Former Crotonite Jeff Scott, world-traveling weightlifter now living in Montrose, has been a consistent silver medal winner in various Masters weightlifting contests. Journeying to Savannah, Georgia, for the American Masters Olympic Weightlifting Championships on November 1 and 2, he came away with a well-deserved gold medal. Nearly 100 lifters from all over the United States participated in the two-day event.

The competition site was Savannah’s Anderson-Cohen Weightlifting Center, which honors the late Paul E. Anderson, “the Dixie Derrick,” 1956 Olympic champion weightlifter, strongman and professional powerlifter, and Howard Cohen, former U.S. champion Olympic weightlifter. Howard Cohen, still lifting at age 76, was also a participant, competing in the 75 to 79-year-old group.

Scott, 49, competes in the 45 to 49-year age group of the Lost Battalion Hall Olympic weightlifting team, headquartered in the Rego Park neighborhood of Queens in New York City, and is also an assistant coach of the team. Scott’s best two lifts in Savannah totaled 202 kilograms (444 pounds) and easily beat the silver medallist, Eric Nofsinger, 48, lifting for world-famous Coffee’s Gym, whose total was 162 kilograms (356 pounds).

November 3

10:10 PM: A Westchester County bus driver reported that while on Maple Street a vehicle driving in the opposite direction threw a water balloon at his windshield subsequently damaging it.

November 4

9:54 AM: The Senasqua Park harbormaster reported a Yamaha 8 horsepower outboard motor was stolen—that was worth about $2,500.

November 5

2:25 PM: There was a report of a light-skinned black female using a fraudulent check while purchasing close to $600.00 worth of items at the CVS in the Van Wyck Shopping Plaza. When police arrived on the scene, they were told the woman may have left the area in a brown-colored vehicle.

6:30 PM: A Scenic Drive resident reported that while her 2007 Honda vehicle was parked in the Van Wyck Shopping Plaza it was struck by an elderly man incurring minor damages. Police were able to locate the 80-year-old driver who resides on Eklof Court who had not realized he had hit her vehicle.

WDFH 90.3 FM, a local radio station owned and operated by Hudson Valley Community Radio, Inc., has signed a lease for a new tower that will dramatically improve the signal reception for its broadcasts. “I’m thrilled that we have signed the lease for the new tower,” explained Marc Sophos, Executive Director of WDFH. “This is an enormous milestone in a project that has stretched on for over seven years. Securing the antenna’s place on a better tower was the last hurdle we had to clear as we implement WDFH’s long-awaited signal expansion.”

WDFH 90.3 FM currently has a very limited signal that originates from a transmitter site near Ossining. “With our higher antenna location and enhanced signal strength,” noted Vinny Cohan, chair of the WDFH Community Action Committee, “we will suddenly reach well over 400,000 potential listeners, 90% of whom will be completely new to our community broadcasts.” Mr. Cohan is also co-host of the weekly “In Focus” news interview program.

In what he describes as “my latest Digital Journalist venture,” NBC’s Rob Kaplan, of Croton-on-Hudson, takes a behind-the-scenes look at “Meet the Press” from the site of the Democratic National Convention.

In the following video clip, hear from executive producer Betsy Fischer and moderator Tom Brokaw about what it takes to put a convention road show together.

Tuesday night, over one-hundred million Americans lined up outside of their polling places, cast their votes, shattered turnout records, and changed the course for this great country. I am so proud of the decision my fellow Americans have made, and I am honored to have been re-elected to serve you in the 111th Congress.

This was a tough campaign, and I know that we would not have been as successful without your tremendous support and hard work. You and your neighbors throughout the 19th Congressional district put the rubber to the road, made thousands of phone calls, knocked on countless doors—and you can take satisfaction in knowing that you helped make the difference. Thank you so much for never giving up and for fighting so hard.

In 2006, you elected me to the House of Representatives because you wanted to see change in Washington. Since then, I have worked hard to bring about change, especially by helping our veterans get the benefits they have earned and advocating for a new energy policy that invests heavily in wind, solar, and other forms of renewable energy.

There is still much more to be done. The issues facing our country - the economic crisis, global climate change, millions of Americans without health care - are huge and complex. To address these challenges, we must encourage more involvement in the Democratic process and stay committed to working together.

I cannot thank you enough for your generous support and your tremendous grassroots efforts again this year. When I return to Washington to serve in Congress, I will continue to fight for you and for the change we desperately need.

