eedition The Daily Mail December 28-29 2019

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The Daily Mail Copyright 2019, Columbia-Greene Media Volume 227, No. 255

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Saturday-Sunday, December 28-29, 2019

Happy ending: Rudy finds forever home

nFORECAST WEATHER FOR HUDSON/CA TODAY TONIGHT SUN

A bit of afternoon rain

Clouds giving Clear to way to sun partly cloudy

HIGH 44

39 34

LOW 26

By Massarah Mikati Johnson Newspapers

Complete weather, A2 Saturday - Sunday, December

28-29, 2019 - C1

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n SPORTS

Moving Kyrie Irving There is still no definitive timetable for Kyrie Irving’s return from injury PAGE B1

n REGION

By Sarah Trafton Columbia-Greene Media

‘This feels like a family’ At the Warren Street Academy, the season was brightened for many area students PAGE A3

n INDEX Region Opinion State/Nation Obituaries Sports Classified Comics/Advice

A3 A4 A5 A5 B1 B4 B7-B8

On the web www.HudsonValley360.com Twitter Follow: @CatskillDailyMail Facebook www.facebook.com/ CatskillDailyMail/

Proposal to break down the ‘pink’ wall

NASSAU — Bringing home a spunky puppy in time for the holidays felt like fate to a young Rensselaer County couple.

The three-month-old black labrador mix named Rudy captured the hearts of many in the local community when he was

discovered on Thompson Street in Catskill earlier this month with a broken leg. Rudy was taken to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society in Hudson for treatment and to find a new home.

An investigation by Catskill Village Police revealed that Rudy’s original owner, Unique Norfleet,

22, of Catskill, made the 911 call reporting an abandoned dog.

Norfleet has been charged with falsely reporting an incident, a class A misdemeanor, Catskill police said.

As Rudy’s story went viral around the region, Rebecca Barnhart-Rundblad and her fiance Fred

Rundblad felt an inexplicable connection with the injured pup.

“We saw him on the news one night and something just felt right,” Barnhart-Rundblad said. “We found out what shelter he was at and it felt even more right.”

See RUDY A8

Contributed photo

Fred Rundblad and his fiancee Rebecca Barnhart-Rundblad of Rensselaer County adopted Rudy, the injured dog abandoned in Catskill.

NEW YORK — Gender equality is the latest item on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s agenda, as he unveiled a proposal to eliminate the so-called “pink tax.”

The pink tax refers to the higher costs of products and services used by women in comparison to similar products and services used by men. Cuomo plans to push legislation to bar this phenomenon of gender-based pricing discrimination by requiring businesses to post price lists, and assessing civil penalties against them if they violate the law.

“Last year we made equal pay for equal work a reality and this year we’ll build on that progress by breaking down barriers that can prevent women from achieving financial success including the pink tax,” Cuomo said in a statement. “Women shouldn’t be nickel and dimed their entire lives because of their gender - it’s discriminatory and repugnant to our values and we’re putting an end to it.”

A 2015 study by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs found that women’s products cost an average of 7 percent more than similar products for men, and personal care products an average of 13 percent more. As such, women end up spending as much as an additional $1,000 per year as men on similar products, studies have found — a financial burden that’s even more strained by the gender wage gap.

Cuomo’s proposal was applauded by groups across the state.

Beverly Neufeld, president of PowHer New York and a member of the New York State Council for Women and Girls, said in a statement such legislation was a long time coming.

“For too long, manufacturers and sellers have charged higher prices to women for products that are identical to those used by men,” Neufeld said. “Thanks to Gov. Cuomo for fighting to end both forms of economic discrimination and for creating more opportunity for women and families to thrive in New York.”

Collins exits SD46 race, supports Hinchey

By Massarah Mikati Johnson Newspapers

SAUGERTIES — The race for the 46th State Senate District has lost a candidate but gained an alliance.

Democrat Jeff Collins announced that he would be ending his campaign for the seat and throwing his support to Michelle Hinchey.

The shuffle virtually guarantees a Democratic primary battle between Hinchey and New Baltimore child advocate and attorney Gary Greenberg in June.

“I have had a chance to get to know Michelle and her intelligence, passion and commitment to making a difference in the district and the state is clear,” Collins said in a

statement. “Working together to ensure we win this critical seat is the best path forward for the district.”

Collins is joining Hinchey’s campaign as a volunteer policy adviser and said he believes the 31-year-old will be the best advocate for issues important to the district, such as health care, promoting family farms and environmental protection.

“I am proud to have his support and welcome him to our team. Jeff brings a lifetime of experience in business, agriculture and advocacy,” Hinchey said in a statement.

“Our region has the opportunity for new representation See RACE A8

C-GM file photo

New Baltimore activist Gary Greenberg speaks out in support of the Child Victims Act.

This Year, Give the Gift that Keeps On Giving Please consider contributing to Operation Unite’s End of Year Fundraising Campaign The mission of Operation Unite, New York is to produce well-rounded, progressive youth who will enter adulthood with a sense of direction, self-esteem and social consciousness and subsequently reinvest themselves into the community from which they came.

Visit us online at www.operationuniteny.com or call 518-828-3612 to learn more

P.O. Box 1305 Hudson, NY 12534

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COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

A2 - Saturday - Sunday, December 28-29, 2019

Weather FORECAST FOR HUDSON/CATSKILL

TODAY TONIGHT SUN

MON

TUE

WED

In court, he speaks for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

By Ann E. Marimow (c) 2019, The Washington Post

Clouds giving Clear to way to sun partly cloudy

HIGH 44

A bit of afternoon rain

Periods of rain

Cloudy with a few flurries

Breezy with clouds and sun

39 34

39 36

44 30

41 27

LOW 26

Ottawa 36/21

Montreal 37/22

Massena 38/24

Bancroft 35/19

Ogdensburg 39/23

Peterborough 38/24

Plattsburgh 40/24

Malone Potsdam 37/23 38/24

Kingston 37/26

Lake Placid 34/20

Watertown 38/24

Rochester 42/28

Utica 39/26

Batavia Buffalo 40/29 42/31

Albany 43/27

Syracuse 42/27

Catskill 44/26

Binghamton 39/27

Hornell 43/28

Burlington 41/26

Hudson 44/26

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

SUN AND MOON

ALMANAC Statistics through 3 p.m. yesterday

Temperature

Precipitation

Yesterday as of 3 p.m. 24 hrs. through 3 p.m. yest.

High

0.01”

Low

YEAR TO DATE

44.64 46

40

Today 7:23 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

9:23 a.m.

6:59 p.m.

Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset

Sun. 7:24 a.m.

4:31 p.m.

10:01 a.m.

8:00 p.m.

Moon Phases

NORMAL

39.02

First

Full

Last

New

Jan 2

Jan 10

Jan 17

Jan 24

Forecasts and graphics provided

by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2019

CONDITIONS TODAY AccuWeather.com UV Index™ & AccuWeather.com RealFeel Temperature®

0

1

2

2

2

2

2

1

0

0

0

29

32

36

40

42

43

45

44

41

39

36

8 a.m. 9 a.m. 10 a.m. 11 a.m. Noon 1 p.m. 2 p.m. 3 p.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 6 p.m.

The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. 0-2 Low; 3-5 Moderate; 6-7 High; 8-10 Very High; 11+ Extreme. The patented AccuWeather.com RealFeel Temperature is an exclusive index of effective temperature based on eight weather factors.

NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Winnipeg 21/12 Seattle 47/42

Montreal 37/22 Minneapolis 38/34

Billings 34/16

Chicago 50/50

Denver 29/16

San Francisco 55/47

Toronto 41/30 Detroit 44/36 New York 52/39 Washington 60/41

Kansas City 60/41

Los Angeles 60/43

Atlanta 66/60 El Paso 49/36 Houston 77/61

Chihuahua 61/34

Miami 81/74

Monterrey 83/55

ALASKA HAWAII

Anchorage 16/12

-10s

-0s

0s

showers t-storms

Honolulu 84/70

Fairbanks -11/-17 Juneau 37/36

10s rain

Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.

Hilo 82/68

20s flurries

30s

40s

snow

50s ice

60s

70s

cold front

80s

90s 100s 110s

warm front stationary front

NATIONAL CITIES City Albuquerque Anchorage Atlanta Atlantic City Baltimore Billings Birmingham Boise Boston Charleston, SC Charleston, WV Charlotte Cheyenne Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus, OH Dallas Denver Des Moines Detroit Hartford Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Kansas City Knoxville Las Vegas

Today Hi/Lo W 41/21 sf 16/12 sf 66/60 pc 52/36 pc 57/36 pc 34/16 pc 68/65 pc 36/25 pc 49/34 s 71/60 pc 64/51 pc 68/54 s 22/15 sn 50/50 sh 62/55 c 50/41 pc 55/47 c 68/44 r 29/16 sn 53/42 r 44/36 pc 46/28 s 84/70 pc 77/61 sh 60/54 c 60/41 r 66/52 pc 51/34 s

Sun. Hi/Lo W 35/17 s 26/21 sn 69/56 c 51/47 pc 48/46 r 33/17 pc 72/49 r 35/25 c 43/36 pc 74/64 sh 68/54 r 65/60 r 24/11 pc 62/36 sh 63/47 r 59/53 r 60/49 r 56/33 pc 32/13 pc 43/23 sf 56/48 r 43/33 pc 84/72 pc 69/39 r 63/41 r 41/27 sf 71/52 c 49/36 pc

City Little Rock Los Angeles Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York City Norfolk Oklahoma City Omaha Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Portland Portland Providence Raleigh Richmond Sacramento St. Louis Salt Lake City San Francisco Savannah Seattle Tampa Washington, DC

Today Hi/Lo W 67/52 sh 60/43 s 81/74 c 45/43 r 38/34 i 68/61 pc 76/66 sh 52/39 s 58/44 s 59/32 r 47/32 r 80/69 sh 52/35 pc 55/36 s 50/36 c 45/26 pc 46/40 pc 47/30 s 68/50 s 63/42 s 55/36 s 63/53 sh 30/19 sn 55/47 s 71/61 sh 47/42 r 79/70 c 60/41 pc

Sun. Hi/Lo W 63/35 r 60/48 pc 81/74 sh 58/39 sh 42/29 sh 67/47 r 73/50 r 48/43 pc 60/56 c 43/27 pc 33/22 sn 81/68 c 50/45 r 54/37 s 55/51 r 40/26 pc 46/33 r 44/34 pc 65/57 r 59/54 c 52/39 r 64/35 c 30/22 sf 56/44 r 76/66 sh 49/39 r 80/69 c 54/51 r

Weather(W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

WASHINGTON — To the extent Douglas Letter caught a break, it came down to this: Two of his cases were being heard on the same floor of the same Washington courthouse on the same afternoon.

In one room, Letter tried to persuade a judge to force President Donald Trump’s former White House counsel Donald McGahn to testify before Congress. During a short break, Letter hustled down the hallway to a second courtroom. There, his colleague insisted that former national security adviser John Bolton’s deputy must comply with a House subpoena to testify in the impeachment inquiry.

That fall day has come to represent a typical schedule for Letter, the genial, self-deprecating lead lawyer for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. After a 40-year career at the Justice Department, defending policies of presidential administrations from both parties, Letter now speaks for the speaker in courtrooms throughout the country while advising House leaders on impeachment.

With his small team of lawyers, Letter is locked in pitched battles with the Trump administration, which has vowed to fight all congressional subpoenas for documents and testimony — and resisted cooperating with House impeachment proceedings. As general counsel to the House, Letter has a hand in an outsize number of fastmoving legal fights between Congress and the president.

Letter is slated to represent the House at the Supreme Court, which will review two rare separation-of-powers cases over disclosure of Trump’s tax and financial records in March.

And in back-to-back hearings Jan. 3 at the federal appeals court in Washington, Letter will explain why the judges should give the House access to secret evidence from special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. His colleague, Megan Barbero, will then ask the court to uphold a ruling forcing McGahn to appear before a House committee despite White House efforts to block his testimony.

“Because of the stonewalling by the Trump administration and the insistence on going to court on every kind of thing, it’s very demanding with multiple opponents and multiple cases,” said Irv Nathan, who held Letter’s position the first time Pelosi was speaker, starting in 2007.

“The job is on steroids.”

Justice Department lawyers counter in court filings that forcing key presidential advisers to answer Congress’ questions would be a “radical distortion of the balance of powers.” Grand jury material, they say, should be off-limits to Congress even in an impeachment proceeding.

The general counsel’s quarters are jammed into a secondfloor suite of offices in the Cannon House Office Building, so cramped that one attorney works out of a closet. The tight space for nine lawyers and staff belies the lasting impact their cases will have on the structure of the nation’s government — the scope and limits of presidential and congressional power and how the branches interact.

“Even when he’s got a crushing workload on him and other people would snap, Doug’s reaction is to recognize what an incredible position he’s in,” said former Justice Department official David O’Neil, who has

Washington Post photo by Melina Mara

House general counsel Doug Letter works in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office between votes on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 17, 2019.

helped Letter’s team challenge the administration’s plan to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. “He inspires people to put in their best work and to pull all-nighter after allnighter because the work matters.”

Letter, 66, sleeps only four hours on a typical night, according to friends and former colleagues. When he’s not in court or crafting legal filings, he briefs Democrats on strategy and advises House leaders on impeachment. He talks frequently with Pelosi in meetings, by phone or in texts, with messages that also touch on a shared affinity for sports teams from the Bay Area, where Letter grew up.

The House lawyers typically travel to hearings as a pack, entering the courthouse with Letter in his trademark baseball cap. While arguing against Trump’s border wall funding plan at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco, he wore a 49ers cap. In Washington, it’s the Nationals or Capitals.

Letter, who was not authorized to comment for this article, was born in the District of Columbia but spent his childhood in Palo Alto, California, where government work was a family tradition. His father, who served in World War II, ran the National Labor Relations Board office in San Francisco. Letter graduated from Columbia University and returned to California for law school at Berkeley.

A workaholic even by Washington standards, Letter holds to his sleep schedule to make sure he has time for long-distance bike rides, tennis and family, according to friends.

They count on his Sunday evening emails asking who’s in for weekly basketball games at a Montgomery County, Maryland, middle school that Letter has organized for 35 years.

Letter is the informal commissioner of the group, made up mostly of government workers who choose not to pay extra to air-condition the gym.

“Lawyers in this town can get competitive; we believe in our own version of the rules,” said Joshua Geltzer, a former Justice Department lawyer who worked with Letter during his stint last year at Georgetown’s Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection. “If people get a little too combative or revert to lawyer mode, he’ll calm people down, tell us to take it easy.”

Letter has tapped his network of former government lawyers, including Geltzer and his Georgetown colleagues, to help handle the 15 pending lawsuits involving the House. The lawyers are working for free, according to a Pelosi aide.

When Letter retired from the Justice Department in February 2018, he was head of the civil appellate division with 65 attorneys. He had done stints in the White House Counsel’s Office

during the Clinton administration, as terrorism litigation counsel defending post-9/11 policies for George W. Bush and as senior counsel to Barack Obama’s attorney general Eric Holder.

Ben Wizner, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney, argued opposite Letter in national security matters, including in a federal lawsuit against a CIA contractor for its alleged role in transporting detainees to secret prisons, where they were tortured. Letter, representing the government under Bush and Obama, narrowly prevailed in persuading a full panel of the 9th Circuit to dismiss the lawsuit because of secrecy concerns.

Wizner, who likes Letter personally, said his eyebrow raised when he learned of Letter’s new role.

“There is some irony in his being tagged to push back against executive branch overreach,” Wizner said. “As a government lawyer, he defended extravagant claims of executive prerogative, including that the CIA could designate its own illegal activity a state secret and thereby avoid any kind of accountability.”

But John Lawrence, Pelosi’s former chief of staff, sees Letter’s experience representing both Democratic and Republican administrations and his insights into high-level legal strategy as a plus.

“It never hurts to have somebody around who knows the other team’s signals or at least understands how they think,” said Lawrence, who recommended Letter for the job.

Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and Justice Neil Gorsuch, both conservatives, attended Letter’s farewell party at the Justice Department, Lawrence noted.

“When he walks into court, the judges know he’s not there as a flack for the Democrats, but as a serious litigator,” Lawrence said.

Letter revels in bantering with the judges and is at ease in nerve-racking court sessions of hypothetical, rapid-fire questioning, said Matt Collette, who was Letter’s deputy at the Justice Department.

During a hearing in November over access to Mueller’s secret grand jury material, Letter pointed out that the Justice Department lawyer had repeatedly referred to the department as “the government.”

“The House of Representatives is the first branch,” Letter said. “We’re both the government, but we’re the first branch.”

“You’re part of the first branch,” reminded Judge Thomas Griffith, a former committee counsel for the Senate, the other half of the legislative branch.

In a sign of his comfort in court, Letter offered levity in a nod to the bodies mired in

constitutional conflict.

“Judge Griffith,” Letter said, “I was hoping you’d take up the mantle of the Senate and we could complete this.”

Letter’s adversaries in court are often former colleagues, allowing him to anticipate the views of the executive branch and to speak with institutional background.

“Presidents from George Washington on (unlike Mr. Trump) have understood that Congress has the power to conduct investigations and oversight of the president as part of the constitutional design,” Letter wrote in a court filing asking the appeals court in Washington to uphold a House subpoena for Trump’s accounting firm records.

The Justice Department’s arguments are “fabricated out of whole cloth: they may represent what the department wishes the law were,” he wrote, “but they are not the law.”

Trump’s lawyers accuse the House and its lawyers of seeking the president’s financial information to embarrass the president and score political points — and of overstepping into a law enforcement role.

“Given the obvious temptation to investigate the personal affairs of political rivals, subpoenas concerning the private lives of presidents will become routine in times of divided government,” warned Trump’s attorney William Consovoy in asking the Supreme Court to review a ruling against the president.

Even in the middle of a bitter fight, Letter’s legal positions are distinct from his personal relationships. Halfway through the November hearing over grand jury materials, it was Letter’s turn to speak.

Letter would eventually tell the court that morning why the House had an urgent need to see the evidence: “Did the president lie?” Letter said. “Was the president not truthful in his responses to the Mueller investigation?”

But first, he made a personal point: The Justice Department attorney on the opposing side, Mark Freeman, was Letter’s former colleague and had succeeded him in leading the appellate office in part because of Letter’s “very strong recommendation.”

“After this is all over,” Letter told the judges, “we will shake hands and hug.”

The Washington Post’s Ellen Nakashima contributed to this report.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 28-29, 2019 - A3

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA • THE DAILY MAIL

‘This feels like a family’: School celebrates the season

CALENDAR Thursday, Jan. 2 n Ashland Planning Board 6 p.m. at the Town Hall, 12094 Route 23, Ashland

Monday, Jan. 6 n Athens Town Board organizational meeting 7 p.m. Athens Town Hall, 2 First St., Athens n Cairo Town Board 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo n Greene County Board of Electrical Examiners 1 p.m. Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., 4th Floor, Room 469, Catskill. n Greene County Legislature organizational meeting 6 p.m. Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., Catskill

Tuesday, Jan. 7 n Catskill Town Board organizational

meeting with monthly meeting to follow 6 p.m. Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill n Durham Town Board workshop meeting 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 7309 Route 81, East Durham

Wednesday, Jan. 8 n Catskill Town Zoning Board 6 p.m.

Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill n Catskill Village Board 7 p.m. Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill n Greene County Legislature health services; county resources and public safety 6 p.m. Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., Catskill n Jewett Town Board 7 p.m. at the Jewett Municipal Building, 3547 County Route 23C, Jewett

Thursday, Jan. 9 n Windham-Ashland-Jewett CSD BOE

audit finance committee 5:15 p.m. in superintendent’s office; regular meeting 6 p.m. in the School Library, 5411 Route 23, Windham n Greene County Legislature finance audit 4 p.m. Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., Catskill

Monday, Jan. 13 n Ashland Town Board 7:30 p.m. at

the Town Hall, 12094 Route 23, Ashland n Catskill Village Planning Board 7 p.m. Catskill Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill n Greene County Legislature county services; public works; economic development and tourism; Gov. Ops.; finance and Rep. and Dem. Caucus 6 p.m. Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., Catskill

Tuesday, Jan. 14 n Catskill Town Planning Board 7 p.m.

By Melanie Lekocevic Columbia-Greene Media

HUDSON — For some families, the holidays can be a difficult time of the year, but for one group of students from the Twin Counties and beyond, the season was brightened with what was, for some, a chance of a lifetime.

Dozens of students from the Warren Street Academy in Hudson were treated to a day of fun and fashion at Club Helsinki Hudson to celebrate the season.

“This shows the staff is very caring and friendly,” student Javier Currey-Stratton said as he waited for his meal.

His teacher, Heather Lincoln, said the day was special for both students and staff.

“This is a celebration of our family during the holiday season,” Lincoln said. “This feels like a family.”

The Warren Street Academy is a school for students in grades 7 through 12 who are at risk of dropping out of schools in Columbia, Greene, Albany, Rensselaer and Dutchess counties. Nearly 50 students turned out for the annual festivities in Hudson.

“We are having a Christmas luncheon for our students because for some of them, as they go into the Christmas break, they don’t know where their next meal is going to come from,” said teacher’s assistant Rebecca Rogers.

“I wanted to do this to show them they are cared for and loved. We started this a couple of years ago and it has just gotten bigger each year. The community has really come together to support us.”

Prior to the luncheon at Club Helsinki Hudson, the kids were treated to haircuts, makeup and fancy outfits, thanks to local donors.

“Some of these kids come from low incomes and have

Melanie Lekocevic/Columbia-Greene Media

Danny Polo, D.J. Ingoldsby, Javier Currey-Stratton, Heather Lincoln and Jose Vega from the Warren Street Academy in Hudson celebrate the holiday season during a school event at Club Helsinki Hudson.

never experienced anything like this — a fancy place that is decorated like this,” said math teacher Daniel Horst. “A bunch of people in the community have gotten together to help us out with food and decorations, and we had a barber come in to cut the boys’ hair, and we had some ladies come in and do makeup, and they are all dressed up. It gives them an opportunity to experience something they may never have experienced before. It gives them a memory that they may otherwise never have had.”

The Warren Street Academy is a small-setting school of around 54 students, who come from several local counties. It is for children at risk of dropping out and giving them a chance to earn a high school diploma, which is issued by their home school upon completing the program.

Some come from challenging situations and could use the extra support and more individualized school setting.

“The Warren Street Academy gives students the opportunity to be successful,

the opportunity to receive instruction on an individual basis,” Principal Dotan Schips said. “We give them the best chance to be successful. We have small classes so we can focus on their individual, unique needs.”

Former principal Dan Kalbfliesh, who now works on a districtwide basis for the Berkshire Union Free School District, said supporting the students is a key goal for the school.

“It’s very important to establish a type of family structure that can support them through the holiday season because for a lot of kids it is a very difficult time, and showing them that this is what it should look like being part of a functioning family, to give them something to look forward to and to aspire to,” Kalbfliesh said. “It also lets us bring in members of the community, bring in different things to really celebrate what we are trying to do here.”

“This can be a very difficult time of the year,” he added.

Donors who helped put

Melanie Lekocevic/Columbia-Greene Media

Students from the Warren Street Academy were all dolled up recently for a holiday celebration thanks to local donors.

Melanie Lekocevic/Columbia-Greene Media

The holidays were celebrated with flair by students and faculty at the Warren Street Academy. Pictured, left to right, are Landen Garrison, Jason Gonzalez, William Saltis, Principal Dotan Schips, and Robby Bentley.

the event together included Wunderbar Bistro, Swoon Kitchenbar, Le Perche Bakery and Bistro and The Cascades restaurant, which donated the food; Jordan Bonanski, who cut the boys’ hair;

Samantha Manning, who did the girls’ hair and makeup; Second Show, which donated clothing; and local residents Neil and Eileen Sherman, who made sure each student received a gift.

Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill

Nursing home artists honored in 2020 annual calendar

Wednesday, Jan. 15 n Catskill Central School District BOE

6:30 p.m. High School Library, 341 West Main St., Catskill n Catskill Library Board 6:45 p.m. at either the Catskill Library, 1 Franklin St., Catskill or Palenville Library, 3303 Route 23A, Palenville n Catskill Town Board committee meeting 6:30 p.m. Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill

Monday, Jan. 20 n Catskill Town Offices closed n Greenville Town Board 7 p.m. at

the Town Hall, 11159 Route 32, Pioneer Building, Greenville

Tuesday, Jan. 21 n Durham Town Board 7:30 p.m. at

Town Hall, 7309 Route 81, East Durham n Hunter Town Board 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, 5748 Route 23A, Tannersville

Wednesday, Jan. 22 n Catskill Village Board 7 p.m. Senior

Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill

Monday, Jan. 27 n Catskill Village Planning Board 7

p.m. Catskill Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill

Tuesday, Jan. 28 n Catskill Town Planning Board 7 p.m.

Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill

Wednesday, Jan. 29 n Catskill Central School District BOE

budget workshop 6:30 p.m. High School Library, 341 West Main St., Catskill

ALBANY — Art is a powerful medium of expression. Particularly for the aging, it can present an opportunity to open up to outsiders what may be a lifetime of inspirational images never before shared.

Thirteen artists who happen to be residents of New York State skilled nursing and assisted living facilities translated visions from their hearts and minds into winning entries of a juried art contest, now featured in a 2020 calendar, “Art from the Heart.”

This Year’s “Art from the Heart” Art Contest Winners are Tim Bartholomew, Northeast Center for Rehabilitation and Brain Injury, Lake Katrine; Lydia Bedford, Clove Lakes Health Care & Rehab Center Inc., Staten Island; Roberto Cortes, Hope Center, Bronx: Linda Day, East Neck Nursing & Rehab Center, West Babylon; Shirley Goetz, The Pavilion at Vestal Park, Vestal; Gabriel Guadalupe, Bronx Gardens Rehabilitation

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OUR VIEW

Impotent ethics policy should be dumped Now that Greene County’s nepotism policy will stand in the wake of Greene County Sheriff Greg Seeley’s hiring of his son, lawmakers are discussing how the county should address such situations in the future.

The answer is this: Had the Legislature followed its own policy, the situation would have been addressed eight months ago. The future should have started then.

A notable quote from Legislator Harry Lennon, a Cairo Democrat, neatly states the problem and the solution. Lennon thought the hiring process should have been more transparent. “Whenever there is an appearance of impropriety, you must disclose it immediately,” he said. Taking this a step further, there was an appearance of impropriety, but the Legislature fumbled the ball and disclosed it twice in contradictory terms.

In July, Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden said Matthew Seeley could not be hired until his father retired as sheriff, according to the current policy. Yet Groden later confirmed that Matthew Seeley was hired as a provisional employee in May, two months earlier.

“Matthew Seeley is employed as a provisional employee, pending his completion and successful scoring of a civil service exam,” Groden said. “If he passes the exam and is reachable, meaning he must score in the top three spots, he will be appointed as a permanent employee.” Then there was

this from Groden: “Provisional status is very common in governmental employment as civil service tests are only given infrequently and eligible lists have expiration dates.”

Now, here comes the punch line: Although the hiring was a violation of the administrative manual, it is not something that can be enforced, Groden said.

Did Groden call the hiring a violation of the policy and then say it can’t be enforced?

If that is correct, and it certainly seems so, the Legislature is wielding an impotent policy to address significant ethical matters.

What’s needed here is a nepotism policy with teeth, rather than a policy that can’t be enforced even where there are clear violations.

The Legislature can’t afford to stand pat with a losing hand. We need lawmakers who will make the hard choice of either drafting a new and enforceable policy or eliminate the current lifeless policy for good and handle ethical matters case by case.

We’re sure Matthew Seeley is a worthy and qualified employee, but he should have been hired on Jan. 1, the day his father retired from office, to avoid all appearances of impropriety. Legislator Michael Bulich, a Catskill Republican, asked if the county needed something in place to prevent these situations. Yes, a firm hand and a policy that carries weight.

ANOTHER VIEW

Assad and Putin are responsible for Syria’s latest wave of suffering Observatory for Human Rights, more than Syrian dictator Bashar Assad and his Rus5,000 have been killed since April. sian and Iranian allies have for years pursued Turkey promised last year to disarm the exa bloody but systematic strategy for regaining tremists, but, while it has set up its own milicontrol over rebel-held areas. The regime tary outposts in Idlib and backed other rebel launches brutal assaults aimed at driving out forces, it has failed to deliver. This week, its civilians, deliberately bombing hospitals, diplomats once again were reduced to pleadschools and markets. After gaining some ing with Russia to stop the offensive. The ground, it responds to international presUnited States, which once did the bargaining sure by agreeing to a cease-fire. Then, after a with Moscow, has become an impotent obfew weeks or months of respite, it repeats the server. “Russia, Syria, and Iran are killing, or process. on their way to killing, thousands of innocent Thus it was that Syrian and Russian forces civilians in Idlib Province. Don’t do it!” Presibegan a new offensive in the northern provdent Donald Trump tweeted Thursday. He ince of Idlib last week, once again targeting responded to the last offensive with a similar civilians and, according to humanitarian aid tweet - and nothing else. groups, driving more than 100,000 people As Trump’s tweet indicated - “Turkey is toward the border with Turkey. The attack is working hard to stop this carnage” - Presithe resumption of a push into the province dent Recep Tayyip Erdogan has the best that began last April and displaced more than chance of preventing the looming humani500,000 people before an August cease-fire. tarian catastrophe. He seems to be trying: Humanitarian aid groups say the current of- The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights fensive could soon double that number, leav- reported that scores of Turkish military vehiing tens of thousands of people living in the cles crossed into Syria on Wednesday night. open in harsh winter conditions. Turkey long The Turks, at best, could use diplomacy and ago sealed its border with Syria, meaning the reinforcement of their existing outposts to refugees have no safe place to go. curtail the offensive, while doing more to Idlib has long posed a complex problem neutralize extremist forces. for Turkey and Western governments. Its Still, it should be clear who is responsible population of some 3 million people, includ- for the latest wave of Syrian suffering: the ing many thousands of refugees from other Assad regime and Russian President Vladiparts of Syria, is controlled by an extremist mir Putin. Congress recently approved new offshoot of al-Qaida, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. legislation sanctioning the Syrian governBut the Syrian and Russian tactics for recon- ment and all who do business with it, includquering the province are aimed mostly at ing Russia; legislators should insist that it be innocent civilians. According to the Syrian rigorously enforced.

(c) 2019, The Washington Post

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY ‘Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.’

The 235 days that rattled China and shook the world WASHINGTON — They were 235 days that shook the world, rattled China’s regime and refuted the most pernicious wishful thinking since the appeasement of dictators collapsed eight decades ago.

Nothing more momentous happened in 2019 than Hong Kong’s heroic insurrection.

It began with the April 3 introduction by Beijing’s Hong Kong satraps of an extradition bill that would have facilitated the sweeping of inconvenient people into the mainland’s suppression machinery that is both Kafkaesque and Orwellian. The convulsions culminated in, but did not end with, Nov. 24’s cymbal-crash elections in which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which had counted on the island city’s majority to rebuke the demonstrators, learned the limits of its sterile program of purchasing subservience by promising prosperity.

Elsewhere on China’s periphery, Taiwan has a presidential election in less than two weeks. China’s President Xi Jinping began 2019 with a Jan. 2 speech identifying Taiwan as the focus of his campaign to make China great again. If — when, probably — on Jan. 11, 2020, Taiwan reelects President Tsai Ingwen, the Taiwanese will have joined Hong Kongers in disdaining the “one country, two systems” fudge as a formula for the incremental suffocation of freedom.

Thirty autumns ago, as the Berlin Wall crumbled and the Soviet Union teetered, approximately 1.5 billion people lived under communist regimes. Today, approximately 1.5 billion people still do. The 1989 figure was 29% of the world’s population compared with 20% in 2019, but 89% of today’s 20% are caught in the tightening vise of China’s Leninism, whose inviolable tenet is that nothing shall challenge the party’s supremacy.

With this year’s revelations about the million, or perhaps millions, swept into the gulag archipelago in northwestern

WASHINGTON POST

GEORGE F.

WILL China, it is possible to hope that in 2020 we will hear less from American businessmen who are as obtuse as they are cocksure. Just 51 days before The New York Times published more than 400 pages of documents on China’s concentration camps, presidential aspirant Michael Bloomberg said the CCP’s leaders “listen to the public,” and “Xi Jinping is not a dictator.”

Not content to just “listen to” the public, the CCP, using ever-more-sophisticated technology, surveils almost everything done by almost everyone. Perhaps 2019 foreshadowed the day when today’s Bloombergs will be remembered as Charles Lindbergh and others are remembered because they thought dictators in the 1930s were “the wave of the future.”

Would that America’s serial grovelers had the gumption of the creators of “South Park.”

When China, a supposedly great power that was actually discombobulated by this animated TV series, banned it, the creators said: “We welcome the Chinese censors into our homes and into our hearts. ... Xi doesn’t look just like Winnie the Pooh at all. ...

Long live the Great Communist Party of China! May this autumn’s sorghum harvest be bountiful! We good now China?”

“We have to stand with Hong Kong, but I’m also standing with President Xi,” said America’s president, who also said of Xi: “He’s a friend of mine.” Xi should reciprocate friendly feelings because Donald Trump’s biggest blunder, made three days

The Daily Mail welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must contain a full name, full address and a daytime telephone number. Names will be published, but phone numbers will not be divulged.

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after his inauguration, was jettisoning the Trans-Pacific Partnership, thereby unraveling a 12-nation fabric of commercial cooperation that excluded China.

Two other Trump chums are Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The former continued his incremental dismemberment of Europe’s geographically largest nation, Ukraine, and the latter took Trump’s warning against attacking the Kurds as seriously as Trump meant it.

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un does not have to settle for mere friendship — in 2018 Trump said “we fell in love” — but in 2019 the romance seemed unreciprocated. Kim ended a 522-day self-imposed moratorium on ballistic missile tests, but Trump minimized their importance because the missiles could not reach the continental United States — just South Korea, Japan and the 80,000 U.S. forces in both places. However, North Korea has given Trump until right now — the end of this calendar year — to make additional U.S. concessions, beyond the scaling back of joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises, to avoid “shocking punishment.”

Fresh concessions are North Korea’s price for resumption of negotiations that will lead, if the future is like the last 25 years, to other concessions.

However, because nuclear weapons are at issue, you must remember this: In 1945, having witnessed the New Mexico birth of something used on Japan three weeks later, the Manhattan Project’s leaders would have been have been pleasantly surprised had they known that 2019 would be the 73rd year without the use of what they had created.

Sometimes what does not happen is itself momentous.

George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. (c) 2019, Washington Post Writers Group

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Linda I. Richards Linda I. Richards, Harrington, person but always in charge.

DE, formerly of Hudson, NY, She was truly a loving wife and passed away peacefully at mother and will be missed dearhome on December 23, 2019, ly. she was 74. Linda was born She is survived by her husin Binghamton, NY to the late band of 52 years, William RichRoger and Jean Gilmore. ards; her children and spouses, Linda was a school Bill (Karine) Richards, teacher for many years Jennifer (James) Brady, in Taconic Hills, NY. Sarah (Kenneth) Rizzo; She enjoyed being a sisters, Lee Shurtleff, teacher and mentorNancy Zollo; brother, ing her students. After Dr. Roger Gilmore, 8 retirement, she and her grandchildren, 1 great husband Bill moved to grandchild.

Harrington, DE where Services will be prithey called home the vate and at the conRichards past 15 years. In her venience of the family. spare time, she enjoyed reading, quilting, and watching Arrangements are by Melvin Futhe Food Network Channel. She neral Home, www.melvinfunerwill be remembered as a quiet alhome.com

Teresa Brockway Teresa Brockway, of Catskill, husband Wayne of Athens; 11 unexpectedly passed away grandchildren, Michael Conpeacefully at home. She was nolly and wife Lauren, Lauborn November 12, 1933 in ren Brockway and fiancé Joe; Catskill, the daughter of the late Amber Brockway, Chelsea Harold and Theresa (Conarpe) Brockway, Rachel Myer, Jaime Miller. Teresa enjoyed working Brockway, Moriah Brockway, at many establishments in the Liana Brockway, Cory Sutherfood service industry for many land, Samantha Sutherland, years, prior to her retirement Brian Monsees; 7 great-grandat age 80. She loved her daily children; a brother, William interactions with people, as it Miller; three sisters-in-law, Pearl was part of her personBrockway, Carol Miller ality; always smiling, and Dianne Miller; Roblaughing, joking, and ert McManus’ daughconversing with her ter, Lori McManus; patrons. She was prealong with many cousdeceased by her husins, nieces, nephews, band George Brockand close friends. way on July 19, 2002; Relatives and friends brothers and sisters, may call 4-7 PM MonPatsy Miller, Margaret day at Traver & McBrockway Carney, Lucy Horacek, Curry Funeral Home, Mary Macarelli, Anna 234 Jefferson Heights, Dedrick; and companion, Rob- Catskill. Funeral services will be ert McManus. held 11 AM Tuesday at the fuTeresa is survived by three neral home with Reverend Cathsons, Dennis J. Brockway and erine E. Schuyler officiating. wife Lisa of Perry, GA; Dale Interment will be at St. Patrick’s R. Brockway and wife Randi Cemetery in Catskill. In lieu of Somers, CT; and David A. of flowers, memorials may be Brockway and companion, made to Town of Catskill AmbuMary Hiatt of Leeds; two daugh- lance, in support of the Town of ters, Darlene M. Myer and hus- Catskill Ambulance Employee band Scott of Catskill and Diana Benefit Fund; c/o Chief George L. Brockway-Sutherland and Jeune.

FAA proposed tracking drones flying in U.S.

By Paul Schwartzman (c) 2019, The Washington Post

WASHINGTON — Most drones flying in the United States would be required to broadcast tracking signals that would allow authorities to identify their operators and locate them, according to federal regulations proposed Thursday.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s plan would apply to all but the smallest drones and is intended to tighten safety precautions and help prevent terrorist attacks, agency officials said.

“Remote ID technologies will enhance safety and security by allowing the FAA, law enforcement, and federal security agencies to identify drones flying in their jurisdiction,” Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said in a statement released by the agency.

The FAA made the proposal as a growing number of companies, including Amazon, are interested in deploying drones to deliver packages to customers. (Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.) In November, UPS, working in tandem with CVS, used drones to drop off medical prescriptions at homes in North Carolina.

Three years ago, Congress asked the FAA to issue regulations for identifying and tracking drones, which the agency describes as “a fast-growing segment of the entire transportation sector.” Nearly 1.5 million drones and 160,000 remote pilots are registered with the FAA, according to the agency.

Brian Wynne, the head of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International,

said in a statement that the proposed regulations “will increase the safety and security of the airspace.”

The Commercial Drone Alliance, a nonprofit association, said in a statement that it was “thrilled” by the FAA’s proposal and said it “appears to open the door for expansion of the billion-dollar commercial drone economy here in the U.S.” The association said its main concern is that the FAA said it would take up to three years to put in place the new regulations, which would delay the widespread use of drones for delivering goods.

The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed regulation.

In its 319-page proposal, the FAA writes that the “ability to identify and locate” drones “provides critical information to law enforcement and other officials charged with ensuring public safety. . . . This information could be used to distinguish compliant airspace users from those potentially posing a safety or security risk.”

The proposed regulations would not apply to recreational drones that weigh less than 0.55 pounds, which are not required to register with the FAA. According to the proposal, drone manufacturers would face additional costs installing new technology if the proposal were implemented. The FAA said the technology would save money for the agency and law enforcement investigating drone-related incidents because it would create information that would simplify such

Hispanic voters are growing in power. Why are Democratic presidential candidates ignoring them?

By Sean Sullivan (c) 2019, The Washington Post

When the Latino Community Foundation sent questionnaires to the Democratic presidential candidates asking where they stood on issues such as education, health care and immigration, the result was hardly what it anticipated: no response at all.

Even after the deadline was extended, nine out of 15 candidates didn’t submit answers, including former vice president Joe Biden.

When the League of United Latin American Citizens, the country’s oldest Hispanic civil rights group, invited Pete Buttigieg to events in Milwaukee and Des Moines, Iowa, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, declined.

When the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials held a summit this summer, Biden and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., did not attend. Both passed on a second chance to address the legislators in the fall.

“It’s always scheduling,” said NALEO chief executive Arturo Vargas of their explanations.

“But you know, scheduling is a reflection of your priorities.”

Hispanics are increasingly influential in the Democratic Party and in a general election contest, but leaders and activists say they feel ignored and misunderstood by candidates who have spent much of their time focusing on Iowa and New Hampshire, predominantly white states at the top of the nominating calendar. They are bluntly calling on party leaders to reconsider the voting order in four years.

Last week’s debate in California, an important primary state where the population is nearly 40% Latino, put an exclamation point on their outrage. Many had hoped it would showcase the rising influence of Hispanics. Instead, the only one in the race, former housing and urban development secretary Julián Castro, failed to qualify, and the candidates devoted little time to highlighting how their ideas would impact Latino communities.

Many fear that Democrats are blowing a unique opportunity to boost Hispanic voter turnout in the general election as well. Shifting demographics and a backlash to President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies have given Democrats an opening in diversifying battleground states from Arizona to Pennsylvania.

But officials fear a primary that often feels far removed from Hispanic communities could blunt excitement for the November election.

“At this stage in the game, we are well beyond talking about missed opportunities,” said Clarissa Martínez de Castro, deputy vice president for policy and advocacy at UnidosUS, the country’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy group.

“This is seriously in the territory of political malpractice.”

Some Latino leaders and voters are more confident that anger with Trump will drive turnout in November far more than the course of the Democratic primary. Still, even they want to see their party’s candidates do more to connect with Hispanic communities.

“None of them really stand out,” said Jesus Medina, 37, an undecided voter who attended a Spanish-language town hall hosted by top surrogates to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.. He said he was seeking something that “doesn’t sound like the same old politician talk.”

Although Latino leaders are demanding greater attention, Hispanic voters have not rallied around one of their own as a candidate. Castro has failed to crack the top tier even in heavily Latino states such California and Nevada, showing his struggles are not limited to the less diverse states that come before it.

Latinos are poised to make a significant general election impact in the Sun Belt, the Rust Belt and parts of the South, including closely contested states seen as crucial in 2020. On average, there was a near doubling

Photo for The Washington Post by Philip Cheung

Christian Arana is policy director at the Latino Community Foundation.

last year in the number of Latino voters age 25 to 34 in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to a Univision analysis.

Hispanics are projected to account for over 13 percent of eligible voters in 2020, surpassing all other ethnic minority groups, according to a Pew Research Center study. After years in which Hispanic turnout disappointed Democrats, their performance in the 2018 midterm elections was up 13 percent from 2014, and about 7 in 10 voted for Democratic candidates in House races.

There have been some bright spots in the primary, activists said. Many applauded Sanders’s outreach to Hispanic communities - his popularity among young voters, who are more likely to be nonwhite than older voters, has helped him broaden his reach - and his populist economic pitch. Castro received high marks for hitting sharply on issues that matter to Latino voters. But mostly, there has been much more cause for concern than celebration.

“I would characterize the overall campaign, with a few exceptions, as really disappointing, in terms of their engagement,” said Vargas, who felt the debate did nothing to improve the situation. “I think there have been some who have really done some missteps when it comes to trying to engage Latinos or ignoring them, frankly.”

Many activists put Buttigieg, who has jumped to the top of the polls in Iowa, at the top of that list. Buttigieg has also struggled to appeal to African American voters.

“Buttigieg is basically nonexistent in the Latino community,” said Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a member of the leadership of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who supported Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., before she ended her campaign.

On a trip to California last month, Buttigieg was asked at a forum hosted by Latino and immigrant groups whether he would be willing to commit troops to Mexico, with its consent, to help it fight violent drug cartels.

“There is a scenario where we could have security cooperation, as we do with countries around the world. Now, I would only order American troops into conflict if there were no other choice, if American lives were on the line,” Buttigieg replied, adding that he would need Mexico’s support.

When California state Sen. María Elena Durazo heard that from Buttigieg, she was shocked, believing his words would upset many Latinos.

Durazo, an influential former union leader who is Mexican American, recalled a “bit of a gasp” in the crowd after Buttigieg’s remarks. The long history of troops being used against Mexicans in the Southwest made Buttigieg’s comments especially tone-deaf, in her view.

“I think he really didn’t get that even with a full explanation, what a shocking thing it was to hear, “ said Durazo, who has not made a presidential endorsement.

From the perspective of Domingo Garcia, the president of LULAC, whose invitations for Buttigieg to appear before his group were declined, “there’s been like no outreach from his campaign to the Latino community.”

The Buttigieg campaign defended its efforts, noting that

official at UnidosUS and that staff members have sat down with leading Latino groups. Buttigieg recently released a plan for the Latino community that would create a fund to invest in Latino-owned businesses.

“As Pete continues to lay out his bold vision to address our country’s challenges in a way that unites the American people, we’re going to continue to meet people where they are and work to earn their support and draw people into this movement and build a bigger coalition,” said Buttigieg spokesman Chris Meagher.

Other candidates have faced similar heat. Biden, who put his tenure as Barack Obama’s vice president at the center of his platform, has encountered criticism over the administration deporting some 3 million undocumented immigrants.

Protesters have demanded that he apologize, and lawmakers have sought clarity on his position.

Responding to these concerns, Biden’s campaign recently released an immigration proposal that featured rare admission of the suffering Obama’s policies caused. “Joe Biden understands the pain felt by every family across the U.S. that has had a loved one removed from the country, including under the ObamaBiden Administration,” the plan said.

Appearing at a recent culinary union town hall in Las Vegas, Biden was asked what he would do differently from Obama and Trump. “A lot,” he responded. Biden said he would focus on deporting only those who have committed serious crimes. The crowd applauded.

Biden’s level of participation in events and other initiatives has also drawn concerns.

Christian Arana, policy director at the Latino Community Foundation, said he sent the Democratic campaigns a questionnaire in November with a deadline of completing it

by Dec. 11. After no one sent a response, he extended it to Dec. 15. Arana said he received replies from Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Buttigieg, Castro and Booker, but not Biden. Later, billionaire activist Tom Steyer replied.

Biden’s team said it was not slighting the groups that have invited him to their events or sought out his thoughts. “While we greatly respect the leadership of the organizations, and the organizations themselves, we have to be very strategic in the use of our principal’s time,” said Cristóbal Alex, a senior adviser to Biden and former president of the Latino Victory Fund.

The campaign said it is reaching out to Latino voters in numerous ways. When Biden launched his campaign, his team had prepared an ad in Spanish as well as a translated version of his website. The campaign said it plans to launch ads on Spanish-language TV and radio in Nevada early next year.

Biden also won the endorsement this week of Rep. Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif., chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’s political action committee.

While complaints have mounted about others, Sanders has quietly been building a base of support in Latino communities. He has won plaudits for his aggressive outreach, especially in California, which moved its primary up to March 3 and is expected to play a bigger role

Last week, he held a rally in San Diego just miles from the southern border.

“Sanders continues to probably have the best Latino outreach so far,” Garcia said.

Analilia Mejia, Sanders’s political director, said the campaign mapped out “different organizations and groups and spaces in which voters organize themselves, Latino voters in particular.” She added, “We took the time to engage and connect with hundreds of community leaders across the country, not just the early states.”

Mejia said she recently joined Sanders at a pair of meetings that included Spanish-speaking Latino activists. She said she translated for the senator, who understands some Spanish but doesn’t speak the language.

She also joined an exclusively Spanish-language town hall in Las Vegas on Saturday, fielding questions after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who is of Puerto Rican descent, gave a keynote speech in Spanish.

Still, Sanders, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has his own vulnerabilities. In Florida, where many Latinos have family who fled oppressive Latin American regimes, some Democrats have expressed concerns about his rhetoric. Earlier this year, Sanders’ refusal to label Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro a dictator stoked controversy; his vote against an immigration reform bill in 2007 has haunted him in the past.

Warren is still introducing herself, activists said. Her campaign has hired senior Latina staffers to lead operations in California, Texas, Florida and Massachusetts. The campaign has also held Spanish-language organizing events. But like others, she is mostly focused on the first two states.

“The whole process, you know, starting in Iowa, New Hampshire, states with limited Latino populations,” said former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, who is Hispanic and ran for president in 2008. “I would hope there is a reassessment after the next election.”

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4-H Achievement Night held at C-GCC

Contributed photo

The Bananas 4-H Club of Cairo concluded the night with the traditional 4-H Candle Ceremony.

HUDSON — The annual 4-H Achivement Night was held Nov. 1 at the Arts Center at ColumbiaGreene Community College.

4-H Teen Ambassadors who were instrumental in presenting the evening’s program are: Jack Hilliard, Vidar Pirrone, Noah Kilmer, Aizlyn O’Connell and Mikaela Hallenbeck.

Cloverbud Members Moving Up to 4-H included Seamus Gavin, Curious Country Kids 4-H Club; Natalie Smith, Flora and Fauna 4-H Club; Rowan Braine, Greene Earth 4-H Club; Angelina Hamilton, Little Critters 4-H Club; Ashton Conklin, Lyda Jo Herdman, Addison Ross, Medway Mountaineers 4-H Club; Amelia Charron, Sunnyside Up 4-H Club; Matthew Cordato, Udderly Impossibles 4-H Club.

4-H Club Charter Presented to New 4-H Clubs are leader Donna Rich, Butterfly Kids 4-H Club; leaders Joe and Clara Cordato, Critter Crew 4-H Club; leader Maria Gerber, Curious Country Kids 4-H Club; leaders Lily Becker and Danelle Summers, Sky Farm Equestrians 4-H Club; leaders Lou Sotherden and Jennifer Domkoski, Woodland Woodchucks 4-H Club.

