" Last year while in Auburn we took our daughter to the Tubman home and the grave--prior to going we bought her a book about Harriet to read on the drive-she loved the kids movie there all about her!
We strolled thru some of the cemetary-I hadnt done that in years. It down-poured that visit-so we hope to walk thru more of it on the next visit.

I do feel the eeriness at Ft.Hill much more than St. Josephs. "

" At some point, this Tubman has to be put to rest. Is this the Naacp requesting this or what. Auburn has a street named after her, tubman, whatever it's called, across from the police station. WHAT do they want? If you speak up against it, you are racist, BS! "

" I understand what you're saying Brew, and I guess I wasn't as clear as I could have been. I wasn't really referring to the state's administration of the program per se, but all the administrative costs everywhere else, which did not / has not changed a bit. I have heard figures of 40-60% of medical costs are a direct result of these. The insurance industry is part of the problem, as is the health care itself. "

" I love Fort Hill cemetary -- it is gorgeous. If you stand there in winter or later fall or early spring, when the leaves are off the trees, you can look out over the city and get an idea of what it was once like in its glory days.

It upsets me to see the vandalism and other desecrations by SOTS -- I won't even mention the name here, as I get this sort of superstitious "bad-juju" feeling about it.

One time, I went with my then-husband to have photos of myself taken there wearing a black 1940s hat and dress -- I thought it the perfect setting and still use that picture on my website. We thought we'd try one more shot, in front of a crypt with a nifty black wrought-iron fence -- but there was a little box lined with cloth with a dead bat which had clearly been "sacrificed" and left as some kind of offering, or threat or something.

I have no respect for the sickos who make that lovely place a bad place.

There have been past crimes associated with the place -- wasn't there a statuatory rape trial which got thrown out on the grounds that their "religious" beliefs were brought into things?

Then there was the time someone broke into a crypt (the one below where the worst vandalism has been done, not far from the Seward site, and near the char-burned cross) and someone stole the skull of a woman buried there named Lydia? I believe the skull was later recovered from someone's home. But everyone knows that the crow lady's name is Lydia, and she loves that cemetary more than anyone and has been at serious odds with the sickos for years -- I think the stealing of that particular skull was a threat towards her, IMHO.

Logan is not buried there, and I seem to recall some minor scandal associated with the story, like he wasn't really what people think he is, or he didn't actually do what he's credited with having done, or some such, though I confess -- I have only the most vague idea that I heard such a thing and may be wrong. Anyone know the story on that one?

Still, Fort Hill Cemetary on a brisk and sunny day in the fall when the leaves are all colors is one of the nicest places ever to be. "

" Maggie,
"Is there anyone who will mourn for Logan" That's what it says. He was a native chief that had his family or some of his family murdered. He went out to avenge them. I think he was tried and sentenced to death. That is from recalling memory, but I am sure someone can verify or amend my statement. Fort Hill was creepy at night. I've been through St. Joseph's and never felt that way. "

" There is a Tubman Drive or Lane in Auburn. I believe it is off of Richardson Ave.
I, too, am one of those people who grew up with Fort Hill cemetary in their back yard. The cemetary was not creepy. As kids we were in there a lot, not doing any damage but wandering around and reading grave stones. I can show you where Harriet Tubman is burried along with Seward, Case and Chief Logan, although I am not quite sure exactly what Logan did. It's a shame to drive through the cemetary now, they don't take care of it like they used to. "

" The first three years are the hardest for a teacher. After that most use the same lesson plan and tests year after year. Starting pay is over $37,000 per year.Average teacher makes over $54,000 pey year. Many are making over $70,000 per year. They will retire with at least half pay and full medical. Show me all the private job sector jobs that have those benefits. The people who make $30,000 or less with little or no benefits are supporting the school system who never has enough $$$$.
I don't really have a problem with teachers who teach, but I do have a problem with tenure and a bloted administration. "

" brew1234 wrote on Jul 14, 2008 12:25 AM:
" I would love to name your street or Angst mom's street Harriet Tubman Drive. And she gets more recognition outside of Auburn, NY than her home town gives her. Auburnians should try to dial down the negativity and bigotry. "

What do you mean by negativity and bigotry?? Maybe, you can build a street and when it comes time to name it, You can name it Harriet Tubman Drive. Changing the name of a street is pretty stupid. Go build yourself one. And doesn't her house sit just outside of Auburn? I can't remember, I don't live in NY anymore. "

" Ithaca has two colleges (and a community college just down the way in Dryden) which are doing very well. It's an affluent community overall, full of highly-qualified and seriously educated people. (I can't tell you how manty librarians with an MLS degree have applied already for the two support staff openings we currently have -- but you get a lot of people applying for positions which don't require their level of qualification in Ithaca -- it's the nature of the community).

