A base-wide exercise will be held starting Tuesday on Langley Air Force Base in Virginia Beach.
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As a result of tough budgetary choices by the Town Board and sacrifices by municipal employees, the unexpended balance in Woodstock’s general fund has climbed from nearly zero a year ago to approximately $240,000 today, reported town supervisor Jeremy Wilber at the board’s April 10 meeting.
While the quarter-million-dollar cushion falls short of the amount recommended by the state — roughly $350,000, or 8 percent of the town’s current general fund appropriation of $4.47 million — Wilber welcomed the recent improvement as “a good, solid first step.” The supervisor, who took office at the beginning of this year, praised the previous Town Board for making “excruciating cost-cutting decisions” when it formulated the 2012 budget last fall.
Salient features of that budget included across-the-board cuts in departmental spending, a freeze on employee wages, and a hands-off approach to the unexpended fund balance. in previous years the board had transferred, or appropriated, unexpended funds from one budget to the next, as a way to offset rising expenses while minimizing tax increases.
Such a maneuver backfired in 2011, however, when town officials belatedly discovered that unexpended funds did not exist to cover a $220,000 transfer made at the end of 2010. as a consequence, the town government scrambled throughout 2011 to reduce spending in order to repair the deficit. those efforts culminated in the adoption of the current budget, which left a restored fund balance untouched, but raised taxes for the general fund by 11 percent. (At this time last year, said Wilber, the fund balance was $12.)
In an April 11 interview Wilber said that in conversations with bond-rating agencies he had vowed that the town would not appropriate unexpended funds at the end of this year unless, “by a miracle,” the balance exceeds the state’s 8 percent formula. meanwhile, the Town Board at its next meeting, on April 17, will discuss the 2011 annual report on the town’s finances, which was recently prepared and released by Woodstock’s outside accounting firm, Kimball & O’Brien of Kingston. Copies of the report are available at the town clerk’s office for perusal by the public.
All board members were present except councilwoman Cathy Magarelli, who has been caring for a relative out of state in recent weeks. other items on the meeting’s agenda included the following:
Zoning amendments. The board referred to the Ulster County Planning Board for its review and recommendations a package of proposed local zoning amendments related to matters such as regulations governing the takeoff and landing of aircraft, an extension of the Hamlet Preservation District north on Rock City Road to Mountain View Avenue, modifications of required setbacks from roads, and corrections of conflicts and ambiguities in the existing zoning law. some of the amendments were introduced as early as 2006, but still await decisive action. The referral to the county agency follows a recent local exchange in which the Woodstock Planning Board reconsidered the amendments and returned the package, with recommendations, to the Town Board. Councilman Ken Panza has served as the Town Board’s liaison in the process. several procedural steps, including an environmental assessment and a public hearing, remain before the amendments could be adopted and incorporated into the zoning law.
The package of amendments includes altered requirements for the Woodstock Planning Board’s review of municipal projects — a proposal, dubbed the “fast track,” that has generated some controversy since its introduction two years ago. Speaking at the meeting, Paul Shultis Jr., who is a current member and a former chairman of the Planning Board, sought to allay fears that the amendment amounted to a blank check for town-sponsored projects. “There are trigger points for site plan review and, in some cases, special use permit review, of municipal projects by the Planning Board,” said Shultis, citing a project’s size and water requirements as examples of potential triggers. on the other hand, he added, the avoidance of unnecessary, time-consuming reviews would save taxpayers money. Councilman bill McKenna concurred, noting that various events in recent years have illustrated the Town Board’s limited powers. “The Town Board can’t just go and do whatever it wants,” he said.
Street closure. following minimal input from residents at the sparsely attended meeting, the board closed a brief public hearing on a proposal to close Maple Lane to vehicular traffic from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays from May 23 through October 24, when the annual Woodstock Farm Festival will be operating in the area. The board will vote on the proposed closure at its next meeting.
URGENT agreement. Accepting a recommendation by the police chief, Clayton Keefe, the board voted to sign a “memorandum of understanding” for Woodstock’s participation in the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT) task force, which is directed by the county sheriff’s office. Wilber reported that Woodstock is due to receive, as its share of drug-related forfeiture funds from URGENT, about $5,000, which the town will designate for the purchase of police equipment. County sheriff’s personnel also provide training services to local police departments that participate in the task force. as a condition of Woodstock’s participation, said Wilber, he expects the county agency to focus its drug-enforcement efforts on curtailing the use of addictive pills, known as jelly beans, that resemble common aspirin. “It’s (those) pills that are killing our kids,” said the supervisor.