Clover Crazy 4-H Club Recognition given to those who promoted 4-H during and around National 4-H Week, the first full week of October: Flora and Fauna 4-H Club for their booth at the Resurrection Lutheran Church Family Fun Day; Columbia Crafters 4-H Club for their booth at the Fireman’s Home Dalmatian Day; Columbia Country Feeders for helping with the Cabot Cheese Farm Day at Dutch Hollow Farm; Farm Friends 4-H Club for also helping with the Cabot Cheese Farm Day at Dutch Hollow Farm; Greene Earth 4-H Club for their booth at the Greenville Tractor Supply Company store; Bananas 4-H Club for their booth at the Greenville Tractor Supply Company store.

4-H Club Community Service Award was presented to: Bananas 4-H Club, first place; Teen Ambassadors 4-H Club, second place; Mountain Rangers 4-H Club, third place; Udderly Impossibles 4-H Club, Wilderness Workers 4-H Club, Country Cousins 4-H Club, Sunnyside Up 4-H Club, Flora and Fauna 4-H Club, Medway Mountaineers 4-H Club, Greene Earth 4-H Club, Columbia Crafters 4-H Club, and Butterfly Kids 4-H Club, honorable mention.

4-H Member Leadership Award was presented to: Michael Archambault, Catskill Elks Lodge, presented the awards, Hunter Gardner, Vidar Pirrone, Aizlyn O’Connell, Noah Kilmer, Jack Hilliard, James O’Connell, Mikaela Hallenbeck, Teen Ambassadors; Edmund Kress, Eleanor Kress, Vidar Pirrone, Nora Leifer, Meghan Hay, Hunter Gardner, Jack Hilliard, Iris Hoy, Jordan Kammeyer, Eden Kammeyer, Teen Evaluators.

Daniel Shaughnessy, Hudson Elks Lodge, presented the awards for Outstanding Junior Leader: Jayden Williams, Sunnyside Up 4-H Club; Calvin Keller, Udderly Impossibles 4-H Club; Brendan Ooms, Farm Friends

4-H Club; Mikaela Hallenbeck, Flora and Fauna 4-H Club.

Outstanding 4-H Club Officer: From the Bananas 4-H Club – Norah Schweter, President; Luna Clements, Secretary; Aurora Clements, Treasurer; Jessica Scarlata, Recreation Officer; Vaughn Schweter, Health Officer.

Outstanding 4-H Project Work Award was presented to: Beef cattle – Patrick Stark, Daisy Trowbridge, Brendan Ooms, Jayden Williams; Clothing and Textiles – Joseph Cordato, Andrew Scarlata, Randy Albertson, Rosalina Gazzola, Emma Genito, Anthony Cordato, Kira Friedman, Leita Albertson, Courtney Loucks, Marian Pirrone, Wyatt Scarpinato; Dairy cattle – Joseph Cordato, Kailey Proper, Randy Albertson, Hunter Gardner, Arend Ooms, Anthony Cordato, Jonathan Chittenden, Calvin Keller, Zoey Bruzie, Grace Ooms, Kasey Purdy, Leita Albertson, Brendan Ooms, Zachary Chittenden, Brayden Skoda; Entomology – Norah Schweter; Environmental awareness – Wyatt Scarpinato, Hunter Gardner; Expressive arts – Wyatt Scarpinato, Marian Pirrone, Grace Ooms, Vaughn Schwter, Jessica Scarlata; Foods and nutrition – Anthony Cordato, Courtney Loucks, Ian Ross, Leita Albertson, Marian Pirrone, Wyatt Scarpinato; Goat – Michaela Wright, Abigail Wright, Avery Conrad, Kendall Frisbee, Henry Ross, Sage Schrader, Marian Pirrone; Health and fitness – Vaughn Schweter; Horse – Rachael Gerber, Shaya Gerber, Sarah Gerber; Needlework – Jessica Scarlata; Ornamental horticulture – Hunter Gardner; Pet care – Wyatt Scarpinato; Poultry – Marian Pirrone, Avery Conrad, Norah Schweter; Rabbit – Elizabeth Vincek, Andrew Scarlata, Valerie Kopec, Leah Whalen, Kendall Frisbee, Anna Purdy, Gregory Jornov, Marian Pirrone; Science and technology – Randy Albertson, Norah Schweter, Marian Pirrone; Sheep – Brendan Ooms, Patrick Stark, Daisy Trowbridge, Anneke Nijboer, Jayden Williams; Swine – Brendan Ooms, Patrick Stark, Daisy Trowbridge, Robert Pautz, Shelby Schrader; Vegetable gardening – Robert Pautz; Woodworking – Joseph Cordato, Calvin Keller.

Outstanding Senior 4-H Members in Columbia and Greene Counties for 2018 are: Aizlyn O’Connell, Jessica Scarlata, Hunter Gardner, Caroline Lafferty.

Dot Ball Memorial 4-H Leader Award: Jessie Shields, leader of the Bananas 4-H Club.

Tenured 4-H Club Leaders are Alan Chittenden, Billy Greer, Jeannie Slater, John Brady, Kathy Jackson, Kira Greer, Leslie Reed, Siobhan Connally, Five Year Silver Award; Andrew Tillman, Cindy Carlson, Helen Brady, Karen Gilligan, Ten Year Gold Award; Lisa Lafferty, Mary Hallenbeck, Becky Johnk, Fifteen Year Pearl Award; Sandy Muller, Twenty Year Diamond Award.

4-H Clubs Recognized for Having an Active Year are: Baker’s Dozen – leaders Billy and Kira Greer; Bananas – leaders Jessie Shields and Haley

Zurawel; Barn Buddies – leaders Tammy Murphy and Stephanie Rothvoss; Black Sheep – leaders Helen and John Brady; Buccaneers – leaders Samantha Webber and Lori Tillman; Butterfly Kids – leader Donna Rich; Carrot Crunchers – leaders Marsha Schrader, Holly Vincek and Joe Watson; Columbia Country Feeders – leaders Miranda Trowbridge and Phil Trowbridge; Columbia Crafters – leaders Nadine Gazzola and Valerie Delaney; Country Cousins – leaders Amy Hilliard and Marci Proper; Country Kids – leader Mary Hallenbeck; Curious Country Kids – leader Maria Gerber; DR Evarts Engineers and Scientists – leader Kathy Jackson; Durham Evergreenes – leaders Janet Partridge and Bobbi Cunningham; Farm Friends – leaders Jill Chittenden and Kristine Ooms; Flora and Fauna – leaders Cathi Annese and Sandy Muller; Greene Earth – leaders Alisha Schmidt and Maria Gerber; Greene Hearts and Hands – leaders Rachel McCracken and Kelly Wade; Little Critters – leaders Ilene Stark and Hanna Stark; Medway Mountaineers – leader Patricia Ross; Merry Sprites and Knights from the Land of Milk and Honey – leader Frances Culley; Mountain Rangers – leader Jolene Pirrone; Roving Rangers – leader Liza Johnson; Sky Farm Equestrians – leaders Lily Becker and Danelle Summers; Sunnyside Up – leaders Meghan and David Charron; Teen Ambassadors – leaders Cathi Annese and Jessie Shields; Udderly Impossibles – leader Roberta Keller; Wilderness Workers – leader Emily Kress; Woodland Woodchucks – leaders Lou Sotherden and Jennifer Domkoski.

Living with a slippery grip on reality Long ago when I was a young “surfer dude” there was a popular movie called “The Endless Summer.” I should have known that somewhere lurked its direct opposite. I’ve finally found it after all these years — this is “The Endless Winter.”

I’ve tried being nostalgic about the weather, even calling it an “Old-Fashioned Winter.” It’s old fashioned — like dental work with no Novocain or being given a bullet to bite on while your arm is sawed off.

I shouldn’t have believed that politician who promised us global warming; just haven’t seen much of it or him lately. It’s been so cold it’s even starting to affect Telly. The snow has been so deep it’s hindering his efforts to answer nature’s call effectively.

It’s hard to poop when your tail is level with the snow. He hasn’t been able to get to his favorite tree for weeks. He did follow the path I had shoveled to get to the bird feeders and relieved himself on the metal pole the feeder sits on. With the unending cold weather we’ve had, it took 10 minutes and a whole bucket of warm water before I had the poor dog back on four feet again.

I haven’t seen my neighbors in weeks. I do see smoke coming out of their chimneys and occasionally see snow being thrown into the air from the vicinity of their driveways. About the only time I get to see folks is at the market during re-supply trips to pick up another 50-pound bag of flour, a slab of bacon and a 5-pound tin of lard. The girls at the checkouts have jackets, sweaters, scarves and

WHITTLING AWAY

DICK

BROOKS gloves on. All the cars in the parking lot are all the same color — salt!

Constant cold and living in a predominately white world with a lack of human companionship leaves one with a slippery grip on reality. I find myself time warping back to the North Country winters of my youth. I found a rather unconventional way of being sure I’m grounded in the present: I look at my feet. If I see my trusty sneakers, it’s now — rubber boots and I’m in a time warp. I don’t think I’ve owned a pair of rubber boots since I left the North Country.

We had two kinds — the school and church overshoes, black rubber that, like their name, went over your regular shoes. They had buckles that hooked together that most kids never hooked until they were told to. I remember a few spectacular face plants that resulted in trying to run in unbuckled boots, only to have the buckles hook together, which was like having one of your favorite cowboy heroes lasso your ankles at a full gallop.

The other rubber boots were Snow Pacs. Snow Pacs were made of drab green rubber, no buckles, four holes

at the top with shoe strings.

The bottoms were made with the same pattern as Dad’s snow tires. They were lined with a thin canvas and were designed by someone who hated kids. It was impossible to get them on. If you bought them large enough to get on easily, it was like walking in swim fins. If you bought your real shoe size and pulled for all you were worth, you could get them on but your feet froze instantly outdoors, usually before you could get off the porch.

Mothers, being clever, bought them a size or two larger than you needed, filled up the space with a couple of pairs of boot socks and gave you bread wrappers from the bagful that they had saved all summer. You stuck your foot into the bread wrapper and then the slippery plastic allowed you to pull the boot on.

The only thing more fun than getting the boot on was getting it off. We had a boot jack on the porch, an elevated piece of wood with a notch in the end to stick the heel of the boot in so you could pry the boot off. Usually we helped each other, pulling and tugging until we were red in the face and astonishingly sweaty. Without my brothers’ help removing my Snow Pacs, I would probably be two inches shorter today.

Thought for the week — “What’s the difference between roast beef and pea soup?” “Anybody can roast beef.”

Until next week, may you and yours be happy and well.

Reach Dick Brooks at Whittle12124@yahoo.com.

Part-Time Farmer Tax School on Jan. 21 HUDSON — Part-Time Farmer Tax School will be held 5:30-9 p.m. Jan. 21 at CCE Columbia-Greene Counties, 479 Route 66, Hudson. CAAHP’s Part-Time Farmer Tax School is being offered in two locations this year — in Hudson and Troy.

The class material is the same at both locations.

When it comes to taxes, do you have any of these questions? How much farm income do I need to make in order to be able to deduct it on my taxes? What tax-related form(s) do I need to complete?

What, if any, tax management strategy should I have for my farm business? Should I form an LLC or other form of business, and what tax documentation do lenders require?

CAAHP Educators Steve Hadcock and Dayton Maxwell will answer these and other taxrelated questions during this meeting. In addition to discussing income tax concepts, they will explore agricultural value assessment, building exemptions, sales tax regulations and the Farmers’ School Tax Credit.

The cost for attending this workshop is $20, which includes a light dinner and printed materials. Register and pay online at https://tinyurl.com/ PTFarmerTaxSchoolHudsonReg to attend the Hudson session. Register by phone by calling 518-765-3518.

NOW HIRING!

Front Desk Receptionist for our Drop store in Hudson, NY. Ideal candidate needs to be someone who can talk to cusotmers very politely and with a smile. Hours are 7am-4pm.

Keeping your clothes looking new for the past 40 years FREE help for people with memory loss and those who care for them is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via our toll-free Helpline.

800-272-3900 THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION OFFERS: INFORMATION AND REFERRAL Obtain information and learn about available community resources

CARE CONSULTATIONS Personalized session for disease education, support, learning about available community resources and development of an action plan

SUPPORT GROUPS Peer support to learn about the disease, share experiences and create strategies.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS Provide knowledge and practical tips for understanding and caring for persons with Alzheimer’s Disease.

SAFETY SERVICES Provide tips and resources for home safety, wandering and other medical emergencies.

For more information or to set up a time to talk with one of our Program Managers call 518.867.4999 or visit alz.org.

This activity is supported in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Health

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Saturday - Sunday, December 28-29, 2019 - A7

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

A discussion about Christmas trees I hope you had a wonderful holiday celebration this season.

Although most of the snow that fell earlier this month has melted in the Hudson Valley region, there is still more than a foot of the white stuff at my house in Conesville! I just had to hire a snow plow person to clear my driveway so workers can get into my house this week. I also hope the blanket of snow has insulated the foundation of my house and has kept my pipes from freezing.

Each year in the United States at least 35 million evergreen trees are harvested specifically for use as Christmas trees. To some people this may seem like an ecological disaster or a crime against nature, but, in fact, the opposite is true. There are still many misguided people who think cutting down any tree is a sin.

The flip side of the harvest is that more than 100 million trees are planted each year as potential Christmas trees. The net result is actually a gain of more than 50 million evergreen trees that would never have been planted at all.

In New York state alone there were more than 1,000 members of the New York State Christmas Tree Growers association at one time. These trees are a wonderful example of a renewable resource that provides many environmental benefits as it matures. Don’t feel guilty about cutting down or buying a pre-cut tree. It has been grown as a crop, just like a poinsettia, to delight your senses and help celebrate the holiday season. But don’t steal or poach a tree off public or private land, as this is just theft and totally inappropriate for any celebration.

In upstate New York it

GARDENING TIPS

BOB

BEYFUSS requires at least 8-12 years to grow a decent Christmas tree, depending on the species and growing site conditions. During the growing period these trees provide oxygen, habitat for wildlife and preservation of open space, as well as income for the rural landowners who raise them. The trees are a long-term agricultural crop that benefits the local economy and sequesters significant amounts of carbon in the process.

We are lucky to have a wide variety of evergreen trees to choose from these days. I seem to recall that only white or Norway spruce trees were available when I was a kid growing up in Jersey City, although at the time I did not know the difference between a spruce and a fir or a pine.

I do recall the needles were sharp pointed, short in length and quickly dropped off the branches onto the tracks of my toy train set. This pretty much describes spruce trees but freshly cut ones will hold their needles for weeks indoors if kept well watered. Blue spruce trees are beautiful, with stiff branches that support lots of lights and ornaments, but their pointed needles are not nice to touch. My friend Lester Gass grows beautiful blue spruce trees in Cornwallville.

Pine trees such as Scotch

pine or Austrian pine, red pine or white pine have the longest lasting needles. Like all pines, their needles are arranged in bundles of two to five that are joined at the base. Pines may be cut as early as August and will still retain their needles until after January or even later. Fir trees such as Douglas fir, white fir, balsam fir, Fraser fir and noble fir are perhaps the most fragrant types, with good needle retention and a wide range of needle lengths, and different shades of green.

Remember to keep your tree well-watered if you intend to enjoy it for a week or more after the holidays. A freshly cut tree may “drink” as much as a quart of water a day indoors.

This insures the tree will not present an undue fire hazard.

After the holidays the tree can be recycled outdoors. If placed near a bird feeder, it will provide cover for songbirds that may otherwise be attacked by hawks or other birds of prey. You can even put peanut butter on the tree’s branches for a highly nutritious snack. If you don’t feed birds, you can cut off the branches and use them as mulch to cover your perennial beds.

There are many good reasons to have a “real” Christmas tree, but saving money is not one of them! A friend of mine in New York City tells me that real Christmas trees cost about $15 a foot in Manhattan! That is less than what my daughter paid here in Florida.

Reach Bob Beyfuss at rlb14@cornell.edu.

Hudson Valley Memoir Collective offers Come-in-from-the-Cold workshop series RED HOOK — The Hudson Valley Memoir Collective, a writing program that includes a luncheon, will run its fourth workshop series this winter at its writing retreat on the Sawkill Creek across from Bard College.

Registration is open now.

This new workshop for the first time will be open to writers of all ages and will unfold over the six weeks from Jan. 22 through Feb. 19.

This workshop will be anchored around an exemplar memoir text, Tara Westover’s acclaimed “Educated.”

“It has been such joy to see the growth of our returning writers and to welcome new members with each passing month,” said Emily Sachar, Collective founder and prize-winning author. “The combination of a beautiful oasis at which to write, eager writers with fascinating stories to tell, and delicious food to enjoy is an unbeatable combination.”

Unlike many writing courses around the Hudson Valley, Collective courses are designed around a specific memoir-writing protocol designed to motivate every participant to complete an essay of 1,500 words in a six-week span.

All classes conclude each week with a buffet meal prepared by Chef and Cowgirl Restaurant founder Joel Gordin.

For each 120-minute class, The Collective’s memoir activities include: Warm-ups: Simple

writing exercises designed to loosen the creative muscle.

Instruction: Roughly 3045 minutes devoted to formal instruction and skills practice.

The exemplar is used to highlight specific techniques that drive successful writing. Practice tasks focus on: drafting a narrative arc; crafting sensory description; writing dialogue; creating authentic characters; building dramatic tension; using a thesaurus; and writing similes and metaphors.

Activities also focus on developing an author’s voice.

Writing: Students spend at least 60 minutes of each meeting writing their own memoir.

Students may work at a table, a kitchen counter, on a couch or at a desk.

If the weather is fair, students may also sit beside the Sawkill Creek in a comfortable Adirondack chair.

Sharing and Feedback: Students share out their writings in a structured and supportive workshop format.

Expert Consultation: During writing time, instructor Emily Sachar is available to meet with students for coaching and directed feedback. By request, Sachar will also copy-edit each student’s memoir.

“What makes the Collective so unique is the combination of skills-based work in an exquisite and relaxing retreat with delicious food and wine,” said Sachar, an adjunct lecturer at Bard

College, New York University and the State University of New York.

“On one hand, our program taps the intellect and creative juices of all students. At the same time, students have a wonderful chance to socialize and support each other’s work with guidance and structure.”

The Collective, which held its first workshop series in the summer of 2019, was born out of a course offered at Olana in the spring of 2019.

It draws on the core ideals of the burgeoning “creative aging” movement, the practice of engaging older adults in participatory, professionally run arts programs with a focus on social engagement and skills mastery.

With millions of baby boomers entering their third act of life, creative aging has grown into a fullscale movement designed to provide opportunities for meaningful creative expression through visual, literary, and performing arts workshops.

The cost of the JanuaryFebruary series is $270 plus a $20 materials fee. Lunch, with wine, is included in this cost.

Registration for Collective courses is open to residents of Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Rensselaer and Ulster counties.

Call Emily Sachar at 718644-5789, or visit HudsonValleyMemoir.com.

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House of Worship News & Services Trinity United Methodist 1311 Rte. 143, Coeymans Hollow | NY 12046 • 756-2812

Pastor Paul Meador • Sunday Worship 11:00am (all are welcome) • Church School: “Faith Builders Kids Christian Education” Wednesday at 7pm • Wednesday, Bible Study & Prayer - 7-8:30pm (all are welcome) • Food Pantry, Last Saturday of the month, 10-11am and last Monday of the month, 5-6pm, or by appointment • Thrift Shop Open April 12 - Mid Oct., Thursdays 10 - 4 Saturdays 10 - 2 and when Food Pantry is open. (Handicap Accessible) • Youth Group - Grades 6 - 12 2nd and 4th Thursdays @ 6:30pm

Church of Saint Patrick 21 Main Street, Ravena, NY 12143 • (518) 756-3145

Pastor: Fr. Scott VanDerveer Weekly Mass: 9:00 a.m. Wed & Thurs Saturday Vigil 4:30 p.m. Sunday 9:30 a.m.

Food Pantry Hours: Tues & Thurs 10-11 a.m.

Wednesday 6-7:00 p.m.

Thrift Shop Hours: Wed. 6:00-7:00 Thurs, Fri. & Sat. 1:00-3:00 p.m.

All Are Welcome!

New Baltimore Reformed Church 518 756 8764 • Rt. 144 and Church St. NBRChurch@aol.com • www.nbrchurch.org

Rev. Rick L. Behan, Pastor Sunday Worship - 9:30 AM Communion First Sunday every month Fellowship before and after worship Thursday - Choir Rehearsal 4:45 PM Tuesday - Bible Study 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday - Helping Hands 10:30 AM Come to the Church in the Hamlet! Working together since 1833

Catholic Community of Saint Patrick 24 North Washington Street, Athens 12015 · 945-1656 66 William Street, Catskill 12414 · 943-3150

Janine O’Leary, Parish Life Coordinator Fr. L. Edward Deimeke, Sacramental Minister Saturday* 4:00 p.m. EST / 4:30 p.m. DST *1st / 3rd Athens and 2nd /; 4th Catskill Sunday 8:45 a.m. Catskill / 10:45 a.m. Athens

All Are Welcome!

To list your Church Services please call Patricia McKenna at (518) 828-1616 x2413

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COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

A8 - Saturday - Sunday, December 28-29, 2019

Rudy From A1

The couple had adopted another dog, named Suki, also a mix, back in 2017 from the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, Barnhart-Rundblad said.

Suki was around eight years old when the couple adopted her.

Suki later developed cancer, Barnhart-Rundblad said.

“We unfortunately lost her in August, right around the time Rudy was born,” BarnhartRundblad said.

The two dogs share a unique marking on their chests, she added.

Fred also felt a connection to Rudy, Barnhart-Rundblad said.

“My fiance, Fred, called me and said he had called the shelter,” Barnhart-Rundblad said.

“Jessica at the shelter told us we were second on the list.”

The people interested in Rudy ahead of Fred and Rebecca backed out when they learned about the aftercare he would need, Barnhart-Rundblad said.

Rudy required orthopedic

surgery on his broken leg at an estimated cost of $1,500.

Rudy’s procedure Dec. 17 was successful, but the dog will need six to eight weeks to recover, Columbia-Greene Humane Society President Ron Perez said.

With her background in nursing, Rebecca plans to keep a watchful eye over Rudy.

“He’s been doing really well,” she said. “He gets his stitches out Tuesday.”

A bum leg has not dampened Rudy’s spirits one bit, BarnhartRundblad said.

“He has a spunky personality,” she said.

Rudy is growing up alongside the couple’s five-month-old golden retriever, Lou-Lou. “They absolutely love each other,” Barnhart-Rundblad said.

Norfleet has not faced any additional charges, Catskill Police Chief David Darling said Friday.

“We did not determine that he did anything to that dog,” Darling said. “The vet said it could have had its foot stuck in something.”

Race From A1

Contributed photo

Rudy, a three-month-old black labrador mix, was adopted by a couple from Rensselaer County.

The CBC’s Cut of a Scene from ‘Home Alone 2’ Draws the Trumps’ Ire Dan Bilefsky The New York Times News Service

MONTREAL — Could Canada’s relations with the United States have taken a turn for the worse after its leading public broadcaster cut a secondslong scene of President Donald Trump from “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York?”

Canadians were momentarily pondering that unlikely question over the Christmas holidays after the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. broadcast the 1992 film without a cameo by Trump.

The CBC said the cut had been made for time’s sake and before Trump’s political career, but as the omission drew media attention,

Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., posted about it Thursday on his Instagram account, calling the alteration “absolutely pathetic” and saying it proved that the news media “really are the enemy of the people.”

That evening, the president himself weighed in, retweeting an article about the edited version and adding an allusion to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada: “I guess Justin T doesn’t much like my making him pay up on NATO or Trade!”

A few minutes later, Trump tweeted a different headline, reporting claims that the incident was an example of censorship.

But those Canadians

worrying that the perceived slight had undermined relations with Canada’s most important ally felt relief Thursday evening when Trump injected a note of humor to his commentary.

“The movie will never be the same! (just kidding),” he wrote on Twitter.

On Friday, Trudeau’s office declined to comment on the incident.

The CBC, for its part, said the scene with Trump had been cut in 2014, before he declared his candidacy for president in 2015, and thus was not politically motivated.

“CBC’s airing of Home Alone 2 was edited for time,” Chuck Thompson, a spokesman for the broadcaster,

wrote on Twitter. “This happens regularly with films adapted for television. The scene with Donald Trump was one of several that were cut from the movie, as none of them were integral to the plot.”

Trudeau, a progressive known for his advocacy of women’s rights and the fight against climate change, has had a somewhat rocky relationship with Trump, who last year called him “very dishonest and weak.” More recently, he called Trudeau “two-faced” after the prime minister had been caught on video apparently gossiping about Trump with other world leaders at a NATO reception at Buckingham Palace.

and ideas to grow our local economy and create jobs, champion women’s issues, strengthen Michelle our infraHinchey structure and improve access to affordable health care and housing.”

