York.

Memorial contributions in honor of Mrs. Davey can be given to St. Mary’s Church of Amsterdam or to the Joanne C. Davey Nursing Scholarship in care of St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation, 427 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, New York 12010.

Many people come to this blog looking for old photographs of Fulton and Montgomery County villages, cities, buildings, etc. Although we post an old photo on occasion, your best bet for finding them is to check out Fulton-Montgomery Photgraphic Archives. It is the most comprehensive site I know of for old photographs of Gloversville, Amsterdam, Johnstown and other communities in the two counties. There are photos of people and places. Some photos can also be found on the Library of Congress website.

Click here for an obituary of Joanne Davey.

Frankly, Tim Russert’s death did not move me. Indeed, most deaths of famous people don’t move me.

But every so often the death of a person, not really known outside of our community, will move me.

Such was the case when I heard yesterday that Joanne Davey of Amsterdam had died at home.

Joanne is best known around Amsterdam for the sixteen children she mothered as well as working as a nurse.

I do not know the Davey family well, except that I have had several conversations with one of Mrs. Davey’s sons who is an assistant principal at Amsterdam High School, usually having to do with my daughter getting into trouble at the high school.

A woman who can bring up that many children without neglecting any one of them has to be a gifted person. I know because I am one of sixteen children, and I can never say enough about the tremendous strength of character that my mother showed in raising us.

Since both the Recorder and the Gazette do not provide obituaries for free on-line, I will write and post a more complete obituary as I obtain more information.

Here is a comment someone left on this blog concerning Mrs. Davey.

We would like to send our condolences out to the Davey family. We are unbelievably saddened by the news.

I have known Joanne and her family for a number of years, and would like to say that she was really one of a kind. She did everything with a sense of passion. She always had a kind word. She was the most genuine person I have ever met and I will miss her very much. The world was a better place because she was in it. There are not enough adjectives to describe this person. I cannot believe I will never see this person again. I would like each of her children and family to know that she was loved by many and we would do anything for you, just ask. I respect your privacy and the need for your family to process this. I just felt the need to say or do something at this time.

God Bless,

Kent, Teresa, Alexis & Breauna

More condolences have been left in the comments section below and some have been left on Facebook as well.

You’ve probably already read or heard about the former Saratoga High School student, Calvin Morrett, who dressed in a penis costume and disrupted the Saratoga High School ceremony. Apparently he forgot to take Viagara before the incident because he kept falling down and was finally arrested.

In an apparently unrelated incident, Paul Tonko, candidate in New York State’s 21st Congressional District race, will speak at Amsterdam High School’s graduation ceremony tormorrow.

Speaking of a man imitating a penis–one local attorney, whose name I won’t mention but who has a child graduating this year, can’t make the Amsterdam High School ceremony because he will be at a casino. Where is Lorena Bobbitt when you need her?

Today the United States’ Supreme Court ruled in District of Columbia, Et Al v. Heller that the people (i.e. individuals), not just the militia have a right to bear arms.

Liberals have been using strict constructionist arguments to try to ban guns, saying that the writers of the Constitution meant only for the militia to have guns, not John and Jane Doe. This was a rather strange argument, since liberals usually argue that the Constitution is a living document that can be freely interpreted. (Update: This is exactly the way the Daily Gazette argues today in its editorial, which was a big disappointment to me as I generally like the Gazette’s editorials.)

California Senator Dianne Feinstein was quoted after the 5-4 decision as saying that “the people of this great country will be less safe because of it.”

Almost all of the discussion around the right to bear arms had to do with a person’s right to defend themselves against criminals. However, the real reason why guns should not be banned is that people may need them to protect themselves against the government.

I believe that the right to bear arms was put into the Constitution because the founders of this country knew all too well that one cannot overthrow a despotic government without weapons.

While I am not, of course, saying that our government needs to be overthrown, nevertheless, I am saying that if the day ever came that it did–as was the case in 1775–it cannot be done without guns.

One of the first things that despotic governments do is to disarm its citizens.

The Declaration of Independence (see below) made it clear that Americans, even after the American Revolution, had the right to revolt if necessary. You cannot have a revolution without the means to carry it out.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security

Paul Tonko is indeed a slick politician. He commissions a poll to see which of the Democratic candidates in New York State’s 21st Congressional District race is in the lead and which one has the most name recognition. He then issues a press release which the media publishes with a few minor changes.

It’s not likely that Tonko was doubtful of the outcome of the poll before he had Global Strategy Group do the research. I wonder if the poll would have been released if the results had been other than expected. Good luck trying to even obtain the raw data from this poll or almost any poll done by Global Strategy Group. And the poll would have more authority in my mind if Global Strategy Group released the poll to the public, rather than Paul Tonko.

