geddesblog

aurora borealis in Geddes tonight

2007-03-06T22:32:00.000-05:00

I took these pictures tonight, while freezing in my driveway. They were taken on a Kodak Easy Share Z730 on the Shutter setting. They were taken with a 4 to 8 second exposure, iso 400, aperture 3.4, and exposure bias ranging from 0.0 to 2.0.

I wish that I could have truly captured the beauty that I saw in the sky. This will have to do.

Click on images for bigger picture.

Thanks to Brett for tipping me off to the event.

The Gaudiest Advertising in the World = Kirby's

2007-03-06T18:01:00.000-05:00

I just can't let another moment pass with out mentioning the gad-awful Kirby's Ad/Tractor Trailer parked in the lot at Westvale Plaza. I am amazed that this is a legal way to advertise for your business. What a freaking eyesore, and it's been there all winter.

Time to move it on out.

p.s. The only saving grace that it has is that it takes my mind off of the empty Pep Boys building behind it.

Who Owns The Marble Farms Dairy Building?

2007-03-04T17:29:00.000-05:00

Does anyone know? I think that it might be the perfect site for a Syracuse Real Food Co-op Western branch. Especially if hooked up with a local organic dairy farm to get the milk and ice cream flowing again...

Plenty of room for a coffee, tea, and milkshake bar too. Free WIFI. Sound interesting to any ~~angel investors~~ one?

My Spring Project

2007-02-13T21:51:00.000-05:00

Something has been bothering me, gnawing at me on a daily basis as I drive by it.

It is the West Genesee St. medians across from the Wegmans plaza heading towards Geddes. Here's NYCO's apt description and accompanying "Zapruder film":

I’m sure everyone has had the mind-altering experience of one day looking at something very familiar and suddenly seeing it in a whole new way. Something you might have previously taken for granted, or totally ignored, one day really bugs the crap out of you and there’s no looking back. For me this week, it’s the Route 5/West Genesee Street medians near Wegmans Fairmount.

These are some ugly, ugly medians. They are about 10 feet wide — perhaps more than 20 feet wide in spots — and I can’t ever remember a time when they weren’t shabby-looking and overgrown with weeds, or when the asphalt wasn’t deteriorating. They remind me of footage I’ve seen of Russian cities where nobody much cares about weed control along the streets, or of depressed neighborhoods in American inner cities. I wonder… did these things ever look nice?

Ever since I reading her post, I have been thinking about ways that I could clean up this eyesore, and perhaps inspire others to beautify it.

So I am going to make it my spring project. Since finding out that these medians lie in the Town of Geddes, I think that I will start there at the town meeting. How about a "Welcome to Geddes" sign, a la Strathmore? Surely the members of the board would like to get behind a small beautification project to help brighten their constituents lives.

I think that some tasteful landscaping is possible, perhaps a wild flower bed surrounded by brick pavers? Perhaps a "Sponsored by Lowe's" sign (or Home Depot?) Whoever would like to pony up a (relatively) small donation to get the thing built, and a few hundred dollars a year to keep the flowers growing and the weeds pulled. Not a bad cost for a "in perpetuity" advertisement.

The other disgusting problem - Karma is coming back to bite me on this one - is all of the cigarette butts forming drifts up to the curb, especially off the exit ramp from 695. If you see a sign that says "The World is NOT Your Ashtray", you'll know who put it there. Maybe I can at least get the town to donate a push broom and a dust pan to my efforts.

Anyone interested in helping me push for this, email me at baloghblog [at] gmail {dot} com

Bye Bye Walmart - Camillus, you can have her.

2006-10-06T16:43:00.000-05:00

Inspired to post again at Geddesblog, here is a few farewell shots of the old Walmart in Fairmount:

I can't wait for Target, hopefully the building that they put in is reminiscent of their Fayetteville store, and looks less "big-boxish".

...though the environmentalist in me wonders why the heck they couldn't have retrofitted the Walmart to suit their needs and just put a new facade on the building. Seems like a tremendous waste of time, energy and materials...

Called out - Kirst is a Mindreader...

2006-10-06T14:58:00.000-05:00

As I toured the far end of Terry Rd. this morning, I saw a beautiful sight: an OPEN sign in neon, and newly painted parking stripes on the lot of the newest "geddes" area development. Renee's Salon is the first tenant of the new commercial building that occupies the land that this used to stand on:

Now I didn't have my camera at the ready, so I'll have to swing by there and grab a comparison pic tonight. What a turn around though. And to see it come to fruition has been wonderful. A dump turned into an oasis.

I've been thinking about leasing one of the spots in there and opening up a coffee shop, and small book store. What do you think? Worth the investment? Would you stop in for a cup of fair-trade coffee, free wi-fi with any purchase, and a small collection of books to peruse and purchase? Speaking of investments, any angel investors out there with some start up money? (heh heh).