Hinchey, daughter of the late U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, formally announced the launch of her campaign in September for the district that stretches from Ulster County up through all of Greene and Montgomery counties and parts of Albany and Schenectady counties.

She touted an agenda that would tackle climate change and clean energy, broadband investment and eliminating challenges in the health care system.

Her Republican competitor, incumbent state Sen. George Amedore Jr., said last month he would not seeking reelection to focus on his family, leaving Hinchey with a stronger chance of winning the seat and flipping the district.

Other Republican candidates have not come

forward, but the GOP remains hopeful about its chances in the district because of its political diversity.

“She’s not the only candidate,” said Amedore, who has served the district since 2007. “I know the 46th Senate District is very diverse and I know also that the 46th Senate District does not embrace a very left, progressive ideology that wants more government, more taxation and more influence in individuals’ lives.”

With Collins out of the race, Hinchey faces competition for the Democratic nomination from child victims advocate Gary Greenberg.

“The 46th Senate District is a sprawling district that has urban and rural issues and problems facing its constituents,” Greenberg, founder of Fighting for Children Political Action Committee and Protect New York Kids, told Columbia-Greene Media earlier this month.

“I know how to enact policies at the state level and I look forward to meeting the people of this district from Kingston to Albany and Schenectady.”

Massarah Mikati covers the New York State Legislature and immigration for Johnson Newspaper Corp. Email her at mmikati@columbiagreenemedia.com, or find her on Twitter @massarahmikati.

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Bizarre fortunes flourish as world’s richest gain $1.2 trillion Tom Metcalf and Jack Witzig Bloomberg

The leveraging of a giant social-media presence, a catchy tune about a family of sharks and a burgeoning collection of junkyards are just a few of the curious ways that helped make 2019 a fertile year for fortunes to blossom around the world.

Kylie Jenner became the youngest self-made billionaire this year after her company, Kylie Cosmetics, signed an exclusive partnership with Ulta Beauty Inc. She then sold a 51% stake for $600 million.

It has been almost two months since the Washington Nationals captured their first World Series championship, but people around the world are still singing along to the baseball team’s adopted rallying cry: “Baby Shark, doo-doo doo-doo doo-doo.” The Korean family that helped popularize the viral earworm are now worth about $125 million.

Even car wrecks proved to be a treasure trove. Willis Johnson, the gold-chain-wearing Oklahoma native who founded Copart Inc., has amassed a $1.9 billion fortune by building a network of junkyards to sell damaged autos.

The emergence of atypical fortunes underscores just how much money the uber-rich accumulated in 2019.

And the richer they were at the start of the year, the richer they got. The world’s 500 wealthiest people tracked by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index added $1.2 trillion, boosting their collective net worth 25% to $5.9 trillion.

Such gains are sure to add fuel to the already heated debate about widening wealth and income inequality. In the U.S., the richest 0.1% control a bigger share of the pie than at any time since 1929, prompting some politicians to call for a radical

restructuring of the economy.

“The hoarding of wealth by the few is coming at the cost of peoples’ lives,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described democratic socialist, said in a Dec. 12 tweet as the U.K. began to vote.

Still, the defeat of Britain’s socialist opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose campaign included attacks on billionaires and calls to “rewrite the rules of our economy,” gave an added boost to mega-fortunes.

Leading the 2019 gains was France’s Bernard Arnault, who added $36.5 billion as he rose on the Bloomberg index to become the world’s third-richest person and one of three centibillionaires -- those with a net worth of at least $100 billion.

In all, just 52 people on the ranking saw their fortunes decline on the year.

Amazon.com’s Jeff Bezos was down almost $9 billion, but that drop is because of his divorce settlement with MacKenzie Bezos. The e-commerce titan is still ending the year as the world’s richest person after Amazon shares jumped on Thursday. The company reported a ‘record breaking’ holiday season with billions of items shipped and “tens of millions” of Amazon devices like the Echo Dot sold.

Here’s what the year looked like for the 0.001%: 2019 winners: - The 172 American billionaires on the Bloomberg ranking added $500 billion, with Facebook ‘s Mark Zuckerberg up $27.3 billion and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates rose $22.7 billion.

- Representation from China continued to grow, with the nation’s contingent rising to 54, second only to the U.S. He Xiangjian, founder of China’s biggest air-conditioner exporter,

was the standout performer as his wealth surged 79% to $23.3 billion.

- Russia’s richest added $51 billion, a collective increase of 21%, as emerging-market assets from currencies to stocks and bonds rebounded in 2019 after posting big losses a year earlier.

2019 declines: - Rupert Murdoch’s personal fortune dropped by about $10 billion after proceeds from Walt Disney’s purchase of Fox assets were distributed to his six children, making them billionaires in their own right.

- Interactive Brokers Group Inc.’s Thomas Peterffy saw his wealth slump by $2.1 billion as investors weighed a reshaped competitive landscape for brokerage businesses after rival Charles Schwab Corp. eliminated commissions and agreed to buy TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.

- WeWork’s Adam Neumann saw his fortune implode -- at least on paper -- as the struggling office-sharing company’s valuation dropped to $8 billion in October from an estimated $47 billion at the start of the year. Still, SoftBank Group Corp.’s rescue package left Neumann’s status as a billionaire intact.

New Billionaires - White Claw, the “hard seltzer” that was the hit of the summer among millennials, helped boost Anthony von Mandl’s net worth to $3.6 billion.

- Mastering the art of fast-food deliveries proved rewarding for Jitse Groen, whose soaring Takeaway.com NV lifted his wealth to $1.5 billion.

- The popularity of soy milk gave eight members of Hong Kong’s Lo family a combined $1.5 billion.

Despite the widespread gains, plenty of the world’s richest people may be happy to wave farewell to 2019. The year

included messy details of the Bezos divorce and the Jeffrey Epstein saga, which enveloped a who’s who of financiers and entrepreneurs, after the convicted pedophile arrested in July by federal agents after stepping off his private jet at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.

Through it all, their bank balances remained robust, as a record bull market got a December kick with an easing of trade tensions between the U.S. and China, a resolution to Britain’s political stalemate and a blowout U.S. jobs report.

Happy Holidays from Everyone at Columbia-Greene Federal Credit Union

CMYK

Sports

SECTION

Knicks top Nets

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

& Classifieds

Julius Randle helps Knicks snap four-game losing streak. Sports, B2

B Saturday - Sunday, December 28-29, 2019 - B1

Tim Martin, Sports Editor: 1-800-400-4496 / sports@registerstar.com or tmartin@registerstar.com SPONSORED BY:

Moving Kyrie Irving off the ball doesn’t make sense

Lt. Walter Maloney assumes the reigns in Columbia and Rensselaer Counties

Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.

Kristian Winfield New York Daily News

Photo contributed

Lt. Walter Maloney assumes the reigns in Columbia and Rensselaer Counties.

By Larry DiDonato For Columbia-Greene Media

Columbia and Rensselear Counties have a new lieutenant in town.

Recently promoted from the rank of Technical Sergeant, Lt. Walter Maloney is the new Environmental

Conservation Officer (ECO) lieutenant assigned to Columbia and Rensselaer Counties.

Lt. Walter Maloney has been permanently assigned to fill the vacancy See MALONEY B6

NEW YORK — There is still no definitive timetable for Kyrie Irving’s return from injury, but one thing is clear: When the All-Star guard returns to the floor, the Nets won’t be moving him off the ball.

“That hasn’t been a conversation,” Spencer Dinwiddie said after shootaround on Thursday.

Dinwiddie’s play in Irving’s absence has made that idea a talking point. He’s won an Eastern Conference Player of the Week award (and arguably should have won a second)

and is averaging about 23 points and six assists per game this season.

Since Irving left the rotation with a shoulder injury, Dinwiddie is averaging more than 26 points — good for 10th best in the league — and 7 assists.

He set a new career-high with 41 points in a loss in San Antonio.

Dinwiddie has played so well, former NBA champion Paul Pierce has suggested the Nets move Irving to the two when he returns from his shoulder injury: “Spencer Dinwiddie should be the guy who manages the game,”

Pierce said. “Kyrie is a better scorer, so put him at the two guard. I think it’d go better that way than with Kyrie being the primary ballhandler.”

Dinwiddie said he understands the hierarchy of talent on this Nets team that also features another injured star in Caris LeVert.

“I think it’s kind of like, Kyrie and Caris (are up here), Spencer (down here),” he gestured. “Like that’s the way it works. You just roll with whatever happens. You don’t get disappointed if you don’t have those expectations.”

Pierce’s take — one shared

by many fans on social media — is an understandable one.

The Nets are averaging 277 passes per game in the 18 they’ve played without both Irving and LeVert, according to data provided by Second Spectrum. With a healthy lineup, they averaged just 246 per game, good for third-fewest in the NBA. The Nets went 4-7 to start the season. They are 12-6 since and a big part of their success is ball movement, with upticks in both assists and secondary assists without their two primary ballhandlers in the See IRVING B6

The one Sam Darnold improvement that has the NY Jets excited Andy Vasquez The Record

Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY

New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (14) drops back to pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold still has plenty of room for growth. The 22-yearold readily admits that, as does everyone who’s coached him and played with him this season.

There is statistical evidence that Darnold is getting better.

And there’s an argument to be made that he’s not getting better fast enough.

But as the Jets head into the final game of this frustrating year, Sunday at Buffalo, coach Adam Gase said he’s seen progress in one key area in the Jets’ last five games, starting with the Nov. 24 win over the Raiders.

“I think the Oakland game was one, where just some things pre-snap looked really good,” Gase said Thursday.

“And I think every game after that you see improvement each week. Usually, when I

see him talking at the line of scrimmage and he’s moving fast and he’s getting set and there’s a lot of time left on the clock, that’s when I feel like he’s feeling really good.”

It’s been an up-and-down season for Darnold, who missed three games early because of a mono diagnosis and had a stretch in late October when he threw seven interceptions in two games. But since then, Darnold has 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions and has led the Jets to a 5-3 record.

Sure, there’s something to be said for beating up on weak opponents during that stretch.

But in the last two games, against the Steelers and Ravens — two of the best defenses in the league — Darnold has shown he can manage a game with limited weapons, throwing for three touchdowns and one interception.

Earlier this year, Gase said that Darnold has benefitted

from being more vocal with him about what plays he wants to run, and which ones he doesn’t. But lately, he’s become even more comfortable in his own skin as his understanding of the offense has increased.

“The communication ... has gone way up,” Gase said.

“And I think each week it gets more. (He’s) not afraid the say, I don’t like this. Not afraid to hurt anybody’s feelings. If there’s something that, ‘Hey, how come this isn’t in? Can we throw this in?’”

Gase admitted that the process wasn’t easy for Darnold, because he’s not exactly the most confrontational person in the world. “½It’s) just little things like that, which don’t seem like a big deal. ... But if you’re around him .. You know how respectful he is.” Gase said. “he’s an unbelievable kid. He See JETS B6

Rangers’ Filip Chytil developing his game in second season Colin Stephenson Newsday

Filip Chytil is visibly bigger than he was a year ago, but that’s not the only difference in the former first-round pick this season.

“I think I feel much more comfortable out there — way more confident,” the 6-2, 206-pound Rangers center said when asked to describe what is different about himself in his second NHL season.

“It’s a little different when I play center this year. I have different responsibilities. It’s a little different game to play center than play wing, from last year.”

The Rangers open up their post-Christmas schedule with back-to-back games,

beginning with a visit from the Carolina Hurricanes Friday, followed by a four-game trip to Canada that kicks off Saturday in Toronto. The Blueshirts are 17-15-4, good for 38 points, which is eight points behind Carolina (22-13-2, 46 points) for the second wild card spot.

The Rangers entered the three-day Christmas break on a down note with a record of 1-3-1 in their last five games.

Chytil, though, has reason to feel like things are turning around for him. He had gone 10 games with a single point until his spectacular goal in Sunday’s 5-1 win over Anaheim. His nine goals are two less than the 11 he scored in 75 games last season, and fourth most on the team this season

— a feat more impressive considering he started the season in AHL Hartford and wasn’t called up until the 10th game.

Chytil has adapted well in a season that hasn’t gone according to the plan. When training camp started he was first in line to be the No. 2 center behind Mika Zibanejad. But a disappointing preseason got him sent down to Hartford. Rather than sulking, Chytil worked hard and played well, and when Zibanejad suffered an upper body injury in late October, he came up and produced immediately, scoring a goal in each of his first two games and six goals in his first eight games.

See RANGERS B6

New York Rangers center Filip Chytil (72) and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Otto Leskinen (64) fight for the puck during their recent game at Madison Square Garden.

CMYK

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

B2 - Saturday - Sunday, December 28-29, 2019

Pro basketball NBA Eastern Conference Atlantic W L Pct Boston 21 7 .750 Philadelphia 23 10 .697 Toronto 21 10 .677 Brooklyn 16 14 .533 New York 8 24 .250 Central W L Pct Milwaukee 27 5 .844 Indiana 21 10 .677 Chicago 12 20 .375 Detroit 12 20 .375 Cleveland 9 21 .300 Southeast W L Pct Miami 22 8 .733 Orlando 13 17 .433 Charlotte 13 20 .394 Washington 9 21 .300 Atlanta 6 25 .194 Western Conference Northwest W L Pct Denver 21 9 .700 Utah 18 12 .600 Oklahoma City 15 15 .500 Portland 14 17 .452 Minnesota 10 19 .345 Pacific W L Pct L.A. Lakers 24 7 .774 L.A. Clippers 23 10 .697 Sacramento 12 18 .400 Phoenix 11 19 .367 Golden State 8 24 .250 Southwest W L Pct Houston 21 10 .677 Dallas 20 10 .667 San Antonio 12 18 .400 Memphis 12 20 .375 New Orleans 9 23 .281 Wednesday’s games Boston 118, Toronto 102 Philadelphia 121, Milwaukee 109 Golden State 116, Houston 104 L.A. Clippers 111, L.A. Lakers 106 New Orleans 112, Denver 100 Thursday’s games Detroit 132, Washington 102 New York 94, Brooklyn 82 Memphis 110, Oklahoma City 97 Dallas 102, San Antonio 98 Minnesota at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

Portland at Utah, 10:30 p.m.

Friday’s games Cleveland at Boston, 4 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Milwaukee at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Indiana at Miami, 8 p.m.

Phoenix at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

GB — .5 1.5 6.0 15.0 GB — 5.5 15.0 15.0 17.0 GB — 9.0 10.5 13.0 16.5 GB — 3.0 6.0 7.5 10.5 GB — 2.0 11.5 12.5 16.5 GB — .5 8.5 9.5 12.5

Pro football NFL American Football Conference East W L T Pct PF New England 12 3 0 .800 396 Buffalo 10 5 0 .667 308 N.Y. Jets 6 9 0 .400 263 Miami 4 11 0 .267 279 South W L T Pct PF Houston 10 5 0 .667 364 Tennessee 8 7 0 .533 367 Indianapolis 7 8 0 .467 341 Jacksonville 5 10 0 .333 262 North W L T Pct PF Baltimore 13 2 0 .867 503 Pittsburgh 8 7 0 .533 279 Cleveland 6 9 0 .400 312 Cincinnati 1 14 0 .067 246 West W L T Pct PF Kansas City 11 4 0 .733 420 Oakland 7 8 0 .467 298 Denver 6 9 0 .400 266 L.A. Chargers 5 10 0 .333 316 National Football Conference East W L T Pct PF Philadelphia 8 7 0 .533 351 Dallas 7 8 0 .467 387 N.Y. Giants 4 11 0 .267 324 Washington 3 12 0 .200 250 South W L T Pct PF New Orleans 12 3 0 .800 416 Tampa Bay 7 8 0 .467 436 Atlanta 6 9 0 .400 353 Carolina 5 10 0 .333 330 North W L T Pct PF Green Bay 12 3 0 .800 353 Minnesota 10 5 0 .667 388 Chicago 7 8 0 .467 259 Detroit 3 11 1 .233 321 West W L T Pct PF San Francisco 12 3 0 .800 453 Seattle 11 4 0 .733 384 L.A. Rams 8 7 0 .533 363 Arizona 5 9 1 .367 337 Week 16 Saturday, Dec. 21 Houston 23, Tampa Bay 20 New England 24, Buffalo 17 San Francisco 34, L.A. Rams 31 Sunday, Dec. 22 Indianapolis 38, Carolina 6 Miami 38, Cincinnati 35, OT N.Y. Jets 16, Pittsburgh 10 Atlanta 24, Jacksonville 12 Baltimore 31, Cleveland 15 N.Y. Giants 41, Washington 35, OT New Orleans 38, Tennessee 28 Oakland 24, L.A. Chargers 17 Denver 27, Detroit 17 Philadelphia 17, Dallas 9 Arizona 27, Seattle 13 Kansas City 26, Chicago 3 Monday’s game Green Bay 23, Minnesota 10 Week 17 Sunday’s games Cleveland at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Green Bay at Detroit, 1 p.m.

L.A. Chargers at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Chicago at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Miami at New England, 1 p.m.

Atlanta at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

N.Y. Jets at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

New Orleans at Carolina, 1 p.m.

Washington at Dallas, 4:25 p.m.

Tennessee at Houston, 4:25 p.m.

Indianapolis at Jacksonville, 4:25 p.m.

Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 4:25 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 4:25 p.m.

Oakland at Denver, 4:25 p.m.

Arizona at L.A. Rams, 4:25 p.m.

San Francisco at Seattle, 8:20 p.m.

End of regular season

PA 198 246 353 470 PA 350 317 335 377 PA 272 275 360 397 PA 287 403 301 314 PA 337 305 417 388 PA 331 421 377 428 PA 293 282 279 400 PA 289 372 340 411

College football Friday, Dec. 20 Bahamas Bowl Nassau, Bahamas (Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium) Buffalo 31, Charlotte 9 Frisco Bowl Frisco, Texas (Toyota Stadium) Kent State 51, Utah State 41 Saturday, Dec. 21 New Mexico Bowl Albuquerque, N.M. (Dreamstyle Stadium) San Diego State 48, Central Michigan 11 Cure Bowl Orlando, Fla. (Exploria Stadium) Liberty 23, Georgia Southern 16 Boca Raton Bowl Boca Raton, Fla. (FAU Stadium) FAU 52, SMU 28 Camellia Bowl Montgomery, Ala. (Cramton Bowl) Arkansas State 34, Florida International 26 Las Vegas Bowl Sam Boyd Stadium (Las Vegas) Washington 38, No. 19 Boise State 7 New Orleans Bowl Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans) No. 20 Appalachian State 31, UAB 17 Monday Gasparilla Bowl Tampa, Fla. (Raymond James Stadium) UCF 48, Marshall 25 Tuesday Hawaii Bowl Honolulu (Aloha Stadium) Hawaii 38, BYU 34 Thursday Independence Bowl Shreveport, La. (Independence Stadium) Louisiana Tech 14, Miami (Fla.) 0 Quick Lane Bowl Detroit (Ford Field) Pittsburgh 34, Eastern Michigan 30 Today Military Bowl Annapolis, Md. (Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)

North Carolina vs. Temple, noon (ESPN) Pinstripe Bowl New York (Yankee Stadium) Michigan State vs. Wake Forest, 3:20 p.m. (ESPN) Texas Bowl Houston (NRG Stadium) No. 25 Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M, 6:45 p.m.

(ESPN) Holiday Bowl San Diego (SDCCU Stadium) No. 16 Iowa vs. No. 22 USC, 8 p.m. (FS1) Cheez-It Bowl Phoenix (Chase Field) Air Force vs. Washington State, 10:15 p.m. (ESPN) Saturday Camping World Bowl Orlando, Fla. (Camping World Stadium) No. 15 Notre Dame vs. Iowa State, noon (ABC) Cotton Bowl Classic Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium) No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 17 Memphis, noon (ESPN) Peach Bowl ( College Football Playoff semifinal) Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) No. 1 LSU vs. No. 4 Oklahoma, 4 p.m. (ESPN) Fiesta Bowl (College Football Playoff semifinal) Glendale, Ariz. (State Farm Stadium) No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Clemson, 8 p.m. (ESPN) Monday, Dec. 30 First Responder Bowl Dallas (Gerald J. Ford Stadium) Western Kentucky vs. Western Michigan, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN) Music City Bowl Nashville, Tenn. (Nissan Stadium) Mississippi State vs. Louisville, 4 p.m. (ESPN) Redbox Bowl Santa Clara, Calif. (Levi’s Stadium) California vs. Illinois, 4 p.m. (FOX) Orange Bowl Miami Gardens, Fla. (Hard Rock Stadium) No. 9 Florida vs. No. 24 Virginia, 8 p.m. (ESPN) Tuesday, Dec. 31 Belk Bowl Charlotte, N.C. (Bank of America Stadium) Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky, noon (ESPN) Sun Bowl El Paso, Texas (Sun Bowl) Arizona State vs. Florida State, 2 p.m. (CBS) Liberty Bowl Memphis, Tenn.

(Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium) Kansas State vs. No. 23 Navy, 3:45 p.m. (ESPN) Arizona Bowl Tucson, Ariz. (Arizona Stadium) Wyoming vs. Georgia State, 4:30 p.m. (CBS SN) Alamo Bowl San Antonio, Texas (Alamodome) No. 11 Utah vs. Texas, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) Wednesday, Jan. 1 Citrus Bowl Orlando, Fla. (Camping World Stadium) No. 13 Alabama vs. No. 14 Michigan, 1 p.m. (ABC) Outback Bowl Tampa, Fla. (Raymond James Stadium) No. 12 Auburn vs. No. 18 Minnesota, 1 p.m.

(ESPN) Rose Bowl Game Pasadena, Calif. (Rose Bowl) No. 6 Oregon vs. No. 8 Wisconsin, 5 p.m. (ESPN) Sugar Bowl New Orleans (Mercedes-Benz Superdome) No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 7 Baylor, 8:45 p.m. (ESPN) Thursday, Jan. 2 Birmingham Bowl Birmingham, Ala. (Legion Field) No. 21 Cincinnati vs. Boston College, 3 p.m.

(ESPN) Gator Bowl Jacksonville, Fla. (TIAA Bank Stadium) Indiana vs. Tennessee, 7 p.m. (ESPN) Friday, Jan. 3 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Boise, Idaho (Albertsons Stadium) Nevada vs. Ohio, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) Saturday, Jan. 4 Armed Forces Bowl Fort Worth, Texas (Amon G. Carter Stadium) Southern Mississippi vs. Tulane, 11:30 a.m.

(ESPN) Monday, Jan. 6 LendingTree Bowl Mobile, Ala. (Ladd-Peebles Stadium) Louisiana vs. Miami (Ohio), 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) Monday, Jan. 13 College Football Playoff National Championship Game New Orleans (Mercedes-Benz Superdome) Peach Bowl winner vs. Fiesta Bowl winner, 8 p.m.

(ESPN)

Pro hockey NHL Eastern Conference Atlantic Division GP W L OT SO Pts Boston 38 22 7 4 5 53 Toronto 38 20 14 2 2 44 Montreal 37 18 13 5 1 42 Florida 36 18 13 2 3 41 Buffalo 38 17 14 6 1 41 Tampa Bay 35 18 13 4 0 40 Ottawa 38 16 18 2 2 36 Detroit 38 9 26 2 1 21 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT SO Pts Washington 38 26 7 3 2 57 NY Islanders 35 23 9 2 1 49 Philadelphia 37 21 11 0 5 47 Pittsburgh 36 21 11 4 0 46 Carolina 37 22 13 2 0 46 Columbus 37 17 14 5 1 40 NY Rangers 36 17 15 2 2 38 New Jersey 36 12 19 1 4 29 Western Conference Central Division GP W L OT SO Pts St. Louis 38 24 8 3 3 54 Colorado 37 23 11 3 0 49 Winnipeg 37 21 14 1 1 44 Dallas 38 20 14 2 2 44 Nashville 36 18 12 4 2 42 Minnesota 38 18 15 4 1 41 Chicago 38 15 17 2 4 36 Pacific Division GP W L OT SO Pts Arizona 39 21 14 2 2 46 Vegas 40 20 14 6 0 46 Edmonton 40 20 16 3 1 44 Calgary 39 19 15 5 0 43 Vancouver 38 19 15 3 1 42 Anaheim 37 15 18 3 1 34 San Jose 38 16 20 1 1 34 Los Angeles 39 15 20 3 1 34 Tuesday’s games No games scheduled Wednesday’s games No games scheduled Thursday’s games No games scheduled Friday’s games Boston at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Toronto at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Carolina at NY Rangers, 7 p.m.

Columbus at Washington, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Colorado, 8 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Nashville, 8 p.m.

St. Louis at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.

