The Newspaper of Franklin Local Vol. VII, No. 2 Franklin, New York SUMMER 2013 ‘INDEPENDENT, FEARLESS AND FREE’

Josh Fox. FILM MAKER It was almost three years to the day since Josh brought his first film, BRINGS GASLAND II Gasland, to Walton in 2010. That film told the stories TO WALTON of ordinary people whose lives were suddenly sub- jected to an invasive and ruinous process called fracking for gas. Gasland went on to win international acclaim and to be nominat- ed for an Academy Award for Best Documentary. Microsoft Corporation, MDA Geospatial Services, Inc. I had a chance to speak with Josh, and asked why he Arial view of the former Kellogg school building in Treadwell felt the need for a sequel. “Well, honestly,” he re- SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL plied, “I was completely By Patricia Knapp-Tyrell Board’s (CSB) then-chair- shocked by the success of man Martin Donnelly to the the first film. It went all over At a time when national Delaware Country Board the world, it went to thirty and state politics could not of Supervisors (BoS) at countries. We saw a move- appear murkier, our local their April 24th meeting, as ment grow around this government is proving it- a done deal based on the fracking issue, nationally self to be equally unenlight- CSB’s authority under the and internationally. And I ened. Case in point: the New York Mental Hygiene GASLAND, Part II director Josh Fox speaks with fractivist Tammy couldn’t understand why short-lived, highly charged See SCANDAL, con’t on Pg. 4 Reiss at the Walton Theatre in June. Photo by Helen McLean the government wasn’t re- proposal to move Delaware ally paying attention. We County’s Community Ser- An Interview with Director Josh Fox saw an incredible reac- vices, including the Mental tion to this crisis from the Health Clinic and the Drug dred and fifty people came By Eugene Marner people: multinational cor- and Alcohol Clinic, to the to the Walton Theatre that porations were coming in former A. L. Kellogg School Sunday, June 9th, was the afternoon to see Gasland to despoil the atmosphere, in Treadwell, in the town of first clear, warm day after Part II, a two hour film, then toxify the landscape, jeop- Franklin. nearly a week of cold and stayed for another hour to ardize the people’s health This controversial rain. Even so, over two hun- discuss it with the director, and then leave with their proposal was presented See GASLAND, continued on Page 6 by Community Services ALL FOUR IN DEC WE TRUST? INSIDE WALLS: O&G Pollution in New York State THIS ISSUE... REGULAR FEATURES: The Renovation Part III: Causes and Cures By Brian Brock Neighbor’s View Pg. 2 of Chapel Hall Church Directory Pg. 4 In New York State, current oil, gas, and brine regula- Pet Talk Pg. 5 By Carole Marner tions are insufficient, pollution is significant, and enforce- In the Kitchen (new!) Pg. 8 ment is deficient. Why and what can be done about it? Garden Gate P. 13 It is with pride much Dysfunction Murder at the FM P. 14 tempered with relief that Within the Department of Environmental Conser- Real Estate Sales P. 16 the Board of Franklin Stage vation, the Division of Mineral Resources (DMN) is Company can announce principally responsible for the permitting and regulat- FRANKLIN LOCAL: that the four exterior walls, ing of drilling. It has statutory responsibility for pro- Local elections Pg. 2 three doors and forty- duction of oil, gas, and brine, which it does credibly Operation CSA Pg. 3 The facade of Chapel Hall See DEC, continued on Page 7 seven windows of Chapel Lost Opportunities Pg. 3 Hall have been restored building, all work on Cha- School Update Pg. 4 to their full, shining-white, pel Hall had to conform to New pipes Pg. 8 Grecian beauty. It took preservation guidelines for Garden Club update P. 13 thirteen years to raise the excellence. For example, Jack’s Rose List P. 13 money to install a drainage missing or damaged win- system, rebuild the stone dow mullions and siding PEAK OIL FOCUS: th foundation and restore the had to be rebuilt to 19 Pipeline Postings Pg. 6 facade - with its awesome century specifications. But Solar Leasing P. 12 three-story, eighty foot Chapel Hall is worth it, and long porch, supported by this is why. LOCAL ARTS: six massive columns. An- Stone Hall, and later its Farm Photo Essay Pg. 9 other 4 years completed sister, Chapel Hall, were Book Reviews P. 10 the fundraising for the re- built by the tradesmen and BHC workshops P. 10 maining three sides. As it farmers of Franklin in the UpState Arts P. 11 th is an historically significant early 19 century. Their FFL Summer Fun P. 14 See FOUR WALLS, continued on Page 5 Page 2 The New Franklin Register Summer 2013 Your Neighbor’s View... To give some perspec- local economy. tive on healthcare costs in A single-payer health- HEALTHY the United States in com- care bill has been intro- parison to countries with duced in the New York State NEW YORK single-payer systems, take Assembly and Senate, New a look at OECD Health York Health Bill (A5389 a/ By Carla Nordstrom Data 2012: How Does the S2078)5. Private insurance United States Compare3. In would be replaced with a This past May, Governor 2010, the per capita cost for publically financed health- Andrew Cuomo introduced healthcare in the U.S. was care system for all New a program called Tax-Free $8,233, while costs in coun- Yorkers. It will be financed individual insurance are ment in the hope that it will New York to attract new tries with single-payer sys- two ways: through a payroll among the people most improve the lives of the citi- businesses to upstate New tems was half that amount. tax where employers pay severely overcharged by zens. Governor Cuomo’s York. Tax-free zones will In Canada, the per-person 80% and employees pay the current system. But tax-free zones initiative is be located on college cam- cost was $4,445. the balance and a “progres- New York Health would be an example of just that ap- puses in the SUNY system Health care costs are sively-graduated assess- paid for with taxes based proach. Tax-Free New York “to empower regional and huge for individuals and ment on taxable income” on ability to pay, and small will have little impact in ru- local communities to grow families. A recent study4 such as interest, dividends, businesses and farmers ral communities. A tax ap- the economy.”1 “This is di- found that an average fam- and capital gains. Higher tend to have lower incomes proach that provides ser- rected primarily to upstate ily of four, with an employer income participants would than many others. vices and decreases costs New York…because that’s sponsored health program, pay more than lower in- With the rolling out of for individuals, such as the where we have an econom- will spend approximately come wage earners based Obamacare, some legisla- New York Health Bill, could ic problem.”2 $22,000 on healthcare in on “ability to pay.” tors question whether now potentially benefit New While Tax-Free New 2013. This is more than This writer contacted is a good time to introduce Yorkers in all communities, York may benefit cities the family will spend on Senator James Seward’s of- single-payer healthcare in including Franklin. like Oneonta or Syracuse, food for the year. While fice for comment on the New York State. Assembly- it is unlikely that it will im- it is true that taxes will in- New York Health Bill but did man Gottfried disagrees: 1.http://www.governor. prove circumstances in ru- crease with a single-payer not get a response. Assem- “I think this year is really ny.gov/2013-tf/tax-free-ny ral villages like Franklin. healthcare system in New blyman Clifford Crouch’s a superb year to refocus 2. http://www.syracuse.com/ As so often happens, rural York, premiums paid to office did respond to my that effort on this issue, and news/index.ssf/2013/05/ communities are left out gov_andrew_cuomo to_busi- health insurance compa- request. Crouch opposes I expect that to happen.” of programs that promote nesses.html nies, co-payments, and the bill because it goes In fact, on May 21, 2013, job development and eco- 3. http://www.oecd.org/ other medical costs would way beyond Obamacare 10,000 signatures were de- nomic security. Instead of health/health-systems/Brief- drop dramatically or dis- and it would increase pay- livered to Governor Cuo- promoting growth through ingNoteUSA2012.pdf appear entirely, providing roll taxes for businesses. mo and legislative leaders tax breaks for businesses, 4. http://thinkprogress.org/ New Yorkers more money Assemblyman Richard supporting the New York health/2013/05/22/2048481/ our state could change its in their pockets. Gottfried, Chair of the As- Health Bill. health-care-grocery-costs/ focus and provide a ben- A single-payer health sembly Health Committee There is a tendency in 5. http://open.nysenate.gov/ efit to all its citizens, allow- program would help small and the bill’s prime spon- government to use tax cuts legislation/api/1.0/lrs-print/ ing them to participate as rural communities like sor suggests that one of the for businesses to encour- bill/A5389-2013 full partners in growing the Franklin become active limitations of Obamacare is age economic develop- economy. A single-payer participants in the local that it leaves farmers, small health plan, providing for economy because it would businesses and individuals the healthcare needs of all give farmers, craftspeople, in the hands of the insur- New York citizens might be and independent shop ance companies, where the ELECTION AHEAD! just the thing to stimulate owners a cash infusion that prices are higher due to the economy of cities and By Brian Brock There is no September would allow them to par- administrative costs. Those rural communities alike. primary for unaffiliated ticipate more freely in the in our area who now buy Elections for town gov- candidates, so they may ernment are held every petition later, between July other year. 9th and August 20th. A place In November of odd on the ballot requires the years, elections are held signatures of at least five for Supervisor, Clerk, percent of all residents who Highway Superintendent, voted in the last guberna- Justice, and two of the four torial election. In Franklin, Councilmen. (Councilmen that would equal forty-two. serve for four years, with Besides candidates, two up for reelection each petition question may be time.) This year Susan Fair- placed on the ballot. Sig- bairn and Garret Sitts will natures can be collected be up for reelection, should likewise in July and August. they choose to run again. The minimum number of At the end of the May signatures needed for bal- Town Board meeting, Su- lot questions is much high- pervisor Smith announced er than for candidates: at that he will not stand for least twenty-five percent of reelection, after serving for those who voted in the last eleven terms over twenty- gubernatorial election. In two years and before that, a Franklin, that would be two few terms as a Councilman. hundred and eight. In Franklin, most elections This year the election have the Republican candi- is Tuesday, November 5th, date running unopposed. with the polls open in the Candidates of political Town sheds from 6 am to 9 parties may petition be- pm. Absentee ballots must tween June 4th and July 11th. be postmarked by Septem- In Franklin, a place on the ber 9th or delivered in per- Republican ballot requires son by the following day. the signatures of at least five percent of registered The NYS political calendar: party members, which http://www.elections.ny.gov/ would equal thirty-five. NYSBOE/law/2013OfficialPoliti calCalendar05072013.pdf Summer 2013 The New Franklin Register Page 3 FRANKLIN LOCAL Local News Local Issues Local Events Local Concerns MISSED OPPORTUNITIES By Carla Nordstrom event-related expenditures by their audiences. This Five years ago, the vil- economic activity supports lage of Franklin experi- 4.1 million full-time jobs. enced a renaissance; the Our industry also generates Franklin Stage Company $22.3 billion in revenue to was celebrating its 12th local, state, and federal gov- season with a production ernment – a yield well be- of Shakespeare’s Measure yond their collective $4 bil- for Measure, the Beehive lion arts allocations.” (http:// was serving breakfast and lemoyne.edu/Portals/11/ lunch with occasional din- AEP4.pdf) ners, and antique shops In other words, non- were opening up along profit arts and cultural or- Main Street. It looked like ganizations are big busi- our village would benefit ness. As an admission-free from the influx of new busi- theater relying on grants, nesses and the energy of donations, and volunteer entrepreneurs. Of course, help, the