NY Confirms First Case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Horse
Wed., Aug., 3, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM) confirmed the first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, also known as EEE, in an Oneida County, NY horse. The nine-year-old mare there has lived at its current home for several years and had no recent travel history, and was unvaccinated. A NYSDAM press release says, "the presence of an infected horse in the area indicates that mosquitoes carrying EEE are present and pose a threat to both humans and horses." Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets, Darrel J. Aubertine, "urges all horse owners to discuss vaccination against both diseases with their veterinarian," according to the press release. State Veterinarian David Smith added that any horse exhibiting neurologic problems should always be handled with great caution. The risk of physical injury to handlers is greater when horses are unsteady on their feet and also rabies needs to be ruled out as a cause of the symptoms.

GOP sues to keep Dems out of ballot
W. T. Eckert in the Register-Star reports that the Hudson Republican Committee filed a lawsuit Wed., Aug. 3, against Columbia County Board of Election Commissioners Virginia Martin, Democrat and Jason Nastke, Republican, to stop the Democrats from having a line for mayor on September’s primary ballot. Last month city Democrats failed to file Democratic nominee for mayor Nick Haddad’s petition for the November elections. Democrats have since collected the 92 signatures to for an Opportunity to Ballot and allow Haddad to be a write-in candidate in the Democratic primary on September 13. "Republicans are arguing that the petition is inadmissible because the signatures are duplicates of the ones that appeared on the petition nominating Haddad as the Democratic candidate," Eckert writes. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Saland mailer has Cuomo photo
Republican State Senator Steve Saland, who represents Columbia County in the New York State Senator, just msent a mailer to constituents listing his various accomplishments this last legislative session, and includes a photo of Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo. Saland is now best known for joining Democrats and becoming the 32nd vote in the Senate to pass the same-sex marriage bill in May.

Read All About It!
Carole Osterink in The Gossips of Rivertown blog corrals all the reviews from this weekend's NADA Hudson art fair at Basilica Hudson:
Art Forum: "Upstate, Downstate"

The New York Observer: "NADA Hudson Sent the Art World Up the River"

ARTINFO: "Welcome to Art Country"

The L Magazine: "Photos from This Weekend's First NADA Hudson Art Project"

Art Fag City: "Report from NADA Hudson"