The night before the scheduled balloon launch in Oneonta, I picked out clothes to wear in layers and found my sturdy shoes. I collected my binoculars, pencil and pad. I feared sleeping through my alarm, but I didn't.
I was there, just as daylight broke the darkness in Oneonta's Neahwa Park. I parked my car and saw rain droplets on my windshield. That meant no hot-air balloon ride for me that morning. Two balloon owners, who had been awake long before me, quickly packed up their equipment, and I watched, hoping the rain would cease. I was disappointed.
Twelve hours later that Friday, and also on the Saturday night of Labor Day weekend, I returned to the park to see the balloons inflated and rising into the sky. Again, there were no flights because of windy or wet weather.
Flying in a hot-air balloon has long been on my list of things to do. Even though I didn't have the opportunity during the balloon festival held in honor of Oneonta's centennial, I learned about the many and time-consuming factors that determine if such a ride is possible. I heard others tell about rides and their excitement in seeing the balloons at the Saturday night glow. Hundreds of people gathered to see the 10 luminescent shapes, and the park had a festival atmosphere.
I'll keep ``take a hot-air balloon ride'' on my list, and maybe it will happen in Oneonta. It depends on the weather.
___
A local physician who tapped into musical talent after being struck by lightning will appear in a public television series later this month.
Dr. Anthony ``Tony'' Cicoria, an orthopedic surgeon from Oneonta, will be featured in ``Expressions: The Art and Soul of the Southern Tier'' at 8 p.m. Thursday.
The show, on WSKG-TV, which is channel 8 in Oneonta, is a weekly arts series starting its second season.
Jennifer Matoney, series producer and director, will present Cicoria, who was struck by lightning on a summer day in 1994. A child of the 1960s and raised on rock n' roll, especially Led Zeppelin, Cicoria had no interest in classical music, according to a WSKG media release; however, after receiving a clean bill of health from his cardiologist and neurologist after his experience, he began to want to hear classical piano music. He later became a composer and performer.
Cicoria performed locally this year to packed theaters.
___
The DEC wants New Yorkers to change an old habit.
``Don't Flush Your Drugs'' encourages disposing of drugs through the trash instead of the toilet to protect water quality.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation recently launched a website and educational campaign _ www.dontflushyourdrugs.net _ to raise awareness and provide information about how to dispose of medicines to prevent problems with water.
Instead of flushing medicines, New Yorkers should place their unused, unwanted or expired drugs in the trash, and adding water, salt, ashes or coffee grounds to unused medications before placing them in the trash can guard against misuse, the DEC said in a media release last month.
Recent reports have shown medicines are showing up in rivers, streams and drinking water supplies of a number of American cities, according to the release, though no New York community was singled out. Concentrations are below typical medical doses, the release said, but studies have found problematic impacts on wildlife, and the Environmental Protection Agency has acknowledged the issue.
Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to eliminate these types of chemicals, so treatment of municipal and industrial discharge is not the entire answer, the DEC said, and drinking-water treatment plants also don't necessarily remove all drug residues. State agencies are working on other methods to protect water and environmental resources.
Stanley H. Shaffer, chief operator at the Oneonta water plant, said tests aren't done to detect prescription drugs and the chemicals don't seem to be a problem in the local watershed because it is mostly undeveloped.
``I'm all in favor of the `Don't Flush' guideline,'' Shaffer said in a recent e-mail inquiring about the DEC's position. ``I don't think we should put anything down the toilet that would have a detrimental effect on the environment.''
___
Staff Writer Denise Richardson covers health, business and the colleges.
Print this story
E-mail this story