Franklin Stage that was the summer of Company does not have 2008. By the fall, the coun- a large effect on employ- try had slid into the Great ment, but it does spend money locally for building Recession and business in Eleanor Blakeslee-Drain and Patrick Hennenbery Photo by PatriciKnapp-Tyrell Franklin began to dwindle. supplies and services. Re- Aside from White’s Farm cently, the theater engaged Supplies, Meadowbrook in a large restoration proj- OPERATION CSA: FOOD INDEPENDENCE Farm, Dawn’s Deli and ect, and all that business By Patricia Knapp-Tyrell meet and greet your neighbors. smaller businesses that went to local contractors. For instance: meet Eleanor Blakeslee- serve the needs of local But, the major impact You may not be aware of the war be- Drain and Patrick Hennebery, managers customers, the village sank of the theater on the lo- ing waged against you and your family. It’s of Berry Brook Farm CSA at Stony Creek back into quiet solitude. cal economy is to bring been going on for decades, and it is not Farm, Walton, NY. Two remarkable individ- The restaurant is gone and people to Franklin for the fought with guns or outright violence, but uals who share an enthusiasm for Delaware only a few antique shops summer productions. The by distant, silent assassins, contracted by County dirt, the variety of vegetables they are still in business. audiences come from lo- government and corporate businesses. can grow in it and the sense of community Though business cur- cal communities and from Are any of these buzz words familiar: it can help support. Under their joint man- rently looks bleak, there is as far away as Binghamton. GMOs, artificial flavors, Monsanto, pesti- agement for a year now, Berry Brook Farm good news: The Franklin One finding in the Arts and cides, Made in China, hormones, high fruc- CSA has secured a base of thirty members. Stage Company is current- Economic Prosperity IV tose corn syrup? If these words don’t ring Their goal is to become an integral part- ly celebrating its seven- study was that, on average, a bell, perhaps you will recognize some of ner in a thriving and vibrant community teenth season. people who attend a pro- these: cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart dis- brought together by a mutual demand for Why is this good news? duction at a cultural institu- ease, Alzheimer’s, ADD/ADHD, anti-biotic transparent agriculture and safe, healthy, In 2010, Le Moyne College tion spend approximately resistant, sterility. local food. conducted a study on the $25 locally in addition to But do you know that the first group Who doesn’t love non-violent alterna- impact of arts and cultural the admission. People lists some of the weaponry that is often tives to war? You can free yourself from the institutions in Syracuse, NY. from outside the communi- partially if not wholly responsible for in- grocery store ritual of having to ask, where While Franklin can hardly ty actually spend twice as flicting the life-altering or life-threatening does this tomato come from? Or, who sells be said to mirror Syracuse, much as local patrons. In wounds in the second? That’s right! Your it, what’s on it, or are there fish genes in it? perhaps we can learn from the case of Syracuse, locals food from the grocery store may be haz- Join a CSA, and your tomato will come from the Arts and Economic spend $17 while visitors ardous to your heath. just up the road, at your friendly, maybe Prosperity IV study and ap- spend approximately $40 So maybe this comes as a surprise to even USDA Organic Certified local farm. ply some of its discoveries per person for such things you, and maybe not. Regardless, let me And that’s only one benefit. to our own community. as meals and shopping in introduce you to one of several exciting Fish-gene jokes and war analogies For instance: “Nation- local retail stores. ideas in the food revolution that is working aside, you may be asking for the fine print ally, the industry (nonprofit Donna Briggs, propri- to create food justice…and it’s happening at this point, or thinking it’s too good to be arts and cultural organi- etor of The Squire’s Tan- near you! true. Sure, there are risks. If, for instance, zations) generated $135.2 kard, says, “People want It’s Community Supported Agriculture there is a drought that severely affects crop billion dollars in economic something to do besides (CSA). Essentially, a CSA is an investment yields, your bounty will not be so bounti- activity -- $61.1 billion by going to the theater. They opportunity offering significant returns for ful. But, all things considered, we’ve been the nation’s nonprofit arts will walk up and down the shareholders. But instead of talking about feeling the financial impact of droughts and cultural organizations street and come to town dividends, stock value and corporations, in distant places on our food supply for in addition to $74.1 billion in early to visit my store. They we talk about local farms, food supply, and years. It’s not a new risk – it’s just closer to See MISSED, continued on Page 8 relationships. home. While there are a variety of CSA types, Berry Brook Farm CSA’s Eleanor and in the traditional form members invest in a Patrick note other possible downsides to local farm by providing startup (planting) joining a CSA. For one, some members capital before the growing season begins. may receive more produce than they can In return, CSA members receive a portion manage to eat, so might feel wasteful with of the crops harvested as the season pro- such over-abundance. But consider the gresses, directly from the farm. range of preservation techniques, or sim- At the risk of sounding melodramatic, ply give it away. Remember, sharing is these CSA farmers may be a front-line de- caring! And if you keep a compost bin or fense in the food war being waged against pile, nothing that goes into it is ever truly you and yours. They could also become wasted. your friends and favorite business part- Also, while a wide variety of vegeta- ners, as well as providing opportunities to See CSA, continued on Page 9 Page 4 The New Franklin Register Summer 2013 SCANDAL, con’t from Page 1 most of the public was un- ness owners, closed-door man James Eisel informed FRANKLIN Law, Article 41. aware of the proposal un- deals, taxpayer costs, and the supervisors that once However, this law til the meeting’s events whether our county officials new appointments are CHURCHES (§41.13, Power and duties became front-page news. are even in touch with the made to the CSB, the entire of local governmental units, Likely, it was the presump- realities of service provision relocation plan should be Aldrich (a)-6) says that every unit, tuousness of the CSB’s proc- within Delaware County. reevaluated. And it turns such as the CSB, has “the lamation that caused the Had it not been for the out that the county and the Baptist Church power, with the approval of Route 28, North Franklin outcry of disapproval (put- political and public out- CSB will have no choice but local government, to enter Phone: 607-829-5502 ting it mildly). The public cry against the move, and to reevaluate, as they have into contracts for the provi- Pastor: Pat Judd responded with letters to the diligent research into been advised by Jackie sion of services, including Sunday Service: 9:30 A.M. the editor, calls and com- the CSB’s authority under Clark of Clark Companies the provision of community Location: 1/2 mile east of ments to local and county the law, the proposed plan that Treadwell property support services, and the the Ouleout Golf Course law makers. When asked, might still be ongoing. But owners Scott Clark and construction of facilities” Jeff Taggart of the Franklin it has become clear that his business partners have (italics added). But the only Town Board expressed firm several on the CSB were not withdrawn their offer to the Franklin Unit- advisement offered by Mr. opposition to the move, cit- even legal members, their county for the leasing of Donnelly came during the ing both community and terms having already ex- the space, due to the public ed Methodist previous March 27th Board fiscal concerns, not to men- pired. According to § 41.11, controversy surrounding Church of Supervisor’s meeting tion common sense. Composition of boards, (d): the move. Main and Water Streets with his invitation to tour Yet, at the May meeting “No person may serve as a The dust-up is enter- Franklin the Kellogg School in the of the Franklin Town Board, member of a board of a sub- taining, but utterly disap- Phone: 607-829-2956 hamlet of Treadwell, and Mr. Taggart did not receive committee for more than pointing. This is a time Pastor: John Hill the Del-Met, on West Street support from his fellow two terms consecutively un- when government should Sunday Service: 10:45 A.M. in the Village of Walton, as board member for passing less otherwise provided by strive to transcend back- Coffee hour following possible future homes for a resolution against moving local law.” room conniving and self- Sunday School for children the consolidated Commu- the county’s Community Specifically, four of the serving manipulation. It is following Children’s Time nity Services. Services. Instead, they re- nine-member group had to hard to take anyone seri- Holy Communion, first Sun- In addition, accord- solved to request a meet- step down or resign, includ- ously when they’re talking day of each month. ing to §41.13, (a)-12, every ing with the Delaware CSB ing Sup. Martin Donnelly, Dr. out of both sides of their local CSB shall “seek the to discuss the proposed Michael Freeman, Joan Hale mouth. Trust is reserved cooperation of and cooper- move, in order to be better and Joanne Sampson. The for those with integrity, and Treadwell Unit- ate with other aging, public informed when addressing remaining five members are we’ve seen this virtue to be health and social services taxpayer concerns. Please Sup. Tina Mole, Mary Stilde, in short supply. ed Methodist agencies...” This particu- note that this meek resolu- Pastor Earnie Varga, Dr. Jan- And at the end of the Church lar section of the law must tion was the sole expres- ice Stalter and Rina Riba. day, the question remains: 68 Church Street, have been misread by the sion of the Town Board’s Mr. Donnelly has since what future now for the for- Treadwell CSB, given that they made dismay, largely in response commented, “I’ve served mer Kellogg School? Pastor: John Hill a public, multi-service-in- to having been left out of over the designated time Sunday Service: 9:15 A.M. volved, resource consum- the decision making pro- limit, which is not an issue in For legal references: ing, never mind unprec- cess, not to any disapproval rural areas unless someone http://codes.lp.findlaw. edented decision without of the relocation plan. makes an issue of it.” How com/nycode/MHY/E/41/ St Paul’s any consultation with con- Rumors swirled around interesting that laws can For BoS meeting minutes: http://www.co.delaware.ny.us/ sumers, service providers the proposed move, “set you free,” as with the Episcopal or elected officials. departments/cob/meetings. prompting questions about CSB’s power grab, or not htm Church But “done deal” or no, the CSB’s authority, possible apply at all, so long as no 307 Main Street, Franklin the local press took notice, “relationships” between one knows about it, or cares. Patricia Knapp-Tyrell is Phone: 607- 829-6404 which is fortunate because county officials and busi- Also in May, BoS Chair- a concerned resident of the Town of Franklin. All faiths welcome Service every first Sun- during the 2007-2008 school year. day of the month at 1:30 Governor Cuomo’s new NY Education Reform Com- P.M. followed by fellowship mission held eleven public hearings in 2012 in response dish-to-pass dinner. to the school crisis, and their recommendations are now Service every second part of the Governor’s legislative agenda. None of the thru fourth Sunday at 8:15 reforms directly address the plight of small rural schools A.M. Kenneth L. Bennett like FCS, except one. The commission proposed chang- First Thursdays Soup ing state law to make it easier for such schools to con- Dinner every month, by Funeral Home solidate into bigger, regional schools. The problem, said donation, to benefit roof one disappointed school parent, “is that the Commission replacement fund. 5-7 thinks that Binghamton is rural.” P.M. Join your friends for 425 Main Street Nor did the Commission address the fact that budget homemade soups, chili, cuts for downstate schools were much smaller that the salad and conversation! Franklin, NY 13776 cuts to upstate rural schools. Several lawsuits against the