Thank you, and congratulations!

Your Representative,

John Hall

In the past, we have not made a practice of endorsing any candidates for national public office. However, because of the significance of the issues at stake in the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 4th, and because of the despicable way the McCain-Palin campaign has been conducted, Crotonblog breaks with its tradition and urges the election of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

We must admit that we were impressed when John McCain was hoping to be nominated by the Republican Party and took a firm stand against torture. But that was then and this is now. No longer is John McCain the affable old maverick who would banter easily with reporters on his bus called the “Straight Talk Express.” It is expected that every politician will fib a little about generalities, and hope that they go unnoticed. But no one anticipated a McCain campaign that scrupulously avoided the issues worrying voters today: the faltering economy, falling real estate values, a looming recession and rising unemployment—all the product of the inept Bush administration from which Mr. McCain has tried vainly to distance himself.

Instead we are exposed to a campaign built solely on lies and misrepresentations about Mr. McCain’s opponent. But the lies go even further. Mr. McCain even lies about himself in the face of incontrovertible evidence. The economy is the chief concern of voters today. John McCain was captured on tape saying, “The issue of economics is not something that I’ve understood as well as I should.” This tape is played frequently on opposition commercials, yet Mr. McCain flatly insists that he never made this statement.

In addition to having been a consistent supporter of the policies of George W. Bush, John McCain made a ludicrously unsuitable selection for the vice presidency. His choice of Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska for less that two years, and former mayor of a “city” of some 8,000 residents, who was plucked from political obscurity, demonstrates that he lacks the good judgment that is the prime qualification for the job of president. In this, Mr. McCain has also shown himself to be impulsive and irresponsible, willing to risk everything on one throw of the dice.

McCain’s choice of a running mate on the eve of the Republican National Convention set off an initial wave of excitement later belied by the reality of her shallowness. At the outset, Mrs. Palin revealed her abysmal ignorance early in the campaign by being unable to name any newspaper or magazine that she read regularly or identifying a single Supreme Court decision with which she disagreed. She was immediately shielded from contact with reporters who might ask embarrassing questions at press conferences. Revelations about her costly campaign wardrobe and bloopers about her interpretation of the vice president’s job description are now raising fresh fears that Sarah Palin is dragging down the Republican ticket.

Atmospheric greenhouse gas levels are rising at rates that are unprecedented, and so is the globe’s average temperature. We tend to think of big emitters as large companies or industry sectors. These groups are beginning to take climate action. But what about the cumulative impact of individual households?

What can a family do that would make a difference?

A lot! Each gallon (3.7 liters) of gasoline burned produces in 19.4 pounds (8.8 kilograms) of carbon dioxide emissions. The average U. S. automobile emits 5.7 tons (5,200 kilograms) of carbon dioxide per year. Between 30 and 40% percent of all US greenhouse gas emissions each year come from the direct action of American households and their transportation decisions. That is 2.1 billion annual (metric) tons, or eight percent of the world’s total emissions!

Economizing on how much we use is a good financial move, especially with rising oil and electricity rates. Simple energy saving actions by regular citizens can also add up to tremendous reductions in our collective carbon footprint.

Consumers Report has a set of a dozen suggestions for home owners on greener living. Earth Day Network has a set of 25 suggestions.

But new research show the significant benefit of 7 consumer actions that would be no-cost or low-cost. In “Individual Carbon Emissions: The Low-Hanging Fruit,” by Michael Vandenbergh of Vanderbilt University and his colleagues describe seven painless changes for individual consumers that add up to very significant emission reductions.

These consumer behavior changes are “low hanging fruit” that can be part of every household’s low carbon diet. By “low hanging,” Vandenbergh means these adjustments costs nothing or next to nothing to enact:

1. Reduce the component of motor vehicle idling that has net costs to the driver;
2. Reduce “standby power” electricity use;
3. Accelerate substitution of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) for incandescent bulbs;
4. Adjust temperature settings two degrees in both summer and winter;
5. Adjust temperature settings on water heaters;
6. Maintain recommended tire pressure in personal motor vehicles; and
7. Change air filters in personal motor vehicles at recommended intervals.

Together, these low-to-no-cost behavior changes alone would generate roughly 150 million tons in annual emissions reductions and several billion dollars in net social savings by 2014. That is the equivalent of removing 26 million automobiles from the road! They can be put into action immediately, and would generate a net social savings from lowered utility bills for households.

