Author name: Peg Johnston

HANCOCK DRONE RESISTER JACK GILROY RELEASED FROM JAMESVILLE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

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Jack Gilroy, 79, of Endwell, NY, was released from Jamesville Correctional
Facility on November 28.  Gilroy, a former high school teacher and long-time
peace and justice activist, was convicted in the Town of DeWitt Court this
past July.
 
Gilroy was sentenced to three months by Judge Robert Jokl after
Gilroy and 30 others did a “die-in” outside the main gate of the 174th
Attack Wing of the NYS Air National Guard at Hancock Air Base just outside
Syracuse.
 
The nonviolent action followed a peaceful, solemn funeral procession
to Hancock from which MQ9 Reaper robotic aircraft are piloted (via satellite)
in Afghanistan killing many civilians and violating international law.
 
Gilroy and others’ message to the Hancock chain of command: STOP THE
KILLING!  Prosecutor Timothy Frateschi declared at Gilroy’s sentencing,
“Mr. Gilroy is a criminal. He shows no remorse for his actions.”
 
Upon release last Friday, Gilroy said he was not “corrected” at the
Jamesville Correctional Facility and that any remorse he has is for the
district attorney’s office and the DeWitt judges who “just don’t get it.”
 
NOTE: At 4 pm Wednesday,  December 3 Judge Jokl will sentence Mark Colville,
a Catholic Worker from New Haven, CT, for also protesting the Hancock
Reaper drone killings. ###

 

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Bob Johnston Photography Show and Competition Returns in January 2015

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4th BOB JOHNSTON MEMORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW AND COMPETITION
SPONSORED BY Cooperative Gallery 213 and the Two Rivers Photography Club
January 2 – 31st, 2015

The Cooperative Gallery 213 and the Two Rivers Photography Club are sponsoring the 4th Bob Johnston Photography Show and Competition January 2-31st, 2015. “This is one of our most popular shows at the Cooperative Gallery,” according to Peg Johnston. “It speaks to how many great photographers we have in this area and their desire to share their art.” It is an open themed Photography Show and Competition and all photographic media and all photographers are eligible to enter. Photographs will be judged by a local professional photographer.

The Competition is named for Bob Johnston, a lifelong photographer and a gallery member who died in 2010. “Bob Johnston was an ‘Ansell Adams’ kind of photographer who worked mostly in black and white film and favored both urban and natural landscapes,” said Bill Gorman, also a photographer and member of the Cooperative Gallery. Johnston’s work was also featured in his daughter Peg’s recent “Binghamton: a Photographic Memoir.” This fourth Exhibit is a tribute to his photography. Bob Johnston defined a good photo this way: “For me, the successful photograph is one in which both the abstract elements and the subject matter of the image reinforce each other to provide an emotional experience for the viewer.”

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Each entrant may submit up to 3 photos with an entry fee of $10 each. The open themed show will be judged and cash prizes will be given for Best in Show and two Judge’s Choice photos one each in Color and Black and White. Photos may be sold and the standard 20% commission will be paid to the gallery. All photos must be framed and ready to hang. Two non-adhesive labels must accompany each entry with Title, Name of Photographer, Medium, Price using Arial 14 pt type on a label no larger than 2” X 3” (labels in envelope attached to wire is recommended). In addition, name and complete contact information must be affixed to the back of each photo.

Submissions may be dropped off at the Cooperative Gallery 213 State St. Binghamton NY on Saturday, December 27, 2014 1-3 pm or Sunday, December 28th 6-8 pm. Photos may be picked up Sun. Feb 1st 2-5 pm and Monday Feb 2nd 3-6 pm. Contact info@cooperativegallery.com or ggould@binghamton.edu (607) 7757-0499 for more information.

Prizes and cash awards for the winners will be announced at First Friday, January 2nd at 7 pm at a reception for the artists. The Cooperative Gallery 213 is regularly open Fridays 3-9 pm and Saturdays 12-4 pm; there may be additional events announced.

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Vote Smart Could Transform Voting Decisions

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Citizens have got to know about Project Vote Smart, a non-partisan group of students and volunteers from all over the country who have put together a massive factual database on politicians.

Vote Smart gathers the voting records, biographies, public statements (issue or even key word searchable), issue positions, who gives candidates money, even the ratings done by over 200 competing special interests on every candidate and official. They make it so you don’t need to listen to all the self-serving nonsense of campaigns anymore.

You can get just the facts on Vote Smart's web site (votesmart.org) or even call them on their toll-free Voter’s Research Hotline (1-888-VOTE-SMART) and one of their researchers will look up anything you need to know.

