Author: Jeff McKinney

Creator/Editor of ColumbiaCountyCurrent, Lover of Happy Hour, NY REALTOR, World's Best Uncle, Movie Buff.

Taking Woodstock Taking Over Columbia County

Check out the following trailer for Ang Lee’s new movie, Taking Woodstock, which was filmed around New Lebanon and East Chatham.

taking-woodstockThe motel prominently featured in the movie is a real motel, about a two minute drive down the hill from our house. The whole town was buzzing when Hollywood came a calling last summer and aside from the occasional traffic hickup (traffic does not normally exist in these parts) it was groovy times for all. We saw our hippie population (already fairly large) rise by one VW bus, selling tie-die t-shirts in the parking lot of our beer, booze, and head-shop strip mall (for real, this strip mall has four stores – the three I just mentioned and the world’s best Chinese take-out place) with said hippie staying in town after the filming wrapped (Hollywood lingo for ended).

Hopefully the only movie theater in town will be showing Taking Woodstock when it comes out this summer. If it does, I’ll be there with my new tie-died t-shirt and freak flag flying!

How Do You Think NY Should Spend It’s Budget?

Who among us hasn’t thought that they could do a better job managing NY’s money? While I’m sure this task is far more difficult than managing my household budget, I still wouldn’t mind taking a crack at the state’s fiscal focus.

It sounds as if Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith wants to give us arm-chair economists our chance. Smith is setting up a Web site, e-mail, phone and text options for New Yorkers to share our ideas on how the legislature and governor should spend $120 billion.

Here are those contact details. Plans are also in the works for a Twitter page. Stay tuned for that when it becomes available.

Web: http://www.nybudgetideas.org

e-mail: nybudgetideas@senate.state.ny.us

Text: Type NYSS to the number 41411 for budget updates sent to your phone

Toll-free number: 800-706-9995