NY Islanders at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Calgary at Edmonton, 9 p.m.

Vegas at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

Los Angeles at San Jose, 10 p.m.

GF GA 130 100 133 122 121 117 127 121 115 119 124 111 106 123 82 150 GF GA 137 111 105 91 121 106 120 96 124 102 98 106 114 118 91 128 GF GA 118 99 134 103 113 107 100 97 126 116 118 126 105 125 GF GA 112 99 122 118 117 124 104 116 124 115 96 114 101 133 99 124

NHL SCORING LEADERS C. McDavid, Edm Leon Draisaitl, Edm N. MacKinnon, Col Brad Marchand, Bos David Pastrnak, Bos Jack Eichel, Buf John Carlson, Was J. Huberdeau, Fla Patrick Kane, Chi A. Panarin, NYR A. Matthews, Tor A. Barkov, Fla Nikita Kucherov, TB

GP 40 40 37 38 38 37 38 36 38 36 38 36 34

G 21 22 21 19 28 24 13 14 20 20 24 11 13

A PTS 41 62 39 61 34 55 35 54 26 54 27 51 35 48 34 48 26 46 25 45 19 43 29 40 27 40

Transactions FOOTBALL NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Atlanta Falcons - NFL suspended DB Jordan Miller four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Cincinnati Bengals - Cut LB Sharif Finch.

Oakland Raiders - Added DE Ade Aruna to the practice squad.

Pittsburgh Steelers - Placed FB Roosevelt Nix and WR Ryan Switzer on the IR/Designated for return list.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Added WR Ishmael Hyman and TE Jordan Leggett to the practice squad.

Tennessee Titans - Added LB Nigel Harris to the practice squad. Removed LB Josh Smith from the practice squad.

NCAA FOOTBALL Florida State - Announced CB Stanford Samuels III will enter the NFL draft.

Penn State - Named Kirk Ciarrocca offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

NBA roundup: Randle helps Knicks snap losing streak Field Level Media

Julius Randle scored 33 points as New York pulled away in the second half to top host Brooklyn, 94-82 on Thursday.

The Knicks halted a fourgame losing streak to the Nets and improved to 4-6 under interim coach Mike Miller in a game they led by as many as 23 points.

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 25 points for the Nets, who shot 26.9 percent from the floor. The shooting percentage was the lowest by a team in a game since the Chicago Bulls shot 25.7 percent in a 88-65 playoff loss to the Miami Heat on May 13, 2013. The last time a team shot as poorly in a regular-season game was when the Orlando Magic hit Brad Penner/USA TODAY 24.6 percent in an 87-56 road New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle (30) controls the ball loss to the Boston Celtics on against Brooklyn Nets power forward Taurean Prince (2) during Jan. 23, 2012.

Thursday’s game at Barclays Center.

Mavericks 102, Spurs 98 Luka Doncic scored 24 right where he left off, leading as the Kings lost their fifth points, grabbed 10 rebounds the Mavericks with 13 first- straight game. De’Aaron Fox and distributed eight assists half points. Tim Hardaway departed less than two minin his return to the lineup after Jr. finished with 17 points for utes into the game due to back missing four games to help the Dallas, which has won nine of spasms for the Kings, who also Dallas Mavericks hold off the its past 13 games. San Anto- lost Marvin Bagley III to a left visiting San Antonio Spurs. nio got 21 points from DeMar foot injury in the third quarter Dallas led by five points DeRozan and 18 from Rudy after he scored 18 points in 20 entering the fourth quarter minutes.

Gay. and by just 82-79 after a laDetroit Pistons 132, WashMinnesota Timberwolves yup by the Spurs’ Patty Mills 105, Sacramento Kings 104 (2 ington Wizards 102 with 10:11 to play. However, Christian Wood scored 22 the Mavericks turned up the OT) Gorgui Dieng recorded points off the bench, Tim Fraheat. Kristaps Porzingis made season highs of 21 points and zier had 17 points and six asconsecutive 3-pointers, and 15 rebounds, and Minnesota sists and host Detroit snapped Dallas later went on a 14-2 snapped an 11-game losing a five-game losing streak by run that featured two treys streak with a double-overtime blasting Washington.

by Dorian Finney-Smith and Derrick Rose contributed one apiece from Delon Wright victory over host Sacramento.

Robert Covington had 19 15 points and six assists, Blake and Jalen Brunson, stretching points and eight rebounds for Griffin had 14 points and 11 their margin to 17 points.

The Spurs made a final the Timberwolves, who won rebounds, and Andre Drumsurge, scoring the final 13 for the first time since Nov. mond supplied 14 points and points of the game, but they 27. Andrew Wiggins scored 18 10 rebounds for the Pistons. could not climb all the way points on just 4-of-19 shooting Bruce Brown and Svi Mykhailback, falling to their Lone Star but also had 10 rebounds and iuk added 12 points apiece, and Tony Snell chipped in 10.

State rivals for the second time seven assists.

Sacramento’s Buddy Hield Anzejs Pasecniks topped in two meetings this season.

Doncic, who had been out had his last-second 3-point the Wizards with 17 points, with an ankle injury, picked up attempt bounce off the rim while Bradley Beal and Jordan

McRae had 15 points apiece.

Troy Brown Jr. contributed 13 points, and Gary Payton II, signed less than a week ago, added 10 points.

Memphis Grizzlies 110, Oklahoma City Thunder 97 Frontcourt mates Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas combined for 41 points, the Memphis bench added 46, and a strong second half powered the Grizzlies to a win at Oklahoma City.

Jackson continued his hot scoring touch of late, posting 20 points for his 13th 20-pluspoint outing of the season.

Valanciunas scored 11 of his team-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, including three straight buckets in a stretch that pushed the Memphis lead from 12 to 20 points.

Oklahoma City, which came in on a four-game winning streak and a winner of seven of nine, was led by Chris Paul, who posted game highs of 23 points and 11 assists.

Utah Jazz 121, Portland Trail Blazers 115 Donovan Mitchell scored 16 of his 35 points in the third quarter, and Joe Ingles added 26 as Utah continued its home prowess by holding on for a victory against Portland in Salt Lake City.

Rudy Gobert added 16 points and 15 rebounds as the Jazz improved to 12-3 at home. Utah bounced back from a defeat Monday at Miami that ended its five-game winning streak.

Damian Lillard scored 34 points for the Trail Blazers, finding his shooting touch after going 0-for-10 from 3-point range in a home loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. Lillard was 10 of 21 from the field Thursday and 7 of 13 from long distance.

CJ McCollum contributed 25 points for Portland.

Stat fix earns Giants LB Golden a $1M bonus

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New York Giants linebacker Markus Golden received a nice holiday present this week, when an NFL stat fix earned him a $1 million bonus.

In Sunday’s game against Washington, Golden was initially credited with a half-sack of Dwayne Haskins in the third quarter that led to the Redskins’ quarterback being carted off the field with an ankle injury. Upon further review

by Elias Sports Bureau, though, the sack he shared with linebacker Lorenzo Carter was changed to a full sack for Golden.

For reaching double-digits in sacks with 10 this season, Golden receives a $1 million bonus from the Giants.

“I earned it,” said Golden, who, according to the club, became the first Giants linebacker since Lawrence Taylor to reach that figure.

“He is the first Giants player with double-digit sacks since Jason Pierre-Paul had 12.5 in 2014 and the first Giants linebacker to accomplish the feat since Lawrence Taylor had 10.5 in 1990,” it was reported Thursday on the Giants’ website.

Golden is the team leader in that sack department, and is back in double digits for the first time since collecting 12.5 sacks with the Arizona Cardinals in 2016. The second-round pick by the Cardinals out of Missouri in 2015 totaled only 2.5 sacks and six quarterback hits in 11 games in 2018 after returning from a torn ACL. In March, the Giants signed Golden to a one-year deal for $3.75 million, with the $1 million bonus being triggered if he hit the sack mark.

“It’s always a goal to get doubledigit sacks,” Golden said via ESPN. “If you’re rushing the passer, you want to get there. It’s a status thing – 9.5 is a big difference than 10. It feels good to get it down, get it over with and, like I said, be able to put it out for my kids to be able to keep playing, keep fighting.”

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Saturday - Sunday, December 28-29, 2019 - B3

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Greg Oden counseling young players on pitfalls of success Adam Jardy The Columbus Dispatch

COLUMBUS, Ohio — For years, Greg Oden’s life lessons have served as teaching points for a younger generation of basketball players.

Now, he’s officially in the business of telling them himself. After graduating from Ohio State with a bachelor’s degree in sports industry last spring, the former No. 1 NBA draft pick who helped lead the Buckeyes to the 2007 NCAA championship game has a new job.

Oden is officially an athlete adviser for Edyoucore Sports & Entertainment, a Baltimorebased company that provides financial education and consulting services to individuals, including amateur and professional athletes. For Oden, it consists of one primary responsibility: be yourself.

“I’m not saying I did terrible things with my money or lost it all, but if I was a little more

knowledgeable about money then I probably would’ve made some better decisions and went a little bit differently in my life away from the court,” Oden told The Dispatch.

“Some of (the lessons learned) were definitely hard, especially from my standpoint, which is what I think I bring to the team: You’re making this money and you have these decisions and you’re not as knowledgeable as you should be, but I never thought I wouldn’t be playing the game or at this time that I wouldn’t be playing.

“It happened so quick you need to be prepared for when the big checks actually do stop coming.”

After his season with the Buckeyes, Oden was taken first overall by Portland in the 2007 NBA draft, but multiple knee surgeries ultimately ended his career after 105 games spread across six seasons. Seeking some direction once his playing

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 17, 2019; Dallas, TX, USA; Tri State power forward Amar’e Stoudemire (1) and Aliens center Shannon Brown (12) and center Greg Oden (22) during the game at the American Airlines Center.

career was over, he was encouraged by former coach Thad Matta to return to Ohio State, be around the program and pursue his degree.

That led to a job as a student manager and, ultimately, his degree earlier this year. The hope

upon graduation was to secure a coaching job, but when no opportunities presented themselves, he was recommended to Edyoucore by representatives of both the NBA and the league’s players association after he served as a counselor at

the NBA’s rookie transition program.

“The coaching route right now wasn’t picking up steam,” Oden said. “This opportunity came about, and I knew being around basketball and players, just sports in general, and being able to help in some way with talking about things I’ve actually lived and went through was a no-brainer to me.”

At Edyoucore, Oden’s responsibilities include helping tailor presentations to different teams by using his personal experiences to help the company explain the financial realities that come with being young and highly paid. In his case, Oden said, that meant earning $4.2 million at 19 years old.

In the first few weeks at his new job, Oden said he’s spoken to a couple of NBA teams and has plans to get to college and even high school teams.

In a news release, Edyoucore founder Drew Hawkins said

Oden’s story “will resonate with our audience” and added that his experience will make their presentation more authentic.

Oden said he hasn’t closed the door on coaching; he still hopes to work his way into the profession. For now, though, this is a welcome spot to be in.

“I am a basketball player through and through and I got my degree, but I don’t want to be looked at as just a basketball player,” he said. “I feel like my life means something right now where I can help these kids or anybody to be better in their life, be happier, be more positive.

That’s really what I hope to bring to this life and to this world.

“When the right (coaching) opportunity comes, I would love to take advantage of that.

But right now I’ve got to keep on moving, I’ve got to keep on providing for my family, and this is something that’s providing my spirit and my happiness. This is where I’m at now.”

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COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

B4 - Saturday - Sunday, December 28-29, 2019 Register-Star

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The Daily Mail

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CITY OF HUDSON, NEW YORK PLANNING BOARD NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Planning Board of the City of Hudson, New York will conduct a special meeting on January 9, 2020 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hudson Hall, Warren Street, Hudson, New York, to review a conditional use permit application with a site plan component for a replacement bulkhead at 175 South Front Street, Tax ID #109.151-1, and a conditional use permit application with a site plan component for haul road improvements at 175 South Front Street, Tax ID #109.15-1-1, both from A. Colarusso and Son Inc. COLLECTOR’S NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF TAX ROLL & WARRANT TAKE NOTICE, that I, the undersigned, Town Clerk/Collector of Taxes of the Town of Greenville, Greene County, New York, have duly received the tax roll and warrant for the collection of taxes for the year 2020, and that I will receive taxes as follows: LOCATIONS AND DATES TO RECEIVE TAXES at the Pioneer Town Hall, Clerk-Collector’s Office, 11159 State Route 81, corner of State Routes 32 & 81 in Greenville, NY, telephone 518-966-5055 x23: Commencing Thursday, January 2nd, 2020, through the month of January, official days to receive will be Monday between 3 pm – 6 pm, and Tuesday through Friday, 9am-3pm, as well as on Saturday, January 25th, between 9am – 11am. The office will be closed on all legal holidays, including New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. day. Payments made by mail must be clearly postmarked by the last day of the month. No post-dated checks will be accepted. Checks with any errors will be returned to sender for correction.

A $15 charge will be added to the total bill for each check returned for insufficient funds. Payment accepted by check, money order, cash, or credit card (convenience fees will be assessed if credit or debit cards are used for payment).

TAX BILLS CAN BE VIEWED, and PAID STATUS updated daily, ONLINE at www.egov.basg o v. c o m / G re e n v i l l e .

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that taxes may be paid on or before January 31, 2020 without charge or interest.

On taxes remaining unpaid after January 31, 2020, there shall be added one percent for February or the remainder thereof; two percent for March; three percent for April; four percent for May; five percent for June; six percent for July; seven percent for August; at which time, the return of unpaid taxes is made by the Clerk-Collector to the Greene County Treasurer pursuant to law.

Dated: December 23, 2019 Jackie Park Town Clerk/Collector of Taxes Town of Greenville COLLECTOR’S NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF TAX ROLL & WARRANT TAKE NOTICE, that I, Janet Partridge, the undersigned, Collector of Taxes of the Town of Durham, Greene County, New York, have duly received the tax roll and warrant for the collection of taxes within the Town of Durham for the year 2020, and that I will receive taxes as follows: BANK OF GREENE COUNTY - GREENVILLE BRANCH (JAN ONLY) DURHAM TOWN HALL

MON, WED, THURS 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. TUES 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M. (JAN ONLY) SAT 9 A.M. TO 12 P.M. (JAN ONLY) PAYMENTS MADE BY MAIL MUST BE POSTMARKED

BY THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH PAYMENTS ACCEPTED BY CHECK, eCHECK, CASH OR CREDIT CARD (CONVENIENCE FEES WILL BE ASSESSED) PAY ON LINE AT: egov.basny.com/durham TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that taxes may be paid on or before January 31st, 2020 without charge or interest. On taxes remaining unpaid after January 31st, there shall be added interest, one percent for February or the remainder thereof; two percent for March; three percent for April; four percent for May, five percent for June, and six percent for July, at which time, the return of unpaid taxes is made by the collector to the Greene County Treasurer Pursuant to law.

Dated, December 24, 2019.

Janet Partridge, Clerk/Collector, Town of Durham COLLECTOR'S NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF TAX ROLL & WARRANT TAKE NOTICE, that I the undersigned, Collector of Taxes of the Town of Ashland, Greene County, New York, have duly received the Tax roll and Warrant for the collection of Taxes, For the year of 2020, and I and or my Deputy will receive taxes as follows: Monday -Friday 9AM to 2PM in the Office at 12094 State Route 23, Ashland, New York, except legal holidays, when the office if closed. By mail Ashland Town Clerk Collector, PO BOX 129, Ashland, NY 12407.

Any questions: Email Ashlandclerkcollector@Gmail.com. Or call the mail Office: 518734-3636.

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that taxes may be paid on or before and postmarked by January 31,2020 without charge or interest.

In taxes remaining unpaid after January 31st, 2020, there shall be added one percent for February, or remainder thereof: two percent for March; three percent of April: four percent for May; 5 percent for June; six percent for July; and seven percent of August, at which time, the return of unpaid taxes is made by the collector to the Greene County Treasurer Pursuant to Law. Dated: December 27, 2019 Dawn Thorp Collector of Taxes Town of Ashland NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF LIVINGSTON ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that at 7:02 P.M. on Tuesday January 07, 2020 the Town of Livingston Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing at the Livingston Town Hall, 119 County Route 19, Livingston, New York on an application

by Renua Energy representing Greatwonder Farms a Special Use Variance. A 305 megawatt AC photovoltaic solar system consisting of 6,000 panels connecting to the public grid by means of a 3-phase power. Property located on Schneider Road in the LDR-2 Zone. Members of the public may be heard on the application at the public hearing or may submit comments in written form. The application materials are on file with the Town of Livingston and are available for public inspection.

Eileen Yandik ZBA Secretary Please be advised that the 2020 meetings of the Town of Jewett Planning Board will be

held on Thursday, at 7:30 p.m. at the Town of Jewett Municipal Building, 3547 Route 23C, Jewett, New York. Meetings are planned for: January 2, 2020 with January 9, 2020 as the alternate date; February 6, 2020, with February 13, 2020 as the alternate date; March 5, 2020 with March 12, 2020 as the alternate date; April 2, 2020 with April 9, 2020 as the alternate date; May 7, 2020 with May 14, 2020 as the alternate date; June 4, 2020 with June 11, 2020 as the alternate date; July 2, 2020, with July 9, 2020 as the alternate date; August 6, 2020, with August 13, 2020 as the alternate date; September 3, 2020 with September 10, 2020 as the alternate date; October 1, 2020 with October 8, 2020 as the alternate date; November 5, 2020 with November 12, 2020 as the alternate date; and finally December 3, 2020 with December 8, 2020 as the alternate date. By record of Susan Hintz-Epstein, Town of Jewett Planning Board Secretary.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that due to the conflict with the upcoming holiday, the regularly scheduled meeting for the TOWN OF GREENVILLE PLANNING BOARD, GREENE COUNTY, NEW YORK, will be held on Wednesday January 8, 2020 at 7:00pm at the Town Hall Pioneer Building, 11159 SR 32 Greenville, New York.

DATED: December 19, 2019

BY ORDER OF THE PLANNING BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GREENVILLE Submitted by: Hope Nugent, Secretary to Planning Board TOWN OF TAGHKANIC PUBLIC NOTICE Organizational and Regular Meeting PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on Monday January 13, 2020 the Town Board of the Town of Taghkanic will be hold their Organizational Meeting 7 pm at the Town Hall, Route 82, Taghkanic, NY. Immediately following the Organizational the Town Board will hold their Regular monthly meeting. All persons interested are invited to attend.

Dated: December 11, 2019 Cheryl Rogers Town Clerk

applicant, Vincenzino Crudele, is seeking the application for parcel 23.00-5-24, at 85 Old Plank Rd., Greenville.

All those who are interested in this proposal will be provided with the full opportunity to be heard on the date of the Public Hearing.

Persons wishing to appear at such hearing may do so in person or by attorney or other representative. Documents in support of this proposed application are available for inspection at the Greenville Town Building located at the Town Hall, Pioneer Bldg., 11159 SR 32 Greenville, NY. Communications in writing in relation thereto may be filed with the Planning Board or at such hearing.

DATED: December 23, 2019

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD PLANNING OF THE TOWN OF GREENVILLE Submitted by: Hope Nugent, Secretary to Planning Board

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Hudson, NY. 8 temporary positions, approx. 2/13/20 -12/12/20. Drive, operate, maintain and repair farm machines to grow and harvest veg, berry and flower crops. Attach implements.

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PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the TOWN OF GREENVILLE PLANNING BOARD, GREENE COUNTY, Employment NEW YORK, will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on Wednesday January 8, 2020 at 7:00pm at the Farm Town Hall Pioneer 410 Help Wanted Building, 11159 SR 32 Greenville, New York AGRICULTURAL EQUIPOperators: The Farm on an application for a MENT at Miller’s Crossing, 2 lot Subdivision. The

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COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Megan Rapinoe strikes a World Cup pose, demands equality and challenges us all to be better Jane McManus New York Daily News

NEW YORK — Megan Rapinoe was already loud and unapologetic before the Women’s World Cup started this summer. Might she tone it down before joining with her teammates in a bid for another title?

No chance. In fact, she toned it up.

Rapinoe topped her look with a shock of pink hair. Perfect for confronting a public with both athletic excellence and an argument for pay equity. The U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder and her teammates made it impossible to disentangle the two concepts.

Especially after the bully-in-chief, President Donald Trump, tweeted about Rapinoe after she said she wouldn’t visit the expletive White House if she won.

“I am a big fan of the American Team, and Women’s Soccer but Megan should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job!” Trump tweeted.

Much as the U.S. Soccer Federation wanted to stick to sports during the Women’s World Cup, that wasn’t happening. Fans in France chanted “EQUAL PAY!” to celebrate American wins, and Rapinoe appeared to relish the pressure.

Her post-goal posture, arms outstretched as though welcoming praise and criticism, was a challenge issued in triumph.

“When I see Megan Rapinoe making people uncomfortable,” Arizona State sports historian Victoria Jackson said, “I’m like, Yes.” The U.S. women finished the job, Rapinoe won the Golden Boot with a tournament best six goals and earned the Daily News’ Sports Story of the Year in the process.

“There are some athletes that are once-in-a generation athletes,” Former Women’s Sports Foundation CEO and current Drake Group CEO Donna Lopiano said. “Like (golf great) Nancy Lopez, and in my opinion Megan Rapinoe is one of those athletes. She’s a competitor and loves competition, but she’s made the connection between social institutions and sport.”

Being a woman and a professional athlete is an inherently revolutionary act. It may not seem so at first, and it is less so now than it was 40 years ago, but there is still an element of transgressing social norms when a woman chooses to make a living in a traditionally male space.

It’s a tenant that is enforced through economics, which allows an entity like U.S. Soccer to claim neutrality while paying the championship women less than a men’s team that doesn’t always even qualify for the World Cup. Those are the same norms that allow women across the board to be paid less than men, according to EEOC commissioner Charlotte Burrows. That allow black and Hispanic women to be paid less than their white equals. That

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 6, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; the United States forward Megan Rapinoe (15) controls the ball between a few South Korea defenders in the first half during a USA Women’s National Soccer Team Victory Tour at Soldier Field.

allow jobs considered women’s work to pay less generally, and to have those same wages go up when more men enter the field.

The economics of wage are not neutral, they are imbued with the same bias that has an employer ignore resumes with black names over candidates with white ones even though both list the same credentials.

At 34, Rapinoe has been around long enough to know that winning doesn’t solve the wage gap, and that positive thinking isn’t a paycheck.

Sometimes, you have to fight, and the USWNT is currently suing U.S. Soccer. That suit will go to trial this spring, and it could be ugly.

But the women’s soccer team has a fanbase, and perhaps even a few legislators, on its side.

“If the U.S. women come close to equal pay, we’ll be talking about her in the same way we talk about Billie Jean King,” Quinnipiac professor and sports writer Molly Yanity said.

In the early 1970s, King led the fight for women in tennis to be paid, if not equally, then close enough to eventually get there. Even now tennis is the most lucrative sport to play, where midtier tennis players can have a successful career.

King who has been out for decades and a vocal proponent of inclusion, had to adhere to gender roles back when she led the charge, but Rapinoe belongs to a new generation, one that

isn’t confined to mere gratitude for being tolerated in the sports space.

Rapinoe has expectations. When she won the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player this month, she used her acceptance speech to point out the voices who could lead on the issue, but have not, stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“I want to shout: ‘Cristiano, Lionel, Zlatan, help me!’ “ Rapinoe told the audience. “These big stars do not engage in anything when there are so many problems in men’s football. Do they fear losing everything? They believe that, but it is not true. Who will erase Messi or Ronaldo from world football history for a statement against racism or sexism?”

During her speech to accept Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year honors, Rapinoe used the perch to excoriate the magazine for a lack of diversity among writers and recipients.

She is only the fourth individual woman in the magazine’s 65-year history of the award to get the honor.

“Is it truth that I’m only the fourth woman deserving of this award? I don’t think so,” Rapinoe asked from the podium of the Ziegfeld Ballroom.

When you invite Rapinoe to the party, you get all of her.

She has posed with WNBA great and girlfriend Sue Bird in the pages of ESPN’s The Body issue, and Bird wrote one of the best sports pieces of the year defending and celebrating Rapinoe in the Players’ Tribune during the World Cup. “Megan is at the boss level in the video game of knowing herself,” Bird wrote.

King once told me that to be a transcendent athlete, it isn’t enough to be physically gifted.

You have to feed on pressure, you have to love interacting with the crowd.

Rapinoe’s victory pose is exactly what she was talking about.

There’s something more to her though, an ability to rise to a moment off the field as well.

When the USWNT came to New York for the trip up the Canyon of Heroes to City Hall, Rapinoe took the microphone to address her team and fans.

She described her teammates.

“We got pink hair and purple hair,” Rapinoe said in a staccato. “We got tattoos and dreadlocks. We got white girls and black girls and everything in between. We got straight girls and gay girls.”

