jimblr.com

NEW YORK — Governor David Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced Tuesday that they have directed their staffs to work with Mayor Bloomberg and the New York City OTB to craft a solution that would allow NYC OTB to continue operations.
The Board of Directors of OTB voted in February to cease operations by June 16, 2008, at which date the corporation will be insolvent and the city would be required to infuse cash into it in order to continue to operate. The Governor said that discussions have already commenced among the State, New York City, the Legislature and NYC OTB.
“NYC OTB provides good paying jobs to its 1,500 workers,” said Governor Paterson. “Given the current economic downturn, it is especially important that we take steps to ensure the financial viability of this venture because of the importance of these jobs to these 1,500 families and to the broader economy. In addition, OTBs should generate significant excess funds that local governments can use to provide needed services and reduce property taxes.”
NYC OTB pays out approximately $90 million annually to New York based thoroughbred and harness racing tracks in return for broadcasting live signals of their races at its facilities. In addition, NYC OTB pays approximately $17 million annually in fees and surcharges to New York City and an additional $17 million to New York State.

empirestatenews.net

SLAM heads to Germany
By Jake Appleman
I got a call from Ben almost three weeks ago. Saying that, like a Miller Lite slogan, it was a good call would be like saying that the 50 LeBron dropped on the Knicks was decent.
As it turns out, SLAM and Adidas wanted someone to go to Germany and hang out with the USA under-18 national team at the Albert Schweitzer International tournament, taking place in Mannheim this week. Apparently, I was that guy.
I’m still blown away that this is happening. (Big shout to Mats, Team USA, SLAM, Adidas and anyone else who had a hand in making this happen.) I’ll be flying out tonight and I’ll be at the tournament through its conclusion on Saturday. Then I’ll head elsewhere in Deutschland to meet a lot of extended family for the first time.
(Note: the tournament started on Saturday, but due to other commitments, I wasn’t able to go immediately.)
I’ll be missing the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, which is sort of sad, especially if CBS has Bill Raftery doing games. (Note: Does anybody else want Bill Raftery as their extra surrogate grandfather on thanksgiving? “How are the mashed potatoes coming, grandpa? “They’re good, I added, ONIONS.” “Will we have leftovers?” “brING YOUR LUNCH!”)
Anyway, I’ll miss a few tourney games, but I think I’ll live.
(Note: If this Dirk Nowitzki injury is a German SLAM curse–I did the cover story on Dirk last year and am leaving right after he gets injured and returning shortly before he was originally supposed to come back–then I pass some of the blame to Mark Cuban for not emailing me back. Can’t a guy try and ask a billionaire and his star German for some Hefe-weizen input? I mean, this is about German hops, right?)

slamonline.com

Leonardo DiCaprio attends a promotional event for a bank in Hong Kong in this March 23, 2008, file photo. Environment-conscious actor Leonardo DiCaprio is as good as his word. He’s purchased an apartment in Riverhouse, an eco-friendly building overlooking the Hudson River in Manhattan. The purchase was confirmed on Friday, April 4, 2008, by Christopher Daly, president of Sheldrake Organization, the developer of the Battery Park City complex. Occupancy is slated for this summer. (AP Photo/Tungstar, file)
The environmentally conscious actor has bought an apartment in Riverhouse, an eco-friendly building overlooking the Hudson River.
The purchase was confirmed on Friday by Christopher Daly, president of Sheldrake Organization, the developer of the Battery Park City complex. Occupancy is slated for this summer.
The 264-unit condominium glass tower overlooks the river and a park, and boasts low emission paints, a 24-hour fresh filtered air system, a water treatment facility and rotating solar panels.
DiCaprio seemingly also will have everything at his fingertips. The David Rockwell-designed high-rise features an indoor 50-foot lap pool, media cafe, fitness center, landscaped terrace _ and dog spa.
The building also will house the City Bakery and a branch of the New York Public Library.
DiCaprio has served on the board of directors of the environmental organization Global Green USA. He also owns a hybrid car and had solar panels put on his Los Angeles home.
The 33-year-old actor has won Oscar nominees for “The Aviator” and “Blood Diamond.” He is currently filming “Shutter Island,” directed by Martin Scorsese.
An e-mail sent to his publicist was not immediately returned.
A service of the Associated Press(AP)

auburnpub.com

I’d worked my 33rd St. Patrick’s Day parade and my long journey was over. I hadn’t planned it that way, but with vacation days owed me and leave accrued, that’s the way it worked out.
Recently, I’d asked my friend and expert researcher, Terry Yacona, if she could ascertain when New York City celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a parade for the very first time. I was in for quite a surprise.
Terry’s research took me back a very long way — all the way back to fifth century Ireland and to a Catholic priest named Patrick. Patrick, at that time a Bishop, baptized thousands of people, established churches, ordained priests, converted the poor and the sons of kings, and encouraged women to become nuns. In his letter entitled “Declaration,” he indeed became the heart and soul and voice of the Irish.
But as to when a St. Patrick’s Day parade first arrived in New York City, I was astounded by Terry’s answer. The first recorded parade came 14 years before the signing of our Declaration of Independence. On March 17, 1762, a small group of Irish New Yorkers marched on what is now Barclay and Church streets, where more than 200 years later the Twin Towers would rise. Towers in great part built by Irish-American hands.

read_more