state that call the formula used to allocate school aid un- Community fair to small rural schools have yet to be decided. Franklin’s ad hoc Save Our Schools movement of last Bible Church 607-829-2272 year has been formalized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corpo- 89 Center Street, Franklin ration called the Franklin Community Educational Foun- Pastor: Dr. Walt Schlundt dation (www.FranklinCommunity.org), with the goal of Phone: 607-829-5471 making sure FCS remains viable for the future. This in- Sunday School (Sept. cludes funding for items and projects not in the school’s Through May): 9:45 AM budget and keeping politicians updated on the needs of Morning Worship: 10:45 AM the the staff and the students. The FCEF Board welcomes We are a church that public input and participation. faithfully teaches the word BETTER, BUT NOT GREAT For details call 829-5890. of God and seeks to glorify Franklin Central School vs. NY State, Round Two Him through worship, ser- By Jim Mullen vice and in all that we do. We seek to fulfill the great It was only a year ago last March that several hundred commission through evan- people attended heated meetings about the Franklin gelization, missions and Central School budget, which had been mauled by state training. We offer two La- aid cuts that targeted small rural schools much more than dies’ Bible Studies and one they did large and mostly downstate schools. Men’s Bible Study. This year, FCS got about $211,000 more than last year, This space sponsored by enabling the restoration of some part-time positions to Handsome Brook Farm. full-time, but leaving state aid at roughly the same level as Summer 2013 The New Franklin Register Page 5 FOUR WALLS, con’t from Page 1 goal was to provide both elementary and secondary education for their children. PET They made buildings to suit their noble goal, distinguished by both beauty and craftsmanship, and surely at a consider- TALK able expense in labor and money for fami- lies that had settled in virgin forest only with Dr. Joan Puritz decades earlier. The Federal-style Stone Hall was built in 1836. Remarkably, the Hello, readers. of open space and the re- school was built for the education of both Chapel Hall being painted Photo: G. Marner I would like to discuss planting of trees, togeth- boys and girls, with separate entrances. anyone and everyone access.” ticks and the transmission er with the use of fewer The same high architectural standards This policy has survived and so has of Lyme disease. insecticides. held for Greek Revival Chapel Hall, built Franklin Stage, now under the direction of We live in a Lyme en- Ticks carry over a doz- in1855. The school was now called the Del- Carmela Marner. Every summer, Chapel demic area for dogs. Al- en human and animal in- aware Literary Institute, and its reputation Hall becomes an Equity theatre with actors most every day, we see a fections in addition to Lyme quickly grew, attracting residential stu- coming from far and wide (London, Mos- dog at our hospital with disease. Signs that your dents from elsewhere, even from abroad. cow, Vancouver, Texas), a paid staff and a this disease. We seem to dog may have it would be Interestingly, school brochures from the buoyantly enthusiastic group of student have more ticks than ever limping, fever, lethargic, 19th century mention that Franklin, at more interns. Most importantly, there is a loyal this year. Spring and fall and sometimes decreased than 1200 feet of altitude, is “malaria free.” audience drawn primarily from a seventy- seem to be the worst. The appetite. In a really severe In 1909, the Delaware Literary Institute mile radius. And to keep us going, there vector of this disease is the case, there can also be kid- closed. New York State had established has been the support of the New York State deer tick (Ixodes scapu- ney damage. So what can universal secondary education and DLI Council on the Arts, several regional foun- laris). The female tick lays be done to prevent the dations, a group of local patrons dedicated about two hundred eggs ticks? Treat your dog with to the arts and historic preservation, and, in the spring, which very a spot-on tick preventative most importantly, the contributions of our soon hatch into small lar- for four months of the year. audience. vae that immediately begin This will greatly reduce In the recent renovation, Tim Horvath feeding on a host. The host chances of infection. There of Redpoint Builders in Cherry Valley re- is usually a small mouse, is also a Lyme vaccine stored the windows. Exterior painting was which then can become in- available at your veterinary done by historic preservation experts Lee fected with the spirochete, office. The treatment for Liddle of Second Nature Construction in a microscopic organism the disease is Doxycycline. Delhi, and Redpoint Builders. Larry Ste- called Borrella burgdorfei. But it is off the market at this vens of Stevens Excavating in Otego re- The tick needs to be on its time, due to some manufac- built the foundation and installed a drain- host for about forty-eight turing problems, so anoth- age system. Franklin’s Lee Cohen of hours in order to transmit er antibiotic is being used Chapel Hall’s new porch floor Photo: G. Marner Cohen and Frazier rebuilt the porch floor the disease. which hopefully will be as was incorporated into the public school and the column bases. The next stage, called effective. district. Chapel Hall became the home of The Chapel Hall exterior restoration the nymph, and the adult Strangely enough, the local Masonic chapter. On its top floor, was made possible with a grant from the stage feed on larger ani- though cats get ticks, there the Masons built a wonderful meeting Village of Franklin Main Street Program, mals such as deer and hu- have been no cats reported room, with polychrome pressed tin walls administered by the Delaware County Lo- mans, cats and dogs. We to have Lyme disease. and ceiling. They turned the simple chapel cal Development Corporation, and with are seeing more ticks due Have a great summer and assembly hall on the main floor into a the generous support of the George A. & to warmer winters and to and watch for ticks. charming theatre with a stage at one end Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation; the suburbanization, which I would have written and a balcony at the other. In 1997, find- A. Lindsay & Olive B. O’Connor Founda- brings together people, more on this subject, but ing its maintenance too great a burden, the tion, The 1772 Foundation, Assael, Inc., wildlife and ticks; also, to have been doing a lot of Masons were advised to transfer the build- and Sylvia Sichel. an increase in white tailed late night emergencies to ing to a not-for-profit group. My husband deer and migratory birds remove porcupine quills! Gene Marner, Tom Butts (then Franklin Vil- that carry ticks to new ar- Sincerely, lage Mayor) and I - all with backgrounds in eas. Also contributing are Joan Puritz DVM theatre - approached them with the idea of the increased preservation establishing a theatre in Chapel Hall. The PET TALK READERS: If you have questions for Dr. Puritz, Masons willingly transferred the building please email her care of us at [email protected]. She to the not-for-profit Franklin Stage Com- will answer you in a future column. pany, with the provision that we commit ourselves to its preservation as well as its service to the public. Did we understand what it meant to take on a building with three stories plus basement, measuring forty by eighty feet? Not exactly. But we did decide on the following, in our mission statement: “We believe that the world’s dramatic heritage is so splen- did that helping to keep it alive will enrich all our lives and that a policy of ‘Free Ad- mission, Donations Accepted’ will allow Checking for interior damage Photo: G. Marner

