Rantings of a New Yorker » new york state

Mastodon pond to be recognized as historic site

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:30:33 +0000

The mastodon pond in Montgomery was recognized as an historic site on June 17. It is important because the pond is the location of the world’s first complete prehistoric mastodon bones were found.

The site covers two acres, including the pond, which was left behind from the 1801 excavation of the mastodon skeleton. Noted artist and scientist Charles Willson Peale discovered the skeleton.

You can read the entire list put out by the The New York State Board for Historic Preservation here.

Beautiful Waterfalls in New York

admin — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:57:37 +0000

For most of you, when you think of New York, you think of New York City. In particular, you think of Manhattan. Nearly everyone I come across is amazed that there is something outside of Manhattan. If you’re a native New Yorker, you know of the rest of the state because you grew up “upstate” even if it was only an hour outside of the city. So, for those of you who don’t know, there are some very beautiful waterfalls in the state. Here’s Lucifer Falls.

$41 Billion for New York State Stimulus Package

admin — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 01:29:49 +0000

The Center for American Progress has broken down how much the State’s stimulus is going to cost.

The bill, passed by the House, but not yet through the Senate, is still very much a work in progress. Based on the House bill, the CAP estimates that New York would receive $41.3 billion of the $522 billion or so going to states. Based on the Senate bill as of Monday (some changes have been made since), New York would receive $45.3 billion, which is 7.8 percent of the total $577 billion going to states.

Some selected specifics from the House bill:

$1.35 billion for highway infrastructure
$1.07 billion for transit capital
$1.2 billion for Title 1 education grants
$1.3 billion for school modernization and repair
$1.1 billion for unemployment benefits extension
$1.3 billion for food stamps
$3.9 billion in state fiscal stabilization fund
$12.6 billion in Medicaid funding
And some selected specifics from the Senate bill, as of Monday:
$554.5 million for public housing capital funds
$1.2 billion for mass transit
$1.2 billion for highways
$1.46 billion for school modernization and repair
$216 million for higher education modernization and repair
$3.9 billion for state fiscal stabilization
$1.2 billion for unemployment benefits extension