I agree with Sean, the stone work and landscaping really works for me too.

~~Like I said, pics later.~~

UPDATED:

[View from the road]

[up close - Mrs. B loves the little flower cart!]

What a difference, huh? I am excited to see what fills in the other shops. I think that this building should be a big hit overall, and has brightened Taunton Corners.

Unhappy median

2006-09-18T06:45:00.000-05:00

I'm sure everyone has had the mind-altering experience of one day looking at something very familiar and suddenly seeing it in a whole new way. Something you might have previously taken for granted, or totally ignored, one day really bugs the crap out of you and there's no looking back. For me this week, it's the Route 5/West Genesee Street medians near Wegmans Fairmount.

These are some ugly, ugly medians. They are about 10 feet wide -- perhaps more than 20 feet wide in spots -- and I can't ever remember a time when they weren't shabby-looking and overgrown with weeds, or when the asphalt wasn't deteriorating. They remind me of footage I've seen of Russian cities where nobody much cares about weed control along the streets, or of depressed neighborhoods in American inner cities. I wonder... did these things ever look nice?

The very worst parts of it are right by the end of Route 695 -- adjacent to the Off-Ramp to Nowhere, a now-deserted mesa where human sacrifices to the Snow God were performed by the local high priests in ancient times. (The Off-Ramp to Nowhere is, in itself, a mildly interesting story of a neighborhood-slicing bypass that never got built, but let's leave that for another day.)

This partial aerial view doesn't really convey what it's like to drive past these things every day, so I took a movie of the drive instead.

A couple of notes about my little Zapruder film. It starts at the Terry Road intersection and proceeds west past three of the four medians (seen on the left), coming to a stop in front of the fourth and final one (which is about 20 feet wide, if not more). The picture quality isn't that great, but hopefully you can observe the lovely fringe of weed and the weary asphalt surfaces.

Also, note the white blobs on the ground next to Median #3. When I first really noticed them, I was confused because I knew it wasn't crabapple blossom time -- and in any case, there are no crabapples along the road there. No, those are cigarette butts, piles of them, shifting like sand or snowdrifts. Yes, as people wait at the light to turn left into Wegmans, they toss their ciggies right there. (Either that, or there is a weird traffic-turbulence current that is piling them all there.) It was realizing for the first time what this white pile was made of, that made me grossed out enough to write about it -- and this video doesn't even convey how thick the drifts sometimes get.

This particular stretch of road is a median in two ways. Not only does it separate two sides of West Genesee Street, but this series of dividers happens to be almost right on the Camillus (Fairmount) and Geddes town border. Unfortunately (in my opinion, anyway), the net effect on the two towns' appearances is not the same. By a slight quirk of topography, you get a different overall effect driving by these medians depending on which direction you are headed. If you are headed toward Geddes, you are going slightly up a hill into a wooded, suburban area, and you might not notice the sorry condition of the dividers that much. However, if you are headed west, toward Fairmount, what you get is totally different. Fairmount being a dense commercial district along West Genesee, the stark, weedy expanse of these dividers just adds significantly to the overall sense of haphazardness, clutter, and anti-greenness. Unless you think the weeds are "green enough" -- but while the common chicory (Cichorium intybus) blossoms in July can be very pretty, I think somehow we could expect a little more than just Mother Nature's bounty.

In starker terms, it makes Fairmount look (even more) like crap -- but these medians appear to be wholly located in Geddes. There may be similarly neglected highway dividers in other burbs around town, but these are probably the ugliest in a highest-trafficked suburban area. Of course, the high traffic is the reason for the dividers, and part of the reason why you can't just plant some petunias there and hope for the best. If you sent out some homing pigeons with miniature pollution detectors in the greater Geddes-Fairmount area, you would probably find lots of air pollution from all those tailpipe emissions -- and just as many of these cars are headed for points west as well as points east.

So why hasn't anyone done anything about this?

First, it's possible that the dividers are trapped within Doug Adams' famous SEP Field ("Somebody Else's Problem" Field). The maintenance of the roadway is possibly under county or even state jurisdiction. I don't know if it's fair to hold the Town of Geddes fully responsible for their appearance, so this post should not be taken as a slam on them. However, that may not get Geddes and/or Camillus town officials -- and ultimately local residents -- off the hook from noticing and tugging on the shirtsleeve of whoever does have the responsibility for upkeep of the dividers.