The crowd let out a hearty cheer. And then the woman who had endured the trolling of the MAGA crowd raised her game. Rather than using the moment to poke fun at a president who told her she needed to win first, or tweaking those who were annoyed by her American confidence, she did something unexpected.

Rapinoe again challenged the crowd, but in the manner of a statesman.

“This is my charge to everyone: We have to be better,” she said. “We have to love more and hate less. Listen more and talk less. It is our responsibility to make this world a better place.”

Rapinoe rose to the occasion again.

There are still questions about how stars like Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn and Julie Ertz can help increase the following and health of the National Women’s Soccer League, but that doesn’t mean they won’t stop trying to make the world a better place for the women who come after them.

In May, that means facing U.S. Soccer in court to talk about what it means to value a team, women and a Golden Ball winner who spent the summer asking pointed questions about who gets paid what for leading the U.S. to international titles.

So let’s just take a moment to appreciate what Rapinoe has accomplished.

Or, as Bird put it: “It’s about a world-class athlete, operating at the absolute peak of her powers, on the absolute biggest stage there is.

It’s about an athlete f------ killing it.”

P.S.: Rapinoe still hasn’t been to the White House.

Building a case for Hall of Fame inclusion out of thin air Tyler Kepner The New York Times News Service

Derek Jeter grew up beside a baseball field in Michigan, dreaming of playing shortstop for the New York Yankees. The fates cooperated, and Jeter lived out a fantasy that will soon earn him election to the Hall of Fame on the first try.

Life was different in British Columbia for young Larry Walker, whose high school did not have a baseball team. Walker played goaltender on hockey teams with Cam Neely, the future Boston Bruins star, and expected that sport to be his destiny.

At 17, a summer fling with a youth baseball team led to an unlikely spot on the Canadian national team and a free-agent contract with the Montreal Expos worth $1,500. Walker was so raw that, in his first summer as a pro, as a base runner for the Utica Blue Sox, he crossed the diamond from third to first — without touching second — after an outfielder unexpectedly caught a fly ball.

“He didn’t know the rule,” said Walt Weiss, a former teammate and close friend, repeating a story that is part of Walker lore. “But he ended up being the most instinctive player that I ever played with. He had a sixth sense on the field.”

Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports That sixth sense became the sixth tool for Mar 25, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Expos former player Larry Walker watches batting Walker, who combined hitting, slugging, run- practice before a spring training game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Toronto Blue Jays ning, fielding and throwing as well as any player at Olympic Stadium. in his generation. But while Jeter can start making plans to be in Cooperstown, New York, for induc- Jones and Harold Baines — and steroid-era slug- Martinez (2,055) — and he ended strong, with an tion ceremonies in July, this is Walker’s 10th and gers like Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire — but .886 on-base plus slugging percentage for the St. final chance to be elected by the Baseball Writers’ calls Walker the best player on any of his teams. Louis Cardinals in 2005.

Association of America.

The bigger issue, for many voters, is where Yet even for Weiss, it took a while to understand Voting members must submit their bal- Walker’s place in history.

Walker spent his prime years: in Colorado, with lots by Tuesday, and the Hall of Fame will an“A few years ago I was unsure, even though I the Rockies, the only existing franchise with no nounce the results three weeks later. As recently knew how great a player he was,” Weiss said. “But alumni in the Hall of Fame. Many voters dismiss as 2014, Walker seemed unlikely to make it; he then, when you start to dig in and see where he the distorted offensive numbers from the funcollected just 10.2% of votes on a crowded bal- ranks in some of these categories all time, it blows house mirror of Coors Field and its mile-high lot that included 12 players now in the Hall, plus you away.” elevation.

Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, who have been “There’s such a stigma to having played there Walker ranks 12th on the career list for slugging shunned for ties to performance-enhancing percentage, ahead of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays that I think we go too far when we want to penaldrugs. and Mickey Mantle. Only six players can match ize guys for it,” said Weiss, who also managed the But Walker’s support has risen steadily since him in batting average (.313), on-base percent- Rockies from 2013-16. “Yes, you get rewarded ofthen. He climbed to 54.6% last year, and this age (.400) and slugging percentage (.565) — Jim- fensively, there’s no doubt about it. But there’s alyear’s public ballots suggest he will amass the mie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Hank Greenberg, Rogers so some unique challenges of playing there, too.” necessary 75%. In 60 votes revealed through Hornsby, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams.

Switching from thin air to sea level all season Wednesday, as compiled by Ryan Thibodaux — Walker played in only 1,988 major league takes a toll on the body, Weiss said, and the Rock@NotMrTibbs on Twitter — Walker was polling games, fewer than all but two position players ies are the only team that must leave its time zone at 85%. elected by the writers since 1970: Mike Piazza, a for every road game. Hitters can struggle on the To Weiss, who played with Walker on the Colo- catcher, and Kirby Puckett, whose career ended road because pitches behave differently, he addrado Rockies from 1995-97, the upward trend abruptly because of glaucoma. But Walker’s total ed; the same ball that hovers in the strike zone in makes sense. Weiss shared clubhouses with is within a season of the recent electees Jeff Bag- Denver may break out of the zone elsewhere.

To be sure, Walker benefited from Coors Field, the Hall of Famers Rickey Henderson, Chipper well (2,150), Vladimir Guerrero (2,147) and Edgar

where he hit .381 with a .462 on-base percentage and a .710 slugging percentage. But his career road totals are excellent (.278/.370/.495), and when he won the National League’s Most Valuable Player award in 1997, Walker had a better OPS on the road than at home.

His career road OPS, .865, is equal to or better than those of George Brett, Ken Griffey Jr., Reggie Jackson and Willie Stargell, all first-ballot Hall of Famers. Walker has more stolen bases (230) than all of those players, in addition to winning seven Gold Gloves.

“He’s one of the best base runners I ever saw, and other than Andruw Jones, he’s the best outfielder I’ve ever seen — and for sure the best corner outfielder,” Weiss said. “He did all the other things, the peripherals, and for me that’s what puts him over the top.”

Weiss compared Walker’s baseball acumen to that of another former teammate, Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux. Nobody else, he said, could so routinely surprise him with a tip or a strategy he had never considered.

“In the outfield, when the ball was hit down the line, he’d run in the general area of the ball, but he wouldn’t watch the ball — he’d be watching the runners,” Weiss said. “He always said that the hitter would tell you if it’s fair or foul, and then he wanted to know where the runners were the whole time. He just did things like that that I never heard anybody else say before.”

Advanced metrics have raised the profile of recent electees like Bert Blyleven, Tim Raines and Ted Simmons (elected by a veterans’ committee this month), and they are kind to Walker, too.

Baseball Reference credits him with 72.7 wins above replacement; Jeter had 72.4, in 759 more games. Of the past four outfielders elected to the Hall of Fame — Andre Dawson, Griffey, Guerrero and Raines — only Griffey has more WAR than Walker.

WAR is an imperfect statistic, but it tries to encompass everything, including ballpark factors.

Walker ranks well above the Cooperstown borderline, and voters should recognize that games in Denver — where Major League Baseball has sanctioned its product for 27 seasons — count just like all the rest, with unique complications for the players who call it home.

The writers have one last chance to recognize Walker for the all-around force that he was, without punishing him for where he played.

CMYK

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

B6 - Saturday - Sunday, December 28-29, 2019

Joe Manniello’s Week 17 NFL picks Joe Manniello Newsday

Week 17 is all about one word: Motivation. Who has it? Who doesn’t?

Teams fighting for a playoff spot or a bye will go all-out while others will rest starters and some will be counting down the minutes till the season’s over.

The key is zeroing in on teams with everything to play for, and fading those who have already checked out.

Underdogs went 8-7-1 against the spread last week and are 129-104-6.

My most confident picks ATS this week are the Packers, Saints, Colts and Titans. Avoid Bears-Vikings and Browns-Bengals.

——— PLAYOFF IMPLICATION GAMES ——— GAME OF THE WEEK 49ERS (12-3) AT SEAHAWKS (11-4), 8:20 p.m.

49ers by 3; O/U: 47 San Francisco clinches the No. 1 seed with a win and Seattle would need a win and help to get it. But the winner clinches the NFC West title and doesn’t have to be the fifth seed. Seattle won the MNF thriller in Week 10, 27-24, in OT. It has since lost its top three RBs and had to call Marshawn Lynch. Unlike the first meeting, the 49ers will have George Kittle, their own version of Beast Mode, and Emmanuel Sanders, who had to exit early. The 49ers are the more complete team.

The pick: 49ers EAGLES (8-7) AT GIANTS (4-11), 4:25 p.m.

Eagles by 4; O/U: 44.5 The Eagles are NFC East champs with a win (or Dallas loss). Will the Giants be up to play spoiler in what is likely Pat Shurmur’s last game as coach? Shur. Philly needed to rally from 17-3 down to beat the Giants in OT on MNF just three weeks ago, and that was against Eli Manning. Daniel Jones gives the Giants an edge with the Eagles not having faced him. Philly wins but only by three.

The pick: Giants REDSKINS (3-12) AT COWBOYS (7-8), 4:25 p.m.

Cowboys by 10.5; O/U: 45.5 Dallas beat Washington, 31-21, in Week 2, part of a 3-0 start. The Cowboys are 4-8 since then and now the rival Redskins could be pumped to play spoiler. While the Cowboys team that trounced the Rams, 44-21, in Week 15 could show up, this is a few too many points to lay with a team that must be feeling defeated and deflated after the

Irving From B1

rotation.

Most importantly, the Nets have been a light-years better defensive team since their two stars went down. They have the eighth-best defensive rating in the NBA since Nov. 15.

Prior to that, Brooklyn’s defense ranked sixth-worst.

While the ball movement has improved without them, the Irving/LeVert offense was getting the job done.

Through eight games, Brooklyn had the highest-scoring

Jets From B1

just wants to make sure he’s doing everything for everybody else and it’s not as easy as you’d think to say, ‘Hey, I don’t like this.’ And he’s done a good job of getting to that point where now he’s not afraid to say anything.”

Darnold said Thursday that he feels like he’s made a lot of growth this season. And Sunday, against the same team he played Week 1, he has the chance to prove it. The Bills are expecting to play some of their starters, which will

Rangers From B1

Things became a little unsettled when Zibanejad returned while coach David Quinn tried to find the right mixture. With a glut of young centers, Lias Andersson, the No. 7 pick in the 2017 draft, was sent to Hartford where he eventually became

Cary Edmondson/USA TODAY

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) is congratulated by teammates after catching a touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium.

loss at Philly.

The pick: Redskins SAINTS (12-3) AT PANTHERS (5-10), 1 p.m.

Saints by 13; O/U: 45.5 Carolina has lost seven straight, the best loss a 34-31 decision on a lastsecond kick at New Orleans in Week 12. The Panthers have shown little fight since Ron Rivera was fired, though, and this feels like it will be over by halftime.

With the Saints needing a win and help to earn a first-round bye, expect Drew Brees & Co. to win in a blowout.

The pick: Saints LOCK OF THE WEEK PACKERS (12-3) AT LIONS (3-11-1), 1 p.m.

Packers by 13; O/U: 43.5 After winning the NFC North with a win at Minnesota, Green Bay can clinch a first-round bye with a win and possibly even get home field if San Francisco loses. Detroit, losers of eight straight and 0-9-1 ATS in its last 10, doesn’t stand a chance against Aaron Rodgers.

He is 14-5 against the Lions with 39 TDs to just seven INTs and will pick them apart. The Packers make it 6-0 vs. the division with a one-sided win.

The pick: Packers TITANS (8-7) AT TEXANS (10-5),

4:25 p.m.

Titans by 3.5; O/U: 45 Even after back-to-back home L’s, its all right there for the Titans. A win and they’re in. Houston reportedly will play its starters, but it should be locked into the fourth seed by kickoff. Why risk an injury? Ryan Tannehill and A.J. Brown lead the way as the Titans get in.

The pick: Titans RAIDERS (7-8) AT BRONCOS (6-9), 4:25 p.m.

Broncos by 3; O/U: 40.5 Everything went Oakland’s way in Week 16.

Can it all happen again? Doubtful. I was all set to take the Raiders ... until I was reminded of Derek Carr’s struggles in the cold. Oakland is 0-9 in its last nine with Carr starting in below-50 temps.

Sunday’s forecast? Mid-30s. Denver will be up to play spoiler.

The pick: Broncos STEELERS (8-7) AT RAVENS (13-2), 4:25 p.m.

Steelers by 2; O/U: 37.5 This is the most intriguing game of the week. Baltimore locked up home field last week with its 11th straight win and will rest Lamar Jackson and a bunch of starters. But John Harbaugh said the team “wants that 14th win.”

The Steelers need a win and help to get in, but do you trust their sitting “Duck” at QB on the road? Robert Griffin III could be motivated to show he’s still got something left, and the Ravens’ ‘D’ still can win a low-scoring game.

The pick: Ravens DOLPHINS (4-11) AT PATRIOTS (123), 1 p.m.

Patriots by 15.5; O/U: 44.5 New England easily covered as 18.5-point favorites in Miami in Week 2, winning 43-0. This should be closer but not that much, as the Pats need to win to lock up a bye. The Pats won their last two Week 17 games in blowouts: 38-3 and 26-6 (sorry for the reminder, Jets fans).

The pick: Patriots CHARGERS (5-10) AT CHIEFS (11-4), 1 p.m.

Chiefs by 9; O/U: 45.5 KC has won and covered five in a row, starting with a 24-17 win over L.A. in Mexico City. The Chiefs are still in the hunt for a first-round bye and the Chargers are 60 minutes away from ending a frustrating season. One thing to be cautious of: If the Pats are up big, KC could pull starters in the second half.

The pick: Chiefs ———

offense in the NBA, averaging 120 points per game.

They were shooting the 3 at a 40.5% clip that ranked atop the entire league. Leading into the blowout in Phoenix — LeVert’s last game before injuring his thumb — Irving was averaging 30 points, 7 assists, 5.6 rebounds and a steal per game.

Moving Irving off the ball doesn’t make sense for one reason: He’s one of the best in the league, maybe ever, with the ball in his hands. His bag of tricks knows no limits.

He’s a basketball assassin who can kill you with one dirty crossover after another.

The flip side of that coin,

of course, is a ball that sticks in Irving’s hands while his teammates get caught watching.

“Sometimes your job is to spectate,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said in early November. “When he has the mismatch in front of him, and Joe Harris’ guys are kind of locked up, that’s not bad for us.”

Moving Irving off the ball doesn’t make financial sense, either. The Nets just gave him a four-year, $140 million contract to be the star this season and the co-star when Kevin Durant returns. The star should be the one with the ball in his hands.

While Irving has been out, Dinwiddie has been just that.

The All-Star hopeful says he entered the season trying to “figure out how to be a third auxiliary type guy behind Kyrie and Caris.”

“Now they both get hurt and (the coaches are) like, ‘You know, we need you to be the No. 1 now, and we’ll figure it out when everybody comes back,’ “ he said. “Obviously Kyrie will be the one and we’ll try to figure out everything after that.”

Here’s the only reality of the situation: It doesn’t matter what position anyone plays as long as the Nets continue to win games.

give Darnold one last chance to see where he measures up against one of the league’s best defenses.

“Playing those teams, it’s fun,” Darnold said. “Whenever you go out there and it’s a tough scheme and it’s really good players, it challenges you. And it brings out the best in everyone.”

It’s impossible to know exactly what Darnold’s best is. With all the injuries to the offensive line this year, combined with him learning a new offense, it’s impossible to give a definitive evaluation on his progress this year.

The overall stats say he’s gotten better: through 12

games of his sophomore season, Darnold has thrown for 18 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and completed 61.7% of his passes for 2,825 — putting him comfortably on pace to improve from his 13-game rookie season (17 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 57.7% and 5,865 yards).

But he’s done a lot of damage against struggling teams, continues to make the occasional killer turnover and has eclipsed 300 yards passing only twice this season — the same as his rookie season — leading to some doubt how much better he really is.

We won’t get the final answer on Sunday, or even next

year. This is going to take time. But Darnold believes he’ll walk onto the field Sunday in Buffalo a much better player than he was when he faced the Bills in Week 1.

“I feel like our offense has come a long way since then, I feel like I’ve come a long way,” Darnold said. “I think just as a whole, we’ve gotten better. We’ve learned from our mistakes that we’ve made, and that’s what it’s about.

It’s about continuing to get better. Obviously there’s a lot that we need to continue to improve every week and this game (will be) another step I think in the right direction towards improvement.”

disenchanted and asked the organization for a trade. Brett Howden, who had been playing on the fourth line, moved to the right wing the last couple games, and Quinn said Howden may stay there for a while, even when rookie Kaapo Kakko comes back from a leg injury.

For now, the team is committed to developing Chytil as a center after moving him to the wing most of last

season. And Chytil is more comfortable in the middle.

“That’s my spot,” he said.

Chytil has certainly improved his work in the defensive zone. He was a minus-22 in his 75 games last season and this year he is plus-5. But he admitted that even though he is working to be a more complete player his 10-game goal drought did weigh on him.

“You’re always thinking

about it,” he said. “You don’t want to, but always, it’s hiding in your head.

“I know if I would score goals and get points, I would help the team more, but I’m trying to focus on my (overall) game,” he said. “I’m 20 years old, still, so there’s a lot to improve and still be better after every shift, after every game, after every practice. And that’s everything I’m thinking about.”

NON-PLAYOFF IMPLICATION GAMES ——— JETS (6-9) AT BILLS (10-5) Bills by 1.5; O/U: 36, 1 p.m.

Buffalo is locked into the fifth seed.

Even if it plays starters, it won’t be the whole game. A win makes the Jets 6-2 in the second half, which is motivation for a team looking to end on a positive note, especially vs, the team that beat them, 17-16, in Week 1 after trailing 160.

The pick: Jets BEARS (7-8) AT VIKINGS (10-5), 1 p.m.

Vikings by 1; O/U: 37 This is the toughest game to pick.

The Vikings went from -7 to -1 once they were locked in at No. 6. Will they rest starters or try and enter the playoffs off a win? Chicago is 3-0 vs. the Kirk Cousins Vikings.

The pick: Bears CARDINALS (5-9-1) AT RAMS (8-7), 4:25 p.m.

Rams by 7; O/U: 49 It must be tough for a team that went to the Super Bowl last season to play Week 17 knowing this is it. Sean McVay is 5-0 against Arizona with every win being lopsided, including 34-7 just four weeks ago so my pick was going to be L.A ... . until I read that McVay might not play starters the whole game.

The pick: Cardinals FALCONS (6-9) AT BUCS (7-8), 1 p.m.

Bucs by 1; O/U: 48 Tampa Bay won at Atlanta, 35-22, in Week 12 and I think the good Jameis Winston shows up in his last shot to earn some more Tampa Bay Bucks.

The pick: Bucs COLTS (7-8) AT JAGUARS (5-10), 4:25 p.m.

Colts by 4; O/U: 43 Save for two drives in Oakland two weeks ago, Jacksonville has long looked like a team counting down the days to its offseason vacation plans. Finishing 8-8 without Andrew Luck should motivate Jacoby Brissett and the rest of Frank Reich’s team, which doesn’t quit, and beat the Jags by 20 in Week 11.

The pick: Colts BROWNS (6-9) AT BENGALS (1-14), 1 p.m.

Browns by 2.5; O/U: 43.5 Cincinnati has one win but doesn’t it feel like Cleveland had the worse season? This is likely Andy Dalton’s finale in Cincy, and with the team already locking up the No. 1 pick, it could go allout (trick plays!) to beat its in-state rival.

The pick: Bengals

Maloney From B1

left by outgoing Lt. Jason DeAngelis who transferred to the Otsego/Montgomery County Zone. We wish Lt. DeAngelis well in his new assignment, and welcome Lt. Walt Maloney, who’s not so new to the area. Lt. Maloney grew up hunting and fishing in Rensselaer County as a native of New Brunswick.

He graduated from SUNY Albany in 1994 with a bachelors in Criminal Justice. He is a 23-year veteran of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement, graduating the ECO Academy in 1996. He was initially assigned to Oneida County until 1998 when he took a transfer and became the local ECO in Delaware County.

Lt. Maloney spent the next portion of his career assigned to special teams that focused on off- road enforcement including specialized vessel, snowmobile, ATV and related enforcement. He was promoted to Technical Sergeant in 2009 when he became a specialist in the radiological defense of our homeland.

Then T/Sgt. Maloney created a program where the protection of our homeland was seamlessly integrated into the routine duties ECOs perform every day. For instance, ECOs would conduct routine vessel, vehicle, and foot patrols while passively deploying sensitive radiological detection equipment to protect the citizens of our state and nation.

Lt. Maloney is long-time member of the Division Honor Guard and excelled at military drill. He brought the Honor Guard to new heights of professionalism with equipment and training. He is an academy instructor in a number of topics.

Lt. Maloney is an avid sportsman. When not

working or coaching baseball, he spends his free time hunting deer, waterfowl, and coyotes.

I had the privilege of working with Lt. Maloney for many years in a variety of enforcement areas. From working deer decoys in the fields of Delaware County to his piloting shake down runs of the $1.5 million 41-foot flagship vessel of the ECO fleet, I can attest Lt. Maloney is a highly competent dedicated professional who has enjoyed a stellar law enforcement career.

We are lucky to have him at the helm and I am confident he will provide outstanding leadership as he assumes his new command.

Please join me in welcoming Lt. Walter Maloney to Columbia and Rensselaer Counties.

Happy New Year and Happy Hunting, Fishing and Trapping until next time.

News and Notes Save the Date: February 15, 2020 The Catskill Mountain F&G Club/Stony Clove F&G Club Youth Ice Fishing Derby The date for this event is scheduled for Saturday, February 15th; ice conditions permitting.

Sign-in begins at 9 a.m. with youth fishing from 10 a.m.-noon. There will be prizes for all kids attending, plus refreshments will be available. For more information call Bob Monteleone at 518488-0240.

Remember to report poaching violations by calling 1-844-DEC-ECOS. You can share any comments with our sports desk at sports@registerstar.com *If you have a fishing or hunting report, photo, or event you would like to be considered for publication, you can send it to: huntfishreport@gmail.com

CMYK

Saturday - Sunday, December 28-29, 2019 - B7

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Behavior of groom’s mother at reception upsetting Dear Abby, My sister was married recently. At the reception, her new mother-in-law was seen by multiple guests gesturing with her two middle fingers while the father of the bride was giving his toast. It was a very formal event, and it was shocking to see an adult DEAR ABBY act like this. Our family feels embarrassed and insulted because we hosted the wedding, but our biggest concern is how can the bride move forward?

When the groom politely approached his mom about a week after the wedding, she refused to acknowledge it, insisted it was an “inside joke,” and then gave him a long list of complaints about our family. (I suppose they were her justifications for her behavior.)

She refuses to apologize. I feel she should extend an olive branch and apologize to my sister and our parents, but at the very least make amends with her new daughter-inlaw. It upsets me that she doesn’t care about building a good relationship with my sister.

My sister was brought up to take responsibility for her actions. It’s hard for her to move on when her mother-in-law refuses to speak of it. Should she really just act like nothing happened?

Sister Of The Bride

JEANNE PHILLIPS

The groom’s mother’s inhibitions may have been lowered because she was intoxicated when she did what she did, and that may also be the reason she won’t speak of it, even to her son. It’s an embarrassment for THEIR family, not yours. The woman isn’t someone you will

be forced to interact with often on an intimate basis. That burden falls upon your sister, who has my sympathy because it appears her MI-L is going to be a handful. Please allow me to offer you some advice: Stay out of this and let your sister and her husband handle it.

Dear Abby, I am a daughter of a bluecollar father. I admire him greatly and am beyond grateful for all his sacrifices. He worked more than six days a week for 30 years to give us a nice life.

When I went to college more than 10 years ago, I took out student loans because my parents couldn’t afford to help me financially. I still pay a large amount each month and I see it bothers my father.

I have told him many times how grateful I am for his sacrifices and that I manage to pay my student loans each month. However, I know it still bothers him. He keeps saying, “When I die, I’ll take care of you.” I don’t want him to carry around this burden, especially since he’s already done so much so we can live comfortably. How can I erase the guilt he feels about my school loans?

Concerned Daughter

DR. KEITH ROACH

Blood pressure that fluctuates that greatly over a short period of time is unusual and has a short list of potential causes.

One, which I am nearly positive your cardiologist has looked for, is a tumor that produces the substance epinephrine, also called adrenaline, or similar molecules that raise the blood pressure.

This is called a pheochromocytoma (or paraganglioma, if it’s outside the adrenal gland) and is quite rare. Blood and urine tests are used to diagnose this condition, or more likely, to exclude it. Rarely, other substances that raise blood pressure can be produced by the body, as in carcinoid syndrome.