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Local Photographer Wins Four National Prizes

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"Nancy Basmann, a Certified Professional Photographer, won four awards at the International Photographic Competition 2014 sponsored by Professional Photographers of America.  Of the nearly 5000 competition entries, 36% went into the General Collection and 18% into the prestigious Loan Collection of PPA.   Basmann’s “Jivin’”, “Call Waiting”, and “Route 66" are in the General Collection and “If only wishing could make it so” is in the Loan Collection (Volume XVII, Marathon Press).   The images will be on display at the International Photographic Exhibition, Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 1-3, 2015, where Basmann will be honored as a Silver Medallist for her accomplishments in photography."  
————————————–
Primary Sources
(1) A panel of 45 eminent jurors from across the United States selected the top photographs from nearly 5,000 total submitted entries at Gwinnett Technical College in Georgia. Judged against a standard of excellence, just over 1,800 images were selected for the General Collection and 918 (roughly 18 percent) were selected for the esteemed Loan Collection—the best of the best. The Loan Collection images will all be published in the much-anticipated "Loan Collection" book … published … by Marathon Press.
 

Photo credit: Basmann, Nancy "Call Waiting" Vestal, NY UNITED STATES

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At Long Last! Painting in the Parking Ramp

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After two months twiddling our thumbs, the painting of a series of murals depicting the "Birthplace of Virtual Reality" in the Water St. Parking Ramp next to Boscov's, the Dept of Public Art is ready for volunteers to tackle several jobs. "We are looking for all kinds of help, from painting stairs to cutting stencils, to advanced air brush technique," says Shawna "Pepper" Stevenson of the DPA. The weekends of Sept 13-14 and 27-28th and another weekend in October are designated although mural painting may continue on other days. Please sign up to volunteer here www.tinyurl.com/DPAVolunteers.

The Project, which has received funding from the Chenango Co. Arts Council and the Hoyt Foundation, documents the unique history of this location in Binghamton where the "building blocks of virtual reality" were invented, according to Susan Sherwood of the Center for Technology and Innovation, who researched the site. 

1. The Bundy Manufacturing Co. (1893-1906) stood at 183-185 Water St., and became the International Time Recording Co (1906-7) and eventually IBM, which, of course, manufactured some of the first computers.

2. The Automatic Musical Co. (1907-14) took over the site to manufacture player pianos, which were robotic innovations.

3. Ed Link, famously, was sitting on the organ bellows at his father’s Link Piano Co. (1914-1933) and got the idea for the Link Flight Simulators (1929, patented 1931) and started Link Aviation and Flying School in that location (1929-34). The Link “blue box” trained WWII pilots.

4. After the devastating floods in 1935 and ’36 the building was not useable and in the late 60’s the Parking Ramp was built in two sections. The American Dance Asylum celebrated the architecture with several performances of the Parking Ramp Dance, which pioneered multi media, video feedback, and dance performances (1978, 1980, 1981, 1984).

COMPUTERS + ROBOTICS + SIMULATION + VIDEO FEEDBACK = VIRTUAL REALITY!!

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FILMMAKER AND BINGHAMTON NATIVE RETURNS HOME TO MAKE HIV/AIDS DOCUMENTARY

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 Film Director Timothy Chaffee, a Binghamton native and son of John Chaffee (long time SUNY Binghamton Professor) and the late Dr. Barbara Chaffee (local HIV/AIDS Doctor and Activist), is returning to Binghamton to create a locally focused and funded documentary on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Binghamton and the surrounding areas. The documentary will focus on the patients, family members, healthcare workers, legislators, and community leaders involved in the 1980/90s outbreak, tracing the long lasting effects of the disease both on a personal and community level.

If you have a story to contribute regarding the subject of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Binghamton, go to the Get Involved section of the website WildGeeseFilms.net  to see how you can participate. Interviews & Testimonials will be handled with the utmost care and sensitivity for every subject’s privacy. 

Says Tim Chaffee, "Because my mother isn’t here to guide me any more, I am reaching out to you – her friends, colleagues, former patients and family of former patients to help me tell this story. Because of the sensitivity around patients with an HIV or AIDS diagnosis (or any medical condition, for that matter), it’s not possible to simply google or knock on doors to find subjects, nor would I want to invade anyone’s privacy without his or her consent. Interviews & Testimonials will be handled with the utmost care and sensitivity for every subject’s privacy.

So I am asking you to come forward if you would like to share your experience. If you feel you have a story about your experience with HIV/AIDS that you are willing to share, or if you were a patient of Dr. Barbara Chaffee’s, or you volunteered, worked for or were a client of the Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP), please contact me. And if you know someone who might have a story they would like to tell me please direct them to this site. It is my hope that together we can tell the story of a community that my mother cared for right up until the very end."