CSA, continued from Page 3 bles and herbs are grown and theory. In a time of network of such entities in by CSAs, some people do potential crop instability, the area, including Farm- not like everything they food-borne diseases and ers’ Markets, community receive. If this is your con- environmentally destruc- gardens and local farm op- cern, and you’re not apt to tive industrial farming, a erations. So, take control of try new tastes and textures, CSA offers the opportunity what is yours. Strike a blow discuss the contents of your to take control of what goes for food freedom! A CSA weekly packet with your into your body, at the same can help. farmers. What you don’t time supporting the local want, someone else will. economy as well as prac- For more information about Despite the minor in- tices of sustainable agri- Berry Brook Farm CSA, visit: conveniences, the CSA culture that help maintain a www.stonycreekfarm.org partnership is pretty darn healthy environment. exciting, in both practice We are lucky to have a Page 6 The New Franklin Register Summer 2013 FOCUS ON ENERGY PIPELINE POSTINGS: NEW ALL A Continuing Chronology of Events Compiled by Brian Brock May 2nd: Stop The Pipeline rallied in March 15th: Constitution Pipeline front of a pipeline safety meeting at Foot- Company LLC deadline for applications hills Preforming Arts Center, Oneonta. for the second round of community grants. May 14th: Leatherstocking Gas Com- The total number of applications was 120, pany LLC proposed a franchise agree- up from 85 in the first round. By contrast, ment with the Town of Delhi. the number of applications from Franklin May 28th: NYS Department of Envi- nonprofits was only two, down from five in ronmental Conservation submitted Walton Theatre the first round. comments on Constitution’s pre-filing to • • March 20th: Leatherstocking Gas FERC, including requirements that streams Sunday June 9 1PM Company LLC proposed a franchise be drilled beneath rather than trenched Free Admission agreement with the Village of Delhi. across and that any entry of streams be Special Film Screening March 29th: US Army Corps of Engi- confined to June 1st to September 31st. With Director Josh Fox in Person neers submitted comments on Constitu- May 31st: Williams Partners LLC sold Screening Co-Sponsors Franklin Local • Center for Sustainable Rural Communities • Otsego 2000 tion’s pre-filing to FERC, including the 10% of their interest in Constitution Pipe- Citizens Energy & Economics Council of Delaware County (CEEC) • Ommegang Brewery DAG-Delaware Action Group • Concerned Citizens of Otego • Friends of Sustainable Sidney requirement that all parcels along route line to a venture capital firm for $68 mil- must be surveyed in the field. lion. The resulting partnership is Williams Gasland Part II is an th HBO Documentary Films release April 9 : Leatherstocking Gas Com- 41%, Cabot 25%, Piedmont 24%, and WGL presented by Gasland Grassroots pany LLC made a presentation to the Holdings 10%. For additional information please visit Franklin Local th www.franklinlocal.org/Gasland Town of Meredith. June 6 : Stop The Pipeline celebrated www.gaslandthemovie.com April 18th: Eleven members of Stop its first anniversary in Sidney. The Pipeline traveled to Washington DC June 13th: Constitution Pipeline Com- to join with dozens of protestors from five pany LLC filed the project (CP13-499) with states at the monthly meeting of FERC. FERC. Revised route now runs slightly lon- Walton Theatre • 31 Gardiner Place • Walton NY Afterwards, all marched to the Capitol to ger at 122 miles and the estimated cost has GASLAND, continued from Page 1 meet with their elected officials. de- See PIPELINE, con’t on Page 8 profits. It’s a classic old before the film premieres of the oil-streaked Gulf of night I was with Pete Seeger that he had to sing it twice story. This is what energy on HBO on July 8th. Mexico, to the wrenching in Waltham, Pennsylvania, and, at four miles an hour, extraction companies do. Why tour now? stories of the people strug- and I had to introduce him...I clip-clopping up and down So why wasn’t our govern- “We wanted to give gling on the front lines of said, ‘This is a man who is not the East Coast, they spread ment stepping in to protect the film directly to the fracking, to the shock of just a songwriter. He’s one the lyrics around and it be- Americans? Why in the people who created it Josh being handcuffed and of the authors of America.’ came the National Anthem. 21st century, with this huge with us. I toured with the arrested in our Capitol for Then I said to the people in “This is amazing: if a amount of media attention first Gasland to two hun- trying to video a congres- the crowd, in the fracking bar song can become the on the issue, was there no dred and fifty cities across sional hearing, we begin to movement, ‘you have to think National Anthem, it says action anywhere but, ba- America. It took a year and see that we are on our own. of yourselves as authoring that America is something sically, New York? And America, as authoring the you’re making up as you Obama was going in the “I felt like I could see it. A horizon- next stage of our country.’ go along and that’s what opposite direction, quoting “I was playing the Star I’m witnessing when I’m oil and gas industry talking tal well bore snaking under the congress, Spangled Banner on the watching people fight off points in his 2012 State of shooting money up through the cham- banjo which I do at the end the gas industry, these mul- the Union address, which is ber at such high pressure that it blew the of the movie as the credit tinational corporations. in the film. What was going music, and Pete told me that “They pose as Ameri- on? That’s what I wanted to top off our democracy. Another layer of it was the biggest hit of 1814 can, but they’re not. They’re look at this time. So this is contamination due to fracking, not the and it was a bar song and BP, they’re Royal Dutch an investigation into anoth- this guy sang it in a bar Shell. Exxon Mobil has no er level of contamination water, not the air, but our government.” and they loved it so much country.” due to fracking––the con- - Josh Fox, Gasland II tamination of democracy. And what we found was a half. It was absolutely “It’s hard,” he told me, equally shocking to the wa- insane. It was a full-time “to watch your government ter being lit on fire in the job, meeting with people, literally being taken away first movie. This is our de- talking to people in com- from you by the oil and gas mocracy being lit on fire.” munities and showing the industry, and that’s what we The first Gasland film film and having a discus- saw as we tracked these came out as the Deepwater sion. And, to me, that was different EPA investiga- Horizon disaster in the Gulf another layer. Movies don’t tions, DEP investigations, in of Mexico unfolded. At the change the world. Movies Wyoming, Texas, Pennsyl- time, Josh was struck by the raise awareness. But when vania. We follow the New response of the govern- you really want to change York situation. We follow ment to that crisis, together something, you have to the frackers as they expand with the inability of the me- show up and you have to world-wide. We look at cli- dia to gain access. be there. I don’t think I’ll mate change––fracked gas “It was apparent that BP do two hundred fifty cities is the worst fuel you can was running the government again. Too exhausting. I’ll use with respect to climate response down in the Gulf do as many as I can. But, change because methane of Mexico. If this is the case before the film goes on together with carbon diox- with the largest environmen- HBO, I wanted to give the ide is worse than coal. tal disaster in the history of film to the people to whom “What we’re trying to say the United States, what is it it matters the most, the peo- is, look, when your democ- going to be like with frack- ple who are fighting these racy isn’t functioning correct- ing? That set us off.” battles locally.” ly…you have to invent new Fox brought Gasland Gasland Part II is pow- forms of democracy. And Part II to Walton as part of erful and moving. From those new forms of democ- Josh Fox admires the local signage Photo by Helen McLean a national grass-roots tour the horrifying aerial shots racy are this movement. Last Summer 2013 The New Franklin Register Page 7

DEC, continued from Page 1 J. Field, worked for Getty Oil and gas industry. This situation arose to keep the regulation of drilling well. But it has little or no statutory Marathon Oil, and the former di- because of the major budget cuts under state control, and to keep responsibility to protect people, rector (1979-2001), George Sovas, in the 1960s and the resultant re- the federal government out. State communities, or the environment. now works for a leasing coalition. duction in staff at the State level.” legislators and regulators are eas- This arrangement in New York Citizens must wonder at the Twenty years later, from the ier to influence, and states have is by no means unique. Rather, commitment of the DMN to apply IOGCC-EPA review of 1994: “Im- fewer resources for oversight and it’s the situation in state after state. the best science when its Director portant program tasks are simply prosecution. Their statutes are based on the In- denies the reality of global warm- not done or substantially delayed In a letter to the DEC in Septem- terstate Oil and Gas Compact of ing. Mr. Field signed the notorious as a result of personnel and dollar ber 2011, the Independent Oil & 1935, intended to maximize pro- Gas Association of New York ques- duction and minimize waste -- in- tions “the wisdom of proceeding cluding minimizing product left in with broad rule-making” because the ground. Today, these two goals of “the economic impacts to the (as well as protecting the “correla- oil and gas industry.” Apparently tive rights of all [lease] owners and the Association is pleased with the the rights of all persons [corpora- absence of any regulations that tions, governmental subdivisions, resulted from the Generic Envi- etc.], including landowners and ronmental Impact Statement: “The the general public”) remain the original ... GEIS has served the only general purposes of the DMN state and operators extremely well specified in the Environmental since its adoption in 1992.” And Conservation Law §23-0301. And IOGA-NY reminded that “DEC’s this is despite the revolution in statutory mandate [is] to promote environmental awareness that has the development of resource and developed during the intervening protect the correlative rights.” seventy-eight years. Currently the DMN is princi- The DMN was criticized for pally concerned with industrial this lack in the only outside review production, not environmental of the DEC regulatory program protection. of oil and gas, done by the IOGC Commission and the Environmen- Reforms tal Protection Agency in 1994. In Global Warming (Oregon) Petition shortfalls. Some of the significant Before horizontal drilling fol- response, it was proposed to add that urges the U.S. government to programs impacted include: ... No lowed by high-volume hydraulic to the general purposes “to pro- reject any policies based on con- routine inspections over the last fracturing (HVHF) begins, the Divi- tect from hazards to public health, cerns over global warming be- three years. Intermittent limits on sion of Mineral Resources should safety and welfare” and “to protect cause of the absence of “convinc- non-routine [emergency] inspec- begin to serve the people of our the environment and prevent pol- ing scientific evidence.” tions ... due to shortages of gaso- State at least as well as it serves the lution of lands, soil, surface waters, Another way to minimize envi- line and overtime dollars.” transnational oil and gas industry. groundwater, plant and animal life ronmental oversight is to starve the And fifteen years after that, from New York government should insti- and other natural resources on and regulator of resources. The DMN a 2009 questionnaire by STRON- tute all necessary reforms includ- off site.” However, the DMN has has been chronically under-staffed GER (the successor to the IOGCC): ing the following top ten. failed to codify these additions, or and under-funded since it was “Retirements and vacancies within Records: Compile the record make any changes in its general formed. the Division and an aging work- of the industry pollution caused by regulations since 1981. Former Director Sovas has tes- force are impacting the delivery of exploration and production in New This is a problem not just of laws tified about the early years of the services to the regulated industry.” York. This should be done by an but of people. There is a revolving Division (then called the Bureau): Naturally, this status quo works outside agency with full access to employment door between regula- “In the 1970s, New York experi- to the advantage of industry and is records of county Departments of tor and industry. For example, the enced many problems with the one of the reasons that the oil and Health and state DMN. current director of DMN, Bradley regulatory program for the oil and gas industry works so relentlessly See DEC, con’t on Page 15 Page 8 The New Franklin Register Summer 2013 PIPELINE, con’t from Page 6 A NEW SET OF PIPES creased from $750 to $683 By Brian Brock directly to the mains, includ- million. The number of ing a few in new locations. cut-off valves has increased The Village of Frank- One is conveniently near the from 7 to 11 including Main lin finally has a new set of firehouse to fill the tanker. Line Valve #6 in Franklin on pipes. Some of the hun- From the water mains, Stewart Road. Application dred and fifty-year-old hook-ups were made to a process is expected to take pipes were so clogged that hundred and ninety five more than a year. you could not see daylight customers. New services Note: Complete ap- down the length of a few and valves were required plication and supporting feet. Now homes on Center in a hundred thirty five of documents are available as Street no longer get water these installations. hard copy at the Franklin that looks like tea. Pres- Mayor John Campbell Free Library and as com- sure at all the hydrants is initiated this project and puter files on the FERC sufficient to fight fires. In saw it through to comple- website: http://elibrary.ferc. bathrooms, vigorous show- tion. Engineering was done gov/idmws/docket_search.asp . ers are enjoyed. Some by Delaware Engineering households are ordering of Oneonta. Construction dishwashers. was by LRS Excavating of The Village gets its wa- Lansing, with a crew of a ter from wells in the Ouleout half dozen workers. Valley off Otego Street. The The work began in The NFR welcomes Sue Avery, who will offer us main and back-up wells go the last week of Septem- delicious recipes on a regular basis. eighty to ninety feet down ber, 2012, and continued into gravels. A bigger through the first week of De- pump was installed in the cember. Most of the trench- village near these wells. ing and laying of pipe was From there, a six inch pipe done and some services IN THE KITCHEN was laid to the reservoir on were connected. The grav- the hill to the southeast, off el underlying the Village Franklin Heights Road. made excavation easy. A With Sue Avery The 225,000 gallon res- horseshoe was unearthed – ervoir holds enough water the only artifact found. CREAMED PEAS AND CUCUMBERS for three to four days of use. This year, work resumed In case of longer blackouts, in March and was complet- (serves 6 generously) a back-up generator can ed in June. NYSDOT would operate the pump. New not allow Main Street (State 4 cups shelled green peas power was run to the reser- Highway 357) to be exca- 1 medium onion, sliced voir to provide lights. vated, so the pipe had to Although not still con- be laid under the sidewalk 2 small cucumbers, peeled and diced nected to the system, the on the northwest side and 3 tbsp. butter original spring source off directional drilling under 1 cup cream, scalded Bissell Road remains avail- Main Street was required to 1 tsp. salt able in case the wells fail. connect the customers on A ten inch pipe was re- the other side. 2 cups boiling water turned down to the Village Finally, concrete curbs that can supply two thou- were extruded, and then Combine peas, onion and salt in a sauce- sand gallons of water per the excavated streets were minute. From there, eight ground down and repaved pan. Add the boiling water and cook, cov- inch pipes were laid down with asphalt. ered, until the peas are almost tender – about the length of Center Street This project was fi- 15 minutes. and along Main Street, ex- nanced by U.S. Depart- Add cucumbers and cook until these are al- cept for the stretch between ment of Agriculture Rural Otego and Institute Streets Development though a most tender. Drain (you can reserve the liq- where pipes were replaced grant of $1.1 million and a uid for soup). during the 1978 repaving. low-interest loan of $1.4. Add butter and scalded cream, and let boil Branching off from these, six That horseshoe must have up once. inch pipes were laid down brought luck because this the other streets. $2.5 million was below the Serve very hot. A total of twenty-nine original estimate of $3.5 hydrants were connected million. Note: sour cream may be used for a particu- larly delicious and unusual dish.