There is no housing slump in Ithaca -- it remains a seller's market.

I don't know that the growth here is due to medicaid benefit. In general, the taxes are higher, cost of living is higher, housing is very expensive compared to all around -- I can't see any reason why Ithaca would be expanding its lower income population. There is one, but from my perspective here on South Hill, I don't see it any bigger than it was. "

" I would love to name your street or Angst mom's street Harriet Tubman Drive. And she gets more recognition outside of Auburn, NY than her home town gives her. Auburnians should try to dial down the negativity and bigotry. "

" Sorry AJ but administration of the plan is not a problem. Every state has a system already set up for administering medicare and medicaid. All they did was hire more personel to qualify people for the new healthcare system within the system already in place. Initially the costs were higher than expected but a new cigarette tax was put in place to cover this expense. The tax was still less than NYs but will go to a system that will help with the care of cancer victims and provide smoking cessation programs for smokers. A much more appropriate use than NYs cig. tax. Also the health insurance companies are co-operating with the program because by insuring a larger pool they can charge lower rates because a lot of the new participants are lower risk persons. Try doing your research linked directly to the Commonwealthcare Health Plan and not other concepts and plans. "

" ANGMOM3, I hope I didn't sound offensive. It does sound like you know more of this town than the average "Harriet Tubman" schmo. Fort Hill Cemetery... What memories. I wasn't one that hung out and partied, but I remember walking home through there with friends, and remembering how freaky it was. I mean like "Night of the Living Dead" freaky. It could've been the acid, but that place would make a killer horror film set. "

" to quiveringthigh.

I also admire Wiiiam Seward, Theodore Case and Chief Logan They are heros as well,

I did not mean to imply anything else.

Having grown up with Fort Hill Cemetary next to my back yard, and within a family of historians, I am familiar with the histories of all of these people, and their accompishments.

They are all heros, and people of great significance.

It is an honor to have shared Auburn with them. "

" brew1234 wrote on Jul 13, 2008 5:36 PM:
" Why would Auburn name a street after John Walsh when I don't recall a Harriet Tubman Street anywhere in town? "

I think people are getting a little too happy with this Harriet Tubman thing. Why all of a sudden is this become such a major fascination?? What is the NAACP up to? John Walsh should get some kind of recognition. His show is one of the best things done to apprehend criminals.
I think the crows have a better chance at getting a street named after them, than Tubman. Ya know, outside of Auburn, not many people know who Tubman was. I think Auburn is just looking for something to gripe about.
Theodore Case... Does anyone know what he has done? Well you pretty much see it everyday. Where's my smart people at??? Raise your hand, now.
Seward's Icebox is a major concern for the Oil world. Oh, but he got a street. And just popped in my head. There is Case avenue in Auburn. Where would you want to put "Tubman street, avenue,drive,circle,lane,court". "

" "England and Canada have state of the art medical care and you don't wait a long time to get surgery."

That's funny, I just got done watching a BBC show, where a girl is going to have to wait TWO YEARS just to have her teeth fixed under general anesthesia, and the reason they gave was the way the healthcare system there works. I'd call two years a long time.

When you socialize or governmentalize any service, it's rationed out according to how much money there is to pay for it, so people end up waiting. "

" Why would Auburn name a street after John Walsh when I don't recall a Harriet Tubman Street anywhere in town? "

" Brew, on its surface the plan sounds good, but unfortunately it does absolutely nothing to address spiraling out of control health costs, and for that reason it will be doomed to failure. One of the largest costs in the health care system is administration and paperwork. MA's plan does not deal with this at all.

Anyhow, I found this article which disucsses the plan which I thought you might find interesting.

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=a_limited_health_care_success_in_massachussetts_ "

" If teachers did not belong to thee hugest lobbist organizations in NYS that sway political opinion their way, then perhaps they would not get the reputation of being overpaid and bloated Empire plan rewardees. Have to laugh now that elections are over teachers are all that.

Disagree also with the socialized medicine concept. Perhaps what is going on now in MA works for MA but to try to enact something similar that is state mandated w/n work as we already have that - its called medicaid. Granted a pay per person is NOT the same thing but my point is if each state enacts their own version, some states will become more popular than others such as what we have going on now with counties differing in medicaid benefits. Why do you think Ithaca area is growing?