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Mayor David Raises the Rainbow Flag

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Binghamton, NY June 7 2014

It was the 9th Binghamton Pride Flag Raising and a long list of local notables affirmed diversity and LGBTQ people, but Mayor Rich David stole the show, just by showing up. There was some concern that the Republican administration would not be inclusive of the gay community and would decline to continue the tradition of raising the rainbow flag at City Hall. But David's opening remarks spoke of equality, anti-bullying, and an inclusive Binghamton. Across the street from the presentation was a demonstration by local Catholics, in full ritual garb, protesting gay marriage and a lone protester who was taunting the Mayor.

Officials from Kirsten Gillibrand and Gov Cuomo to Assemblywoman Lupardo and City Council members piled on to support the gay community. Donna Lupardo brought people's attention to a bill in the NYS Legislature that would challenge "conversion therapy"  where therapists try to convert LGBTQ people to a straight orientation. Lauren Hering, owner of Merlin's, was the most eloquent in explaining why we need gay pride. The speech is reproduced in the Carousel newspaper and well worth the read.

Additionally, those that sent letters of support or spoke included: Letters from Sen Gillibrand and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli read by Sean Massey; Letter from Gov Cuomo read by Barbara Fiala, DMV Commissioner, and former Broome Co Exec; letter from Eric Schneiderman, read by Ass't AG Aaron Marcus. Two County legislators, Jason Garnar and Tony Fiala spoke, as did two City Councilwomen, Teri Rennia and Leah Webb. Also, Dara Silberstein, Human Rights Commissioner, and organizer of the event and next week's  Pride Palooza (June 14th 12-8 pm), Chris Waters.

To see more images of the event, see the photo gallery on this site (see image galleries tab: "local progressive politics") 

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Binghamton is the Birthplace of Virtual Reality? Really? Volunteers Needed!

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(proposed design by Bruce Greig)

 

Binghamton? Virtual Reality? Yes! Not just Binghamton but 183-185 Water St., the site of the Parking Ramp by Boscov’s, is where the building blocks of VIRTUAL REALITY were developed:

1. The Bundy Manufacturing Co. (1893-1906) stood at 183-185 Water St., and became the International Time Recording Co (1906-7) and eventually IBM, which, of course, manufactured some of the first computers.
2. The Automatic Musical Co. (1907-14) took over the site to manufacture player pianos, which were robotic innovations.
3. Ed Link, famously, was sitting on the organ bellows at his father’s Link Piano Co. (1914-1933) and got the idea for the Link Flight Simulators (1929, patented 1931) and started Link Aviation and Flying School in that location (1929-34). The Link “blue box” trained WWII pilots.
4. After the devastating floods in 1935 and ’36 the building was not useable and in the late 60’s the Parking Ramp was built in two sections. The American Dance Asylum celebrated the architecture with several performances of the Parking Ramp Dance, which pioneered multi media, video feedback, and dance performances (1978, 1980, 1981, 1984).
COMPUTERS + ROBOTICS + SIMULATION + VIDEO FEEDBACK = VIRTUAL REALITY!!

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Off the Wall at Cooperative Gallery in July

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Off the Wall Exhibit in July at the Cooperative Gallery

“We challenge you to take your art off the wall,” say the organizers of the “Off the Wall” Exhibit scheduled for July 3-26, 2014 at the Cooperative Gallery. 3-Dimensional artist are encouraged to “step out” a little with the unusual and 2 dimensional artists must create something on the ceiling, the floor, or 90 degrees from the wall. And also included are video artist, sidewalk artists, and performance artists. Contributors to this show must be members of the gallery ($30/year) and must submit their idea for Off the Wall by May 31st to ensure space availability and appropriate scheduling. Form is attached at . For more information call curators MaryRose at 5eight4-4733 or Judy at 5eight4-4715.

Events: Drop off date is June 29th, 2014
Opening Reception July 3rd 5:30- 8 pm
First Friday Art Walk July 4th 3- 9 pm

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Blueprint Binghamton: Economic Development

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The third in a Bridge series on the Blueprint Binghamton draft of the comprehensive plan. The first mini-plan in the draft Comprehensive Plan is about economic development, which is what more community members said was the most important issue—jobs, jobs, jobs! One of the things that the consultants to the Blueprint were able to do is look at what opportunities exist for Binghamton.

One is location–we are the intersection of three major interstates and three freight railways. Along that intersection, there is an area called “Brownfield Opportunity Area” or “BOA.” Brownfields are industrial lands that have been polluted and are eligible for development. This land along the Brandywine Highway could be the source for job growth. Creating an “Industrial Protection Zone” would gradually encourage the area as industrial with no patches of commercial or residential in between.

Another recommendation that will resonate on First Fridays is: Utilize the arts and heritage tourism to help spur economic development. Yes, let’s make Binghamton a destination for arts and culture more than on the first Friday of the month. Another point is to leverage local institutions like universities and hospitals for local jobs that service these institutions or pop up as a result of their activities.

You can read the Economic Development mini-plan here and be sure to take the survey after each mini-plan. Also visit the Blueprint Binghamton Facebook page.

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