SAMARITAN VILLAGE ELLENVILLE

A few days ago, while driving through Ulster, I passed the local franchise of Five Guys Burgers. There were a few women along 9W holding signs indicating that purchases today would help Women Veterans. We stopped in.

These women are tough as nails, but they had fallen on tough emotional times since coming back to civilian life. Everyone who serves, experiences something different. When faced with different circumstances, they take different paths. Samaritan Village is there to help.
It was a joy to speak with the group. They spoke about the program and where they served as well as touching on issues facing the county like Golden Hill and Mental health. People dont realize just how related many of these facilities and programs are.

The first NYS licensed residential treatment facility designed exclusively for women veterans began operations on January 31, 2011. 

A small group of pioneering women veterans moved in to the newly-built facility located on the grounds of the Samaritan Village Ellenville campus. 

In recognition of their special treatment needs, and with gratitude for their service to our country, New York State awarded funding to Samaritan Village to develop a program specifically for women veterans. Building upon 15 years of proven expertise in veteran-specific treatment services, Samaritan’s new program will provide trauma-informed care, individual and group counselling, gender-specific counselling, vocational/educational rehabilitation and family reunification services. 

The veterans described their difficulty adjusting to civilian life after experiencing war; of using alcohol and drugs to medicate their feelings; of not knowing where to get help; of the importance of long-term recovery programs that recognize veterans’ special needs; and of their relief in finding Samaritan Village.

If you or anyone you know could use the services offered here, or if you'd like a tour of the facility, contact:

Samaritan Village 

(845) 647-8006

751 Briggs Highway,  

Ellenville, NY 12428 

Cross Streets: Between Birchall Rd and Frog Hollow Rd/Badner Ln

www.samaritanvillage.org

ARPA-E FUNDS & ODYSSEY DAWN SPENDING

You may remember, last April, President Obama launched the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) as part of the initiative to boost federal investment in research and development and science education. 

(the picture above is a  Ga ball-Si crystal-SiOx Nanowire Octapus)

 

That sparked outrage from the Republicans and their TeaParty spokespersons. They disagreed with the $150M allocated in the Recovery Act for research leaning toward renewable alternative energy sources.  

 Well, first example of advancement due to this funding, is the Liquid Metal Battery under development at MIT. Another is the Symbiotic Bio-Reactor being developed at UMinn that could create synthetic gasoline. Lastly, we are intimately aware of the Crystal Growth Technology that if successful, drastically advance the LED light manufacturing possibilities. We saw LED examples displayed at the TechCity facility in Ulster, NY. 

 

So why do I bring funding like this up now? Well, while we had the two year national throwdown over the spending in the "stimulus", this particular funding was singled out because it threatened the companies that backed the opposition (oil & coal) which is understandable. That's how our government works. What is troublesome is how we compartmentalize the priorities facing this country. 

 With the current military operation in Libya, we are spending millions of dollars a day. The F-15 that crashed cost $100M. It is going to be replaced with a $150M F-35. 

 

In one day, this operation cost the US more than was spent for Alternative Energy Research in 2009. True, $400M was set aside for the ARPA-E initially, but only 36 teams met the criteria last year. The funding is intended to fund high-risk, high-reward research that might not otherwise be pursued because there is a relatively high risk of failure. Almost the same attempt we are making in Libya.

 

The Pentagon has placed an arbitrary limit on Odyssey Dawn at $1Billion before approaching Congress for more money. They have a contingency fund that could float the operation for a short time. It's been done before, it will happen again. 

  As noted in the National Journal: These unanticipated costs come at a time when the Pentagon is putting pressure on Capitol Hill to pass its fiscal 2011 budget. Continuing to operate under a stopgap continuing resolution through September, senior Defense officials argue, would amount to a $23B cut to the military’s request for the current fiscal year, which began on October 1. The Pentagon wants $708B for this year, including $159B for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For the U.S. military, the highest costs of the operations over Libya come in the form of munitions, fuel for aircraft, and combat pay for deployed troops -- all factors that will pile up each day U.S. forces remain at the helm of the operation.

One week in, U.S.-led forces launched 162 long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, which cost about $1M to $1.5M each, from ships stationed off the Libyan coast. The total to replace those missiles comes to between $162M to $243M. It is unclear how many of those Tomahawks came from the U.S. inventory, but it is believed the vast majority did.

So why then, do we consistently fight over the inconsequential spending in Energy Alternative Research when our government regurgitates Billions in war ventures? And shockingly enough, not a single peep from the Tea Party Overspending Alarmists?  