New table. The meeting marked the debut of a redesigned conference table for use by the board and other groups that convene at the town offices on Comeau Drive. The conversion of the old table was performed by councilman Jay Wenk, a professional cabinetmaker, for the cost of materials only; at roughly $300, the price was well below the original estimate of $550. at a reduced height of 28 inches, which Wenk described as the ergonomic standard, the new table eliminates the need for some town officials to sit on two molded-plastic chairs placed one on top of the other. Wenk retained the working surface of the old table — a notably heavy slab of chipboard, clad in black Formica — but replaced its legs with a pine base that features clear-birch paneling on the front and ends. The open side of the table, where its users are seated, has adjustable shelves where officials may store paperwork and meeting supplies.
Summer camp. Town clerk Jackie Earley announced that updated information on the Summer Recreation Camp at Andy Lee Field is available on the town’s website, woodstockny.org.++
Gareth Bale has revealed he turned down a move to Manchester United because he feared he may not be able to force himself into the Red Devils’ first-team.
The 22-year-old, who joined Tottenham from Southampton as a teenager in 2007, says Sir Alex Ferguson was keen to bring him to Old Trafford – but the lure of regular football at Spurs convinced him to move to White Hart Lane.
“Man United were interested in me but I wanted to play first-team football,’ Bale told Match of the Day magazine.
“I thought I had a better chance of getting that at Tottenham.
“The manager at the time, Martin Jol, told me he wanted me to go straight into the first team.”
The 2011 PFA Player of the Year’s sparkling form at White Hart Lane is said to have attracted interest from a host of Europe’s top clubs, including the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid. 
With the 40th pick in SB Nation’s 2012 NFL mock draft, the Carolina Panthers select Nebraska LB Lavonte David.
The Panthers have had some injury issues at linebacker in recent years so they’re hoping David will be able to stay healthy in Carolina.
SB Nation’s Panthers blog, Cat Scratch Reader, explains the pick:
Panthers HC Ron Rivera indicated early on he is looking for impact players on defense, in particular the front 7. we also have a big question mark as to whether LB Thomas Davis can achieve what has never been achieved to date in the NFL; to return to the field after a 3rd ACL surgery on the same knee. Even the best case scenario warrants an early selection for one of the key positions in the Panthers 4-3 base defense; the weakside LB. Lavonte David not only fills that role extremely well but he also rises to the NFL in a manner similar to the guy he will back up.
David played the 2011 college season around 225 lbs but has since bulked up to 233 lbs as measured at the combine. the added weight didn’t affect his speed the slightest (4.56) and so, just like Davis he is being questioned as to whether he is a safety in the NFL. like Davis, Lavonte will put on a little bulk and settle in at WLB whenever Davis is not able too, whether that is this fall or another season or two. In the meantime he will also be another boost to our special teams unit.
On the field David brings the speed to cover TE’s out of the backfield, a talent sorely missing in 2011 without Davis or MLB Jon Beason. He shows a talent for penetrating the line and making tackles for losses both in short yardage and end runs. David has great football instincts, is physically strong and is a sure tackler, making him the kind of impact player Ron Rivera seeks from the WLB position.
For more analysis of the pick, visit Mocking the Draft. SB Nation’s Bills blog, Buffalo Rumblings, is on the clock with the 41st pick.
For more draft news on the Panthers, visit Cat Scratch Reader. And click here to follow along the rest of SB Nation’s NFL mock draft.
(CBS News) eleven Secret Service agents are on leave, accused of hiring prostitutes in Colombia while preparing for a presidential visit last week.
Obama: “I’ll be angry” if Secret Service scandal is true
Author David Baldacci has written a string of best-sellers about government intrigue. His first novel, “Absolute Power,” told the story of a secret service cover-up.
When asked if the scandal is giving him material for a novel, Baldacci said, “That’s why I like to stick to fiction. … I don’t like to rip stories from the headlines. I like to sort of blend my own stories together. but some of these facts might end up in a book later on down the road.
“But people are people, you know, and in my books I like to deal with the foibles and flaws that’s what people have. That’s what readers find interesting.”
As for the real-life scandal, Baldacci said “it never should have happened.” he added, “It was just a total mess-up. It’s going to affect the service for a long time.”
However, Baldacci said, the investigation, which may lead to more restrictions, training and scrutiny, may eventually be beneficial to the agency.
“As a former lawyer, I like to let the investigation do its job,” he said. “If the facts prove out the allegations, I think the repercussions could be swift. might be a culture that’s developed there, a negative one, and they’ll have to take care of. this might be a blessing in disguise to turn it around now.”