MISSED, continued from Page 3 also make return trips back just to shop in munity, we need to have places for them to my store.” She mentioned that the people spend their money. who perform in the productions also come State Senator John De Francisco is quot- into the store to buy things for themselves. ed in the Le Moyne College study: “The arts “They say, it’s such a great town, they wish are not only the heart and soul of the com- Franklin, NY there were more stores and places to eat a munity, but are essential to economic devel- meal or get a cup of coffee.” opment. Without the arts, we cannot attract Cabinets and Millwork Most would agree that having a full- people who run businesses to locate and Kitchens Baths service restaurant in town, as we had five stay in Central New York.” Media Walls Home Offices years ago, made a real difference for the While past experience may suggest Libraries Paneling people who attended the theater, and for that a full-service restaurant cannot sup- Mantles many locals as well. With a place to eat a port itself in Franklin, if we looked at our late lunch or dinner, other shops opened resources, the major one being the Frank- Specializing in local, reclaimed wood up, providing something to do. In order to lin Stage Company, it should be possible to Will install downstate and in Connecticut take advantage of the potential dollars that take better advantage of this treasure and patrons of the theater bring into our com- benefit the entire community economically. Summer 2013 The New Franklin Register Page 9

FARM WORK

Photography by Dana Matthews. See more farm work at danamatthews.com

Page 10 The New Franklin Register Summer 2013

music fine arts literature poetry education ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT holiday fun LITERARY WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS at the By Bertha Rogers This past winter, Bright Hill launched its amazing Bright Hill Literary new tool, the SMARTBoard Center has been offering Electronic Learning Sys- library its Literary Workshops for tem, a portable system that Jim mullen reviews Kids Program since 1994, is a whiteboard, a movie originally at the home of screen, and interactive in- new books founders Bertha Rogers ternet implement with in- and Ernest Fishman - in the tuitive, multi-touch capa- dining room, studio, living bilities that enable natural GHOST MAN room, outdoors, etc. - until collaboration and bring By Robert Hobbs the organization purchased more magical moments to the 1865 house at 94 the classroom. Bright Hill Our hero is is professional hit man. He has no name, no Church Street in Treadwell. uses the SMARTBoard to phone number, no kids, no pets. And he’s, maybe, the nicest guy Within a few years, Bright explore participants’ place in the book. Like Dexter, the serial killer who only kills other Hill renovated and winter- in the local and wider serial killers, our guy only kills people that deserve it. This is ized the two-car garage on world by viewing webcams like a great police procedural in reverse: the bad guy is trying the property, turning it into of animals from the regions to figure out the rat-a-tat mysteries with plenty of violence and the BH Education Wing. we study. This past winter, Soprano/Godfather moments. But the real mystery of this book The space is a long rect- workshop kids studied the is its author, Robert Hobbs. This is his first novel and it’s certainly angle with wide doors at Waterbear (Tardigrade), a as plot heavy as anything by Lee Child or James Patterson, yet a few steps up the literary either end - perfect for the microscopic creature that ladder -- below P.D. James, but above Sue Grafton. And here’s the kicker: Robert Hobbs workshops, especially in is one of the most complex graduated from college in 2012. He’s twenty-three. Be afraid. Be very afraid. the summer, when the students have CANTERBURY TALES: A Retelling only to lift their By Peter Ackroyd heads to see walls of growing trees Since I didn’t have to learn French to read Madame Bovary and shrubs and the or Russian to read War and Peace, I’ve always wondered why BH Literary Gar- academics think we should only read the Can- terbury Tales den, complete with in the original Middle English, with its archaic words and cryp- a “Secret Garden” tic spelling. Most of us have slogged through a page or two for the children. of that and given up. Enter Peter Ackroyd with a wonderful The workshops prose translation into contemporary English of Chaucer’s most focus on the inter- famous work. I’ve always wanted to know why this book is so fa- action between mous; it sounds so very old-fashioned and out- of-date. What I writing and visual found was a book that was written six hundred years ago with large parts that seem as arts and are en- if they were written yesterday. The Wife of Bath’s Tale will still make you laugh. Chau- hanced with such cer also writes about a pilgrim named Geoffrey Chaucer who gets interrupted halfway themes as Native America; The SMARTboard at work through his tale by the other pilgrims because he’s soooo boring. How meta-modern the Catskills, when these of all known polyextremo- can you get? And Chaucer worked blue - the tales are surprisingly full of four-letter hills were under the Devo- philes, an organism that words and dirty jokes for a group of people on their way to visit a religious shrine. My nian Sea; and origin leg- can thrive in physically or next hope is that Ackroyd will translate James Joyce into English. I’d really like to get ends and folktales from all geochemically extreme past the first chapter of Ulysses someday. over the world. This year’s conditions detrimental to workshops look at the tales most life on Earth. The Tar- WHY DOES THE WORLD EXIST and folktales of Nigeria and digrade has survived trips By Jim Holt Ethiopia, Mexico and Gua- to space, and can seem to temala, and Southern Spain die yet be rehydrated af- If you ever wonder why the publishing business is in the toilet, and Italy. The workshops ter ten years. The SMART- it’s not because of the internet or Kindle or Facebook. It’s because are open to kids 6-14; vet- Board made it possible they continue to publish forest destroying, navel-gazing crap like erans of the programs of- for students to understand this. This tome tries to pass itself off as a deep-thinking, philosoph- ten serve as interns in both these animals on a more ical treatise written for those of us unlucky enough not to have a summer and winter. intimate and active level PhD in Philosophy. It is not. It is page after endless page of abso- This year’s summer than with traditional forms lute twaddle demonstrating that if you ask a silly question, you’ll intern is Meredith Ham- of learning. Workshop par- get a silly answer. merslag, now 16, who has ticipants then wrote about Actually, there’s a thought experiment that will let you experience this book without participated in the pro- the Waterbear and created reading it. Think of the worst, most boring required course you ever took in college and gram since she was six. dioramas that included it. multiply it by how many angels can dance on the head of pin. Then imagine that you will After taking some years Pooh Kaye of Worces- get no credit for taking the course. This will not come close to the misery of reading this off, Meredith rejoined ter, filmmaker, animator pointless piece of junk, but at least it will warn you off. Bright Hill in the winter of and internationally-known 2012 and is with us again performance artist, will DETROIT: An Autopsy this summer. Meredith is a be teaching an animation By Charlie LeDuff master of many of the tech- workshop this summer for niques used at Bright Hill, the older students; they On the surface, this is a book about the Decline and Fall i.e., papier mache sculp- will collaborate with Kaye of Detroit, but it is really a book about a very clever, appealing ture, watercolor painting, to produce an animated reporter named Charlie LeDuff. It’s not a memoir so much as it pop-up books and cards, film, which will be shown is a core dump. Reading it is like sit- ting across the breakfast and drawing. Roxbury na- on the SMARTBoard; Doug table with him in his t-shirt and box- er shorts, telling you story tive Marlise Cammer, who Jamison of Treadwell, paint- after story of his home town. He has a brash charm that rarely just graduated from SUNY er and printmaker, will use fails, and he has plenty to tell about a city that has lost one half Oneonta and who served the SMARTBoard to teach of its population since its heyday, leaving only the people as college intern at Bright classical drawing. who cannot afford to leave. Detroit’s Katrina was stupid Ameri- Hill this past spring semes- Bright Hill, founded in can automobile executives who let Japan blow the city’s jobs away while they them- ter and also as editorial 1992, is dedicated to litera- selves walked away with all the silverware. Yet no FEMA trailers showed up, no levees intern, will be teaching in ture in its many forms and got fixed. Detroit was left to die. And Charlie says what happened to Detroit is slowly the workshops and other to encouraging and devel- happening to other cities all over the country. It just happens so incrementally, you don’t summer programs at the oping the skills of talented notice until it’s way too late to do anything. Center. Catskills youth. Summer 2013 The New Franklin Register Page 11 mon and Minor Treadwell were both carpenters and built many of the first resi- UpState dences in the village. The By Jane Carr name “Jug City” may possi- bly be due to their custom Arts of filling a 3-gallon jug of liquor every morning from Treadwell is a sleepy lit- gourmet sandwich or a pair the distillery near the vil- tle hamlet of less than three of socks. Barlow’s carries lage. Minor served as the hundred people situated on local organic lamb from first postmaster of the vil- Delaware County Route 14, Faraway Farm, and organic lage, holding that office for less than a half hour from eggs from Handsome Brook fifteen years, beginning in Delhi in one direction, and Farm, both in Treadwell. 1824. a half hour from Oneonta The Croton House on the In later years he made in the other. But it’s only other side of Roaring Brook fanning mills (to clean “sleepy” on the surface. Ac- Creek was in the past an grain) in a shop adjoining tually, Treadwell is a thriv- inn and an ice cream shop. his home across the brook ing enclave of artists, writ- Today it is apartments, and from the Methodist Church. ers, musicians the portico fur- Most of the homes along and photogra- nishes space the main road were built in phers, with the for artists to the nineteenth century and Treadwell Mu- set up a pot- the architecture is fantastic. seum of Fine tery display This year, the Stage- the creek, artists will be - a building showing two art- Art, the Bright and paintings coach Run Art Festival fea- selling their work under ists, a barn containing a large Hill Literary during the Fes- tures several new venues. tents. installation and a group show Center and tival. Across The barns at the intersec- There are also three ven- at the Franklin Stage Com- the homes and the street is tions of Warren Road and ues in the village of Franklin pany on Institute Street. studios of doz- the Oddfel- Warner Hill ens of artists. lows Lodge, Road will house And on July 6 and 7, many now the studio of Joseph a dozen artists A Door Must be Kept Open or Shut by Alfred de Musset of those studios will be Kurhajec, who spends showing their by George Bernard Shaw open to the public during summers in Treadwell and work together. Village Wooing the 18th annual Stagecoach winters in Paris and the Yu- Down Route Friday June 28 - Sunday June 30; matinee Saturday at 2 Run Art Festival. Over forty catan. Down Church Street 14, visitors Wednesday July 3 - Sunday July 7 artists will be showing their is The Bright Hill Literary will find the Wednesday July 10 - Sunday July 14 work during this free two- Center, where children barn at “Old day tour. can sign up for classes, lo- Soul,” where The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare Treadwell has had vari- cals can use the library’s reconditioned ous names at various times: computers and guest po- furniture, up- Friday August 16 - Sunday August 18; matinee Saturday at 2 Jug City, East Franklin, and ets read their work twice scale crafts and Wednesday August 21 - Sunday August 25 Wednesday August 28 - Sunday September 1 Croton. At the crossroads monthly. paintings are is Barlow’s Store, in busi- The Methodist Church located. On ness since 1841. Here you next door is a fine example the Treadwell for information about additional events at FSC can buy fresh produce, a of early architecture. Her- Green beside including concerts, rehearsed readings and performances by Mettawee River Theatre Company and Opera Oggi New York, please visit www.franklinstagecompany.org admission is free (donations gratefully accepted)