Second: in an imperfect world of physical and budgetary realities, what to do? I think flowers have already been eliminated as a possibility. But you can at least make a quick list of potential solutions besides flowers, such as: (1) removing the asphalt and replacing it with attractive, weed-resistant pavers or gravel; (2) keeping the asphalt but hiring someone fearless to weed-whack or apply herbicide to the weeds on a regular basis; (3) planting grass; or (4) putting realistic fake turf in. (Ironic that many people don't want fake turf at the baseball stadium in Syracuse -- whereas fake turf might be a terrific, if high-end, solution for this problem. So if there are city officials who are really counting on a sweet deal for their fake-turf-selling friends, maybe they could be directed out our way instead.)

One last thought: If no one wanted to pay for a solution, perhaps Benderson could get involved. Benderson is the company that is planning on revitalizing good old Fairmount Fair (which will start soon with the construction of a new Target) into a nicer shopping destination. Although the worst stretches of Dividerland happen to be closer to Wegmans (which is in Geddes), they are a gateway into the Fairmount Fair area as well (which is in Camillus), and it would only enhance the image that Benderson is trying to create. They haven't got a whole lot of real estate at FF to work with in the first place, so why not "expand" into the road that is going to bring in most of their traffic anyway?

Salt City Roasters

2006-08-07T18:32:00.000-05:00

Mrs. Balogh and I just checked out the new restaurant in Fairmount - Salt City Roasters. We were more than satisfied with our meals. Not being that adventurous to start out with, we both opted for 1/4 chicken white with 2 sides.

The chicken was moist and smoky with great skin. Better than Boston Market, 2 steps above Wegman's rotisserie (which we like very much as well). Served as boneless breast which was a plus. The sides we more than ample. I had the stuffing and salt potatoes. The potatoes were fresh and delicious, in real butter (or at least it tasted just like it...) The stuffing was good, maybe a little heavy on the herbs in my opinion. My wife had some homemade mac and cheese, and the potatoes which she raved about.

The staff was very friendly. Go support this new local establishment and enjoy a great meal!

Next time we'll delve into some of the other appetizing sounding options like the roast pork, meatloaf, and pot pie...

Sad to see it go... Doust Gallery to Close

2006-05-06T10:31:00.002-05:00

That's what the sign on the street corner said anyways. That is too bad. Though, it must be tough to keep a place in business when you are only open 2 days a week. Stop by there for some great prices on home decor items, and wish the owner well.

Not to fear, the Geddes blog is not dead...

2006-05-06T10:28:00.000-05:00

I was just overstretched for a period of time, and trying to keep up writing for 3 blogs, work full time, and have a life was becoming a little difficult.

Look for updates soon.

balogh

Ask and Ye Shall Receive!

2006-02-18T10:24:00.000-05:00

Not that I take any credit for it, but it is nice to see this eyesore removed:

(before)

(after)

Hopefully the architects will create a building that fits into the style and character of the area, and that they don't hire the same design firm that created this gem as their signage:

My question to you is, if you were in charge, what would you like to see go into this small business plaza? Comments below.

Coming soon:

2006-02-15T07:53:00.000-05:00

The next local business to be reviewed:
Sanctuary Spa on the corner of Terry Rd. and West Genesee St.

email me any thoughts on the business at baloghblog [at] yahoo.com

First impression - incredible job fixing up that old home on the corner!

Town Meeting last night

2006-02-15T07:39:00.000-05:00

I attended the Town Council meeting last night. Two quick points of interest:

1. The Byrne Dairy scheduled to be built in Lakeland seemed to have support among most constituents, despite what appeared to be a harsh tone. The residents that spoke up passionately against the store were more against the hours of operation, and increased traffic on the side streets that would affect local homeowners.

I have to agree - why does a Byrne Dairy in Lakeland have to be open 24 hours a day?!? Will they really be doing that much business from 12-6 a.m.? Shut the lights off, lock up and come in early in the morning again. Sounds simple to me. The issue of safety for residents and workers is a valid issue.

As far as the traffic goes, I don't think that it is realistic or good for the town to try and limit "traffic" on State Fair Blvd. It is the main road into the business district there, and anyone who bought a home on it, must have realized that from day 1. For the side streets, I think that it is a legitimate concern regarding speeding and blowing stop signs, and cutting through into the parking lot. I have to imagine that this could be curtailed with new street lights, increased law enforcement of stop signs and speeding in the area.

I think that if these issues are addressed, then there will be little opposition to a vacant building with no purpose being torn down for the addition of a Byrne Dairy.

2. The town website will be updated soon, and they will be working on getting meeting agendas up ahead of time, so that residents can find out what is up for discussion and vote prior to the meeting, and then have minutes of the meeting afterwards to review.

I left early - It was Valentine's Day, you know... Anything else interesting happen? Any comments?

