The Town is continues to struggle with the Village of Trumansburg over the heartless EMS billing policy now in effect in the Village.
I appreciate the Town’s concern for the uninsured and underinsured residents of the Village that are now at risk, but I disagree that it is reasonable to corrupt our previously equitable EMS by entering into a relationship with private for profit companies that shouldn’t even exist.
From the Ulysses newsletter,
“The Town feels it is reasonable to recuperate funds from insurance companies through billing to help offset the upward climb in EMS costs; however, not all residents are insured and many are underinsured.”
If you agree that this is reasonable, please read my post from last year,
The Trumansburg School Board has put together a budget for us to vote on, on May 15th. They cut several teaching positions because they feel that keeping taxes low is more important than our future. There will be a very, very small tax levy increase. I won’t have the opportunity to vote to restore the teaching positions.
On a similar theme, the Tompkins County Legislature has forced the closing of the county’s home health care agency. They claim that patients will continue to receive high quality care, but this will be up to the owners of private health care agencies, and that usually means that profit is a higher priority than patient care.
And of course, the Village of Trumansburg is now billing for EMS which makes it very likely that those of us that either don’t have health insurance, have insufficient insurance, or fear that our crappy insurance companies won’t pay for one reason or another, will not call.
Does anyone notice a trend?
In Washington they are discussing Medicare and Social Security cuts.
We are going down the drain, but our valiant representatives are fighting to keep our taxes low. We in the 99% wouldn’t even have to pay higher taxes (although I would) we simply have to end imperialism and tax the rich at 1970′s levels, to restore a sane social safety net, and offer a good education to every child.
Walking the kids home through the sunny summer-like heat today, I was persuaded to stop in at Good To Go to pick up a box of ice cream sandwiches. What I found was even better.
A few months ago, I signed a petition requesting the placement of an Alternatives Credit Union ATM at Good To Go. Yesterday, the ATM was delivered. A representative of Alternatives was at Good To Go this afternoon, helping to put up signage directing people to the cash machine. (It’s right there next to the entrance, on the right.)
If there’s one thing you can count on in high school, it’s drama. The following video trailer for the Trumansburg High School musical production Once Upon A Mattress, however, promises that “Everything you know about theater will forever change with one pea.”
Starting tomorrow night, and for the two following nights, Once Upon A Mattress will be playing in the high school auditorium at 7:00. Prices are $8 at the door, with a $2 discount for students and seniors.
Synopsis: “If you thought you knew the story of ‘The Princess and The Pea,’ you may be in for a walloping surprise! Did you know, for instance, that Princess Winnifred actually swam the moat to reach Prince Dauntless the Drab? Or that Lady Larken’s love for Sir Harry provided a rather compelling reason that she reach the bridal altar post haste? Or that, in fact, it wasn’t the pea at all that caused the princess a sleepless night? Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship and comeuppance provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. Chances are you’ll never look at fairy tales quite the same way again.”
Did you hear about the opportunity to learn the Ukranian style of decorating eggs tomorrow in the Middle School art room? Who knew that The Cool Club is playing the Rongo on Saturday?
We’re an active community, but it’s difficult to keep track of everything that’s going on. So, it’s a relief to see that Tburg Events is online, compiling our village’s happenings in an easy-to-browse format.
If you’ve got an event of your own, you can add that too. So many things to do…
A federal court has decided on a map of congressional districts for New York state. The map will go into effect next year, which means that this year’s elections will be for seats to represent the new districts.
Given that the state legislature wasn’t involved in drawing the district lines, gerrymandering was kept to a minimum. We won’t be the southwestern corner of a twisted district that includes part of the Adirondacks any more.
Here’s a map of the new districts – as you can see, we’re in district 23, which includes all of Tompkins County and stretches across the Southern Tier all the way to New York’s westernmost border. Schuyler and Seneca County are included in the district as well, so no longer will people in the larger Trumansburg community have to wonder whether their friends are represented by the same politician in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The good news is that Trumansburg will no longer be represented by Republican Richard Hanna. The bad news is that the incumbent in the new congressional district will be Tom Reed, a right wing Republican whose politics are not in touch with Tburg values.
Democrats running against Tom Reed are Leslie Danks Burke, a lawyer who serves as the chair of the Town of Ithaca Democratic Committee, and Nate Shinagawa, a member of the Tompkins County legislature.
Currently, the village of Trumansburg is part of the 24th congressional district, represented by Tea Party Republican Richard Hanna. Hanna replaced conservative Blue Dog Democrat Michael Arcuri in 2010 after Democratic voters held back their support from Arcuri’s re-election effort.
However, the Census has been taken, and that means that, for this year’s election, congressional district lines have to be redrawn. The state legislature has given up on trying to craft new congressional districts, and so, federal judges are set to publish a new congressional district map by this coming Tuesday, when the petitioning period for congressional races begins.
To the south of us in Ithaca, Maurice Hinchey is retiring, and his district may be completely dissolved. The district to the north of us is currently represented by right wing Republican Ann Marie Buerkle – an area currently listed as the 25th district, but may be re-numbered next year as the 24th district. It’s possible, however, that Richard Hanna may take the new 24th district, while Buerkle shifts over to the new 25th district over in Monroe County.
A proposed map shifts all of Tompkins County out of the 24th congressional district, which includes Syracuse, and into the Southern Tier 23rd congressional district, a seat currently represented by a right wing Blue Dog Democrat rather like Michael Arcuri – Bill Owens.
Until next week, nothing is for certain. What district would you prefer to see Trumansburg in?
Winter doesn’t officially end until next week, but this weekend we’re already having summer weather. Warm sun and southerly winds are bringing us temperatures in the 80s. Honeysuckle and willow trees are leafing out. Maple sap season in Trumansburg is long over, and the first round of early flowers has already given way to a second round.
It’s well ahead of schedule, following a winter that was barely winter at all.
One more sign of summer seen tonight: A bat, flying through the blue evening sky, snatching up insects that wouldn’t normally be out in the air for many weeks to come.
Springtime weather is coming to the Town of Ulysses well ahead of time this year. People can plant early greens and peas directly in outdoor garden soil right now. So, as many Tburgers are thinking about their gardens, here are some tips on growing strawberries from our local Silver Queen farm.
“You want to put them in as cold and wet a soil as you can…” I guess that means strawberry planting time may already be over with. The soil is still damp, but plenty warm.
Recent Comments