Autumn on the River

We started the day with a great breakfast at Aubrey's Inn in Cape Vincent. Then off to Tibbetts Point Lighthouse. Final destination, a ferry ride to Wolfe Island.... Just a small glimpse into a day in the life of a local tourist.

Harmony

David, Mike, D.J. and David have been practicing You Don't Have To Cry by CSN for several weeks.  I have watched in amazement as each one of them recalls how the song should be.  During the rehearsals nobody ever played the mp3 or the video to decisively show how the original song sounded.  Every Friday night, one of the guys would say something like, you come in low at this part of the song and I will come in high 3 beats later.  There was always some mention of keys and notes but I don't  understand them.  I only listen to music and can not read it.  Maybe someday!

After some trials and errors, the boys finally had it the way each thought it should be.  The video below was recorded last Friday night.  I found a video of CSN performing this song and I removed the audio and overlayed it on to the video I took, I was prepared to change the speed in order to synch the CSN video with the video and audio that I made.  To my surprise, I did not have to change anything, they both matched almost flawlessly.  Take a moment to watch and listen. 

Fall Sunset Cruise

Last Wednesday night was the annual fall mixer sunset cruise sponsored by the Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce.  This event is a chance to mingle with local merchants  and friends while enjoying a complimentary cruise provided by Uncle Sam Boat Tours.  Local Restaurants provided free Hors D'oeuvres. It was just one of those perfect nights on the St. Lawrence River.

Castle Cable vs DSL

United States Department of Agriculture awarded a $7.2 million grant to Castle Cable TV in August of 2010.

Funded by awarding of $7.2 million, Castle Cable TV, Inc. proposes to extend broadband and other advanced telecommunications services through several communities located in Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties of New York. More than 5,500 people, approximately 217 local businesses and 12 community institutions stand to benefit from this improved service. 

Everyone has noticed the cable trucks in the Town of Alexandria and surrounding areas as they string the new Fiber Optic Cables.  Recently, on Northern Avenue in Alex Bay, cable utility crews have been struggling to bury cable under the ground.  Northern Ave is one of, if not the only street within this project that has all its utility cables buried under ground.  Crews have been working late into the evening trying to complete this portion of the project.  I am curious to see what the rates will be, but more anxious to experience the blistering internet speed  with the new fiber optic cable.  I might just be willing to dump Verizon if the service is consistent and reliable....  In April 2010 the Village Board tried to lure Time Warner into Alex Bay.  TW balked and said they could not justify becoming the Bay's cable franchise because all the cable needed to be replaced.




Video of the project on Northern Ave. in Alex Bay

Town Generously Helps Village

Back in January 2010, Alexandria Bay village officials were given the bad news.... A large portion of the Upper James St. Dock had to be replaced.  Bad things never happen at a good time.  Governor Coumo had just taken office and one of the first things on his agenda was to freeze any spending out of the assembly or senate. Senator Aubertine and Assemblywoman Russell could not help with any monetary contributions.  But they both assisted the village with expediting the construction by carrying paperwork through a gauntlet of bureaucratic mazes.  Village officials approached the Town of Alexandria council and requested financial help.

At a village board meeting on 9.13.11  officials thought that the Town was only going to contribute an installment of $5000.  But, during the 9.27.11 village meeting, the board confirmed that the Town had contributed $10,000 towards the Upper James St. Dock fund.  I was impressed by the Town Boards generosity.   I was not alone,  trustee Jury can be heard saying "very nice".  I wonder what the others were thinking?  Below is the sound-byte from the 9.27.11 Village Board Meeting.