New Thread on Geddes Electric Commission

2006-02-02T22:55:00.000-05:00

There has been plenty of interest and debate over the idea of expanding Solvay Electric to the entire Town of Geddes area. I will summarize both sides of the debate, and welcome expanded discussion of it. I see merit in both arguements, and to me (so far) they carry equal weight.

1. For those living in the Village of Solvay (and Lakeland):

I think that Solvay Electric is the best thing that the village has going for it, and it is the main reason for me to stay in an area that is taxed higher, and has a lower ranked school (education wise) than Westhill. I don't believe that it should be expanded because all it will do is cause people to leave the village for the Westhill district, and will increase energy rates for those that already have Solvay Electric service.

2. For those living in the Town of Geddes outside the Village of Solvay:

There is no reason that the rest of the town should not enjoy reduced electrical rates that the village currently pays. We should be able to expand the municipality to allow increased energy distribution to homes in the rest of the town. Bulk purchases of energy are still below NatGrid rates, and would save residents hundreds of dollars. Cheaper energy would also boost property values for the entire town.

As I said, I can see both sides of the argument.

Time to stir the pot, and play devil's advocate:

Do we really need two separate police forces? Separate governments? Zoning boards? Garbage pickup? And yes, even - school districts? Would a broader municipal government and municipal electric be a better choice for residents? Would combining Solvay and Westhill high schools into a larger comprehensive district improve education to all within the town borders?

Wouldn't we save taxes, reduce governmental redunancy, and decrease energy costs for all?

Deeper questions: Would Solvay School District residents share their muni power with the rest of the town in order to meld the district into Westhill? Is this even possible? Would Westhill school district residents welcome their classic rivals into the district in order to raise education levels? Would anyone be willing to cede power to streamline the government, save taxes, and pursue consolidation?

My guess is none of this will take place. But it will at least get people to start thinking outside the box. People in the village need to start thinking seriously about what they would want out of the deal. There must be something worth having the rest of the town included in muni power. You have powerful bargaining chip. Is it worth not taking advantage of it to say, "we have it, you can't and that's just the way it is"? For residents outside of the village, what would we be willing to spend or do to get the muni power? Should we not still provide some incentive to stay within the Solvay borders for residents and potential homeowners?

Now that I have gotten everyone fired up... Start firing away.

New Local Business in Solvay -- Euro Delicatessen

2006-02-02T22:28:00.000-05:00

The Euro Delicatessen is located at the corner of Milton and Cogswell at the bottom of the hill. I have seen the Grand Opening sign as I made my commute into work, and had to stop in. My wife and I were greeted at the door by the owner, who was extremely nice and gave us the tour of the place. I am not sure if it is a family business or not (I didn't ask) but all 3 people working were very helpful and happy to have some new customers. They asked me to spread the word and handed me a few flyers to pass out:

(click to enlarge)

This is the best way I know to pass them out to people in the area. This trio of Ukrainians offer a authentic trip to an Eastern European Deli. Smoked meats, fresh bread, shelves filled with imported beverages and juices. We went with the smoked bacon and smoked ham (canadian bacon) as well as pelmini (meat-filled pierogies). My wife also picked up some imported tea. The shelves were stocked full, and offered quite a selection. The "tasting" that is mentioned in the P.S. of the flyer was an interesting "corn nectar drink" which tasted like a delicious honey beverage. The deli was set up for hot items which the owner promised would come soon, and he also mentioned that the upstairs overlooking the rail line would eventually be open with tables to enjoy sandwiches after purchase. The smoked salmon was a quick sell out, and I was sad that I missed it. I will be back in for a few more items soon.

I cooked up the Pelmini tonight and served it with sour cream. Delicious! I highly recommend a trip to the Euro Deli. It is a taste of Europe in our backyard.

Support our new neighbors as they get their business up and running. Can't wait for the hot food.

Leave a comment with your experience at the Euro Deli, and let others in on this place. If your heading over there, print this out, and let them know their neighbors are supporting them.

Support Local Business: Camillus Cutlery SALE

2006-01-22T19:22:00.000-05:00

From the Post-Standard:

Well, look at this. There's Camillus Cutlery Co., right in our own backyard. Wouldn't you think they might have a big sale once in a while?

What's my point? Hey, you're pretty sharp.

One word: sale.

And you know if it's Camillus Cutlery, home to the famous Camillus Knives, this sale won't be dull.

Friday and Saturday, indeed, it's the 130-year-old company's inventory-reduction sale, it's first ever, I'm told.

It's noon to 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Inventory being reduced includes pocket and hunting knives and novelty items covering about 35 styles of knives. Have your knives at home lost their edge? Bring 'em in to be sharpened for $1 each. That service is free if you buy three items or more.

Cash only - and all sales are final.