While Crotonblog rebuilds itself into a weekly blogazine, we invite you to signup for the all-new Crotonspace.

By running on Ning’s awesome social networking platform, anyone interested in Croton-on-Hudson, can become a member of the Crotonspace network. After signup, members can friend eachother, post a blog, start a group or discussion, and upload/share videos and pictures. Article links from Crotonblog are also featured on Crotonspace.

After visiting Crotonspace, please leave your feedback here as a comment.

Take me to Crotonspace.

To the editor:

Several Croton residents have banded together to offer a $700 reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of the thieves stealing yard signs related to the Obama/Biden presidential campaign.

Lindsay Audin, a district leader with the Croton Democratic Committee, announced the reward after 4 of the signs were stolen from private yards last week. “During the John Hall campaign in 2006, over 100 Hall yard signs were stolen. That was not a prank, but a concerted effort to attack a legitimate political campaign, and block people’s right to exercise free speech on their private property. We are now seeing the same kind of activity with Obama signs, but with a racist tinge because signs for other candidates in the same yard were untouched.”

“It is our hope that, by offering this reward, we may encourage people to come forward to the Croton Police with information on the thieves so we can set make a public example of them. Such thefts are both petty larceny and a violation of the NY State Election Law, and are not merely a prank. We intend to seek full prosecution, regardless of the age of the thieves.”

Anyone interested in pledging funds to increase the amount of the reward may contact Audin at energywizinc@aol.com. No funds would be requested unless the thief is captured.

— Lindsay Audin

To the editor:

Singer-songwriter-activist Harry Chapin’s motto was: “When in doubt, do something,” and he put his money where his mouth was, by donating half the proceeds from his hundreds of concerts each year — millions of dollars in total — to help those in need, especially those who were hungry.

Since just a few months after his untimely death in 1981, thousands of concerned citizens in Croton-on-Hudson and beyond have followed in his footsteps with the annual Harry Chapin Memorial Run Against Hunger, raising well over $250,000 to carry on his mission.

This year, on October 19th, when citizens of all ages and abilities gather for the 28th annual Harry Chapin Memorial Run Against Hunger (see www.runagainsthunger.com), their efforts and Harry’s enduring legacy will have added poignancy.

This past March, Walter Gillis, a Croton resident, 25-year veteran organizer of the fundraising event, passionate fan of Harry Chapin’s music and work, and much-loved emcee on race day (who proudly played Harry’s music over loudspeakers so runners could hear it as they crossed the finish line), passed away at age 76.

But just as Harry’s “do something” approach inspired Walt to help end hunger, so too does Walt’s life and his commitment to helping those in need inspire others:

• The Harry Chapin Memorial Run Against Hunger volunteer committee is dedicating this year’s One-Mile Family Fun Run and 10K Race to Walt’s memory
• Croton resident Sam Colombo, who himself was seriously injured and disabled as the result of a car accident about 16 years ago, is going door-to-door raising donations for the cause and dedicating his “run against hunger” to Walt’s memory and to others who passed away and inspired Sam. Over the years, he’s raised more than $100,000 to fight hunger; this year, he’s already raised more than $5,300.
• A special pre-race benefit concert on the evening of Saturday, October 18th at the Asbury United Methodist Church (where the run was started by a small group of concerned citizens in 1981) will feature local musicians and a tribute to Walt Gillis. Tickets are $20 for adults ($10 for children under 12) and available by calling Shirley Gillis at 914-271-5309. Details at http://www.runagainsthunger.com/JVMC08.htm - Jason Chapin, Harry’s son and a resident of Mount Kisco, will be running the 10K race this year in memory of Walt.

Students and faculty members from the PVC Middle School and the CET Elementary School in Croton will be running this year — and hundreds of other people from the community — Girl Scouts, honor society students at the high school, and others, will be volunteering to help make the event a success.

And just like Harry and Walt always helped the hungry, so too will the money raised from this year’s Run Against Hunger go to worthy organizations in need, including the Croton Caring Committee, the Cortlandt Emergency Food Bank (located in Croton), and World Hunger Year, which was co-founded by Harry.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

— Mike Grayeb, Volunteer Committee Member

Harry Chapin Memorial Run Against Hunger
914-419-8719
mike@runagainsthunger.com