| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kay |
Posted - July 14 2009 : 11:41:55 PM
Thought I'd fill you in on this if you hadn't already heard. The state of PA is in the process of cutting funding to save money. Of course the first things to get cut have been historical sites operated by the state. This includes Bushy Run which is a state park. Fort Pitt's musuem was also in danger but a private funder has stepped in to keep their musuem open. Now Bushy Run is asking for help. It is taking donations to help keep their musuem and other services (this may include the reenactment!) going. Please check out their web site www.SaveBushyRun.org. I know I don't want to see this site fall by the wayside! I know many of you care about it too! They said that if everyone in Westmoreland county donated $5, they could maintain themselves-I think it is worth it! Just wanted all of you to know!
Kay |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Obediah |
Posted - July 17 2009 : 1:16:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Monadnock Guide
Yeah, - I read that California was sending out I.O.U.'s to folks due refunds. Kinda makes you wonder, - how about some folks send them an I.O.U. in return???
Not just folks who are owed tax refunds (why'd they wait so long to file???) but also as payment to some of the state's vendors!
Not all is quite so bad...as you may or may not know, most Calif. employees (such as DMV and the like) take off the 1st 3 Fridays of each month as unpaid furloghs (public safety is exempted)...in the state prison system there are weekend family visitation programs (well and good) AND in the past there has also been a visation program called "Third Friday"--however, due to this unpaid furlogh program, "Third Friday" has been suspended for now! I find it difficult to be too sympathetic to all those prisoners... |
| Kay |
Posted - July 17 2009 : 12:58:58 PM
Mmmm....more red tape and political mumbo jumbo creating the mess. Well, I am glad to hear that Bushy Run will be ok Sarge. Never having been there as a living historian, I hope that the same people do come back to manage the park for your sake and the fact that they did seem to be doing a really great job from my view as a visitor. I've never been to the Heinz History center but that is on our to-do list. Yea, it is the states job to protect and maintain historic sites at times because after all it is our the people of Pennsylvania's history and therefore our public property to enjoy. As for the Pens- I am a huge Penguins fan but I agree Sarge, why are tax payers paying for their new arena? Frankly, I'm extremely sad to see the igloo on it's way out. It has history, it has character, and I enjoyed it immensely when I was there. I didn't see anything blatantly wrong with it and if there are problems just improve what you have rather then building new! And any way, Civic Arena, Mellon Arena, the Igloo! They all sound better then Consol Energy Center! If they're getting their name on it aren't they supposed to be paying for it!?
Kay |
| Monadnock Guide |
Posted - July 17 2009 : 09:11:12 AM
Yeah, - I read that California was sending out I.O.U.'s to folks due refunds. Kinda makes you wonder, - how about some folks send them an I.O.U. in return??? |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - July 17 2009 : 08:02:21 AM
Hey Halfbreed,
I've got some news for you too, it was Gov. Rendell who was holding the state troopers, prison guards, and other public services paychecks as hostages to passing his budget (all while making sure the Leeches got their money, and the 'Pens' got public money for their new hockey arena as well; it was a similar tactic to the one that California RINO-Repub. Gov.'Arnold' was using to solve his budget issues). The Republicans lack a veto-proof majority, so they had little choice in the eleventh hour.
Historic sites are one of the 'property' domains that the Commonwealth should be concerned with, and not the spending public monies for the building of new 'play-pens' (which Rendell is more than supportive of) for private sports franchises...
YMH&OS,
The Sarge |
| halfbreed |
Posted - July 16 2009 : 9:08:16 PM
Hey Sarge,
I got news for you,the Rebublican Majority that controls both the House and Senate in PA, passed Gov.Rendell's budget. So take it up with your local Rep and Senator. What happened at Bushy Run and Brandywine Battlefield near me is better for everyone. It's been long passed due that the state of PA gets out of the history game.
I will be at Bushy Run in August to hunt Anglos.
h-b |
| Seamus |
Posted - July 16 2009 : 12:51:19 PM
I sincerely hope you jest, Fitz. |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - July 16 2009 : 10:49:02 AM
Maybe they could get the Mars family involved since Ticonderoga didn't seem to want them.  |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - July 16 2009 : 09:45:31 AM
Okay Guys, The Sarge is going to play the part of 'Rumor Control', and help put part of this one to rest. I spoke with Doug MacGregor at Ft. Laurens this past Saturday, and he gave me an update. Now, for those of you who may not know, the 'problems' at Busy Run were not caused by Doug's actions or management, but by the machinations of those above him in the PHMC, and certain politicians at the State House. Gov. Rendell has budget problems, but being a good little Left-Wing Democrat, he is more concerned about getting the Leeches their welfare benefits (since that is part of his voting base), than he is about paying working state troopers, prison guards, and certain historic site staff.
Don't blame me, I voted for Lynn Swann-(R), during the last gubernatorial election in the commonwealth.
First off, Bushy Run is already 'saved', as it is going to be managed/funded by the Heinz History Center. What happened was a version of Chapter 11, which is nothing more than a 'reorganization' of assets and debts. The main problem is that Doug MacGregor has lost his job as the site director (He is one of the very few PHMC personel who I actually respect and admire), and I would wish that the folks at Heinz would recognize him for his exemplary work as both a historian and leader, and offer him his old position under their management. Now, whether that happens or not, is not known at this time, but believe me Bushy Run is still open for business and will have their annual battle reenactment this August 1st & 2nd.
YMH&OS,
The Sarge |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - July 16 2009 : 08:43:53 AM
On my way back from Niagara I stopped at Fort Necessity and was talking with one of the park rangers there. The head interpreter had been at Niagara as a safety officer and had told this ranger than Niagara was in financial trouble. They needed the event to be a success. It was. There were 15,000 paid bodies through the gates at $13 a head. He said that this should insure their future for next year at least. |
| Kay |
Posted - July 15 2009 : 10:27:39 PM
Yes, I'm sad to see all these places in trouble-and not just the ones in PA. Why is history always the first to go? The Conrad Weiser Homestead would be nice to see and not far from me either. Olmstead designed the landscape huh? He gets around. The Olmsteads were part of the creation of the Sanitary Commission, which I help to portray in some of my CW living histories. It would be fun if we got up there when the 3rd Battalion was there and I ran into you and Seamus! We wouldn't even know it!
Kay |
| Monadnock Guide |
Posted - July 15 2009 : 8:34:05 PM
Unfortunately Kay that's not so isolated these days. Fort No. 4 in Charleston, N.H. isn't even opening this year, - hopes to in 2010, TWT.
.
http://www.fortat4.org/ |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - July 15 2009 : 5:31:46 PM
This is, indeed, a sad situation, Kay.
Closer to my heart, if not much closer to my home, is the plight of the Conrad Weiser Homestead State Historic Site at Womelsdorf. It is slated for closure and the "Friends" of the site are trying valiantly and desperately to keep it open.
Conrad Weiser Homestead
The regiment to which both Seamus and I belong does a couple of events there each summer, and it would be devastating to our regiment (the 3rd Battalion Pennsylvania) and to our "brother" regiment, the 1st Battalion Pennsylvania, aka Weiser's Regiment, for the site to close.
I am both angry and puzzled at this state of Pennsylvania affairs. Surely, there are other areas for cutting the state budget that would make much more sense. How typical that history must suffer. |
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