Truth is, you wont hear a word from these folks. Why? Because the industries poised to reap the benefits of a prolonged engagement in Libya and other oil rich countries are the very same funding sources that mobilized much of the TeaParty movement. If these folks were thinking more about our country's long term health and diminished dependency on foreign oil, they'd be in the streets screaming for increased spending in the ARPA-E and other agencies. But they're not. 

 

ARPA-E utilizes many of the same organizational elements that fostered the successful culture of innovation of DARPA at the Department of Defense. The program managers are given extraordinary autonomy and resources to pursue high-risk technological pathways, quickly assemble research teams and start and stop projects based on performance and relevance. 

While I don't oppose the efforts of this Administration to invest American blood and treasure to aid in the removal of a deranged despot, I do reject the notion by some that the pittance of funding for ARPA-E and other research agencies was wasteful. It should be multiplied by 100 in the hopes that we someday wean ourselves off fossil & nuclear energy.

SERVICEMEMBERS UNITED

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand just tweeted this video link to me and the rest of her followers. Feel free to have a look.

VETERANS DAY 2009

On November 11th each year, we commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended WWI in 1918. The significance of the number 11 stems from the coincidence that hostilities were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of that year with the stroke of a pen on that date.

The following year, President Woodrow Wilson started the tradition of celebrating the service of our armed forces with the annual Holiday. The United States Congress passed a concurrent resolution seven years later on June 4, 1926.

This year, we join together at City Hall and town halls across the country to acknowledge the lives lost and those still serving in several conflicts and here at home. The men and women of the Armed Forces deserve our gratitude and for those of us who havent had the honor of doing so, I offer my sincere thanks for the privileges that have been bestowed on the citizens of our country as a result.

Our ceremony was that much more important this year with the horrific event in Texas only days ago. We lost good people in what looks to have been a preventable act of terrorism on our own soil. With our new administration handed two wars and countless breakdowns across the world, we count on our military to be "on the ready" for when the unspeakable occurs. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims of this tragic act.

Both of my Grandfathers served in WWII. The memorabilia of their time of service is still displayed and the pride of their service is still reflected upon. Although they are both no-longer with us, I am grateful to both of them for that service.

As Jim Noble mentioned at City Hall: From the Greatest Generation to the Current Generation, we owe our Armed Forces the deepest gratitude for the past and continued service they provide. Everyone in the assembly would surely agree and Jim's comments were well received.

Be ready to support our service men & women when they come home from duty both financially and emotionally. These harsh economic times aren't going to make that very easy for any of them.

HomefrontOnline - Home

OPERATION HOMEFRONT: CRISIS IN KINGSTON

Operation Homefront provides emergency assistance and morale to our troops, to the families they leave behind and to wounded warriors when they return home.

A nonprofit 501(c)(3), Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers in 30 chapters nationwide and has provided critical assistance to more than 45,000 military families in need.

Shortly before Channel 23 went off the air last fall, I helped Nick Woerner, Craig Artist and the regional director of Operation Homefront Tracy Hanschuck in their request to get-the-word-out. We produced a successful show that raised awareness and increased the participation from the viewing area. I was impressed. [Jeremy snuck in this picture]

Those most likely to volunteer services to help military families, or returning wounded are people who are somehow connected to the military themselves, either they themself have served or have family members serving. Regardless of the circumstance, you'll get a sense of family.

This is a picture of a volunteer installing a wheelchair ramp for a Sargent who was wounded in Iraq in Feb 2008. The soldier remains in a wheelchair after multiple sergeries and needed access to his home. When the assistance was announced through their network, people were fighting for the chance to help.

We have a similar situation here in Kingston. I thought it was well worth letting people know that help is needed locally.

With her permission: Rose Wilson is suffering a plumbing disaster. She and her husband reside at 52 Linderman avenue raising their three kids and his two.
Robert is deployed in Iraq and cannot navigate the crisis that has hit the family here at home.

The sewer line that connects across the street has collapsed under the road and the estimates from those with a licence to operate in the City have come in around $7K, thousands more than what mom can afford. With children ranging from 4 to 17, Rose reached out to Operation Homefront Regional Director Tracy Hanschuck.

Through their network, several contacts have offered to help immediately, including an eight man volunteer team from Staten Island that was willing to drive up the next day and dig with shovels. However, here in Kingston, you need a licensed plumber to oversee the task.

Tracy has contacted all the available plumbers and we wait by the phone to see who can step up and help the family of a soldier serving in harms way.

Meanwhile, Tracy and the three kids who live with her full time, pester the neighbors for showers, toilet use and laundry. Sending them off to the YMCA for use of the facilities when they wear out these neighbors is getting a bit tired.

So what if anything, can the DPW do in a case like this? The better question may be, what other organizations are out there that could help. An excavator is needed as well as cooperation with the water department and our own plumbing inspector will have to be engaged. Do we ignore this crisis when the bread winner is off serving our country?

