New Save The River Exec. Director? Oh Boy...Another Sunset Wine and Cheese River Cruise!!!

                            The famous wind battle photo taken by Rollin Hanson.  You don't fight this
                             by throwing wine cheese and crackers at it.  You actually have to take
                              a definite stand against it.  Ms. Caddick, the out going Save the
                             River director thought this photo was not credible or was Photoshopped
                             and would hurt WPEG's image.  I had an email debate with her about this
                              photo.I can tell you for FACT it was not Photoshopped.  I know the
                             photographer very well and he did not alter  the picture with software.
                             I also verified this with my own photos that came out exactly the same.

I guess Ms. Caddick never figured out that for STR to not take an opposintion stand against this obvious corporate environmental tax scam that could have huge impacts for the River would also make them not look very credible.

Earlier this year Jennifer Caddick, the executive director of Save the River (STR) announced she would be leaving that position. Her replacement could be very interesting indeed,  if the rumors I hear are correct. More on that in a minute.

Early in the wind debate STR never was willing to take a definitive stance on industrial wind energy in the St. Lawrence Valley.  One more environmental group that was drinking the green wind Kool Aid.  At least until the shocking reports on bird mortality came out from the Wolfe Is. Wind Farm. Of course this was obviously a little after the time the turbines were erected and everyone could see them first hand including Ms. Caddick who has a residence on Linda Is. in Cape Vincent and who would have a nice view of the turbines. I think for some time STR has not had a grasp that the "River" actually starts at Tibbetts Point, not at the head of Grindstone Is or in Clayton!

Around this time STR suddenly had an epiphany that maybe this wind thing was not such a good idea and not so benign and green as they might have liked to believe. They drafted a stronger statement suggesting that towns along the St. Lawrence River should seriously consider a 3 year wind development moratorium to fully understand the impact on the bird and bat populations.  It is my understanding that Mr. Clif Schneider who sits on our CV town board was heavily involved in preparing STR position statement since at that time he was on the STR board.

Interestingly enough Mr. Schneider didn't take his own advice when it came time to pass a wind moratorium in Cape Vincent.  Apparently 7 months was sufficient.  I guess there aren't many birds or bats to worry about in CV. I guess they fly around CV and then go to Wolfe Is.!!! About this time NY AG Cuomo came to town with his investigation, and Mr. Hirschey as town supervisor called a special town board meeting to try to impose a wind moratorium until the ethics mess and investigation were concluded.  I had heard from people close to Hirschey that he was going to ask for a 6 month moratorium.  However I had a phone debate with another person who had help draft STR's new 3 year moratorium.  I was concerned that Hirschey would only go for the 6 months, when I thought he should go for the 3 year moratorium.  It was obvious he was not going to get either because of the conflicted board, but my thought was why not support the STR position, and go for the 3 year moratorium anyhow and make a statement.  The person I was talking to siad they had explained the STR 3 year position to Hirschey and was convinced that Hirschey understood the value and importance of the 3 year period and would support it.  Well that is all history because apparently Mr. Hirschey didn't understand it and never asked for it or even referenced it in an attempt to pass a moratorium at that time. Instead he attempted to pass  his favorite 6 month moratorium which of course failed to pass anyhow.  This makes me wonder how much of this science that everybody is raving about and claims supports the new zoning, Hirschey and the new town board actually understands.

The 3 year moratorium is a good thing but in the end it is one more attempt to have it both ways on the wind issue.  Let's throw up another  study that makes us look responsible but doesn't address the real issues that the damn turbines should even be here, for a lot more reasons than just the bird issues.  STR never said a word about the wide spread visual impacts on the River and Lake.  Of course once you get past Grindstone Is, the turbines are not as visible and STR donors are probably not pressuring STR to take any meaningful stand as long as they can't see them and can still feel all warm and fuzzy and "green"about the environment.

I would think that Barry Freed (political radical Abbie Hoffman) one of the original founders of STR would have clearly been able to identify a corporate tax scam when he saw it and would opposes it.  Apparently STR has lost that ability with sunset river wine cruises and non offensive get togethers, and if the rumors I hear are right it will get even worse.

I have not been able to verify the rumors about the possible new director, but when I can or when it is announced I will surely post on it because it has a DIRECT connection to the Cape Vincent wind battle.