Baldacci’s newest novel, “The Innocent” tells the story of a government-hired hitman who has a change of conscience. “The Innocent” comes out April 17th. It Baldacci’s 24th book.
For more with Baldacci, including why he said he thinks being a lawyer helped him be a better writer, watch the video in the player above.
Image Credit: PR Photos
NBC’s new reality show is like Celebrity Apprentice run by a Navy SEAL.
The network has ordered Stars Earn Stripes (working title), a new competition series where Hollywood celebrities take on strenuous military challenges.
Nine famous names culled from various areas of performance and entertainment (TV, movies, music, sports) will gather at a military training facility. each will be paired with an experienced military professional who will prep them for the rigors of the show. the stars will face weekly challenges adapted from actual exercises practiced by the five branches of the armed services, as well as joint ops and Special Forces. Tasks will include missions like staging a hostage rescue and correctly placing a laser target atop a mountain. each week, one celebrity is discharged.
Stars Earn Stripes has a powerhouse team of executive producers, including mark Burnett (Survivor), Dick Wolf (Law & Order) and David Hurwitz (Fear Factor).
“when I see someone in a military uniform I make it a point to approach them, shake their hand and say five words: ‘Thank you for your service,’” Burnett says. “Stars Earn Stripes is a high energy, fun, action show, but at its heart it is all about those five words … Our celebrities are going to experience the high adrenaline that special forces and law enforcement encounter and will realize how very hard and scary it is to do those jobs. I encourage everyone who reads this today to say those five words the next time they see someone in uniform — be it military or law enforcement.”
The celebrities’ prize money will go to a military charity. the show’s intention, notes NBC’s description, is to “honor America’s veterans and active-duty servicemen and women, while providing action-packed entertainment for the home viewer.”
Added Wolf: “I think this is a unique opportunity to pay a tribute to our troops and first responders who put their lives on the line every day.”
Perspective Magazine announces that travel club membership company Travel to Go has increased its level of support by becoming a Gold Sponsor of the Third Annual Global Networking Expo, GNEX 2013 – the Global Meeting of Minds, scheduled for February …
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Coachella is a marketer's deepest fantasy: a captive audience of culture-obsessed young people in the hot demographic from teens to thirtysomethings with tons of disposable income. but if you're on the other side of the stage dividers, brands not only try to draw your attention, they practically heave themselves at your feet to plead for you to take their stuff.
I've been following around the young Kentucky rock band Sleeper Agent for a story to run later this week. the band is an endearingly scrappy sextet, but Saturday it had a brief foray into Gatsby-ish decadence at — deep breath — the 98.7 FM/Spin Magazine/Lacoste/Patron tequila promotional house a few miles outside the grounds. if you're a band playing Coachella, a big part of your day involves being shuttled around to offsite parties for radio sets, interviews and general gladhanding. Sleeper Agent was there to play a few acoustic tunes for 98.7 FM, but this event tilled some new ground in lavishness.
Of course there was an open bar and hotties scampering about to ply you with tequila-infused popsicles and as many carne asada tacos as your hangover could handle. obviously, there was a crystalline pool full of hipster Adonises asleep in Warby Parker sunglasses while splayed about on inflatable rafts.
COACHELLA 2012 | full coverage
But the real upsides happened around back. a few handlers would usher guest acts into the garage, which had been rejiggered into a preppy-beach-party closet ripped right from a Bret Easton Ellis narrator's idea of what greets you at the pearly gates. Bands could walk around and take whatever striped tanks, vintage one-piece bathing suits, yacht-ready sunglasses and boat shoes they could shove in a bag. a typical "gifting" grab bag would probably run a few hundred bucks retail. the only catch? they had to pose for photos with their haul beneath a grove of grapefruit trees in the backyard.
Sleeper Agent seemed pretty amused by the whole deal. being in a working band is actually rough work — no sleep, no apartment to come home to, 15-hour drives through West Texas to play for 50 people at a random Dallas bar. but sometimes, even when you're broke and exhausted and essentially homeless, you still find yourself at the top of the Coachella food chain.
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Photo: Singer Rihanna attends David Guetta's performance Saturday at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Credit: Michael Buckner / Getty Images for Coachella
The conservative Concerned Women for America said this week that motherhood is “the most important job there is.” I wonder if they'll be chastising Romney for his anti-motherhood approach to poverty. Of course not. Mitt Romney.
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Salon
April 16th, 2012 by admin
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