Mayor Sottile drives past this address every day and has only now been approached on this issue. I expect some quick action now that we know the city is the only hurtle to getting the job done.
Now who will offer their backhoe?

MILITARY SUICIDE RATES SURPASS GENERAL PUBLIC

Last week, I got an email from the Kingston Times through the Ward Nine Group service which asked all subscribers: "What do you think should be in the surplus package?"

The last of my 10 point response, was a plea to upgrade of the way we serve our returning troops. It's a disgrace!

Yes, the US economy is a factor, but the system these young men & women are left to navigate once home, is heartbreakingly disfunctional. Mainly through the lack of funding.

This week, the shocking news of the increased rate of military suicides and the grim reality that these numbers surpassed the number of losses through combat, shook the public. I think we all took a few deep breaths once we stopped to think about it.

Alarmingly, at least 128 soldiers killed themselves in 2008, up 20 from last year, and the Army suicide rate surpassed that for civilians for the first time since the Vietnam War.

Army officials said: "The suicide count, which includes soldiers in the Army Reserve and the National Guard, is expected to grow."

An AP source in the NY Times stated: The Army did not identify a specific reason for the increase, but officials said 15-month deployments to war zones played a role. These deployments, which have allowed for little time away from the battlefield, have contributed to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, alcohol abuse and family problems. Seven suicides took place in Afghanistan and 31 in Iraq.

In my response to the local paper, I noted that we do not have a specific program to help our returning hero's to the workforce, partly because of the downturn in the economy, but also because we have left them out of the equation when the administration decided to invest our bravest souls into combat for a war of choice.

According to several articles that came up when I searched the web: Thirty percent of the suicides in the last four years took place during a deployment. Thirty-five percent took place after a deployment. The remaining 35 percent of those who killed themselves had never deployed.

In recent months, the Army has increased their hiring of mental health care providers. Hundreds of them! Obama has pledged to hire plenty more, but Veterans’ and mental health advocates have been critical of the Army, saying it has been too slow to recognise and treat the tide of soldiers struggling with mental health problems after returning from Iraq or Afghanistan.

The executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Paul Rieckhoff, said: “The suicide numbers released today come as no surprise to veterans who have experienced firsthand the psychological toll of war, since the Iraq war began, suicide rates and other signs of psychological injury, like marital strain and substance abuse, have been increasing every year.”

I posted an interview of Paul Rieckhoff moments ago, right below this article.

You can learn more about the efforts of this Veteran's advocacy group, by going to www.IAVA.org

If you would like to help the families of the youngsters who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, you can go to www.operationhomefront.net

GOOD WILL TO ALL IN 2009

During the Thanksgiving Holiday, we get together with family and friends and make a point amongst ourselves to recognize what we are thankful for as the winter season approaches.

New Years Eve is different, we find ourselves in a personal space of reflection in these remaining hours, thinking about the accomplishments and failures, both personal and globally, as we set our sights to a new year full of promise.

We all have personal journeys that aren't all that different from each other. Family and friends have come and gone. We've lost loved ones and witnessed births. Our kids go off to college or come home with the fiancé.

But then theres the larger picture. Our economy is in a slump, people are unemployed, food pantries and meal services are seeing their numbers skyrocket. Past fuel prices pushed goods to an all time high and our housing market/assessments made living in New York State seem like a penalty.

It could be worse. There are places, even within our own country that are in serious need, where deplorable living conditions are the norm.

A simple review in any news site for the disasters of the last few years will show you the horrors and the joys in many communities. Joys?

When tragedy strikes, you'll find a community truly comes together to help financially and emotionally.

We saw this after Katrina, the Mississippi floods, the wildfires in California and the North East Blackout a few years ago. Not to mention the unforgettable community effort after 9-11.

But, If we look beyond our shores this year, You'll see another ground swell of community bonding as we watch countries where we are engaged, begin to flourish. Although Iraq has dominated the news for so long, we have forgotten about Afghanistan. [the real center of terrorism]

In KABUL Province, for instance, Soldiers from the New York National Guard delivered between 500 to 700 pounds of school supplies to help educate the next generation of Afghan youth.

The supplies were organized into student packs that included paper, notebooks, pens and pencils, clothing [even soccer and volleyballs] that the soldiers had received from family and friends at home.

NOTE: A good number of our New York National Guard arrived in Albany a few days ago.

Through the efforts of family members, church groups, school campaigns and several municipal organizations, supplies were gathered and shipped to Camp Blackhorse, which is co‐located with the Afghan National Army’s (ANA) Pol‐e‐charki garrison nearby.