I know these two opinions will be very unpopular... "

" ANGMOM3 wrote on Jul 13, 2008 4:22 AM:
" HARRIET TUBMAN WAS A TRUE HERO, AND A BRAVE FORCE. TUBMAN THIS AND TUBMAN THAT INDEED! GET OVER YOURSELF! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ ABOUT HER, MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PAGE! "

I would almost agree with you, but it does get a little ridiculous. Maybe they should balance it out with people like: William Seward, Theodore Case,and Logan. "

" My daughter has had great teachers! I know for a fact they spend many hours after the school clock ends doing papers,planning for the next week, staff meetings,some take night classes to futher their education, some even work another part-time job to get buy!!

When the attend school functions to aid in the function that is all free time!

If they have kids of their own, I havent a clue as to how they balance it all out!
At times, when a childs homelife isnt that great--a special teacher will help them thru their woes.
At times these teachers stay involved with the child even when they continue on to the next grades!

They should be paid better afterall they are aiing in molding our children to become better adults with an education!!

And at Xmas they really dont need coffee mugs--they could use gift cards!! "

" brew, that sounds like a good program! "

" ok, so which one of you with a low iq made the comment about teachers not working enough? come on, you can tell us. "

" Thank god for people like Farmer's Gal and The Bone who have respect for teachers and all of the hardwork that they do. People, including rude,disrespectful, and clueless parents and students, have this huge misconception that teachers don't do anything yet we are "lucky" to have summers off. If only these people had a clue how many hours are spent outside of school doing work, as well as how much time is spent during the summer preparing for the following school year. We do not sit by the pool all summer and show up the first day of school all ready to go. There is a lot of hard work and time that goes into the preparation. Maybe these people who think that teachers don't really work should take a little time out of what I'm sure they consider to be a very full day, step into a classroom and see how things really work. "

" HARRIET TUBMAN WAS A TRUE HERO, AND A BRAVE FORCE. TUBMAN THIS AND TUBMAN THAT INDEED! GET OVER YOURSELF! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ ABOUT HER, MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PAGE! "

" I am not advocating for socialized health care but I support Massachusetts Commonwealth Heathcare Plan formed by the Mitt Romney administration. Each state should enact this plan and keep the federal government of of their plans. Every citizen is required to be in this plan or pay tax penalties. That way a person cannot wait til they are sick to sign up for the plan and avoid paying premiums. It provides affordable health care, not socialized medicine. Look it up on google. I pay $39 a month for health coverage with low deductables and fair co-pays. I am self employed with no sick pay and the ability to get well and get back to work makes it worth every dollar. "

" brew1234, I would not want any part of socialized health care! Every policy you pay for is different, the more you pay, the better the benefit! I don't want to pay for the people that CHOOSE not to have insurance. Medical care is available to all CITIZENS. Believe me, I know of one that had NO insurance, mix up by parents, and the best care available was given! Those that cannot afford will be given good care. I WILL NOT PAY FOR THOSE THAT CHOOSE NOT TO PAY THEIR OWN WAY! "

" Teacher should get paid more for all the work they do.Its not just classroom work---does the lesson plan do it self or do the teachers work also at night!!!!!!!!! "

" brew1234 wrote on Jul 12, 2008 1:22 PM:

" The comments about socialized medicine are myths made up by right wing neo-cons. England and Canada have state of the art medical care and you don't wait a long time to get surgery. Do some research and stop chirping the words of the right wing talk shows. You will find that reality is far different than the myth. "

I don't watch/listen to the talk shows...waste of time. I know about the socialized medical care from my RELATIVES who live in England! I had an uncle who had to wait MONTHS to have quadruple by-pass! So there! "

" Someone has no clue about how much work teachers do. They not only teach a certain number of hours a day, but they grade papers and prepare lesson plans, often working at home for unrecorded hours. There are meetings and field trips and coaching and chaperoning and worrying about kids who aren't doing well. Many teachers show up to plays and athletic events and band competitions and Master Minds -- some to coach, and others just to show support.

Nine out of 10 teacher really CARE about our children, and they have to put up with them as they go through their bratty, badly-behaved and disrespectful "phases" -- and reading the post above, it's no mystery where some of the kids learn their disrespect for their teachers.

Anyone who thinks that teachers only work 5 hours a day is an uninformed fool. Having taught only briefly was long enough for me to learn that teachers EARN every penny we pay them. "

" John Rossi is completely incompetent as Corporate Council and does not even know the proper reasons to go into executive session.

Oh wee, at least he is a local and a nice guy. Besides, all he really dies is refer anything to hired attorneys anyhow. That office is a complete waste of money. "