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New York Employers Pay More

Received this bit of news today:

As of November 2012, several states had outstanding Unemployment Federal loans. As a result, employers in these states will see an increase in their FUTA taxes.

According to the IRS and Dept of Labor, New York is one of these states:

Generally, employers may receive a credit of 5.4% when they file their Form 940 (PDF), Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return, to result in a net FUTA tax rate of 0.6% (6.0% – 5.4% = 0.6%).

Some states take Federal Unemployment Trust Fund loans from the federal government if they lack the funds to pay UI benefits for residents of their states. If a state has outstanding loan balances on January 1 for two consecutive years, and does not repay the full amount of its loans by November 10 of the second year, the FUTA credit rate for employers in that state will be reduced until the loan is repaid.

Thus, New York employers will pay 0.6% more thanks to “New York State having Title XII advance balances on January 1 of at least two consecutive years and on November 10, 2012, and did not qualify for credit reduction avoidance.”

These vagabond shoes are longing to stray.

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: 2013

“I’ve seen too much hate to want to hate, myself, and every time I see it, I say to myself, hate is too great a burden to bear. Somehow we must be able to stand up against our most bitter opponents and say: We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will and we will still love you…. But be assured that we’ll wear you down by our capacity to suffer, and one day we will win our freedom. We will not only win freedom for ourselves; we will appeal to your heart and conscience that we will win you in the process, and our victory will be a double victory.”

Martin Luther King Jr.
A Christmas Sermon for Peace on Dec 24, 1967

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Governor Cuomo Declares Public Health Emergency in Response to Flu

From the Governors Office

Executive Order Issued to Permit Pharmacists to Administer Flu Vaccinations to Patients Between Six Months and 18 Years of Age

Albany, NY (January 12, 2013)

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today declared a Public Health Emergency for all of New York State in response to this year’s increasingly severe flu season. The Governor issued an Executive Order which allows pharmacists to administer flu vaccinations to patients between six months and 18 years of age. This Order suspends for the next 30 days the section of State Education Law that limits the authority of pharmacists to administer immunizing agents only to individuals 18 years of age or older.

Already 19,128 cases of influenza have been reported in New York this season, far more than the total of 4,404 positive laboratory tests that were reported all of last season (2011-2012). Additionally, as of January 5, 2013, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) received reports of 2,884 patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza, compared to 1,169 total hospitalizations in 2011. To date, two children in New York State and eighteen children across the United States and have died as a result of this year’s seasonal influenza.

“We are experiencing the worst flu season since at least 2009, and influenza activity in New York State is widespread, with cases reported in all 57 counties and all five boroughs of New York City,” Governor Cuomo said. “Therefore, I have directed my Administration, the State Health Department and others to marshal all needed resources to address this public health emergency and remove all barriers to ensure that all New Yorkers – children and adults alike – have access to critically needed flu vaccines.”

The Governor strongly urges New Yorkers who have yet to receive a flu shot to schedule one immediately, as influenza cases continue to rise sharply across the State. To ensure all New Yorkers know the importance of – and have easy access to – flu shots, the Governor announced that the State Health Department (DOH), working closely with county, regional and private health care partners as well as local health departments, will launch a broad promotion of flu immunization. As part of the promotional effort, ongoing flu-related information and resources will be continuously updated and disseminated via press advisories and media events, dedicated websites and social media sites such as Facebook and twitter.

The State Health Department will also continue to issue health advisories to healthcare providers, hospitals, long-term care facilities, local health departments and pharmacies to strongly advise all New Yorkers who have not already received their influenza vaccine to do so immediately, and to encourage all providers to continue to administer the influenza vaccine to their patients. DOH provides to health care facilities a web-based tool kit for influenza vaccination programs: www.health.ny.gov/prevention/immunization/toolkits/.

New Yorkers can find a local vaccine provider by visiting http://flushot.healthmap.org/ and entering their zip code. New Yorkers without internet access can call 1-800-522-5006 or through TTY access at 1-800-655-1789 to find a nearby provider.

To read the entire press release look here.