According to their website: The troops are part of Afghan Regional Security Integration Command‐Central (ARSIC‐ C.) This command provides advisors and mentors to the ANA and the Afghan National Police in this area as part of the Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix (CJTF‐Phoenix) mission to grow and develop Afghanistan’s National Security Forces (ANSF.) The SECFOR troops provide security for the trainers and mentors during operations and convoys.

So, while you are navigating this snowy New Years Eve terrain with family and friends, I simply remind you that there is much to ponder as we leave 2008 behind us. Within our City, our Hudson Valley region, within our country's borders and abroad, we've seen good and not-so-good.

Look out for each other, support those in need and lets make 2009 the most positive year yet!

* If you would like to track what accomplishments are made in areas of conflict through our military, you can check out :
Keeping Tabs...a weekly electronic newsletter produced by the HQ 27th BCT Public Affairs Section for family members and friends back home and is available on‐line through the NYS Division of Military and Naval Affairs website at www.dmna.state.ny.us

BLACKWATER DIVERSIFIES

Blackwater Diversifies to Protect Itself.

Articles in the AP are hinting that Blackwater is planning to refocus its operations to prepare for a shift in the market; the securities market.

Blackwater is looking to aviation, logistics, and security training, even though the security work has earned the firm hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts since 9/11.

Erik Prince, the company's founder and CEO, told the AP in several interviews that despite the company being a constant magnet for controversy and the subject of negative news coverage, he still defends its “shoot-first-ask-questions-later” reputation.
He states that much of the good that the company does is overshadowed by the bad rap.

Blackwater operators have been at the center of a number of questionable incidents over the years. Last September's shooting in Baghdad, Its aviation branch, Presidential Airways lost one of its planes in Afghanistan because its pilot took the plane on a low altitude joyride and then there’s Blackwater's shadowy sister company, Greystone, which has scoured the Third World for discount soldiers who act like thugs in uniform.

Don’t think they’re hurting just yet: Presidential Airways has snagged at least three Pentagon contracts, worth close to $160 million, to provide its services in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan.
Our very own State Department has renewed Blackwater's contract to provide security to diplomats in Iraq. Great!


The Washington Post announced yesterday: "Iraq Points to Pullout in 2010". Prince probably sees the writing on the wall and he’s plotting a graceful exit strategy. For the perceived image damage Blackwater has done for the US, falling profit margins is not enough of a punishment for the mercenary hunting party he has created. Bad things happen with the American flag embroidered on their uniforms.


The world community doesn’t see the difference between Erik Prince’s trigger happy punks and our proud military personnel.

They want to build planes and abandon the sniper profession, fine by me.


Here is a short YouTube documentary from last year. Not much has changed.
YouTube - BLACKWATER : THE SHADOW WAR

MILITARY RECRUITERS ENTER OCTAGON

The United States military has been looking for ways to increase recruitment numbers for a while. With unpopular occupations and diminished funding for safety equipment and an antiquated GI Bill waiting for them after they serve, the attraction wasn’t there. So, the military is embracing a combat sport commonly called Ultimate Fighting.

A rough and tumble bloody sport that a decade ago was called human cockfighting and largely outlawed.

Where this sport is still legal, major tournaments are held and the fan base of UFC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has grown. As the sport found its audience on channels aimed at young men, recruiters and drill sergeants started to pay attention.

It’s really a phenomenon, mixed martial arts and disciplines like jiu-jitsu, boxing and wrestling, It’s a blend of combat skills that, if confronted hand to hand, would seem a valuable asset. UFC has adopted safety measures lately that have satisfied most state regulators and is now soaring in popularity among young men.

Military officials have sought practical applications to help increase recruitment and retain troops. So, the army has a new field manual section focused specifically on mixed martial arts techniques for unarmed combat. Its It’s intent is to harness the competitive drive in young recruits since it is truly a powerful motivator.

(Sgt. Tim Kennedy pictured right)

The armed forces are using the sport not only as a way to build morale and aid in recruiting, but also as a training aid to enhance the skills of soldiers.

When I witnessed the KPAC boxing match at our Midtown Center last month, I imagined that some day, UFC or something like it could come here, but it is still not permitted in NY State.

Why the Midtown Center? Wasn’t it originally an armory? Combat at this level would seem natural in such a militarily historic building. Just a thought.

Army bases around the country now conduct mixed martial arts tournaments, sending the winners to championship fights at Fort Benning. The fourth annual championship, set for October, has been planned to incorporate rules indistinguishable from mixed martial arts.

The days of eye gouging and biting are long gone, and for good reason, so as UFC matures, the acceptance by mainstream sports aficionados will solidify. NY will eventually allow the sport here and when that happens, I suggest using this sport as another tool to help bolster our local economy.