Living in Dryden

Fast trees by RPM

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports in depth on a project I'd heard bits and pieces about: the large-scale tree nursery planned by RPM on Route 13. They're negotiating tax abatements and sorting out permits, but if all goes well they hope to produce 25,000 seedlings a year, using a million gallons of water a day from Virgil Creek and employing 40 to 50 people. They're contemplating a 155-acre parcel next to Willow Glen Cemetery, and would build 20 greenhouses on it and use 72 of those acres. They specialize in producing hardwood trees that grow much faster, as they've figured out how to divert the trees' attention from building huge taproots.

There's also an article on local National Guardsmen deploying to Arizona to work with the Border Patrol.

In state news, Dryden's Assemblywoman and State Senator have opposing views on gay marriage, with Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton supporting and State Senator Jim Seward opposed to marriage but not necessarily to other legal recognition.

Update: A sharp-eyed reader points out that my reading of the Journal article may have lost some nuance for Lifton's position, and she may only support civil unions. They wrote:

When asked if she believed a compromise could be reached, possibly modeled after Vermont's decision to allow civil unions, Lifton said that it is the state government's responsibility to make sure all New York citizens have the same rights.

“That's the compromise I support,� she said....

Lifton said that equal marriage rights was already a legislative issue, calling to attention a bill authored by fellow assemblywoman Deborah Glick, D-66th District, that, if passed, would grant civil unions to everyone in the state, treating everyone the same. Lifton supports the measure.

Lifton also reaffirmed her stance on equal protection under the law.

I read "the same rights" as including "the right to get married," but I may not be correct about that.

Construction on the road from McLean to Cortland will be delayed as the contractor shifts to flood repairs elsewhere. The Journal calls McLean-Cortland Road Route 366, but I thought it was pretty clear that NY 366 ends in Freeville.

Darts and Laurels includes a long laurel to supporters of the Dryden Senior All-Night Extravaganza (SANE):

LAUREL: The parent committee of Dryden's Class of 2006 would like to thank the following businesses for their generous contributions toward our Senior All Night Extravaganza (SANE Party): A-1 Restaurant, AC Moore, Agway of Dryden, Arnold's of Dryden, Back to Basics Bulk Foods, Best Buy, Borders, Borg Warner, Cynthia Elberty DDS, CFCU, Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Cornell Dairy Store, CP Cash&Carry, Creative Touch Salon, Dryden Apartment Company, Dryden Family Medicine, Dryden Mutual Insurance, Dryden Teachers' Center, Family Practice Associates of Dryden, Dryden Wine and Spirits, F&T Distributing, First National Bank of Dryden, Frito-Lay (Chris Mott), George Bailey Insurance, Harford Glen Water, Inc., Holy Smoke Fireplace and Chimney, Ithaca College, Ithaca Produce, Ithaca PBA, Ithaca YMCA, Kinney Drug Store, Kwik Fill/Red Apple, Laser Tag of Ithaca, McDonald's of Dryden, Mobil Express Mart, V.C. McGregor & Sons, Mix Brothers, P & C, Papa John's Pizza, Price Chopper, Shear Visions, SUNY at Cortland, The Roadhouse Pub and Grub, Todi's, TC3 and College Now, Tompkins Trust Company, Tops Market, Wal-Mart, Wegmans, West Shore Apartment Company and the community members that took part in our fund raisers. The parents of the Class of 2006 put their hearts into organizing this event and a great time was had by all!