Covid ticks upward, but hospitalizations do not
Concerned about the environment? Rep. Stefanik has some questions to answer
The Front Page
Morning Update
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
By Ken Tingley
Shawn Murphy and I were talking via Zoom yesterday. Shawn is a college journalism professor at SUNY Plattsburgh. I had volunteered my services to talk to his classes. Back in January we scheduled my appearance as Covid was spiking, so we to limit it to Zoom.
Last week, Shawn emailed me to tell me his entire family had come down with Covid, but he thought he would be alright by Monday.
On Monday, Shawn looked good and when I asked him how he was doing, he said he was doing much better. He said a week earlier he was so weak he would not have been able to hold his head up for a Zoom conversation. Shawn had been vaccinated with a booster but the virus still knocked him for a loop. By Monday, he still had flu-like symptoms.
Nobody likes to be the source of doom and gloom, but Covid cases continue to tick upward in Warren and Saratoga counties. Warren County Health Services reported 188 new cases on Monday and six people are hospitalized. The good news is that despite the uptick in infections, generally there has not been an uptick in hospitalizations. That may because so many are vaccinated.
As someone who is staring at his 65th birthday this month, I’m going to continue to wear a mask when in close contact with large groups of people. But I seem to be in the minority, even for people in my age range.
It would nice to believe we have beaten the virus, but as I learned from Shawn this week, that is not always the case.
Stefanik change
It is nice to see Maury Thompson back on the political beat and keeping voters informed.
In Monday’s newspaper, he reported that Rep. Elise Stefanik’s voting record had changed significantly on conservation records. Considering her district includes the Adirondack Park, some significant waterways and some of the most beautiful wild land in the country, that should be of concern. They should know. Stefanik came in with a score of 13 out of 100. Her previous score was 52. As a comparison, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Sen. Charles Schumer scored 100 out of 100.
In the past, protecting our natural resources was a bipartisan concern of post parties, but that seems to have evaporated, especially for Rep. Stefanik.
Stefanik’s voting record is now in line with the rest of the Republican leadership in the House. Rep. Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Steve Scalise each scored a 4.
If you believe in protecting the Adirondack Park and the environment, Rep. Stefanik is probably not the best person to represent the district.
Vermont controversy
Last year, the New York Times profiled a controversy in Pawlet, Vt - not far from Granville - where a new resident bought some land and opened a gun range without getting the required permits for building.
It led to threats against town officials and a protracted legal battle.
That battled continued this week when a judge ruled that town officials must be allowed to visit the property within 30 days or the land owner would go to jail.
Earlier this year, the land owner paid a $53,000 fine and agreed to remove a 500-square foot building.
Ken Burns delivers again
Just finished watching Ken Burns’ latest documentary film on Ben Franklin. As usual, Burns delivers.
What I found so astounding and perhaps inspirational was that Ben Franklin had just turned 65 when the American revolutions was starting. I told my son this week that if you take Franklin as a measure I have plenty of time to make a difference in the world.
Thanks for making so many people aware of what Stefanic is doing to our environment up here and I too thought B. Franklin story absolutely fascinating. I wear a mask in stores and church, etc.
I also wear a mask when I go into a store. Better safe than sorry.