reservations are recommended [email protected] 607.829.3700

Chapel Hall 25 Institute St. Franklin, NY ADVERTISE IN YOUR HOMETOWN “Marriage with Albatross” by Zena Gurbo NEWSPAPER! THE NEW FRANKLIN REGISTER

CONTACT JIM MULLEN 607-829-5044 OR [email protected] Page 12 The New Franklin Register Summer 2013 annals of sustainability: solar leasing - two satisfied customers Bruce Habbegger and Marianne Neuber homestead a scenic hillside near Roxbury, caring for extensive orchards and vegetable gardens, bees and cats. Recently, they went solar, placing the panels on a barn Bruce had built with trees from his own land. The NFR asked them to share this experience.

NFR: Why solar? that is affordable, but then vides 24/7 remote monitor- any failure to deliver what cally (each is approx.3x5 BRUCE: Solar electricity is all equipment and main- ing of the system via their they have promised. Based feet) making a rectangle of a benign, cool system--no tenance costs become the “SolarGuard Monitoring.” on the positive experience approx 10x33 feet. SolarCi- noise or moving mechani- owner’s responsibility. But for this, the homeown- we’ve had with them, I ex- ty gave us a choice of frame cal parts, as with wind tur- SolarCity’s great inno- er must have a continuous pect them to be responsive. color, black or silver, but bines. Geo-thermal was vation, and one reason why high-speed internet con- NFR: And over the years...? we had no say in the panels considered for heat but it’s nection, with open ethernet BRUCE: Aging or under- themselves, which turned expensive and we’d have connection. We have only a performing equipment is out to be Kyocera, a high the additional expense dial-up connection, so they replaced by the company. quality product, and an in- of installing ductwork for ask us to do “hands-on” The “Performance Guar- dication to me that they are forced-air, or piping for hot monitoring, which simply antee” factors in normal making an investment in water baseboard or radiant involves a look-see of the heat. We built the barn in inverter box once a day or 2007/2008 with the inten- every few days. If the green tion of installing solar, so light is on, all is OK. Should it is oriented for optimum the system be underper- performance. Last year, we forming or down, warn- finally made the move, be- ing lights appear and we cause of SolarCity, who of- phone or e-mail the com- Bruce and Marianne at home fered an affordable solution pany and they respond. via their leasing program. their stock has tripled in six In four months of op- NFR: Why choose to lease? months, is that by bundling eration, we’ve had no prob- BRUCE: Purchasing the their projects nationwide, lems. They also ask that we system was too expen- they are able to reap all periodically hose down the sive. There are generous credits, rebates, and car- panels, but with all the rain tax credits available, both bon offsets, and then pass of late, plus the 45 degree federal and state, for those the savings on to the con- angle of the panels, they whose tax burden is great- sumer through affordable are as clean as new. I don’t Bruce in his garden and the solar panels on the barn Photo: M. Neuber er than ours. There are also energy projects. So leas- anticipate a problem here. aging, weathering and de- their and our energy future. rebates from NYSERDA, but ing provided the best value NFR: If there is a problem? terioration. I expect any NFR: And other equipment? one must use a certified and frees us from having BRUCE: I expect them to drastic aging issues would BRUCE: Since the panels (by NYSERDA) installer, to undertake repairs or re- be prompt and profession- be dealt with immediately. produce DC power, a de- so, for example, doing it on placement of any parts or al. They have guaranteed a NFR: Equipment details? vice called an inverter is re- one’s own would not qualify equipment. certain amount of energy in BRUCE: We have 22 pan- quired to “invert” the pow- for the rebates. SolarCity NFR: And maintenance? the lease contract, and they els, arrayed 2 by 11, with er to AC, which can then be offers a purchase option BRUCE: The company pro- must pay us annually for each panel oriented verti- See SOLAR, con’t on Pg. 15

Great Brook Solar, NRG LLC

Helping people declare energy indepen- dence since 1978!

Types of Renewable Energy: PV Solar Energy Solar Hot Water Geothermal Wind/Turbine Energy

Start yourself on the path to energy independence. The fi- nancial rewards are consider- able: lower heating or electri- cal costs, government rebates and tax deductions. Your ac- tions will result in a cleaner and more sustainable environment.