What I would like to see is a poll about how Paul Tonko and Jim Buhrmaster would fare against each other if the general election were held now, and they were the two candidates, a definite possibility if not probability.

Anway, here are the first few paragraphs of Paul Tonko’s press release, followed by a press release from Tracey Brooks in response to the poll.

Paul Tonko’s Press Release About The Poll.

Congressional candidate Paul Tonko holds a commanding lead over his Democratic opponents in the primary for the 21st Congressional District according to a poll released today. If the vote were held today, Democrats would choose Paul Tonko with 42% of the vote. Tonko’s closest rival came in at just 14%. Tonko showed strong support in all parts of the District, and was particularly strong in the part of the Congressional district that he used to represent in the Assembly.

“Our poll results are crystal clear: Paul Tonko is the 3-to-1 favorite among Democrats to succeed Mike McNulty,” said Jef Pollock of Global Strategy Group, the firm who conducted the poll. The survey of likely Democratic primary voters also showed an overwhelming lead in name recognition with 64% saying they were familiar with Tonko. His nearest rival’s name was recognized by just 23%.

Tracey Brooks’ Response To Paul Tonko’s Poll.

Statement from Brooks Campaign Spokesman Kyle Kotary:

“It’s not surprising that Paul has high name recognition, after nearly thirty years in politics we’re surprised it’s not higher and while this poll is merely a snapshot months before primary day, it shows Tracey Brooks is one of two frontrunner’s in a pack of ten with twice as much support as the next closest candidate.

We are encouraged that Tracey Brooks has strong support, growing momentum, and a clear message of change that is resonating with the voters as tonight Tracey hosted a telephone town hall meeting with thousands of voters across all seven counties of the District talking about issues like ending the war in Iraq, passing a single payer health plan, protecting a woman’s right to choose and putting an end to out-of-control gas prices. What’s clear is the more voters get to know Tracey the more they like her.”

June 26, 2008 Update–My sources were indeed correct. The Daily Gazette is reporting today that Beech-Nut is preparing to outsource the last of its warehouse jobs.

My sources from within the Beech-Nut Corporation tell me that in spite of its promises to retain all current positions at Beech-Nut and add new jobs, Beech-Nut is quietly letting workers go.

My sources allege that Beech-Nut has reduced its shipping department from 45 to 15 employees by outsourcing shipping and distribution to BUI, a marketing and distribution firm. They further allege that Beech-Nut has cut another six or seven positions by outsourcing office cleaners and exterminator positions.

I was told by one Beech-Nut employee, that senior employees, those with twenty-five years of service or more, are being targeted for layoffs. This is not surprising as Beech-Nut refers to its Canajoharie workers as “an aging workforce” on its website. Many older employees are frightened, having lived and worked in Canajoharie all of their lives.

I hope my sources are wrong, but they appear to be too close to the action to be wrong. In any event, employees at the Beech-Nut plant in Canajoharie need to be heard by the media, the public and the government. Currently, they claim they have been told they cannot talk to the media. And almost all media coverage on the Beech-Nut move from Canajoharie to the Town of Florida has focused on what Beech-Nut and state and county officials have been saying and doing.

It’s time the workers at Beech-Nut had their say.

I was frankly surprised to see that Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, from New York State’s 20th Congressional District, voted yes on H.R. 6304, FISA Amendments Acts of 2008. Among other things the act gives telecommunications companies immunity from lawsuits when they cooperate with the government to spy on people.

Act Blue raised $1,243 for Gillibrand based solely on attack ads aimed at Gillibrand and other newbie congressmen and women over FISA. These donors ought to ask for their money back. The assumption from the donor page is that Gillibrand opposes FISA.

By the way, Michael McNulty. Democratic Congressman from New York State’s 21st Congressional District, voted no.

A review of all the votes show that the Republican Party may be smaller but it is more united than the Democratic Party. Only one Republican crossed over to voted against this act, while 104 fellow Democrats joined Kirsten Gillibrand to support the act.

The FISA Amendments Act of 2008 has often been called a compromise act. It seems to me that what it compromises most are the constitutional rights of American citizens.

Since I am too busy to blog today, I hope you will check out my other blog, if you haven’t already.

If you look at the energy plans of candidates running for New York State’s 21st Congressional District, you will have a hard time finding one more comprehensive than Jim Buhrmaster’s. What I like about Buhrmaster is that he states that both Republicans and Democrats need to give a little if the current energy crisis is going to be resolved.

Here is the overview of his plan.

The decisions we make today on energy policy will have lasting affects on our economy and our national security. Indeed, how we deal with energy and our environment will define our time.