Blockages in the arteries to the kidneys can cause blood pressure to go way up and way down. Some drugs can do it. We see it occasionally in a person who has had a stroke. But by far the most common reason is emotional. Occasionally, these emotions are understood and

acknowledged by the person suffering through these frightening blood pressure jumps, but often the person is not aware of any emotional distress at the time of the event. Physical symptoms, like the blurry vision and walking difficulty you mention, are universal. Common symptoms include headache, chest pain and dizziness. The blood pressure is normal apart from the symptoms, unless the patient has been put on blood pressure medication.

This condition, paroxysmal hypertension, is much more common than a pheochromocytoma, but many doctors aren’t aware of it. A careful and very thorough evaluation is absolutely necessary before making this diagnosis, but with a correct diagnosis, treatment is generally effective.

For an acute attack, treatment may be with a short-acting blood pressure medicine, such as labetalol. Given intravenously, it starts working within a few minutes, as opposed to the nadolol you were given, which starts working three to four hours after an oral dose. Also, an anti-anxiety medicine, such as alprazolam, may be helpful as it begins working very quickly. This is effective even if a person does not feel anxiety. People with very frequent episodes of symptomatic high blood pressure may benefit from medication to prevent symptoms.

I am fortunate to have experts in high blood pressure at my institution who are highly skilled at managing conditions like this.

Horoscope

By Stella Wilder Born today, you are never one to measure your success through the eyes of another; rather, you judge your own performance, personally and professionally, according to a scale that is of your own making — and only you will ever know if you are truly satisfying yourself and earning contentment with the work you do.

You are multitalented, and though you will surely enjoy tremendous professional success, it is very likely one or two hobbies that will give you the greatest satisfaction in life. Indeed, you are likely to work so that you can afford to play — and you are able to play harder than most others work!

To see what is in store for you tomorrow, find your birthday and read the corresponding paragraph. Let your birthday star be your daily guide.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29 CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — You may find yourself making last-minute corrections today — either to your daily schedule or to the actual work being done. Stay on track.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — You require just a little more information today in order to complete a job for someone. When it comes, the pace can surely quicken.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — Staying out of the way of those who would do you harm may prove more difficult than usual today; someone is employing new, unfamiliar tactics.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — You’ve developed a strategy for dealing with certain recurring problems, and today it will pay off hand-

Classic Peanuts

Garfield

For your own sake, it’s time to realize you cannot wave a magic wand and change the way your father feels. From your description, he seems like a wonderful man. Continue to express gratitude and respect for what he has done for you. Stop discussing your ongoing loan payments, and let your successful life be the proof of your father’s diligent efforts.

Erratic blood pressure may be emotional reaction I’m an active 85-year-old woman. For the past four years, I have been having erratic blood pressure readings. Sometimes my blood pressure is 80/50, other times 200/90 or higher. I am treated with nadolol as needed.

My cardiologist said he cannot help me. The doctors at TO YOUR the hospital have no idea why GOOD HEALTH I have this problem. When my blood pressure is low, I have blurry eyesight and trouble walking. They tell me to eat salt when my blood pressure is low.

Family Circus

Blondie

Hagar the Horrible

Zits

Baby Blues somely as you dodge a bullet.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — The more you can accomplish before noon today, the better.

Later on, you’ll have reason to delve more deeply into a certain personal issue.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You may be confused about the “how” and the “when,” but you know what needs to be done better than anyone — and why. Spread the word.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — Getting a certain job done today should be as easy as one, two, three — unless you fail to notice that certain someone standing in your way.

Beetle Bailey

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — You may be tempted to dig in your heels and insist that the status quo be maintained — and for good reason. You must try another course, however.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — No matter how carefully you’ve planned, you are likely to be disappointed by the way things fall out if you’re unable to be flexible.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — You’re likely to receive many warnings today, but they may prove difficult to decipher. When in doubt, do what you would usually do.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — You may find yourself shackled by responsibility today and unable to engage in that certain flight of fancy.

This is a temporary delay.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — It’s a good day to shower those around you with praise and admiration — for they deserve it. You will receive much in return, surely.

COPYRIGHT 2019 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.

Pearls Before Swine

Dennis the Menace

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B8 - Saturday - Sunday, December 28-29, 2019 Close to Home

SUPER QUIZ

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek Get the free JUST JUMBLE app • Follow us on Twitter @PlayJumble

Unscramble these Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

RUENT GENIT BLLOGA WOSIND ©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the Graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.

The Bible Level 1

2

3

4

Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon.

’ (Answers Monday) Yesterday’s

Jumbles: QUOTA ENACT SCROLL FLABBY Answer: They saw the polluted air by the smoking section and decided to — STAY CLEAR

Solution to Friday’s puzzle

12/28/19 Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit

Heart of the City

sudoku.org.uk © 2019 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

(e.g., Who asked, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Answer: Cain.)

Freshman level 1. Alternative name for the hill called Golgotha.

2. Cherubim is an order of ____.

3. Who were the “Chosen people”?

4. Who gave Joseph a coat of many colors?

5. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is called the ____ Rule.

Graduate level 6. What were the three gifts brought by the Wise Men? 7. The first book of the Old Testament.

8. Jesus brought this man back to life.

9. She tricked Samson.

10. What are the three virtues?

PH.D. level 11. The Israelites built this idol during the Exodus.

12. Who were the two sons of Isaac?

13. God destroyed these two evil cities.

14. Moses received the Ten Commandments on this mountain.

15. What psalm begins “The Lord is my shepherd ...”?

SUPER QUIZ ANSWERS 1. Calvary. 2. Angels. 3. Hebrews or Israelites. 4. Jacob (father). 5. Golden. 6.

Gold, frankincense and myrrh. 7. Genesis. 8. Lazarus. 9. Delilah. 10. Faith, hope and charity. 11. Golden calf. 12. Jacob and Esau. 13. Sodom and Gomorrah. 14. Mount Sinai. 15. Twenty-third Psalm.

24 to 30 points — congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points — honors graduate; 13 to 17 points — you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 5 to 12 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 4 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?

Mutts

Dilbert

Pickles For Better or For Worse

Get Fuzzy

Hi & Lois

Crossword Puzzle Mother Goose & Grimm ACROSS 1 Dog food brand 5 Prim & selfrestrained 10 Recipe direction 14 Precious 15 Brusque 16 Pleasant 17 Catch sight of 18 Called to mind 20 Suffix for Siam or Japan 21 Is victorious 22 Rex & Donna 23 Sudden attacks 25 Evergreen tree 26 Baffle; perplex 28 Liquid part of the blood 31 “__ by any other name…”

32 Piece of asparagus 34 On __ off; intermittently 36 Crooked 37 Inexpensive 38 Jekyll’s alter ego 39 Biggest club 40 In the __ of an eye; instantly 41 Actress Mary Tyler __ 42 Business magnate 44 Sunbathed 45 Can top 46 Three and four 47 Nikes or Reeboks 50 Foot digits 51 __ Wednesday; Lent opener 54 Tiny Irish fairy 57 Mah-jongg piece 58 Designer Cassini 59 Stops 60 As straight __ arrow 61 Wee 62 __ skin; hives symptom 63 Jewels

Bound & Gagged

Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews

5 Take long steps 6 Adolescents 7 Up in __; furious 8 Ending for treat or expert 9 JFK or LBJ 10 Derisive smiles 11 Grow weary 12 Frosted 13 Scarlet & ruby 19 Prickly shrub 21 Smart 24 Neighbor of Italy: abbr.

25 Part of an envelope 26 “Ali __ and the Forty Thieves” 27 Build 28 Mountaintop 29 BLT spread 30 Agassi of tennis 32 __ splints; tibia pain 33 Pigsty DOWN 1 “Zip-__-Doo-Dah” 35 Landowner’s paper 2 Not as much 3 Billfold contents 37 Lump of dirt 4 Suffix for direct or 38 Sharpen access 40 U.S. state capital

12/28/19

Friday’s Puzzle Solved

Non Sequitur

©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

41 Dallas team, for short 43 Religious leaders 44 Very small 46 Word in two U.S. state names 47 Job opening 48 Prefix for copter or pad

12/28/19

49 Unlocked 50 Powder 52 Close too fast 53 Barnyard birds 55 Actor McBride 56 Sombrero 57 Kids’ outdoor game

Rubes

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STAR WARS ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ may give fans what they want, but not what the story needs other, it may not be the closure this epic, now 42 years in the making, deserves.

As “Skywalker” opens, we learn that Adam DrivIn “Star Wars,” no one’s ever really gone.

So Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) says, near the er’s Kylo Ren, new supreme leader of the First Orend of 2017’s “The Last Jedi” and again in the trailer der (the bad guys), is about to take a meeting with for the new sequel, “The Rise of Skywalker.” In the that character we all thought was dead, a meeting that he hopes will confer even more trailer, those words are followed by power upon him and dominion an evil laugh so instantly familiar to ‘STAR WARS: THE RISE OF over the galaxy. Rey (Daisy Ridley), fans of the long-running sci-fi franour scavenger-turned-hero introchise as belonging to a character SKYWALKER’ duced in 2015’s “The Force Awakwho was killed five movies ago that 2 stars out of 4 ens,” is meanwhile continuing her it held out the promise of resuscitaCAST: Daisy Ridley, Adam training as a Jedi knight among the tion.

Driver, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee rebel forces struggling against the That promise is confirmed in the Williams, Mark Hamill, John oppressors. on-screen text “crawl” that, as with Boyego, Oscar Isaac She and Kylo are powerful nemprevious films, opens “Skywalker,” DIRECTOR: J.J. Abrams eses, each of them sensitive to the catching us up with what we need RUNNING TIME: 2 hours, 35 minutes mystical energy known as the Force, to know.

INDUSTRY RATING: PG-13, with Kylo having embraced its dark What that text crawl - which for sci-fi violence and action side and Rey its light. It is no acopens with the words “The dead cident that her name sounds like speak!” - doesn’t tell us is that “ray,” but she wrestles with the pull the new movie, while fast-paced, eventful, occasionally even surprising, also pan- of the shadows, for reasons we don’t yet know (but ders wildly, closing out this last chapter of the nine will by this film’s final act). For his part, Kylo, the son films that have come to be known as the Skywalker of Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Leia Organa (Carrie Saga with a story that delivers to the faithful exactly Fisher, digitally resurrected since her 2016 death), the movie they wanted.

On the one hand, that’s a good thing. On the See ‘STAR’ C2

By MICHAEL O’SULLIVAN Washington Post

banked.com derstands you.

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‘1917’ is a gimmicky, yet unforgettable, film WORLD WAR I: Sam Mendes

uses continuous shot to put viewers on front lines

By ANN HORNADAY Washington Post

As a technical exercise in filmmaking, “1917” is reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rope” and “Birdman” — a nearly two-hour “oner,” or continuous shot, during which the story seems to unfold in seamless real time.

The fact that Sam Mendes used the conceit to portray the bravery, anguish, death and desecrated landscapes of World War I feels like the right approach at the right time: Just last year, Peter Jackson’s magnificent documentary “They Shall Not Grow Old” reignited interest in the Great War, and sequences like Joe Wright’s single-shot depiction of Dunkirk in “Atonement” prove just how powerfully immersive such bravura gestures can be.

Which makes it all the more of a letdown that “1917” is impressive but oddly distancing; ultimately stirring but too often gimmicky. While its visual language and subjective camera might hold promise for conveying the suffering and sacrifice of World War I to a generation raised on video games and virtual reality, there are moments when “1917” feels as rote as any other exercise in leveling-up.

Thankfully, the film is anchored by a lead performance that overcomes its self-imposed limitations.

As a British lance corporal named Schofield, George MacKay delivers a breakout performance, acquitting his primary task — to both witness the horrors of war and confidently lead the audience through them — with just the right combination of vulnerability

George MacKay, center, stars in “1917.” François Duhamel/Universal Pictures

and quiet command. As “1917” opens, Schofield and his friend Blake (DeanCharles Chapman) are assigned the daunting task of delivering a life-ordeath message to 1,600 British troops preparing to attack German enemy lines. What ensues is a classic race against the clock — made more urgent by the fact that the survival of Blake’s

own brother is at stake — as the soldiers encounter perils as well as moments of improbable poetry, altruism and blunt human cruelty.

And, as idealistic young men, they must endure the war-ravaged pessimism of their elders, who appear right on cue to give voice to variations on the theme of war-as-hell. As

Benedict Cumberbatch plays Col. MacKenzie in the film. Universal Pictures

cinematographer Roger Deakins sends his unchained camera through the muddy, rat-infested trenches, corpsestrewn battlefields and abandoned farms of the French countryside, an all-star cast of Britain’s finest actors shows up to appear in brief but vivid cameos, including Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong and Andrew Scott. Using occasional moments of darkness as editing opportunities, Deakins creates a remarkably convincing simulation of the uninterrupted flow of time: doing away with shaky-cam naturalism, he combines fluid, dancerly movement with stately composition and framing to create images of breathtaking beauty.

As often as not in “1917,” those images exist side-by-side with hyper-real sequences that would be right at home in any action movie or aforementioned video game, where protagonists dodge booby traps, collapsing buildings and other obstacles to gain extra life. As generic or even downright corny as some of these encounters can be, MacKay and Chapman do an outstanding job of grounding them in the palpable fears and shaky courage of men who are still clearly boys. Although Mendes and his co-screenwriter Krysty WilsonCairns eschew the kind of commentary that made films like “Paths of Glory” such persuasive indictments of military hierarchy, “1917” leaves viewers with the indelible and overwhelming impression that war isn’t just hell but an unconscionable waste.

Nowhere is this clearer — or more affectingly conveyed — than in “1917”’s final sequence, a meticulously choreographed and executed set piece that ends up bringing the

‘1917’ 2½ stars out of 4 CAST: George MacKay, Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth, Dean-Charles Chapman, Andrew Scott and Richard Madden DIRECTOR: Sam Mendes RUNNING TIME: 1 hour, 58 minutes INDUSTRY RATING: R, for violence, some disturbing images and strong language

movie full circle literally, figuratively and satisfyingly. It’s a moment of pure spectacle, but thanks to MacKay’s enormously accomplished performance throughout the film, it’s also a moment of pure heart. What might have been easily dismissed as little more than a simplistic stunt instead becomes a potent and unforgettable piece of cinema.

Adam Driver is Kylo Ren in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”

Lucasfilm

‘Star’ From C1

is also torn between good and evil. That tension — Rey and Kylo kind of dig each other, but they’re also, you know, mortal enemies, so let’s call it a lovehate relationship — is the spine of the new film.

There’s other stuff going on as well. Almost too much stuff, as Rey and her resistancefighter comrades Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac), Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and the droids C-3PO and R2D2 set out on a life-or-death mission that leads them to video-game-like obstacles and dangers. These include, in rapid succession, flying Stormtroopers — yes, they fly

now, as Poe notes sardonically — quicksand and a giant, carnivorous worm, as well as many scenery and climate changes. The special effects and cinematography are well done, particularly a scene set in wreckage that can only be reached by traversing monstrous ocean waves.

None of that is especially new. Nor is the climactic battle scene that will hinge on a one-chance-in-a-million stratagem. And the film’s aversion to death, or at least the sort of sacrifice that matters — one that demonstrates victory comes at a real cost — is also familiar.

When Luke said no one’s ever really gone, he didn’t mean that no one actually dies in “Star Wars.” Plenty of characters, named and unnamed,

John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Oscar Isaac return in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” Disney/Lucasfilm

have given their lives in the pursuit of destruction — or preservation — of life as we know it in the rebel stronghold. But we’re not given even the deaths of prominent characters in ways that might make us actually feel something other than adrenaline.

In myth, including not just the gods and heroes of ancient

Greece and Rome but Westerns and even the superhero comic books and TV serials that inspired the “Star Wars” films, the good guys are often flawed.

So it makes sense that Rey must be seen to grapple with her less virtuous nature (which she does in a scene that shows her, quite literally, facing off against herself). But there ought to

be costs to overcoming those weaknesses — costs that the makers of “Star Wars” seem unwilling to demand of their hero or their story.

If there’s loss at the end of “Skywalker,” it’s the easy kind.

Everybody wants a happy ending. But that doesn’t mean that we should always get the one we want. It’s fine,

if also cliche, to be reminded that good will triumph over evil. But it would make for a deeper and more powerful lesson — one that, after nine movies, might leave a lasting dent in the heart — if the hero actually had to give up something, or someone, that didn’t feel like a tiniest bit of a copout.

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Food

Best cookbooks of 2019

From immigrant cooking to in-depth vegetable how-tos to black culinary history, these books are the Chicago Tribune food staff’s picks for 2019’s best 11 cookbooks, just in time for the gift-giving season. E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune

From ‘Indian-ish’ to ‘Joy of Cooking’ to ‘Ruffage,’ these titles are most inspiring “Joy of Cooking” has been around since 1931, when Irma S. Rombauer self-published it following her husband’s death. In the intervening years, three subsequent generations of the Rombauer-Becker family have left their mark on the beloved cookbook. This latest installment — a line-by-line review and revision by Rombauer’s great-grandson John Becker and his wife, Megan Scott — strikes just the right balance. It’s modernized, but not lacking in tradition. It’s comprehensive, yet approachable for even first-time home cooks. With the advent of the internet, it’s rare to see a completist cookbook these days; keeping “Joy of Cooking” relevant today is an admirable feat. With 600 new recipes and a thoughtful edit of the existing text, it’s an excellent choice for a new generation of cooks, not to mention “Joy” fans who already have an older edition on their shelves. — Jennifer Day

By GRACE WONG, LOUISA CHU, NICK KINDELSPERGER, JENNIFER DAY & JOE GRAY Chicago Tribune

I

n a publishing year crowded with gear books (Instant Pot, Air Fryers, sous vide) and diet books (Keto, plant-based), it’s got to be hard for authors to stand out. As we searched through the hundreds of books that came in this year, these 11 did.

From immigrant cooking to in-depth vegetable how-tos to black culinary history, these books are our picks for 2019’s best — books we’re just as likely to want for ourselves as much as buy for holiday gifts. — Joe Gray

“INDIAN-ISH: RECIPES AND ANTICS FROM A MODERN AMERICAN FAMILY”

By Priya Krishna, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $28 Like many children of immigrants, myself included, Priya Krishna grew up on dishes that held the essence of her parents’ home country but were adapted to fit what was available to them. “Indian-ish” is a love letter to Krishna’s mother, Ritu, who made pizzas out of roti, saag paneer with feta and Indian taquitos from leftover sabzi to appease her two American-born daughters. Enjoy a spirited exploration of Krishna’s wholly authentic Indian-ish experience through the lens of her mother’s recipes, from quick weeknight meals to grand dinner parties, that will have you agreeing that Indian food is everyday food, indeed. — Grace Wong

“JUBILEE: RECIPES FROM TWO CENTURIES OF AFRICAN AMERICAN COOKING”

“JOY OF COOKING: 2019 EDITION REVISED AND UPDATED”

By Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, Ethan Becker, John Becker and Megan Scott, Scribner, $40

By Toni Tipton-Martin, Clarkson Potter, $35 There are cookbooks that tersely mention history tidbits as sidebars to informing recipes or certain cooking techniques. Then there are cookbooks like Toni TiptonMartin’s “Jubilee,” where history is made present and kept alive. Whether it’s handheld curried beef pies for a snack, sweet tea cakes to accompany a cup of tea or See BEST C6

Bobby Flay’s Eggplant Bolognese is meatless but hearty

By CHRIS ROSS San Diego Union-Tribune

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay believes his new cookbook, “Bobby at Home,” is his most important book to date. That’s because it’s a collection of his favorite recipes, the ones he is likely to serve family and friends when he’s at home.

As well as being a chef and restaurateur, Flay has been host or star of 14 TV shows on the Food Network and Cooking Channel, among them “Boy Meets Grill,” “Throwdown With Bobby Flay” and “Beat Bobby Flay.”

He says that when people ask him what he does to relax when he’s not working, they often seem surprised to learn that what he does is cook. But it’s a very different style than when he’s working in one of his restaurants or competing on TV. “At home, it’s a pace that’s steady but focused, and where the food is always abundant and served family-style,” he writes in the book’s introduction.

Flay says this meatless main dish is hearty enough to please

meat lovers as well as vegetarians. His pasta of choice for this is tortiglioni (similar to rigatoni but larger and with deeper, spiral grooves), but he says rigatoni and fettuccine would also work well.

EGGPLANT BOLOGNESE Serves 4 to 6 6 baby eggplants, or 1 large globe eggplant ½ cup olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 large Spanish onion, finely diced 2 medium carrots, finely diced 1 small celery stalk, finely diced 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped to a paste with the side of a chef’s knife and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ to ½ teaspoon Calabrian chile flakes, depending on how spicy you like it 1 cup dry red wine 2 (28-ounce) cans plum tomatoes, with their juices 1 teaspoon sugar ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Peel half the skin from the eggplants in 1-inch sections (so the eggplant looks striped). Slice each eggplant crosswise into ½-inch-thick rounds and cut each round into ½-inch dice.

Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large saute pan over high heat until it begins to shimmer.

Add half the eggplant, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring continuously, until the eggplant takes on some color and becomes soft, about 5 minutes. Spread the eggplant on a baking sheet in an even layer.

Add 3 tablespoons of the oil to the pan and repeat with the remaining eggplant.

Transfer the eggplant to the oven and bake until very soft, turning once, about 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a Dutch oven over high heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery and cook, stirring often, until soft, about 5 minutes.

Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the chile flakes and

cook for 30 seconds more.

Stir in the wine and bring to a boil. Cook until the liquid has completely reduced, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juices and the sugar and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the tomatoes begin to soften and break down, about 15 minutes.

Using a potato masher, coarsely mash the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened, about 20 minutes more.

Fold the eggplant, basil and oregano into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Use immediately, or let the bolognese cool to room temperature, transfer to an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Serve with tortiglioni (or your favorite pasta).

Recipe courtesy of “Bobby at Home”

by Bobby Flay, Stephanie Banyas and Sally Jackson. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Bobby Flay’s “Bobby at Home.” Clarkson Potter/Amazon

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C4 - Saturday - Sunday, December 28-29, 2019

Books & authors

Investigating a famous study about the line between sanity and madness

By JENNIFER SZALAI New York Times

Books about mental illness often reflect on how reality is experienced.

In addition to the standard questions — What do we know, and how do we know it? — is another layer of inquiry: What do we know about our own minds, and what if it isn’t true?

In her first book, “Brain on Fire,” Susannah Cahalan described her horrifying experience of presenting symptoms of mental illness that looked like schizophrenia but turned out to be an autoimmune disease. She eventually received the treatment she needed, but the tortuous ordeal disrupted her assumptions about the medical profession and her sense of self.

Her next project promised to be straightforward by comparison: She would use her skills as an investigative journalist to write about somebody else — a scientist and his pathbreaking study.

In 1973, psychologist David Rosenhan published “On Being Sane in Insane Places” in the journal Science, helping to upend the field of psychiatry. He had recruited healthy volunteers to feign symptoms of mental illness and get admitted to hospitals, thereby showing how easily “sane” people could get institutionalized by a profession that had enormous confidence in its diagnoses and had accumulated a vast amount of power. Cahalan decided to track down these volunteers, or “pseudopatients.” She had landed on a puzzle that seemed to be missing only a few pieces.

What she unearthed turned out to be far stranger, as documented in her absorbing new book, “The Great Pretender.” It’s the kind of story that has levels to it, only instead of a townhouse it’s more like an Escher print. On one level: a profile of Rosenhan and his study. On another: Cahalan’s own experience of researching the book. And on a third: the fraught history of psychiatry and the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

Rosenhan’s paper has been one of the most reprinted and cited papers in psychiatric literature. An antipsychiatry movement was growing throughout the 1960s, promoted by books like Thomas Szasz’s “The Myth of Mental Illness” and Erving Goffman’s “Asylums”; what Rosenhan’s experiment provided was a reassuring buttress, Cahalan writes, of “scientific certainty.”

His influence was real and lasting. Psychiatric hospitals closed, while an embarrassed profession tried to reinvent itself, eventually overhauling its diagnostic manual.

Gone were the fuzzy psychoanalytic references, which were replaced by a more biological and standardized approach.

If it hadn’t been for the doctor who identified the inflammation in her brain that was masquerading as a mental illness, Cahalan, like Rosenhan’s volunteers, might have been swept “inside our broken mental health system.”

But this isn’t just a case of a journalist uncovering the details of an important story; Cahalan was intrigued by Rosenhan’s study because it resonated with her own experience. Reading “On Being Sane in Insane Places,” she realized that the pseudopatients were like her “mirror image”; if it hadn’t been for the doctor who identified the inflammation in her brain that was masquerading as a mental illness, Cahalan, like Rosenhan’s volunteers, might have been swept “inside our broken mental health system.”