Development Opportunity #3

2006-01-16T08:05:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know it's not technically in Geddes, but it is the southern gateway to Geddes. This miserable barely standing piece of "architecture":

The "house" and the brownfield that surrounds it needs to be bulldozed over and redeveloped. Why isn't this property valuable land? It is passed daily by thousands of cars, and must be zoned commercial, no? What about a small mixed use plaza with a coffee/internet shop, hair dresser/barber, and small retail? Add a few jobs to the local economy, and a few services that residents wouldn't have to bike, drive or walk very far to get to - sounds good to me!

Manny Falcone to chair committee to look into lowering electricity rates in Westvale

2006-01-12T07:36:00.000-05:00

From Syracuse.com Neighbors West Forum: (A thread on municipal power)

Good evening , last night at the Town of geddes board meeting the Town Supervisor appointed a committee to look into the possability of lower electric rates in the Wesvale area. I am Manny Falcone and I will be Chairing the committee, the meetings on this issue will be public informational meetings and the dates and times will be posted in the town hall, and I am also hoping to have them posted on the town website. if you have any questions please feel free to call me at 575-1858 , thank[s,] Manny Falcone.

I encourage all Westvale residents to come out in force to these meetings and help steer the committee towards municipal power for Westvale residents. I know that people from Solvay wear their low-cost power as a badge of honor, but there is no reason that residents from Westvale should not have the opportunity to decide if municipal power is right for them. (Lakeland already enjoys muni power, although not physically in Solvay.)

I will post updates on this issue and committee as it is a topic I hold near and dear to my heart. I hope to speak to Manny Falcone on the record (so-to-speak) and find out what the town is working on.

Baloghblog: Storing summer solar heat for the winter

2006-01-05T21:15:00.000-05:00

I had the reverse (converse?) idea of this earlier - capturing the winter cold, in the form of pykrete, to cool buildings in the summer. This planned community is doing the opposite, capturing heat from the sun and storing it for winter.

Via Treehugger, Drake's Landing:

How it Works

52-house subdivision to have space and water heating supplied by solar energy
Solar energy captured year round by 800-panel garage mounted array
Combination of seasonal and short-term thermal storage (STTS) facilitate collection and storage of solar energy in the summer for use in space heating in winter
Borehole thermal energy storage (BTES) is an in-ground heat sink for seasonal energy storage
Short-term thermal storage (STTS) tanks are central hub for heat movement between collectors, district loop (DL)/houses, and (BTES)
DL moves heat from the STTS to the houses

Location: Okotoks, Alberta. 51.1 deg N, 114 deg W, 1084 m elevation
Weather: Winter -33 C; Summer 28.3 C DB/15.6 C WB

Huunh? Alberta, Canada???

that's a tad north of Central New York even!

Pretty ambitious plan. Here is the link for how they plan to do it. Outside the box thinking to provide heating to residents - that is what CNY will need as the winters stay cold and the cost of gas and oil continues to climb.

(Yes I know that natural gas fell to $9 and change today, but I bet on the first cold snap she'll be right back up there to $12-14)

Took the Christmas Holiday off, now I'm back

2005-12-26T16:41:00.000-05:00

(long exposure on the Christmas tree)

Looking forward to 2006 and expanding coverage on geddesblog. Looking forward to getting more exposure and reader input as well. I could spout on for days on end, but it's much more fun and educational with feedback from readers. I would like especially to hear from local business owners big or small, as always my email is geddesblog [at] yahoo [dot] com.

What I am working on for next year:

Interviews with the newly elected councilors to the Geddes Town Board - including what their hopes and visions are for the future of our neighborhood.

More local business reviews and information on what services and products are available to you locally. (Remember to support your neighbors and shop local!)

2006 will provide many tax incentives for switching to renewable sources of energy and hybrid technology for cars on the state and federal level. I will be posting on how you will be able to save money while living a more "green" and sustainable lifestyle.

I will be putting more pressure on the local officials to update the Town of Geddes website, including posting the minutes and agendas of the town board meetings and planning board. This information is public record and should be distributed to the community in a timely manner. The local officials should be encouraging more participation at meetings and letting people know what is up for discussion would do just that. (The last, and only, available meeting agenda is from August 9th, 2005.)

Again any input on what else you would like to see here would be appreciated.

Cross posted: Regionalism - a renewal?

2005-12-19T20:50:00.000-05:00

York staters has yet another good comment regarding upstate regionalism:

As we attempt to solve Upstate New York’s problems, as long as we think of ourselves and our problems as primarily “American” we will be bound to a tiny number of options promoted by our centralized authorities. However, when we begin to free ourselves from what is an appropriate answer for America and identify ourselves with Upstate New York then we can begin to find new, uniquely Upstate answers.