For more information, contact: FRED FELDMAN [email protected] 347-615-6816 great-brook-solar.com Summer 2013 The New Franklin Register Page 13 Some shrubs are more stand-alone plants, THE such as common lilac, smoke bush, Peegee Hy- drangea, full sized Burning GARDEN Bush and nearly all trees. Once they are established, NOTES ON are capable of climbing GATE you need do nothing but into a tree are rosa alba By Penelope R. King enjoy them. LOCALLY “Mme. Plantier” (as a class, Perennials that are easy the albas tolerate shade Low Maintenance Gardens to grow and maintain their HARDY ROSES better than most other looks throughout the season roses), and the gallica Many people want low include all hostas and day- By Jack Siman “Complicata”. The gallica maintenance gardens. lilies. Critters will sample “Charles de Mills” does Some people like to look but don’t care for them and slugs may attack hostas, but they I hope you were able well on a trellis, as do any much weeding, tweaking, pruning or mov- are still worth it as they establish quickly, to attend the first of the other medium to tall grow- ing and adding plants every year, peren- grow fast and are versatile. Some daylil- Franklin Garden Club’s ing roses with long, wiry nial or annual. Some folks just don’t have ies are called re-bloomers, meaning they Garden Lecture Series canes and an open growth nd the time to devote to keeping beds look- bloom in flushes throughout the summer. on March 2 . If not, or if habit. I suggested rosa ing good. And some of us have been gar- Only buy re-bloomers that start in early or you would just like a re- centifolia “Tour de Mala- dening for years but are getting on in age. early-mid season, usually noted in catalogs minder, here are the roses koff”, the alba “Madame Aging gardeners may need to cut back. I at E for early and EM for early mid-summer. I mentioned in my talk Legras de St. Germain” and am one of them. We don’t have the ener- If you choose a variety that blooms mid or that night, in their context. the species rosa rubrifolia gy or muscle mass we used to. I used to late, you will rarely get more than one flush Old garden roses hardy (also known as rosa glau- work easily every day for eight hours, and of bloom. Two varieties I find reliable are in our area are albas, cen- ca). All double as excel- lift and carry fifty pound bags of fertilizer ‘Pardon Me,’ a nice clear red and ‘Happy tifolias, damasks, gallicas, lent roses to train on pillars. without any effort. No more. Now I work Returns’, a light yellow sport of the famous mosses, and the recur- For hardiness in modern six hours and carry twenty pounds. If you ‘Stella D’Oro’ which was the first all sum- rent portlands. A handful roses, I mentioned the are like me, you don’t fancy the changes mer re-bloomer. There are others. I recom- of bourbons and hybrid Canadian Department of too much, but there isn’t anything to do but mend the Gilbert Wild catalog which has perpetuals will also make Agriculture’s Explorer se- adapt. hundreds of varieties listed and pictured. it here. Two of them are ries (purportedly hardy to So how do we create low maintenance More good long-blooming perennials the bourbon “Bourbon zone 3), the Brownell “Sub- gardens? There are several criteria: we that animals are less likely to eat include Queen” and the hybrid Zero” group, the Griffith need plants that usually take care of them- peonies, Centaurea Montana (it flops af- perpetual “General Jac- Buck roses (hardy to zone selves; designs that look good throughout ter bloom but a quick sheer and it will quemont.” Check with your 4b), and some of the Ger- the year; tough plants that can handle our bloom again and again), Coreopsis verti- dealer about the cold har- man bred Kordes group. winters and are rarely chomped on by wild cillata, Phlox, Heucheras (many new culti- diness of others in these The four suppliers I recom- critters; plants that have a long bloom pe- vars with beautiful foliage but be careful two classes. One of the mend are: Roses of Yester- riod, and plants that look good even when to choose those with a good track record), toughest groups is the ru- day and Today (www.ros- not in bloom. Dianthus varieties, perennial Geraniums gosas and their hybrids. esofyesterday.com), Antique Weeding is also an issue, but it helps to (buy ‘Brookside’ to replace other blue cul- The three hardy, architec- Rose Emporium (www.An- create edging that can be maintained by a tivars as it flops much less), Nepeta, Hel- tural shrubs for the larger tiqueRoseEmporium.com), mower. So does mulch. And mulch keeps lebores, Allium varieties, Anthemis kelw- border are rosa roxburghii Hortico, in Canada (www. moisture in, so there’s no need to water un- eyii, Anchusa, Boltonia, Astilbes, Rogersia, f. normalis or “Chestnut hortico.com), and Picker- less a plant is new to the garden or we are Stachys (or any silver foliaged plant as ani- Rose” (with single blooms - ing (www.pickeringnurseries. having a drought as we did last summer. mals don’t eat them), and Sedum varieties the double form is not har- com) - also in Canada. Be Shrubs take less care than most flow- (ground covers and ‘Spectabile.’ dy up here), rosa moyeseii warned: Pickering seems ers, and they create interesting textures in If you already have flower beds, you “Geranium” and the larger to be struggling lately with the garden. They can bloom for substantial can start replacing pain-in-the-neck plants specimens of the rosa ru- getting their orders straight, periods and create winter interest. Pick with some of the above, though there are gosa group. but I’ve used them for de- either very slow growing evergreens or certainly more to choose from. If you are Smaller-scaled roses cades and do like them. shrubs whose mature size will fit in your planning new beds, make sure someone for the perennial border Hope this is helpful. It’s borders, foundation plantings or island does good bed preparation, digging at include all of the lower only a bit of the enormous gardens. Here are some that always be- least a fork and a half deep, getting out growers of the antique amount of information have themselves and look good all year rocks and adding new soil if necessary. roses. Gallicas, damasks available on roses, and the around: horizontal Junipers (pick ones that Then design beds so that new plants have and portlands have quite a sources are endless. stop spreading at four to five feet, so read plenty of elbow room. The bed may ap- few members at three feet labels carefully or consult a shrub book), pear a bit thin at first, but plants will grow and under. I specifically If you would like to con- Dwarf Albert Spruce, Bird’s Nest so that in three years you will have mature- mentioned rosa polyantha tact me for more informa- Spruce, Mugho Pine, Spiraeas, Potentil- looking gardens. Check for the ultimate “The Fairy” (recurrent), tion, feel free to do so. las, low-growing Ninebarks, Hydrangeas width size of plants as you plan, so your the moss rose “Alfred de ([email protected]) (watch out for those not hardy here, such bed will not be crowded. Add slow re- Dalmas” (recurrent), the Happy gardening! as the much touted ‘Endless Summer’), lease organic fertilizers or compost to the rugosa hybrid “Frau Dag- Barberry varieties, some shrub roses (in- holes as you plant. Then water well and mar Hartopp” (recurrent) cluding ‘Drift’ roses and rugosa roses), mulch so that the stems or trunks of plants and the portland “Comte short lilacs like ‘Miss Kim’ and meyeri pal- are not covered. You will enjoy more with de Chambord” (recurrent). ibin), and tree peonies. less work. Of the climbers, two that GARDEN LECTURE SERIES A BIG SUCCESS By Deborah Banks The Franklin Garden Club put Franklin on the map this spring with its garden lecture series. The six Saturday- night series started on March 2nd and ran through June 22nd, with the biannual Franklin Garden Tour providing a color- ful finale to the activities on June 23rd. Each lecture drew a crowd of forty to sixty people to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Franklin. The talks ranged from specifics on hardy roses and unusual woody and herbaceous plants, or practical thoughts on low maintenance and planting for four seasons of interest, to putting principles of art to work in garden design and designing a garden with rooms. Many of us delighted in Sondra Freckleton’s slides of her roses and peonies, followed by photos of her paint- ings of those same flowers. Another highlight was Don Statham’s photos showing the early days of his Totem Farm Garden and its evolution to present day, accompanied by his explanation of the design choices he made in creating his garden. All six lectures were enjoyable and educational, and the refreshment/discussion hour afterwards was also a hit. Stem infected with late Many of the attendees expressed delight in the series, and the hope that a garden lecture series will be offered again tomato blight. next year. Will we see any this year? Winter Page 142009 The New Franklin Register Summer Page 2013 12

Here we go again...get ready for your favorite literary dark ride. It’s our latest installment of... Advice from Jack: always carry a plastic baggie and MURDER AT THE FARMERS’ MARKET! remember to turn off the garden hose... Had the strangest dream the other night. As long as you have a baggie over your hand, is a nasty affair. Notice that they never touch as The Mississippi overflowed its banks and you’re safe. they battle. If you listen closely you’ll hear tiny washed away most of the town, including the Wilson’s dog was so weird looking now that squeaks. They hurl insults at each other until Masonic Temple. Strange because it wasn’t other dogs ran away with their tails between one caves in and flutters away, sobbing. raining and the Mississippi is about 1000 miles their legs. And cats, attracted by the feathers, away. Downhill from here too. collapsed on the ground laughing. If you took 100 identical sheets of glass But the sound of rushing water persisted. I We were headed for the Temple. and dropped them from the same height in the couldn’t get it out of my head. Then I realized When I returned Danny’s tools and caught same place, no two patterns of breakage would I’d heard that sound recently. Couldn’t place it. Clyde doing a Rotary two-step, I’d heard the be the same. The river, the carwash, my leaking water pump, sound of rushing water. It got louder as I head- This is Catskill geology. Each pane of glass my neighbor watering her dead zinnias? None ed down the stairs. Like it was coming from the is a different well. of the above. basement. NOBODY can predict what pattern of seis- Then like a flash, I knew. And I knew why. mic fracture will result from hydrofracking. Think I’ll borrow Wilson’s mutant dog and go Willie’s farmstand looked like a hunter’s Anything can happen. Many things have al- for a walk. blind, but he was a little confused. ready. We’re just waiting for the Big One. His dad was an expert and highly sought-af- I like to support local high school students ter decoy artist. Duck hunters from all over the Wilson’s dog shied away when I started into with big ideas, but when I handed my truck world were paying top dollar for his intricately the crawlspace under the porch at the Temple. keys to the runner at the Farmers’ Market Valet carved and painted decoys. This was where we found the first body. It still Service, I had a bad feeling. Not only did he They were beautiful. Stunning in fact. smelled of benzene. refuse to return my keys without enough tip, but When Willie found out that the Amish origi- I pushed open the swinging basement win- there were two hundred thirty-two miles added nally invented ShooFly Pie as a decoy for flies, dow and aimed my flashlight at the sound of to my odometer. he set to work carving, painting, and selling rushing water. The window slipped because of Don’t you hate that? perfect replicas of ShooFly Pie. the baggie over my hand and banged against the sill. Wilson’s dog moaned and dropped a It doesn’t hold up that the old ways are best. The executive mandate of responsibility to few feathers. Plain old sticky flypaper vs. toxic pesticide stockholders is presented with the holiness of Clyde is certifiably first-class bonkers. sprays. the Hippocratic oath when in fact it’s an excuse He’d set a running garden hose at the base of Old Man Wilber came into the General for lying, cheating, and stealing for corporate the central stone foundation pillar slowly wash- Store last week to renew his annual subscrip- gain. Good business is judged by how many ing away the earth that supported the stone. tion of flypaper. The print was so small. people you fool. Just because it’s corporate pol- Sooner or later that foundation would shift if not We were shocked. He used to have plenty icy, that makes it okay? collapse and the building would settle substan- of scraggily hair that hadn’t been cut in years I don’t think so. tially. Who could say whether it would crack the except by accident. But now his head was as roof, split the walls, or cave in altogether? smooth and shiny as a Fava bean. Two guys pulled up to the pneumatic drive- I knew it. If he could get the building con- Anyway, he was sitting at his kitchen table through bank teller, waved a gun and said, ‘Put demned and the grounds cordoned off as dan- having a midday meal when an old flystrip, so all the money in a bag and send it out’. gerous, it’s bye-bye Farmers’ Market and Cof- heavy with dead flies that the thumbtack pulled The teller told them to get lost. fin’s legacy would be worthless. Clyde could right out of the ceiling, dropped onto his head So they shot the pneumatic tube machine argue that the only safe and appropriate action and into his plate. and drove off. would be for the town to require the sale of the He lost his lunch. And his hair. There was no These were the same two guys that robbed property. other way but to shave it clean off. the same bank a few years ago. If that just happened to be to the frackers, Like they say; a thumbtack in the ceiling is They wore stockings over their heads. the town could make a bundle on the initial sale like a bad bank robbery. Christmas stockings. and long term taxes. It doesn’t hold up. With their names on them. Suddenly, a flashlight lit me from behind. Ho, ho, ho. Wilson’s dog peed on my leg. I turned, held up Dogwalking is the perfect cover. Whenev- the hand with the baggie on it and smiled. er there’s an interesting window, pretend the Delicate creatures, those butterflies. dog is pulling you over to a convenient bush. Territorial combat between male butterflies To be continued...

