Bass Pro which was going to be our biggest drawing card to our Habor side  finally after 9 years said we aren’t coming to Buffalo. I glad their game is over.

Mr. Charles B. Rangel, 80, a Harlem Democrat, has a huge pile of accusations to climb over.  Most likely he won’t be able to do it.  There are 13 charges laid out that he has to answer to.

In laying out 13 charges of ethical violations committed by Representative Charles B. Rangel, the House ethics committee set the stage for a rare public trial of the Democratic Congressman this fall, a potential embarrassment for the Democratic leadership during the election season.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California declined to speak out in support of Mr. Rangel, but said the committee’s handling of his case was proof that Democrats had delivered on her promise to “drain the swamp” of Washington’s dodgy political culture.

“Drain the swamp we did, as this was a terrible place,” Ms. Pelosi said. “We made a tremendous difference, and I take great pride in that.”

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He’s back.  If you thought you had seen/heard the last of Richard Wojtowicz in 2004, think again. 

Former Amherst Council Member Richard A. Wojtowicz has announced his candidacy for the vacant Town Board seat formerly held by Supervisor Barry Weinstein, a seat that may cease to exist if voters approve downsizing of the board in a November referendum.

He said he does not support efforts to downsize the board. His main platform issues include stabilizing taxes, implementing a Lean Six Sigma program similar to the Erie County’s, and preserving town zoning laws and services for youth and seniors.

Richard earned the title among the people who heard him speak and read his resume’ as the biggest and best liar,who ever held a Town Board seat. He will fit in perfectly with the group that is now seated. 

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Let’s review an article in the Amherst Bee from 4/08/2009 regarding Mr. Jay Anderson.

It looks like Mr. Anderson began exaggerating before he even took office!  According to Anderson’s comments to the Bee…

1.  “Anderson is a lifelong resident of Amherst and a first-time candidate.  He has been a GOP committeeman for 14 years.”
 How old is Mr. Anderson??  He looks(and acts) like a twenty-something.  I thought you had to be at least 18 to be a  committee person – but wait..it gets better, according the Bee article Anderson is….

2.  “A medical equipment sales representative with Complete Healthcare,”
That was one of the jobs he was fired from.  I think Mr. Anderson should tell people when he stopped working for this company.  My scorces indicate he was fired BEFORE he claimed in this article, to be employed by Complete Healthcare.  I’d be happy to review Mr. Anderson’s pay stubs to see if he was being truthful about his employment

3.  “Anderson has 15 years of business experience”
OK, assuming the man is 30-32 years old, what 15-year business experience could he have as an 16 year old??????

4.  “He is a graduate of Canisius College, with a master’s degree in science,”
 There is no way on earth Jay Anderson has a Masters Degree in anything.  I’d like Mr. Anderson to provide a copy of this Masters Degree.

5.  “and is a U.S. Navy veteran, serving a 15-month deployment that ended in July”.
 I applaud his service but my sources indicate his deployment was far less than 15 months.

 If Mr. Anderson wants to clear any of this up, he knows how to reach this column.

The oil spill in gulf has certainly taken a toll on that great, huge body of water, but it’s not the only thing that has had a negative impact.  For almost a century humans have done things to damage it with little or no thought to what they were actually doing to the gulf waters themselves.

Loulan Pitre Sr. was born on the Gulf Coast in 1921, the son of an oysterman. Nearly all his life, he worked on the water, abiding by the widely shared faith that the resources of the Gulf of Mexico were limitless.

As a young Marine staff sergeant, back home after fighting in the South Pacific, he stood on barges in the gulf and watched as surplus mines, bombs and ammunition were pushed over the side.

He helped build the gulf’s very first offshore oil drilling platforms in the late 1940s, installing bolts on perilously high perches over the water. He worked on a shrimp boat, and later as the captain of a service boat for drilling platforms.

The gulf has changed, Mr. Pitre said: “I think it’s too far gone to salvage.”

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Let’s see, what will I thaw out for dinner tonight?  Steak, chops, chicken, mice?  Mice?  Yes, apparently thousands of exotic pet owners keep mice frozen right there beside the other ‘people’ foods.  Now they have to be extra careful about washing their hands due to a recall on frozen mice.

Take mice from freezer. Thaw (but not in the microwave, please). Feed to pet snakes.

And do not forget to wash your hands.

That is the message from public health officials in the wake of salmonella outbreaks that have sickened more than 400 people, many of them snake owners or their children, in the United States and Britain.

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Legislation Achieves Hard Fought For Form Reforms by 3407 Families, WNY Lawmakers

Today, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) voted with his colleagues in the House of Representatives to approve H.R. 5900, the Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act, achieving a legislative victory for the Families of Flight 3407 who fought patiently and persistently to make aviation in American safer and to prevent others from experiencing any similar losses.

“A year and a half ago, Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed 5 miles from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, tragically taking fifty lives in an accident that could have been prevented,” said Congressman Higgins.  “With this law, we are finally able to achieve reforms which directly address these very preventable issues such as increasing the required training hours to six times its current level.

