The weather sort of cooperated. It was threatening to rain most of the time, but held off when we needed it to -- for grilling and eating dinner on the patio and fireworks, for instance. They had been so impressed by Jamestown's Labor Day fireworks display two years ago, that they were expecting big things. Jamestown doesn't do fireworks for the 4th of July, but most of the lakeside communities do, and there is the tradition of "lighting the lake" with a ring of flares along the shoreline. So we decided to see it all from the vantage point of the rest stop off I-86, with its million dollar view overlooking the lake. It's a popular spot, and the atmosphere was festive with people staking out their spots with blankets and lawn chairs on the hillsides, while kids adorned with glow sticks ran off their end-of-the-day energy. Logan watched them for awhile, and then decided he wanted to lie down and roll down the hill. The whole thing wasn't as impressive as the "right there" effect of fireworks in Baker Park, but it sufficed.
Since he was asleep before we got back home, he missed seeing the large deer standing in our neighbor's yard (on her way up the street to eat my lilies, no doubt)--and he very much wanted to see "animals" while he was here! Well, he got his wish when the whole family took a walk around the neighborhood at 6 am (having young children means you wake up early) and saw the whole herd on their way back into the woods after a night of gourmet dining in residential gardens.
The play tent and bean bag game we had picked up at a garage sale last year were big hits, and so was the Fisher Price dollhouse (another garage sale find, intended for the church nursery, but I hadn't taken it there yet). Grandpa also introduced Logan to the gyroscope, the plasma globe, and the card game of War. We apparently passed the entertainment test. And of course we topped it off with a visit to Peterson's Candies, because grandparents must do what parents frown upon!
The college community gardens are also looking wonderful, but the deer damage is apparent in some of the beds (thank goodness I covered mine with the bird netting to discourage them) and the fence has still not been installed.
I'm glad you enjoyed the Labor Day Fest fireworks in the past! 4th of July is tricky around here since the best ones are in Mayville and it's soooooooo crowded there. We did something similar to you guys and watched them on the Lake at a friend's house. Everything was remote, but relaxing.
ReplyDeleteI think the reason why there isn't more solar initiatives around Jamestown (city proper) itself is because the BPU is a municipal power plant. Now, I might be getting this wrong because I asked the question about solar a little while ago but as I understand it, because the power plant is publicly owned it doesn't contribute to the NYSERDA fund that then gets distributed to customers who do energy-saving upgrades (windows, solar, appliances, etc.). The BPU has had to set up its own rebate program for the doors/windows/etc. so that it could offer residents SOMETHING. I don't the costs to them to set up something that solar customers could take part in. Also, I'm not sure if because city residents get municipal power if that affects their ability to claim other tax credits. I will try to remember to ask one of the folks I know at the BPU about this and get back to you :)
We've had this discussion with them, because we want to put solar panels on our roof. We're not satisfied with the reasons why not, but we figure they'll have to go that way eventually. In the long run, they benefit from the energy being fed into their system... Unless they wait too long and the technology for smaller (say, neighborhood) off-grid systems becomes more reliable and affordable, and their customer base begins to shrink.
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