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Rare Historical Find: 1958 Video of Diane Struble Swimming Lake George


Diane Struble with her three children. (Picture from OpenWaterPedia.com)

On August 22, 1958, Diane Struble entered the water in Ticonderoga and swam the entire length of Lake George in 35 hours. She became the first person to swim the entire length of the lake. I had never seen any video of her swim nor thought any existed.

That is until Peter Ballantye sent me this movie clip his parents took during the summer of 1958 as she passed by Huletts.

The video is short but it is in color and it captures history in the making.

Many thanks to Peter Ballantyne and the Ballantyne family for sharing this rare historical treasure.

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Huletts Landing Fans at the BCS Championship


Huletts Landing fans outside the stadium in Miami before the BCS championship game. From left, John McNelis Jr., John McNelis Sr., Pam McNelis, Irene McNelis, Tom McElhenny and Erin McElhenny. Now which team could they possibly be rooting for??

Click on photo to see full scale. Courtesy of John McNelis.

Update 9:00 pm


First quarter action from inside the stadium.

Click on photo to see full scale.

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Statement by the President on the School Shooting in Newtown, CT

THE PRESIDENT: This afternoon, I spoke with Governor Malloy and FBI Director Mueller. I offered Governor Malloy my condolences on behalf of the nation, and made it clear he will have every single resource that he needs to investigate this heinous crime, care for the victims, counsel their families.

We’ve endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years. And each time I learn the news I react not as a President, but as anybody else would — as a parent. And that was especially true today. I know there’s not a parent in America who doesn’t feel the same overwhelming grief that I do.

The majority of those who died today were children — beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. They had their entire lives ahead of them — birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own. Among the fallen were also teachers — men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams.

So our hearts are broken today — for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children, and for the families of the adults who were lost. Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors as well, for as blessed as they are to have their children home tonight, they know that their children’s innocence has been torn away from them too early, and there are no words that will ease their pain.

As a country, we have been through this too many times. Whether it’s an elementary school in Newtown, or a shopping mall in Oregon, or a temple in Wisconsin, or a movie theater in Aurora, or a street corner in Chicago — these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children. And we’re going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.

This evening, Michelle and I will do what I know every parent in America will do, which is hug our children a little tighter and we’ll tell them that we love them, and we’ll remind each other how deeply we love one another. But there are families in Connecticut who cannot do that tonight. And they need all of us right now. In the hard days to come, that community needs us to be at our best as Americans. And I will do everything in my power as President to help.

Because while nothing can fill the space of a lost child or loved one, all of us can extend a hand to those in need — to remind them that we are there for them, that we are praying for them, that the love they felt for those they lost endures not just in their memories but also in ours.

May God bless the memory of the victims and, in the words of Scripture, heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.

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Happy Thanksgiving


Sarah Josepha Hale, 1831, by James Reid Lambdin

Sarah Josepha Hale, a 74-year-old magazine editor, wrote a letter to President Lincoln on September 28, 1863, urging him to have the “day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival.” She explained, “You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritive fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution.”

This is the proclamation which set the precedent for America’s national day of Thanksgiving.

Proclamation of Thanksgiving
Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863

By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

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Saturday Quote

Recently I came across this link.

It’s a story about a 26-year-old guy named Nick Kleckner who, having discovered that material goods didn’t nourish his soul, decided to walk 2600 miles across America, starting in Jacksonville, Florida, with little more than an ipod and a cell phone, fasting until given food to eat, receiving and giving, communing with the homeless. Finally, he ended up in Southern California’s Huntington Beach.

From the story, in The Orange County Register, by Laylan Connelly.

He had rules when he set out. He’d only accept help from complete strangers, and he never took help from the thousands of followers who would eventually end up tracking his journey on Twitter. The only solicit he had was a cardboard sign that read “food,” which he would use if he was really hungry. But he never verbally asked anybody for anything.

In Mississippi – the poorest state in America – he was overwhelmed with kindness.

“I had so much food, I couldn’t carry it. I had so much money, I was worried carrying that much money around. They’re just nice people,” he said.

“It just hit me that I needed to give back.”