In addition to an increased ability to flexibly respond to local problems, a regional identity would help to heal many of the psychic wounds that we possess in modern America. We are a rootless people, rarely possessing a sense of “place;” many of us even lack a spot that we can call “home.” How many of our people have no sense of where they are and who they are? How many just want to get away, but are never sure where they want to get to? While a strong regional identity would not solve all of our problems in and of itself, it would provide a solid foundation for communities to grow. As much as it is a physical place, a community is also a state of mind, a shared mental orientation.

[snip]

I feel that there is some hope for regional identities in this age of growing centralization. The last time I drove into Vermont, flying on the first house I passed over the border was the flag of the Green Mountain Boys and the symbol of the rapidly growing Vermont Independence Movement. When I drive through Johnson City, I occasionally spot a JC Wildcat flag. Perhaps someday, here in Upstate New York, locals we see no problem in flying the flags of their town, state and nation as equals in their hearts and minds.

There has been a lack of "regional pride" in the upstate region, as the sons and daughters of those stranded in the "rust belt" with lost manufacturing jobs, and an increasing tax burden as revenues from industry declined. This generation saw parents laid off, a lack of opportunity to follow in their parents footsteps, and difficulty finding work outside of the service industry. Regionalism died. Dispondence and apathy prevailed. There are still a whole group of people that live outside the Syracuse area, that take the time to post negative comments on the region and our local government on the Syracuse.com forums. Think about it, hating upstate so much that they take precious time out of their day, just to make snide remarks and discourage people from living in upstate. In a way, I don't blame them. There has been a severe lack of leadership from local politicians over the past 25 years. There was no foresight as the factories began to close, little investment in boosting technology company development that would help keep higher paying jobs in the area. Local government leadership continues to be questionable, and development while progressing, could be better.

Why do I see a renewal of "regionalism" then? Why am I living with more hope and optimism for upstate NY?

The generation that I grew up in was born into a Syracuse that had already undergone most of the transition from a manufacturing economy to a service economy. I can only barely remember a downtown shopping district with Sibley's and Chappell's. I still had wanderlust in my blood and spent three wonderful years in New York City working and exposing myself to the world outside of upstate NY. I am among a growing group of professionals that have returned to the area, yes, under our own volition. I am also reaching an age where I am beginning to realize the potential as adult citizens, to shape the world around us. Less in the way of complaining, more in the way of discussion that will lead to action - I seem to be finding a growing niche of people that feel the same way, who are proud to live in upstate, who want to be here and make life better for ourselves and our communities.

Now all we need is NYCO to photoshop up a flag for us "regionalists".

On neighbors... (Round 3)

2005-12-15T18:28:00.000-05:00

Since bringing up the topic of neighbors last week, there has been much discussion in the local blogosphere (can't they come up with a better word than that?). If you are just coming in to the discussion, you can:

Start HERE [sound of can of worms opening]

Next HERE [NYCO's blog]

Then go HERE [Racing in the street blog]

Sean Kirst from the Post weighs in HERE

And finally HERE [Round 2 at NYCO's blog]

First of all a touch of background: (the short version) I grew up in the burbs, went to school, moved to NYC (upper manhattan ethnic neighborhood) and then moved back into the town of Geddes.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the discussion that my initial comments brought on. I still stand by the thought that there is more than ample room for improvement in being neighborly to those in our community.

Yes in 2005, we're more bitter and crabby when we get home from the daily sludge, and yes, we seem to have "run out of time" to do anything worth while lately, without it feeling like another chore. We deal with all of those "other" bad drivers on the street and highway - too fast, too slow, too clueless... We deal with an entire generation or two of Americans that feel that they are entitled to whatever they want at that very moment - like a perverse version of Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I want the works
I want the whole works
Presents and prizes and sweets and surprises
Of all shapes and sizes
And now
Don't care how
I want it now
Don't care how
I want it now

But I digress.

NYCO discussed why people left the cities in droves in the 50's and 60's, and it is for the same reason that we left NYC in the 2000's. The schools are better, you want your own yard (even though the parks are beautiful), you want a little vegetable garden, and a space to call your own without annoying neighbors above and below you.

I still want those things, and I don't fault anyone else for wanting them as well.

I also agree that people didn't move to the burbs because they were excited to drive more. What disgusts me is not the suburbs of the 50's and 60's, but the single story, flat-roofed, strip mall laden outgrowths of the 80's and 90's. Our "old-growth" suburbs are in a much better position to weather higher energy costs, and maintain sustainability going forward into the future. Mixed-use redevelopment of the Geddes area and increased walkability is what I am working towards.

