By Eric W. Schoen
Visiting the Catskill Mountains the week before Labor Day, I always remember the weather getting chillier. So chilly that my dad and I, avid swimmers were the only people swimming in the olympic size pool at the Hotel Brickman, one of the the glorious resorts that dotted the region.
The Brickman is one of the only hotels still standing, No longer a resort, the hotel is an ashram, catering to a clientele looking for relaxation in ways other than swimming, dancing, playing Simon Says and eating to your heart’s content.
I was always sad when we left the Brickman on Labor Day around noon. In the morning we enjoyed ‘the last breakfast’ featuring bagels and lox, hot oatmeal, mini pastries, pancakes or French toast and my favorite, chocolate milk. We usually arrived home in time for the end of the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy telethon. Lewis would be emotional singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and I would be emotional knowing that summer was over and school would start in a few short days.
As I write this article, the temperature is 90+ degrees and it looks like summer will be with us a little longer. The Jewish holidays fall early this year (when do they ever fall on time?) and as long as I don’t have to bundle up for synagogue the temperatures really don’t matter to me.
So much going on in our Non Political Universe!
Wait a minute Mr. Postman!
-Have you noticed that your mail delivery has been later lately. Though the Post Office has not officially announced it, that’s the way it is going to be ‘temporarily’ in Southern Westchester.
According to the carriers I have spoken with (I’ve given up trying to reach anyone at the 10701 Post Office via telephone) carriers in the region are starting an hour later at 9 a.m. Versus the standard 8 a.m. It has something to do with a delay when mail arrives at the Post Offices.
As one carrier said to me, the people in charge making the decisions have never delivered a piece of mail. So just a heads up. The mail might arrive a bit late but you still have to pay your bills on time.
-So a friend requested an absentee ballot for the Primary Election from the Board of Elections. The ballot was delivered promptly. He noticed on the return envelope (perish the thought that they would make it easy for voters and include a postage paid envelope) the following:
Affix Sufficient Postage. Unless sufficient postage is affixed to this envelope, it will not be received by the Board of Elections. Inquire at the Post Office as to the amount of postage necessary.
So you are home bound, request an absentee ballot and have to get to the post office to find out the postage required? Or you are rushing to the airport to catch your flight to Europe, and have to find a scale to determine the amount of postage due.
I inquired at the Board of Elections as to why they put that statement on the envelope. They tell me that absentee ballots are mailed all over the world. If one is in Venezuela the postage is different than if you are living on North Broadway in Yonkers. The state Board of Elections requires local Boards to put the postage statement on the return envelope.
My advice. Since most absentees ballots come from within the continental United States, in the printed instructions which are different for every election put specifically what documents should be placeD in the return envelope and what the postage that must be put on the envelope in the continental United States is.
And take off ‘Inquire at the Post Office as to the amount of postage necessary.’ With stamps.com and other services many people never visit the Post Office. These envelopes have language from the days when mail was delivered by horse and buggy!
Hot Topics
-Do you remember several weeks ago when I told you about my friend who opened the door for his newspaper and smelled a strong odor of gas and fortunately called 911 in time as the gas was coming from an apartment where oxygen was being used?
Well, I come out of my apartment last week and the man from Con Edison sees me and asks where the meters are for gas. I tell him I think in the laundry room. I give him access to the laundry room and yes, that’s where the meters are. I ask him what’s going on. He tells me that the folks across the street are complaining about a gas issue.
The Yonkers Fire Department arrives. I ask what is going on. They are there for the gas complaint. Two days later, Con Edison and its’ contractors were still there dealing with the issue.
Moral of the story? Living in an apartment building? Make sure you know the superintendents phone number, the emergency number for the managing agent for your complex, where the gas meters are located, 911 emergency number and the number for Con Edison, 1-800-752-6633. Put that last number in your cell phone contacts as storm season is here and if the lights go out, you don’t want to have to scramble in the dark looking for it!
-If you are flying South West, good news! They will now allow your mini horse to board the plane as a service animal. Remember we are talking about mini horses, not Mr. Ed. In this situation, the opening song for the Mr. Ed Show, ‘a horse is a horse of course of course’ simply does not apply! It’s only mini horses on board! Exceptions for horses that talk!
A touch of Politics (I’m sorry!)
America lost a true statesman with the passing of Senator John McCain. Isn’t it disgusting that there is controversy even before the man’s body is in the ground? They don’t make them like him anymore. And those who refuse to acknowledge his record of service and lower the flags at the White House to half staff should be ashamed of themselves. R-E-S-P-E-C-T is what John McCain and his family deserve!
Primary Day is September 13. I will be voting for Andrea Stewart Cousins to continue her good work in Albany. I hope you will too! I have known Andrea for close to 30 years. Andrea is a breath of fresh air in the cesspool that is Albany!
Don’t get worried if I am MIA occasionally over the next few weeks. Lots going on, all good!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM or download the SIMPLE RADIO app for free from the APP STORE.