So he’d give away what he didn’t use or need to other people on the streets. He started handing out granola bars tied with rubber bands to a $5 McDonald’s gift card and a $5 bill.

Soon, he started hearing from people wanting to send him stuff. He’d tell them to give to (the) homeless in their area instead.

Then other messages started coming in. People would send stories and photos to his Twitter account about how they’ve helped a homeless person, a sort of version of paying it forward.

One note, sent by Ricky Kennewell, is typical: Following the story from Australia, mate. If closer, I’d have helped you out. I’ll give generously to local homeless instead.

Read the entire piece.

It reminded me of Matthew 10:9, in which Christ tells his followers they should go forth and proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven was upon them, that they should take no money with them, nor even a walking stick or shoes for the road.

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Sandy’s on the Way

While I’ve never intended the Huletts Current to be a “weather site,” it looks like Hurricane Sandy is going to be quite a storm. So I will do my best to bring you live updates and what is actually going on in Huletts as it happens. I will also post pictures when I can. The problem that I encountered during Hurricane Irene was that when the power went off, so did my connection into and out of the Landing.

This is what I can report so far:

New York

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo directed the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to closely monitor the progress of Hurricane Sandy and prepare for potential storm impacts. Although the storm track is still uncertain, Hurricane Sandy has the potential to affect many parts of New York State with a variety of threats, including heavy rain, high winds, flooding, tornadoes, coastal surges, and widespread power outages.

The governor has cautioned New Yorkers to pay close attention to TV and radio for the latest information on the storm and especially for Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages that carry local emergency orders, such as evacuation or travel restrictions.

A storm emergency kit should include items such as non-perishable food, water, cash, filled prescriptions, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, first aid kit, flashlights and extra batteries.

Vermont

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture is advising farmers to harvest crops still in the fields. For those who need power for milking cows or cooling milk tanks, the agency warns to prepare for power outages by making sure generators are working. Farmers also are advised to purchase sufficient fuel to operate generators and equipment.

More as Sandy approaches.

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Remembering September 11th

On September 11, 2001, I was about three miles from the Pentagon going through some training that the company I worked for had sent me to. I was in a computer lab, learning some new software and on a break around 10:00 a.m. someone said that a plane had flown into the one of the World Trade Center Towers. People started checking online and then all of sudden we heard fighter planes flying above us. I went outside and saw three fighter planes flying real low and smoke coming from the Pentagon. Everything was cancelled immediately. I still have a grainy picture on my phone of the military jets flying above Virginia.

The world changed that day for all of us.

Since then I’ve been to the World Trade Center site and back to the Pentagon. One of my resolutions for this year, is that I will make it to the Shanksburg, PA memorial.

Whatever you’re doing today, let us all never forget.

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NASA Statement on Neil Armstrong’s Death

NASA Administrator Statement on Neil Armstrong’s Death

The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden regarding the death of former test pilot and NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong. He was 82.

“On behalf of the entire NASA family, I would like to express my deepest condolences to Carol and the rest of the Armstrong family on the passing of Neil Armstrong. As long as there are history books, Neil Armstrong will be included in them, remembered for taking humankind’s first small step on a world beyond our own.

“Besides being one of America’s greatest explorers, Neil carried himself with a grace and humility that was an example to us all. When President Kennedy challenged the nation to send a human to the moon, Neil Armstrong accepted without reservation.

“As we enter this next era of space exploration, we do so standing on the shoulders of Neil Armstrong. We mourn the passing of a friend, fellow astronaut and true American hero.”

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Scene of a Martian Landing

The four main pieces of hardware that arrived on Mars with NASA’s Curiosity rover were spotted by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). The High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera captured this image about 24 hours after landing. The large, reduced-scale image points out the strewn hardware: the heat shield was the first piece to hit the ground, followed by the back shell attached to the parachute, then the rover itself touched down, and finally, after cables were cut, the sky crane flew away to the northwest and crashed. Relatively dark areas in all four spots are from disturbances of the bright dust on Mars, revealing the darker material below the surface dust.

(Click image to view full scale.)