I don't want to even try to tackle the issue of the exurbs. In a way, I feel like saying - go ahead and take your gamble on a place 20-30 miles away from where you work, in a 3500 sq. ft. home, with a $300,000 interest only mortgage. I am comfortable in my decision to live where I live, and don't feel I need to tell others how to live their lives, to make me feel like I have made the right decision. There are a huge list of benefits to living in each type of area (city, suburb and exurb), and an equivalent number of negatives as well. No situation is ideal.

I lean towards but would not consider myself a "new urbanist". I don't want to live in downtown Syracuse. If I did, we'd have a incredible loft that we were fixing up in an old factory, and this blog would be all about how Syracuse needs to attract a grocery store and develop businesses that operate outside 9-5 hours, and how the city and county should combine into a more efficient local government and school system. People need to keep fighting for those things, and I'll leave it up to Sean Kirst, and Phil (Racing in the Street) to do that.

My focus is going to be on how we can improve our local situation in Geddes and the surrounding areas.

NYCO wrote:

My point is (and this is not directed at Balogh or Phil), there is often a dangerous amount of idealization of human desires going on when it comes to the suburbia debate. I think there is an honest desire to re-think and adjust the way we are living, and I feel pretty much on board with that.

I agree. I don't want to live on a commune either, with everyone "loving each other in perfect harmony". I don't want to force you to live there either.

I don't want you to give up your car, because I think that it is bad-
I want to give you more public transportation options in case you do want to leave the car home on a Friday night and go out. Or the ability to take a bus to work in the morning, and have a bus to take you home at night after 6 p.m.

I don't want you to give up going to the monstrosity of a mall to shop -
I just want you to have to option to shop locally for goods and services and support your hard working neighbors.

I don't want you to live in my back yard (and "up my nose") -
Because I want to grow a garden and share a few veggies with you (and your tent gets in the way of the good sun.)

I don't want kids to stop eternally playing videogames and going on playdates in Manlius and organized homogenized soccer tournaments in Rochester. (OK maybe I do)
But I am not going to tell you how to raise your kids. I just want to have safe streets and schools, and the opportunity for kids to ride their bike on the street without fear of death. And a few woods to explore and hike through.

More NYCO:

I also think that urban planners would have a much easier time if they concentrated on old growth burbs than on only tackling head-on the huge problems in the cities. The old-growth burbs are the "middle" of the ring system - they border the cities, the population is neither affluent nor destitute, and there are lots of opportunities to make things easier for older residents when you actually HAVE older residents to serve. (I see older people using the new sidewalks on Onondaga Rd. all the time.) So much about urban renewal seems based upon luring young people in, rather than taking care of the people who already live there.

AMEN! Geddes has many opportunities to better itself, not only for the sake of the "young" people we want to attract, but for the convenience of the elderly as well. A percentage of the population that is expected to grow intensely as baby-boomers come of age. Again with no common link in the community, school districts become what the world revolves around, neglecting a large portion of our local population.

Above I mentioned what I don't want people to have to do. Here is what I'd like them to do.

Become more involved in local government
Approx 10 people and myself attended the last town council meeting in Geddes. This is where decisions are made that affect your daily life. Everyone is so concerned about "neo-cons" and "liberals", and will spend hours and days engrossed in that, but will not take the 1 hour a month to attend the local town hall meetings and discuss issues that directly affect the community.

Wonder where your food comes from, and your merchandise that you are buying.
If you think about it, does it really make sense to buy an apple from Washington State, in the fall, when it is apple season in NY? Or milk shipped in from other states, despite the abudance of local dairy farms? All I ask is that you wonder where that new lamp comes from that your buying for Aunt Mabel, or the pocket knife for Uncle John.

And finally [/soapbox] have PATIENCE.
Bite your tongue when grampa cuts you off, or the new teller is ringing up items at a snails pace, or you've waited through 2 changes of the light. They're people just like you and me. They're our neighbors.

Where clouds are made

2005-12-14T18:35:00.000-05:00

When I have kids of an impressionable age, I will take them down to Milton Ave on a cold day like today, and tell them that this is where clouds are made...

Solvay Paperboard steam exhaust

From the company website:

Solvay Paperboard was literally raised from the ashes. The company was founded in 1994 on the former site of an abandoned chemical plant that produced soda ash. This “brownfield” site is located in the Village of Solvay, a suburb of Syracuse, New York. This site was deemed ideal for several reasons - it offered low cost hydroelectric power, an existing cogeneration facility was located across the street, and it was strategically located in a major northeastern metropolitan area ensuring a steady source of recycled fiber.

From Siemens:

Teamwork and technology have allowed the plant to produce 320-plus tons of paper per day, using a forest worth of bales made from old corrugated containers bought from companies and communities around neighboring cities. Working closely with its contractors, Solvay began making paper only 14 months after construction began.

