Tricounty DFA Update: Meeting, Gillibrand Events, Global Warming
Hello Everyone!

This is a special New Year's Eve update:

1. Glens Falls DFA Meetup or Link-up Next Wednesday
2. Gillibrand Party In Saratoga Saturday, Dec. 30th
3. Swearing In Ceremony In Hudson Jan 2nd
4. Bus To D.C. Jan. 4th For Swearing-In
5. First Big Global Warming Casualty
6. Algae An Answer To Global Warming?


1. Glens Falls DFA Meetup or Link-up Next Wednesday

On next Wednesday, January 3rd, at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe on Exchange and Elm Streets in downtown Glens Fallsm, we will be having the first Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area meetup or Link-up of the new year.

On the agenda: State Senate Candidate Tim Merrick will be coming down from Plattsburg to say hello, thank everyone in DFA for supporting his campaign and talk about the future of upstate New York.

We'll also be discussing a resolution on the former FCC Fairness Doctrine Drew Monthie proposed last month and DFA resolutions for the new year.

2. Gillibrand Party In Saratoga Saturday

Representative-Elect Kirsten Gillibrand will be attending a Thank You and Holiday Party Hosted by Saratoga County Democratic Chair Larry Bulman and Saratoga County Supervisor Joanne Yepsen, on Saturday, December 30th 5 PM –7 PM, at the home of Dave Marcell, 18 Denton Road Saratoga Springs, New York

Space is limited, please RSVP to Ross Offinger at 518-751-2556

3. Swearing In Ceremony In Hudson

We are all invited to a special, ceremonial swearing-in of Congresswoman-Elect Kirsten Gillibrand on Tuesday, January 2nd, at Noon at the Hudson Court House, 401 Union Street, Hudson, New York. Honored guests are Congressmen Maurice Hinchey and Michael McNulty. Rep-Elect Gillibrand will be sworn in by Judge Robert Miner of the U.S Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit.

There will be a reception in the Court House after the ceremony.

To RSVP, please contact Gina Schwartz at gina@gillibrand2006.com or 518-751-2556.

4. Bus To D.C. Jan. 4th For Swearing-In

Rep.-Elect Gillibrand's new Glens Falls office manager, Lisa Manzi contacted me today to let us all know that there is a bus excursion to Washington, D.C. for the on-the-House-Floor swearing-in with available seats, although they are limited. I suggest you get in touch with them right away if you are interested.

Lisa's message is as follows:

"BUS TRIP TO WASHINGTON DC JANUARY 3-4, 2007
ITINERARY
January 3, 2007 - Bus Depart for Overnight Stay
7:50 AM - 1st Pick Up - Wilton Mall - BJ's Parking Lot
8:50 AM - 2nd Pick Up - Thruway Exit 23 Park 'n' Ride
9:20 AM - 3rd Pick Up - Thruway Exit 21 Park 'n' Ride

January 4, 2007

The Blue Metroline, which goes to the Capitol is next to the hotel.
Guests will view the swearing-in via closed circuit television from Rep. Gillibrand's Congressional office in the Cannon Office Building and will be joined by Kirsten for a reception.

Bus will depart hotel at 7PM. There will be a dinner stop if desired. Approximate return to the Capital District - 4AM.
Seats are limited and will be held on a first come, first served basis.

TRANSPORTATION COST: $70 PER PERSON WHICH INCLUDES TIP FOR DRIVER
ROOMS AT THE MARRIOTT CRYSTAL GATEWAY HOTEL/ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA
A BLOCK OF 35 ROOMS IS BEING HELD EXCLUSIVELY FOR PARTICIPANTS @ $179 SINGLE/DOUBLE
EACH TRAVELER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING HIS/HER RESERVATION TO HOLD A ROOM AT THE QUOTED PRICE
DEADLINE TO MAKE RESERVATIONS: DECEMBER 22, 2006
703-920-3230 (held under the name of "Friesen Room Block")
HOTEL IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE BLUE METROLINE for CONVENIENT TRAVEL TO THE CAPITOL

Please call 518-751-2556 or e-mail gina@gillibrand2006.com to add your name to the reservation list; confirmation will follow.

You must make your own reservations at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington VA. Call 703-920-3230 - Ask to make a reservation under "Friesen Group Block" Code FRR. The rooms are set for $179 - single/double. OR You can make reservations on line - www.marriott.com/wasgw Group Code: FRRFRRA

Bus trip - Make a check out to Wade Tours - $70/pp - Mail to Pat Friesen at 36 Thoroughbred Drive - Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Contact Pat Friesen at 518-542-9157 if you have further questions.

5. First Big Global Warming Casualty

The biggest and most missed story of the last month: the disappearance of the Earth, thanks to Global Warming, has arrived, as predicted. From the UK's Independent:
"Rising seas, caused by global warming, have for the first time washed an inhabited island off the face of the Earth. The obliteration of Lohachara island, in India's part of the Sundarbans where the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers empty into the Bay of Bengal, marks the moment when one of the most apocalyptic predictions of environmentalists and climate scientists has started coming true."
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2099971.ece

6. Algae An Answer?

But we are not helpless. One of the most interesting responses is this piece on the potential of algae as a source of high quality fuel. Vegetable oil from soybeans for biodiesel can be grown at a rate of 60 tons per acre. Algae? 10,000 tons. How? With farmed plants you get one crop a year. Algae grows so fast you can get a crop a day. What's more, carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and animal feed lots can be fed into a "bioreactor" to actually feed the algae-- algae breaths CO2 the way we breath oxygen.

This is the most hopeful article on global warming I've read in a very long while, and I am sure we will hear Al Gore talking about this a lot in the future-- it's the kind of leadership issue on Global Warming he grooves on.
http://www.nytimes.com/cnet/CNET_2100-11386_3-6145197.html?ei=5087%0A&em=&en=aae3ca58db1ffd8b&ex=1167368400&pagewanted=all

Thanks, everyone! Happy New Year to you all!

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 2:54 PM