“To the families of Flight 3407, we extend our appreciation, respect and admiration for your patience and perseverance to make these reforms a reality.   The passage of time will never fully heal the tragedy of your personal loss however your tireless efforts move aviation safety to unprecedented levels so that your tragedy will not be repeated.

“We have reached this finish line much in part to the unwavering leadership of Chairman Oberstar, whose commitment to safety across all modes of transportation is unchallenged, Chairman Costello, and Ranking Members Mica and Petri.  Many thanks also to my Western New York colleagues Chris Lee and Louise Slaughter who have joined me in this fight, and Representatives Nadler, Bishop, Arcuri, McMahon and Hall for their support on the Transportation Committee.”

Pilot Training and Safety Provisions as Negotiated with Senate

Enhancing Pilot Qualifications, Increasing Training Hours: Requires pilots to hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, which calls for 1,500 flight training hours (current minimum is 250 hours) and to have effective performance training in: an air carrier operational environment; adverse weather conditions, including icing; high altitude operations; and a multi-pilot crew.

Creating a Comprehensive Pilot Records Database:  Creates a Pilot Records Database to provide airlines with fast, electronic access to a pilot’s comprehensive record including: pilot licenses, aircraft ratings, check rides, notices of disapproval, other flight proficiency tests, and State motor vehicle driving records.  In the case of Flight 3407, the pilot had failed to properly perform multiple check rides and flight proficiency tests.  However, because there was no comprehensive pilot records database and Colgan was unaware of the pilot’s poor history. 

Preventing and Handling Pilot Fatigue:  Directs the FAA to update and implement new pilot flight and duty time rules within one year to more adequately track scientific research in the field of fatigue.  Requires air carriers to create fatigue risk management systems approved by FAA to proactively mitigate pilot fatigue.  The pilot was coming off of a series of late-evening and early-morning flights.  Additionally, the co-pilot was sick and flew a red eye cross-country, arriving the morning of the flight still sick. 

Implementing National Transportation Safety Board Recommendations:  Requires FAA to ensure that pilots are trained on stall recovery, upset recovery, and that airlines provide remedial training to pilots who need it. The pilot and the co-pilot were not equipped to handle a stall recovery and upset recovery. 

Ensuring Truth in Advertising:  Mandates that Internet websites that sell airline tickets disclose to the purchaser on the first page of the website the air carrier that operates each segment of the flight.  Many were surprised that Colgan was operating the plane, when they bought a Continental ticket.

Congressman Higgins spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of this legislation.  

Below are the Congressman’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in support of this legislation.

With that Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and yield back the balance

Legislation Mirrors NYS’s Amanda’s Law Lead By West Seneca Family

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1796 – the Residential Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act, federal legislation which both mandates that all new carbon monoxide detectors meet a widely-accepted standard for carbon monoxide detection and creates a program to educate the public about prevention measures.  This legislation mirrors New York State’s Amanda’s Law—named after West Seneca native Amanda Hansen a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning—the strongest carbon monoxide legislation in the country, which became state law in February 2010.

“Each year carbon monoxide poisoning causes over 20,000 hospitalizations and 400 unexpected deaths, a devastating event that can and should be prevented,” said Congressman Higgins.  “Thanks to the advocacy of West Seneca residents Kim and Ken Hansen who experienced the horrors of carbon monoxide poisoning first hand, this law sets a national standard for carbon monoxide detection that will help prevent these unexpected tragedies and keep all American families and consumers safe.”

“This is great news for families everywhere. I know my daughter would be proud right now knowing that we are saving other lives,” said Ken Hansen, father of Amanda Hansen, the namesake of New York State’s Amanda’s Law. “I know this will never bring my daughter back but it will help me sleep knowing that another child won’t die from this silent killer.”

New York and other cold weather states face a higher level of carbon monoxide poisoning because of their use of heating appliances such as furnaces, water heaters, and generators.  The legislation requires that all new carbon monoxide detectors meet the widely-accepted American National Standards Institute/Underwriters Laboratory (ANSI/UL) standard for carbon monoxide detection. 

Additionally, it establishes a pilot program under the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to provide grants to states to inform citizens of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, encourage citizens to put detectors in their homes to avoid poisoning, and provide detectors to residents.  Furthermore, the legislation requires that a warning label be printed on portable generators that indicating that they produce carbon monoxide and should be used outside with proper ventilation.

For more information:

• Amanda’s Law Information and Carbon Monoxide Toolkit
• Amanda’s Law website
• Buffalo News: Amanda Hansen’s legacy alive today
• State legislation

There is an ugly sidelight to the illegal immigrant issue in the southwest.  Many of those sneaking into the country die trying.  They perish in the desert and in many cases their remains will never be identified.

The rise in deaths comes as Arizona is embroiled in a bitter legal battle over a new law intended to discourage illegal immigrants from settling here by making it a state crime for them to live or seek work.

But the law has not kept the immigrants from trying to cross hundreds of miles of desert on foot in record-breaking heat. The bodies of 57 border crossers have been brought in during July so far, putting it on track to be the worst month for such deaths in the last five years.

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