Compared to virgin wood facilities, a recycling operation uses far fewer chemicals and so it lacks most of the smells and environmental hazards normally associated with paper production. “It is conservation and environmental sensitivity at its finest. We’re harvesting the urban forest,” says John Telesca, Project Manager for the site and a Vice President for Southern Container Corp. Telesca says that from the outset his company’s primary concern has been for the community and the environment.

From AMEC:

The project ultimately helped our client exceed their production and environmental goals. As a result, Solvay Paperboard’s newly expanded mill in Syracuse, New York is one of the industry’s most efficient consumers of water in North America.”

[snip]

Since start-up, the paper machine was already operating above design production levels at high efficiency with very low off-specification production. AMEC introduced an innovative water recycling facility that allows the effluent from Solvay’s two other machines to be used as process water for the new one. As a result, Solvay is able to reduce its effluent from the overall facility by 400,000 gallons per day. That is 400,000 gallons per day less than when only two paper machines were operating – quite an achievement.

(emphasis mine)

Solvay Paperboard is a company that our community can be proud of. I would like to hear more about the companies environmental practices. Anyone have any connections to the company? Email me at geddesblog [at] yahoo [dot] com.

What is a kilowatt hour in real life terms?

2005-12-12T22:16:00.000-05:00

Cross posted from baloghblog:

I thought that some of the residents of the west side and readers of the geddesblog would appreciate this post. As winter is upon us, and we begin to dread the ~~Nimo bill~~, I mean NatGrid bill. Many of us are looking for ways to reduce our energy consumption (and save a few bucks too!)

Did you ever wonder what that kWh stood for on your bill, or what 1 kwh was the equivalent of? Here is a primer for you: (more ideas HERE and HERE)

Unplugged living has a good post about what that little "kWh" from your energy bill is worth in real terms:

One of the most important steps in making the move to renewable energy resources or even just saving yourself some money by cutting back is to figure out what you’re using now. Once you know that, you’ll know what you can do without and the more you can do without, the less you’ll have to generate on your own (and the less you’ll have to spend to buy the gear).

I have been taking stock of what we have been spending the most money on energy wise in our house lately. Especially after I found out that things running on "stand-by" don't really use that much energy.

Here are some more real-life kilowatt hour examples from unplugged living (from sustainable energy blog):

A kWh of electricity means:

1200 electric shaves (> 3 years)
Slice 100 breads
Drying your hair 15 times
4 TV evenings
Listening to 15 CD's
Using a (small) refrigerator for 24 hours
20 microwave meals
Drill 250 holes
4 evenings of light with 60 W incandescent lamps
20 evening of light with 11 W compact fluorescent light

Aside: I am hoping that "Santa" leaves me a Kill-a-Watt Meter under the tree. Then I can get to the bottom of what uses the most energy in the house.

Related to energy efficiency, here is a great tool that I found that National Grid, our local energy utility provides to its customers online:

electricity use (click for enlargement)

It is a historical view of my electricity use over the last year. A good way to put it all in perspective. There is also a chart view available and the same chart and graph is available for natural gas use. The only complaint I have is that the current month is on the left hand side of the graph running back into your history of usage towards the right side. (Chronological graphs usually run the opposite direction.)

Two things you can quickly surmise from my graph: 1. That central AC unit uses a lot of power in the summer months* (but we already knew that), 2. We are doing a good job at reducing our energy use - November down 32% compared with Nov '04, and December '05 down 26% from the same month last year.

This tool will help positively reinforce the changes that we have been making to our home and in our lifestyles.

*I am of the mind that there are pleasures in life that should be taken advantage of while they are around. If, G-d forbid, peak oil comes quickly, I will have not regretted one day of central AC use in the summer. There will be plenty of sweltering summers to sweat through then... Besides, what this graph doesn't tell you is that all of our energy is from renewable sources - wind and small hydro.

Ask Jerry at Syracuse.com

2005-12-09T19:12:00.000-05:00

Jerry Rosen from Neighbors West:
Post-Standard

There won't be a 99 Restaurant built at West Genesee Street and Vanida Drive in Camillus.

A covered pile of something sits at the southeast corner of Armstrong Road and State Fair Boulevard.

The old Agway garden store is down at West Genesee Street and Hinsdale Road in Camillus. And the abandoned building at Terry and Fay roads is looking sadder.

I'll tell you about all of those issues in this edition of "Ask Jerry."

And if anyone out there has a tough question about what's going on in the western suburbs nothing about proving there's life on Mars or how to factor a quadratic equation see if you can stump me.

Check out his article (CLICK HERE FOR LINK) for the latest news in what is next for development in the Camillus/Geddes area.

I'd love to hear some development info on the two aforementioned "development opportunities" mentioned HERE or HERE.