Franklin Free Library Presents…2013 Summertime Arts, Education, & Just Plain Fun All programs are FREE and take place on Tuesdays at 10 AM at the Franklin Free Library, 334 Main St., Franklin

July 2 SHREWD TODIE & LYZER THE MIZER - Performed by Grian MacGregor & The IvyVine Players .(www.GrianMacGregor.com) For more in- July 9 MUSIC FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD : Tibet formation, call July 16 BAWSHOU & THE DRAGON - Presented By Bells & Motley , Music, Dance & Story- telling, accompanied by Chinese traditional stringed, wind & percussion instruments. Linda Burkhart (www.bellsandmotley.com) at 829-2941 July 23 THE PAPER BAG PRINCESS – Presented by the Merry-Go-Round Youth Theatre (www.merry-go-round.com) July 30 MOZAIC WINDS - Discover the styles, moods & sounds of music, presented by this talented woodwind quintet. Programs made pos- August 6 Li’L GALUTE KLEZMER GROUP - Join us for a lively presentation featuring: clari- sible, in part, by funds net, from The A. Lindsay & violin, bass & guitar. August 13 A SONG IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS - A roof-raising performance with Olive B. O’Connor Foun- Jesse, Rebecca, Sadiq, & Tina dation, the N.Y.S. Of- fice of Children & Fam- August 20 LITTLE DELAWARE YOUTH ENSEMBLE - Come hear a string performance of these ily Services through the local & very talented musicians !(www.LDYE.org) auspices of the Delaware Saturday, ANNUAL FRANKLIN DAY BOOK SALE – A huge selection of books at bargain prices. County Youth Bureau, August 24 All proceeds go to support our library! Sale runs from 9 am to 4 pm, Institute Street, and the N.Y.S. Council on Franklin. the Arts Decentralization Program, administered in August 27 FIDDLE TUNES & FUNNY SONGS - With John Kirk & Trish Miller: music, dance & Delaware County by The songs. (www.johnandtrish.com) Roxbury Arts Group, Inc. Summer 2013 The New Franklin Register Page 15

The Newspaper of Franklin Local The NFR in your mailbox...or your inbox! Editorial Board Ellen Curtis Carole Satrina Marner Live out of the area, or just too far from town? You can still read the NFR. Eugene Marner Hank Stahler Associate Editor: Brian Brock Sign up for mailed delivery. Editor Just $7.00 for a year’s subscription (3 issues, starting with the issue after we Marjorie Bradley Kellogg hear from you.) This fee will cover (ever-rising) postage and handling. The NFR is still free. HAVE AN OPINION? WRITE TO US! OR…perhaps you prefer to read your news on line? Send us your email address, and we’ll send you a PDF of the latest issue, as soon At: The New Franklin Register as it comes out. (The file is big, so if you have a dial-up connection, this will not be an P.O. Box 258 option for you.) Franklin, NY 13775 or by email: [email protected] SUBSCRIBER NAME: What are we about? ADDRESS: The Franklin Citzens’ Commission on Peak Oil was au- thorized on December 6th, 2005 by a Town Board Resolu- E-MAIL ADDRESS: tion. Our purpose was to assess the needs and resources of the Town of Franklin in the face of Peak Oil, and to report DELIVERY PREFERENCE (circle one): DATE TO START (circle one): back to the Town Board and to the people of Franklin. E-MAIL U.S.MAIL Summer Fall Spring Renamed as Franklin Local Ltd., we are a not-for- profit corporation made up of Franklin residents. We For mailed delivery, send this form with payment to: meet once a month, at 7 P.M. in members’ homes. All are Editor/ Subscriptions welcome, to offer questions and help us answer them, to The New Franklin Register share thoughts and ideas. P.O. Box 258 Please join us! Franklin, NY 13775 We have a number of projects that we hope to move from idea to action: (Checks should be made out to Franklin Local) • Local food production network OR • Skills and services exchange For electronic delivery (free), email your request to [email protected] • Goods exchange • Ride sharing bulletin board and/or website • Farm to School Program for school lunches DEC, con’t from Page 7 for sufficient staff and the tion incidents and violators • Community Greenhouses Testimony: Compel funds for effective enforce- in New York State Oil, Gas • Community Energy Production testimony by Director Field ment of the new robust and Mineral Resources an- • Community Health Network before the legislature on the regulations. Also, convene nual reports. In a nutshell, we propose to imagine a more energy history and status of oil, gas, Governor’s Advisory Com- Investigations: Trans- efficient habit of living, and to put it to work here in Frank- and brine pollution in New mittee on HVHF, which was fer responsibility for inves- lin, for a brighter, more sustainable future.. York State and of regulation to consider the costs of tigation of reports of oil, implementation but has not gas, and brine pollution to We hope you will join us! and enforcement by DMN. For meeting times, location and directions, email us at Review: Request a met in a year and a half. a state agency that has a Reporting: Post on proven history of putting [email protected] formal follow-up review or by STRONGER of the cur- line the results of routine the interests of the people rent oil and gas regulatory inspections and responses first, such as the Depart- check us out at our new website: program and the proposed to non-routine incidents, at ment of Health, perhaps franklinlocal.org HVHF program. least in summary. working with the Attorney Statutes: Amend stat- Transparency: Ex- General’s Environmental ues and the resulting reg- tend the existing publical- Protection Bureau. Printed in Syracuse, NY, by the Scotsman Press, Inc. ulations that govern the ly-accessible electronic Compensation: Im- DMN to add the purpose of database to include the plement Comptroller Di- The New Franklin Register is an independent entity protecting people, commu- pollution record of wells, Napoli’s proposal for a Gas funded by our local advertisers and contributions nities, and the environment. and fully report on pollu- Compensation Fund for from interested friends. We have no granting orga- Regulations: Codify those cases where regula- nizations to answer to, and no taxpayer dollars come the guide lines in the SGEIS tions fail, our way. and the earlier GEIS into law through regulations. But as things stand now, we would surely exceed our “guaranteed energy” limit Permit conditions, which the Division of Mineral Re- and have to pay the additional at the going rate. But we’ll have been substituted for sources has shown that it cross (or jump off) that bridge when we get to it. Perhaps regulations, should be re- lacks the resolve and re- then geothermal, or who knows, photovoltaic fabrics to stricted to those conditions sources to protect New York make curtains for the windows? unique to individual sites State. This long list of nec- NFR: So, you save money, but why solar philosophically? and new developments. essary reforms shows how BRUCE: The electric bill, while a welcome savings, is Resources: Budget far there is to go. the least advantage of solar power. A $750 annual bill is about what we pay for satellite TV or telephone, or if SOLAR, con’t from Pg. 12 we had high-speed internet. Electricity is comparative- fed to the grid or used in the home. The inverter is installed between the ly inexpensive for us. The reasons we chose it is are higher ones - the photovoltaic panels and the electrical service box for the house. In our environment, fossil fuels, coal burning, global warming, local utility mo- case, the AC power from the barn panels is backfed to the house, where nopoly, the future. The real problem is that we all use too much energy. the NYSEG meter reads it. There is a DC disconnect switch, mounted I’d rather see more conservation happening, but since America seems to separately or incorporated with the inverter, which shuts down the sys- have closeted Jimmy Carter’s warm sweater, I guess we must accept that tem in the event of a power outage or to service a malfunctioning system. energy use will escalate - so better that the power come from a non-fossil NFR: What does your system power? fuel source. By investing in solar, we help stimulate the industry, which BRUCE: The house is nearly all-electric: hot water, kitchen stove, water should bring prices down and make it truly affordable in the future. One pump, two freezers, one fridge, lights etc. We heat primarily with wood- should not have to rely on a company like SolarCity and the government -four cords a winter, with a supplementary kerosene heater (“Monitor”) to make energy affordable, but that’s where we are right now. in the kitchen--approx. 80 gallons per year. The house is also equipped Finally, producing one’s own power is both an act of independence with electric registers, zoned by room. We use electric for heat only on and a committment to others’ needs. It is feels good to know that by be- the coldest days or when we leave for an extended time. A future con- ing connected to the grid, we are supplying power to others who need cern vis a vis our lease agreement is the heating. Should we be unable to it, say in a city on a sweltering summer day, while here in the mountains, manage the labor of woodstove heating and have to rely on electric, then our panels are knocking out excess energy for others to use. Page 16 The New Franklin Register Summer 2013

RECENT REAL PROPERTY SALES IN THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN Date Address Acres Classification Assess. Price Seller Buyer

2/14/2013 1059 Grange Hall Rd 17.50 Rural res 94000 56000 Vicino, John F Tzortzatos, Markos 2/15/2013 Campbell Estates Rd 9.51 Rural vac<10 20000 10000 Gutbrod, Elmar Brummer, Cornelia 2/28/2013 586 Round Top Rd 5.49 1 Family Res 158000 166100 Giordano, Robert Erdman, Francis H Jr 3/10/2013 5071 E. Handsome Brk Rd 77.63 1 Family Res 231000 41000 Cozza, Natale Curcio, Franco * 3/15/2013 76 Water St 0.28 1 Family Res 103000 82000 Bard, Susan M Eubanks, Charles 3/18/2013 2835.2837 Case Hill Rd 13.20 Rural res 87690 19900 Tash, Betty Barbieri, Nicholas 3/22/2013 1669 Ed Klug Rd 53.45 Rural res 170000 195000 Fini, Robert Smith, Thomas R. 3/22/2013 Dougherty Rd 98.80 Rural vac>10 84000 57000 Delango, Louis Pravato, Nicholas 3/27/2013 790 Campbell Rd 6.03 1 Family Res 151000 1 85000 Ludwig, Jutta Guerci, James J. 4/3/2013 6583 Dunk Hill Rd 135.90 Rural res 290000 540000 Soke, John Blue Chestnut Farms LLC+ 4/5/2013 1379 Fleming Rd 6.00 Mfg housing 20000 18500 Graham, Sharie Kim Salig, John A 4/12/2013 Grange Hall Rd 16.00 Rural vac>10 34000 32000 Klamerus, Lorraine Harrington, Kevin 4/25/2013 1480 Leland Hull Rd 20.00 Mfg housing 70200 71000 Wengenroth, E. L. Wenke, Thomas A. 4/26/2013 7185 Dunk Hill Rd 10.20 Dairy farm 91000 21950 Terry, Matthew L Decker, Maia MT * Relative, Partial interest + Substantial change

FRANKLIN TOWN BOARD MEETINGS

Town Board meetings take place on the first Tuesday of the month, unless otherwise specified, and are held at 7:30 PM at the Town Sheds at the intersection of NY State Route 357 and County Route 21.

The current schedule is as follows: July 2nd August 6th September 3rd st October 1 Budget workshop November 12th Budget hearing December 3rd Your locally owned farm & pet store December 27th Organizational Meeting Afton,NY Sidney,NY Delhi,NY (607) 639-2331 (607) 563-9797 (607) 746-2314 To confirm, call the Town Clerk at 607-829-3440