So she set out to find the eight volunteers, all of them unnamed in the paper and identified only by pseudonyms in Rosenhan’s notes. She soon learned that the pseudopatient named “David Lurie” was Rosenhan

Washington Post

THE BEST BOOKS OF 2019

FICTION

“BLACK LEOPARD, RED WOLF”

By Marlon James (Riverhead) Inspired by African mythology, James, a Booker Prize winner, turns a motley group’s quest to find a missing boy into a fastpaced, fantastical adventure. These contentious companions explore a hyper-violent world of lush jungles, cities in the sky and dark forests, and they confront a catalog of creatures: ferocious trolls, giant bats and a bloodsucking fiend made entirely of flies. Clearly, Hollywood special effects are still playing catch-up with the magic our very best writers can spin.

“GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER”

By Bernardine Evaristo (Black Cat) The co-winner of the 2019 Booker Prize (alongside Margaret Atwood’s “The Testaments”) is composed of novella-length chapters that draw us deep into the lives of a dozen women in Britain of various

himself, who died in 2012, after a series of debilitating strokes. She eventually met with two other volunteers.

Only one of them was included in the study; the second was excluded for having “falsified aspects of his personal history,” Rosenhan wrote.

As Cahalan would learn, though, this volunteer was excluded for a very different reason. “HE LIKES IT,” Rosenhan wrote in his notes, clearly incredulous. The volunteer had been admitted into psychiatric care during a difficult time in his life and found himself benefiting from what he described as a supportive environment. Rosenhan had a story to tell about miserable institutions that abused their power, and here was a data point that would have complicated such an unremittingly

grim portrait.

But there was more. Rosenhan apparently falsified parts of the paper itself. Some of it looked like carelessness, or sloppy note-taking, but Cahalan also caught him “filling in gaps with outright fabrications.” She obtained the record of Rosenhan’s admission to Haverford State Hospital in 1969 and was taken aback by the difference between what the admitting physician recorded and Rosenhan’s version in his paper.

“The Great Pretender” reads like a detective story, with Cahalan revealing tantalizing clues at opportune moments so we can experience the thrills of discovery alongside her.

Her voice is warm and often charming, though she has a weakness for whimsical asides — “take that, oncology!” — and at one point describes Rosenhan’s son as “the kind of teddy-bear man you can’t help but hug.” But such amiability was probably what got some reluctant sources to talk. One man sent her some crucial information while he was in the last stages of pancreatic cancer; another source agreed to an interview at her nursing home just before her 100th birthday. Without Cahalan’s intrepid reporting, the truth of Rosenhan and his paper might have been lost.

Cahalan calls Rosenhan’s willful distortions “infuriating,” faulting him for having “missed an opportunity to create something three-dimensional, something a bit messier, but more honest.” She’s right. But if Rosenhan had published something less sweeping and more subtle, chances are it would have been forgotten while louder voices stole the show. By 1973, the American public was already primed to believe the more extreme story he set out to tell. His paper garnered so much attention precisely because its clear-cut anti-establishment narrative aligned so neatly with the antiestablishment times.

In the end, Cahalan treads a delicate line between condemning Rosenhan and forgiving him; for all his exaggerations and outright falsehoods, she says, “I believe that he exposed something real.” “The Great Pretender” shows Rosenhan and his paper for what they are, but it also shows us something else. Pretensions to certainty can be seductive, eking out a temporary tactical advantage, but their victories are often brittle. Once the veneer of impermeability gets cracked, it “breeds an anti-science backlash born of distrust,” Cahalan writes.

Instead of arrogance, her book counsels humility. As one Oxford psychiatrist haltingly puts it: “I think we should be honest about — acknowledge how limited our understanding is.”

backgrounds and experiences. As the novel progresses, their connections accrue gradually, allowing us moments of understanding spiked with surprise. Evaristo skillfully weaves these tales together, creating a breathtaking symphony of black women’s voices, a clear-eyed survey of contemporary challenges that is nevertheless wonderfully lifeaffirming.

“ON EARTH WE’RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS”

By Ocean Vuong (Penguin Press) This debut novel by a Saigon-born poet is labeled fiction but draws heavily on the events of the author’s life. The daring mix of historical recollection and sexual exploration is framed as a candid letter to the narrator’s mother, a volcanic woman whose life was made possible by the Vietnam War. (Her father was a U.S. soldier.) Vuong’s willingness to solve the equation of his own existence, no matter its components, is a hallmark of this poignant and lyrical work of self-discovery.

“STRANGERS AND COUSINS”

By Leah Hager Cohen (Riverhead)

The tale of a quirky family planning a wedding in a tumble-down house contains all the promise of an arthritic rom-com, but, as masterfully told

by Cohen, it’s an absolute delight infused with the most pressing concerns of our era. The story expands to look at a historical tragedy and a current battle over an influx of ultra-Orthodox Jewish residents in the surrounding town. Cohen takes comedy seriously, and it shows in this disarmingly substantive story that’s funny, tender, provocative and wise.

“THE TOPEKA SCHOOL”

By Ben Lerner (Farrar Straus Giroux) Here is that all-too-rare masterpiece: a svelte big novel.

Lerner does what only great novelists can, which is explore the condition of the whole country in the particular story of a few characters in a small town. Lerner takes us back to Kansas in the 1990s where a high school debate team star

and his mother, a psychotherapist, contend with the increasingly toxic language that passes for civil discourse in America.

NONFICTION

“THE YELLOW HOUSE”

By Sarah M. Broom (Grove) Broom’s stirring memoir, the winner of the 2019 National Book Award for nonfiction, is set in New Orleans East, a part of the city that tourists don’t visit. The yellow house of the title, Broom’s family home, is the pride, hope and prison of a black, working-class family. After it is destroyed during Hurricane Katrina, it also becomes a symbol of the issues confronting us today: pernicious racism, corporate greed, displacement and the improbable arithmetic of survival as a member of the working poor.

“FALTER: HAS THE HUMAN GAME BEGUN TO PLAY ITSELF OUT?”

By Bill McKibben (Henry Holt) With 1989’s “The End of Nature,” McKibben was among the first to alert the public to climate change. His latest book is a sprint through what

Weekly best-sellers Tribune News Service

Here are the best-sellers for the week that ended Saturday, Dec. 14.

HARDCOVER FICTION 1. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Charlie Mackesy. HarperOne 2. The Guardians. John Grisham.

Doubleday 3. Strange Planet. Nathan W. Pyle.

Morrow Gift 4. Criss Cross. James Patterson. Little, Brown 5. The Institute. Stephen King. Scribner 6. A Minute to Midnight. David Baldacci.

Grand Central 7. Blue Moon. Lee Child. Delacorte 8. Twisted Twenty-Six. Janet Evanovich.

Putnam 9. The Dutch House. Ann Patchett. Harper 10. The Testaments: The Sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale. Margaret Atwood. Nan A. Talese

HARDCOVER NONFICTION 1. The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier. Ree Drummond. Morrow 2. Guinness World Records 2020.

Guinness World Records 3. How Not to Diet: The Groundbreaking Science of Healthy, Permanent Weight Loss. Michael Greger. Flatiron Books 4. Me. Elton John. Holt 5. Becoming: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice. Michelle Obama.

Clarkson Potter 6. Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers.

Brian Kilmeade. Sentinel 7. Pokemon Sword & Pokemon Shield: The Official Galar Region Strategy Guide: Collector’s Edition. The Pokemon Company International. Pokemon Company International 8. The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience. Hillary Rodham Clinton/Chelsea Clinton. Simon & Schuster 9. I Really Needed This Today. Hoda Kotb.

Putnam 10. Talking to Strangers. Malcolm Gladwell. Little, Brown

MASS MARKET 1. Silent Night. Danielle Steel. Dell 2. The 13-Minute Murder. James Patterson. Vision 3. Running Scared. Lisa Jackson. Zebra 4. Bloody Trail of the Mountain Man. William W. Johnstone. Pinnacle 5. The House Next Door. James Patterson. Grand Central 6. Christmas With You. Nora Roberts.

Silhouette 7. Tom Clancy: Oath of Office. Marc Cameron. Berkley 8. Winter’s Proposal. Sherryl Woods.

Mira 9. Their Perfect Match. Debbie Macomber. Mira 10. You Don’t Own Me. Mary Higgins Clark. Pocket Books

TRADE PAPERBACK 1. The Ultimate Instant Pot Cookbook: Foolproof, Quick & Easy 800 Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners. Simon Rush 2. The Overstory. Richard Powers.

Norton 3. No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference. Greta Thunberg. Penguin 4. Every Breath. Nicholas Sparks. Grand Central 5. The Great Alone. Kristin Hannah. Griffin 6. Before We Were Yours. Lisa Wingate.

Ballantine 7. The Cornwalls Vanish. James Patterson. Grand Central 8. The Irishman (movie tie-in). Charles Brandt. Steerforth Press 9. The Old Farmer’s Almanac 2020, Trade Edition. Old Farmer’s Almanac. Old Farmer’s Almanac 10. A Gentleman in Moscow. Amor Towles. Penguin

“KNOW MY NAME” we’ve done to the planet and what we can do about it now.

Determined to keep the words “climate change” from fading into our “mental furniture,” he has gathered the most vivid statistics, distilled history to its juiciest turns and made the case as urgently as can be: Our existence is in jeopardy.

“SAY NOTHING”

By Patrick Radden Keefe (Doubleday) This examination of “the Troubles” in Northern Ireland begins with the 1972 murder of Jean McConville, a widowed mother of 10 suspected of being a British informant. Keefe interweaves her story with the rise of Dolours Price, an Irish Republican Army member who was involved in McConville’s death. With its dual portrait of an obscure victim and a notorious revolutionary, “Say Nothing” is a cautionary tale about the zealotry of youth, the long-term consequences of violence and the politics of forgetting.

By Chanel Miller (Viking) Miller, formerly known as Emily Doe, the sexual assault victim of Brock Turner, deliberately and triumphantly reclaims her story by drawing a clear-eyed portrait of how difficult it is for rape victims to get justice, and how the process serves as its own kind of re-victimization. In haunting prose, Miller documents a broken system, or several, which her book indicts one by one. “Know My Name” is a gut-punch, yes, but also blessedly hopeful.

“A GOOD PROVIDER IS ONE WHO LEAVES”

By Jason DeParle (Viking) A riveting multigenerational tale of one Filipino family dispersing across the globe — from Manila to Abu Dhabi to Galveston, Tex., and so many places in between — as parents leave their kids for years at a time to send home wages many multiples of what they previously earned.

This book provides crucial insight into the individual sacrifices of the migrant experience.

CMYK

Saturday - Sunday, December 28-29, 2019 - C5

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Puzzles Last week’s puzzle answers

Answers on C6

Answers on C6

Answers Next Week

Horoscope

Goren bridge WITH BOB JONES ©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

ASLEEP OR AWAKE? East-West vulnerable, West deals NORTH ♠J ♥ AKJ3 ♦ KQ82 ♣AK52 WEST ♠AQ8 ♥ Q642 ♦ A94 ♣Q74

EAST ♠K6 ♥ 10 8 7 ♦ 10 6 5 ♣ 10 9 8 6 3 SOUTH ♠ 10 9 7 5 4 3 2 ♥ 95 ♦ J73 ♣J

The bidding: WEST 1♣ Pass Pass

NORTH Dbl 2NT 4♠

EAST SOUTH Pass 1♠ Pass 3♠ All pass

Opening lead: Four of ♣ North bid his hand very aggressively. Not many, we believe, would agree with all three of his bids.

Looking at four losers — three top trumps and the ace of diamonds — South went all out. He let the opening club lead run around to

his jack — a good start! He then led a heart to dummy’s jack. He was living the good life. South discarded two diamonds on the ace-king of clubs, then cashed two top hearts, following once and discarding the jack of diamonds on the second.

South was down to only trumps and he liked his chances. East covered the jack of spades from the dummy and South conceded two more trump tricks to claim his contract. North took some time to brag about his bidding.

Could the defense have done better other than by leading the ace of diamonds? Yes! The hand was an open book, or should have been, at the point where South led the jack of spades. Declarer was known to have seven spades and West had to have the ace of spades and probably the queen also. It all came down to West’s third spade. If it was the 10, nine, or eight, the defense could prevail. East should not cover the jack, but rather let it run to West’s queen. East can then ruff a heart as South under-ruffs. A club from East finishes the job. South can ruff high, but West just discards and waits for two more trump tricks.

(Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this paper or tcaeditors@ tribpub.com)

By Stella Wilder Born today, you are never one to measure your success through the eyes of another; rather, you judge your own performance, personally and professionally, according to a scale that is of your own making — and only you will ever know if you are truly satisfying yourself and earning contentment with the work you do. You can enjoy your own company at work, rest or play, and often prefer it over the company of others.

You are multitalented, and though you will surely enjoy tremendous professional success, it is very likely one or two hobbies that will give you the greatest satisfaction in life. Indeed, you are likely to work so that you can afford to play — and you are able to play harder than most others work! Once committed to an endeavor, you will stick to it to the bitter end.

Also born on this date are: Denzel Washington, actor; Dame Maggie Smith, actress; John Legend, singer; Seth Meyers, actor and comic; Woodrow Wilson, U.S. president; Sienna Miller, actress; Nichelle Nichols, actress; Martin Milner, actor; Earl Hines, jazz musician.

To see what is in store for you tomorrow, find your birthday and read the corresponding paragraph. Let your birthday star be your daily guide.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29 CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — You may find yourself making last-minute corrections today — either to your daily schedule or to the actual work being done. Stay on track.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — You require just a little more information today in order to complete a job for someone. When it comes, the pace can surely quicken.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — Staying out of the way of those who would do you harm may prove more difficult than usual today; someone is employing new, unfamiliar

tactics.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — You’ve developed a strategy for dealing with certain recurring problems, and today it will pay off handsomely as you dodge a bullet.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — The more you can accomplish before noon today, the better. Later on, you’ll have reason to delve more deeply into a certain personal issue.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You may be confused about the “how” and the “when,” but you know what needs to be done better than anyone — and why. Spread the word.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — Getting a certain job done today should be as easy as one, two, three — unless you fail to notice that certain someone standing in your way.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — You may be tempted to dig in your heels and insist that the status quo be maintained — and for good reason. You must try another course, however.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — No matter how carefully you’ve planned, you are likely to be disappointed by the way things fall out if you’re unable to be flexible.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — You’re likely to receive many warnings today, but they may prove difficult to decipher. When in doubt, do what you would usually do.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — You may find yourself shackled by responsibility today and unable to engage in that certain flight of fancy. This is a temporary delay.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — It’s a good day to shower those around you with praise and admiration — for they deserve it. You will receive much in return, surely.

COPYRIGHT 2019 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.

CMYK

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

C6 - Saturday - Sunday, December 28-29, 2019

A toast to keep you in the holiday spirit A luxurious (and strong) eggnog recipe to sustain you through this season, and many more

By BECKY KRYSTAL Washington Post

I did not have much FOMO growing up without celebrating Christmas. After all, I could still appreciate the decorations without my family putting them up. There were always Hanukkah presents, so I wasn’t missing out on that. And, heck, we had latkes.

Hard to beat fried potato pancakes.

For some reason, eggnog was one of the only Christmas traditions that really intrigued me. So we would occasionally snag a storebought (booze-free) quart, which almost inevitably was a letdown. I figured I wasn’t missing much.

Oh, how wrong I was. When I was older and finally tried some honest-to-goodness, homemade, alcohol-included nog, I got a little wistful about time lost. No longer! Of course, anyone — regardless of religious or nonreligious affiliation — can partake in the seasonal beverage. And this Deluxe Eggnog is pretty much the ultimate recipe.

As the name promises, it is, indeed, luxurious. Rich with egg yolks and heavy cream and fortified with three types of spirits, it reminded more than one taster of melted ice cream. Nothing wrong with that. We suggest small portions since it is so decadent and strong.

The recipe is a longtime family tradition for the “Joy of Cooking” authors, the classic cookbook that just released a new edition. They recommend letting the egg yolks mingle with the liquor for the full time specified in the recipe; otherwise, “your nog may taste more like a naughty omelet than holiday cheer.”

If you plan to serve the eggnog for the holiday season, start it in advance. While you can enjoy this version in just a few hours, the authors say the flavor only improves with time. Plus, why burden yourself with one more task when things are so busy? Make it ahead and you won’t miss out this year, or ever again.

Deluxe Eggnog. Washington Post/Tom McCorkle

DELUXE EGGNOG Active: 10 minutes Total: 1 hour 10 minutes, plus chilling time 15 servings (makes 7 ½ cups) Recipe notes: This recipe calls for raw egg yolks; if you are concerned about a risk of salmonella, use pasteurized eggs, such as Davidson’s brand. For food safety, the authors caution against reducing the amount of alcohol. If you would like to use less booze, make the eggnog with pasteurized eggs, or follow the variation below for a cooked eggnog.

The egg yolk mixture needs to be refrigerated for 1 hour, and the finished eggnog must be chilled for at least 3 hours. According to the authors, the eggnog will keep in the

Best From C3

coffee, or spiral sliced ham made luxurious with a Champagne glaze, there’s one lasting thing made tangible in each flip through the pages filled with stirring photography. That is: None of us can afford to discount the role African Americans have always had, from the very beginning, in shaping food in regions across the country. — Nneka M. Okona

“LAST CALL: BARTENDERS ON THEIR FINAL DRINK AND THE WISDOM AND RITUALS OF CLOSING TIME”

By Brad Thomas Parsons, Ten Speed Press, $35 James Beard award winning spirits author Brad Thomas Parsons experienced an existential crisis after a revelrous night at a favorite local bar.

Who among us hasn’t? Parsons and photographer Ed Anderson though visited more than 80 bars and bartenders across the country, posing the question, “What is the last thing you’d want to drink before you die?” Illuminating answers and shadowed portraits

In “Last Call” by Brad Thomas Parsons, the award-winning spirits author posed this question to bartenders “What is the last thing you’d want to drink before you die?” Ten Speed Press

reveal far more than final drinks. Recipes include three for Negroni, one from Lost Lake’s Shelby Allison, co-owner of the lovely Tiki bar in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago. Now the challenge is on to raise as many glasses from the book before our final last call. — Louisa Chu

“LET’S MAKE RAMEN! A COMIC BOOK COOKBOOK”

By Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan, Ten Speed Press, $19.99 You’ll find lots of recipes in

refrigerator “indefinitely.” They’ve enjoyed some batches for up to a year.

The recipe doubles easily.

Ingredients 6 large egg yolks 2 cups (8 ounces) confectioners’ sugar 1 cup light rum 1 quart heavy cream or half-and-half 1 cup cognac or Asbach brandy ½ cup orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau Freshly grated nutmeg, for garnish In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with a whisk until light in color.

Gradually whisk in the confectioners’ sugar and then the rum. Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator and let it rest there, uncovered, for 1

this comic book cookbook by Hugh Amano and illustrator Sarah Becan, but the format really comes in handy when explaining the vast and often confusing world of ramen. Don’t know your shio from shoyu?

The cookbook breaks down the differences with easy-to-follow illustrations. Wondering why tonkotsu ramen often leaves you in a “pork fat-induced stupor”? The book has a cartoon version of Ivan Orkin, the celebrated ramen restaurateur, tell you why. Even if you never make your own ramen, you’ll better understand what goes into a great bowl. — Nick Kindelsperger

“MY MEXICO CITY KITCHEN”

By Gabriela Camara, Lorena Jones Books, $35 Gabriela Camara is the chef at Contramar, an acclaimed seafood-focused restaurant in Mexico City, so it’s no surprise that here you’ll find the recipe for that restaurant’s iconic tuna tostada. But the bulk of the book focuses on the kind of approachable home cooking that you could do any day of the week. Inside you’ll find humble yet satisfying dishes from softboiled egg tacos to a classic tinga de pollo. Don’t miss the salsa section. I think I’ve made the dead simple salsa verde cruda at least five times in the past couple of months. — N.K.

“POK POK NOODLES:

hour to dispel the eggy taste.

Whisking constantly, add the heavy cream or half-and-half, cognac and orange liqueur. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 3 hours.

Serve, garnishing each cup with freshly grated nutmeg.

VARIATION: To make cooked eggnog, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar in a large bowl. In a large saucepan, heat 2 cups of the heavy cream over medium-low until steaming. While whisking, slowly add about half of the hot cream to the egg yolks. Then slowly pour the mixture back into the saucepan, stirring constantly. Cook, stirring, until the mixture thickens a little and reaches a temperature of 175 degrees. Do not overheat or the mixture will curdle. Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the

remaining 2 cups of heavy cream.

Strain, cool completely and chill until cold. Stir in the rum, cognac and orange liqueur. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving.

The nutritional analysis is based on ½-cup servings, using heavy cream.

Nutrition | Calories: 390; Saturated Fat: 16 g; Cholesterol: 165 mg; Sodium: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 15 g; Protein: 1 g.

Adapted from “Joy of Cooking” by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, Ethan Becker, John Becker and Megan Scott. Scribner, 2019.

rutabaga. Essays open each is still cooking for the Fillmore RECIPES FROM THAILAND AND BEYOND” chapter, then buying, stor- and the Mission neighborBy Andy Ricker with JJ Goode, Ten Speed Press. $35 As the name suggests, chef Andy Ricker (owner of Pok Pok Restaurants in Portland, Oregon) focuses just on Thai noodle dishes here, with the bulk going to noodle soups.

And the recipes work. One sip of the kyaytiaw muu naam sai (noodle soup with pork) and it felt like I was back in Thailand slurping loudly and sweating profusely from adding too much phrik naam som (vinegar-soaked chiles) in the bowl. While nearly every recipe features subrecipes, most of these are relatively simple to prep. Plus, most will happily hang out in your fridge for a few days, so you can recreate the same noodle soup the next day in just a few minutes. — N.K.

“RUFFAGE: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO VEGETABLES”

By Abra Berens, Chronicle Books, $35 Not until well past the halfway point in her book does Abra Berens mention the word that makes up the title. “You gotta get your ruffage,” she writes, remembering an admonishment from some unnamed person, a parent probably. She wields the phrase to dismiss boring salads, then launches into her love of salads and principles for creating great ones. Eating her vegetables is no chore to the former farmer and now chef, at Granor Farm in southwestern Michigan. Instead, “Ruffage” is a fat, 450-page celebration of vegetables, an instructional tome with 100-plus recipes and myriad flavor variations. It’s broken up into a well-considered pantry section, then the recipes, organized by vegetable, 29 of them, from asparagus to turnips and

ing and prep notes, before the recipes. Berens’ writing style is inviting and true and real; you feel warmly welcomed in these pages. It’s a remarkable book, really, for an untried name in the publishing industry, and it’s a triumph. — J.G.

“VEGETABLES UNLEASHED: A COOKBOOK”

By Jose Andres and Matt Goulding, Anthony Bourdain/ Ecco, $39.99 Jose Andres, the SpanishAmerican chef and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, has had a busy decade, but he’s had help. At the height of his modernist tapas success, Andres and wife Patricia founded World Central Kitchen, serving a hot plate of food when it’s needed most to millions worldwide. This year he and co-author Matt Goulding may help save the world. If you’ve ever wondered what else to do with kale, cauliflower or squash, you’ll find daily inspiration in stunning photographs with every alluring recipe, and stories of friends they call Food Fighters. Start with Andres’ ode to Spanish tortillas, the potato omelettes that feed his soul. — L.C.

“WE ARE LA COCINA: RECIPES IN PURSUIT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM” Chronicle Books, $29.95 More than just a collection of recipes, “We Are La Cocina” is an intimate anthology of stories from alumni of La Cocina (“kitchen” in Spanish), a kitchen incubator that helps women of color and recent immigrants develop food products, restaurants, food trucks and food stall concepts. You’ll find a recipe for rosemary fried chicken from Fernay McPherson, who

hoods in San Francisco, next to a guide to nopales guisados (stewed cactus), from Guadalupe Guerrero, who grew up poor in a small village in Guanajuato, Mexico, and brings a profound dignity to what she calls “poverty food.” You’ll be inspired and moved by this celebration of diverse immigrant cultures and stories — complete with stunning portraits of the chefs — and the food that allows you to experience a piece of them. — G.W.

“WHEN PIES FLY: HANDMADE PASTRIES FROM STRUDELS TO STROMBOLI, EMPANADAS TO KNISHES”

By Cathy Barrow, Grand Central, $30 The curious title almost made us dismiss “When Pies Fly” when it landed this fall. How silly, we thought.

How wrong we were. Barrow, a seasoned and accomplished cookbook author (“Pie Squared” and “Mrs. Wheelbarrow’s Practical Pantry”), delivers again with “When Pies Fly,” a celebration of pastryencased sweet and savory delights. That title? It means the pies need no pan. So we get galettes, hand pies, poppers (her cute name for two-bite pies), empanadas, knishes, strudel and more, plus an innovation borrowed from her mother: framed pies, in which a slab of pastry is built up at the edges with decorative cutouts and fillings piled in.

As unifying gambits go, panless pie feels freeing. And her recipes, while quite exacting at times, pay off on the promise.

The cheeseburger hand pies had flaky pastry like I’d never had before. — J.G.