For decades we have known that our energy needs would grow; greenhouse gas emissions endanger our environment; and that our massive dependence on foreign oil threatens the safety of every American. Yet when compared to the advancements we have made in other areas over the last forty years, our energy program is in the Dark Ages.

This has happened not because of a lack of ideas or creativity. It happened largely because of politicians in Washington, D.C. who don’t want to make tough decisions. Just like many other critical issues, energy is a victim of partisan gridlock. It is also worth noting that we as citizens haven’t been sufficiently motivated by this issue to demand that real solutions be found.

It is important to recognize that the price of a barrel of oil is greatly influenced by a variety of factors including:

• New demand from emerging economies, particularly China and India;

• Political instability in regions of the world besides the Middle East, like Nigeria and Venezuela;

• And, the steady erosion of the dollar.

This last cause deserves far more attention that it has been given. As the Federal Reserve has steadily lowered interest rates to deal with economic issues here at home, these policies have contributed significantly to an increase in commodity prices, especially for oil. In fact, had the dollar maintained its value relative to the euro since 2002, that $130 barrel of oil would instead be in the range of $75 to $80. We all need to recognize that the Federal Reserve is in charge of monetary policy, and hopefully their policies will take cognizance of the impact a weak dollar is having on energy costs.

From a public policy standpoint, there is still much more for us to do. In the simplest of terms:

• Republicans need to get on board with the development of alternative energies;

• Democrats need to accept the fact that we must increase domestic oil exploration and
production;

• And all Americans need to do more to conserve energy.

Read Jim Buhrmaster’s comprehensive energy plan.

Some of what Buhrmaster proposes will be controversial. He wants to see development of clean coal.

Probably no one knows more about energy than Jim Buhrmaster, unless it is Paul Tonko, former head of New York State Energy and Research Development Authority.

Our next post in this series will be about Paul Tonko’s energy plan.

You may have missed this in last Friday’s Times-Union. Calling Paul Tonko web-challenged, the anonymous writer of this article went on to say,

“Since then, the campaign has seemed somewhat disorganized — and tripped in what is arguably the fastest-growing campaign medium: the Internet. It has provided the public the name and phone number of only one person, Sean Shortell. But Shortell said Thursday he’s not a campaign manager, chairman or leader, can’t be quoted about anything and that his function is only to tell Tonko that people are trying to call him.

Tonko’s Web site over the last several weeks has been a work in progress. Information for Tonko’s actual campaign office and a phone number in Albany is still listed as “to be announced shortly.” Until Thursday, there was apparently no way to donate online to Tonko’s campaign. And unlike eight other candidates with www’s, there’s no way to volunteer online. The only way to do so: call Shortell or e-mail him.”

The obvious question this article brings up is just how important is the internet for a political candidate? While no doubt it is foolish for Mark Blanchfield, who is running against George Amedore in New York State’s 105th assembly district race, not to have a website; a good website cannot take the place of personal contact.

George Amedore won the 105th assembly seat last year, in part due to his getting out and meeting the people. Even on election day, he showed up at the Beech-nut plant to meet workers at 4:00a.m. His predecessor, Paul Tonko, did similar things when he was running in the 105th, and it always helped him win. Tonko is relying on the same strategy now in the 21st Congressional District race. Last Saturday, he was the only political candidate at the opening of the farmers’ market in Canajoharie.

In fact, if there is one thing Tonko shares with God it is omnipresence. He seems to be in several places at the same time, always getting his photo taken, of course, and his name in the paper.

So while Tonko maybe web-challenged, it doesn’t mean that he will lose the race. While I hope he does, his people skills are going to make it difficult for anyone to beat him.

By the way, Mark Robarge made this same point on his blog several weeks ago. His piece is worth reading.

If you think a website can only help a candidate, check out this one.

As far as I know there are only two candidates running in New York State’s 105th assembly district. The first, of course, is the incumbent, George Amedore, who has only been in office for a year, after defeating Ed Kosiur, who was handpicked to be Paul Tonko’s successor.

Visit the George Amedore for Assembly website.

The other candidate is Mark Blanchfield, a Schenectady city councilman. I have been unable to find a website for Blanchfield, but will post it here when I find one.

Tim Russert’s body hasn’t yet reached room temperature, and Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer already want to name a highway after him. Not being much of a television watcher, it’s hard to understand what all the hoopla is about. Yeah, I heard the bell toll, and I know that no man is an island, but he’s Tim Russert, a newsman, not Jesus Christ.

My biggest problem with naming a highway after Tim Russert is that it means more visual pollution on Route 20. We have too many signs on all of our roads now.

The question that kids most often ask on trips is “are we there yet?” The second most often asked question is “who is Dwight D. Eisenhower?” Unless, of course, you have just left Binghamton and are traveling up I-88. Then the question is “who is Warren M. Anderson?”