Friday, October 30, 2009

Liz Miele for Williamsport City Council?

Have you met Liz Miele, candidate for Williamsport City Council?


Roots in Williamsport

Born and raised in Williamsport, I'm the third generation of my family to live in the city. After graduating from Williamsport Area High School, I attended Brown University in Providence, RI where I received my B.A. in Italian Studies. I traveled and lived around the country, but my strong family ties to the Williamsport area, the pleasures of small city life, and my love of the beautiful Susquehanna River Valley made me choose to move back to Williamsport. I hope to make that decision even easier for other young residents of Williamsport by making this an even better city, full of opportunities (and jobs!) for our kids.
Working for Williamsport
I have worked at my family’s restaurant, the Peter Herdic House in Williamsport Historic District, since I was 14 years old. Now that I’m the executive chef, my kitchen sources from more than 30 different local farms and businesses helping to support the local economy. When I was 25, I founded the all-volunteer Williamsport Guardian newspaper to provide a voice for Williamsport’s younger generation. At 27, I helped to found the Williamsport Community Garden Project, to open up gardening spaces to city center residents by establishing community gardens throughout Williamsport. These ventures demonstrate my passion and enthusiasm for Williamsport, which I will take to the next level when I join the ranks of Williamsport City Council.
The Future of Williamsport
When I’m elected to Williamsport City Council in November, I will work cooperatively with all members of city government to put the people of Williamsport first and to make city government open and accessible to everyone. I will work diligently to bring higher paying jobs to our city. I will work to make downtown Williamsport even more vital and to focus on Williamsport’s many other neighborhoods. I will work to expand the tourism potential of our city and our region, with an eye toward sustainable economic and environmental development. I will work to protect our historic heritage, but also encourage new avenues to better our quality of life, such as public art initiatives, park renovation and biking and walking routes. I will work to better city infrastructure, so that all of our citizens can walk, ride, and drive safely on city streets and sidewalks. I’ll do this because I know that Williamsport is a great city and I pledge to make it even better city during my council tenure.
Can you help me write the recipe for an even better Williamsport?

Contact me via email, blog or phone to let me know what issues you think are important in Williamsport. Volunteer to spread the word.
And most importantly...Vote Liz Miele on November 3 to move our city forward!
Sincerely,
Liz Miele
Phone 570.326.0411
Visit lizmielecooks.com

Friday, October 23, 2009

Sun Gazette: Pompous decision Letter

Pompous decision

POSTED: October 20, 2009

The sad irony of the votes by City Council members Fausnaught, Whaley, Hall and Williamson against obtaining a federal grant for more police officers is that these very same council members recently voted against a $4 million retail development on Mulberry Street. That very development would have produced nearly $100,000 per year in annual taxes, more than enough to cover the "shortfall" that prevented these members from accepting the grant.

How pompous it is for the four of them argue about the rising costs of city government while they are the very ones responsible for this loss of revenue.

John Albarano II

President

Albarano Construction

Williamsport

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Marcellus Shale drilling activity robust despite low natural gas prices

Marcellus Shale drilling activity robust despite low natural gas prices

Buzz up!
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Rick Stouffer can be reached via e-mail or at 412-320-7853.

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The number of natural gas wells permitted and drilled in the Marcellus Shale formation, including Western Pennsylvania, continues to climb despite the lowest natural gas prices in seven years, officials said.

Companies and industry experts say the close proximity of the Marcellus region to the huge East Coast natural gas market and lower drilling costs due to a recession-caused slowdown nationwide combine to keep activity humming here.

"We anticipated we would issue 700 Marcellus Shale drilling permits for the year, but we surpassed that figure before midyear," said state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Tom Rathbun.

Through Aug. 21, the DEP issued 1,067 Marcellus Shale drilling permits. That compares to 476 drilling permits issued for all of last year. The number of Marcellus Shale wells drilled through Aug. 21 totaled 283, up 45 percent from 2008's 195 total.

Low natural gas prices have yet to slow Marcellus drilling activity, though some companies working here are retrenching in other areas of the country. Even a possible shortage of natural gas storage may not slow Marcellus activity, experts said.

"The production costs for shale plays in the Rocky Mountains probably are $1 or $2 more per thousand cubic feet of natural gas compared to the Marcellus," said Mary Novak, managing director of Energy Services for IHS Energy Insight, of Lexington, Mass.

"The market right now is bad in terms of prices, but operators in the Marcellus have an advantage in that they garner high prices due to their location in relation to the East markets," said Rick Gordon, an independent oil and natural gas consultant based in Overland Park, Kan.

The Marcellus is a level of shale deep under about 65,000 square miles of territory in portions of New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Virginia. Latest estimates indicate it may hold enough natural gas to meet the country's needs for more than a decade.

Today, about 51 companies have staked a claim in the formation, including 20 of the country's top 100 operators and two of the top three.

Independent exploration-production companies such as Range Resources Corp. of Fort Worth, EOG Resources Inc. of Houston, Anadarko Exploration & Production Co. LP, of The Woodlands, Texas, and Ultra Resources Inc. of Englewood, Colo., are paying $3 million to $4 million per well to tap the Marcellus.

The Energy Information Administration reported last week that the amount of natural gas in storage hit 3.26 trillion cubic feet, the highest amount on record for August, enough to meet the country's natural gas needs for 54 days.

Storage capacity nationwide is thought to be about 4 trillion cubic feet, but that's an estimate because the industry never has reached that figure.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Carney reports for active duty

Carney reports for active duty

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Christopher Carney (D-10) has reported for active duty at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia where he will serve through October 13. One of only three Members of Congress currently serving in uniform, Congressman Carney has been in the Navy Reserves since 1995. He was promoted to the rank of Commander last spring and the promotion became official on September 1, 2009. Carney was one of only 34 reserve intelligence officers to receive a promotion to Commander this year.

“Wearing the uniform is a duty the Congressman takes very seriously,” said Carney Communications Director Vincent Rongione. “When you make a commitment to the military, it is not just an expectation but it is an honor to fulfill that commitment.”

Congressman Carney is a Predator Mission Commander, and will be involved with the Predator and Reaper Missions in Iraq and Afghanistan while on active duty. Carney was activated for Operations Southern Watch, Nobel Eagle, and Enduring Freedom.

All of Congressman Carney's offices in Pennsylvania and Washington, DC will remain open to assist constituents while he is serving on active duty.