Westchester County PD New Air 2

Today, I had the oppurtunity to go to the officials & press unveiling of the new Westchester County PD "Air 2".

The reast of the photos are posted, http://www.emtbravo.com

Air 2 is awesome. It's a 2006 Bell 407. Here are some of the features worth noting:

-Has a "Bambi Bucket" for brush fires.
-Has a winch/lift with harness and stokes
-Camera able to transmit live video to off site locations, such as County PD headquarters and EOC.
-Infared Tracking Camera-A very large spotlight-Ability to transport a patient in stokes, if needed-Up to 4 members can repel off repellling bar at once (two on each side)
-Pilots have nightvision goggles-Cargo hook
-Extensive inter-agency communications capability-Detailed interactive mapping and navigation system

And a whole bunch of other state of the art technology. This is a really great asset for Westchester County in this day and age, and I'm sure it's going to make an impact on emergency operations. Thanks to members of the WCPD for helping me to get some great shots and explaining the different features.

x635's Camera Fleet With New Addition

One of the questions I'm asked the most about my photos is "what are you shooting with?"

I actually shoot with two primary cameras. For when I am going to on vacation, to shoot something for the site, or recretionally, I use a Canon Digital Rebel 300D 6.3 MP with Tamron Xi 18-200 digital lens. To carry with me everyday everywhere and to work, I use a Canon Powershot Elph. On Wednesday, I purchased a brand new Canon SD600 6.0 MP Digital Elph to upgrade from my Canon S500.

Here's my camera fleet (photos were taken with Kristen's SD600):

My brand new Canon SD600. Much faster then my S500. This is my primary tactical camera. Like my S500, I also use it to shoot movie and sound clips. I like the Digital Elph series because they have always been durable and Canon cameras are easy to use and photos always come out great. This camera is very, VERY small and the LCD screen is huge. I'm impressed with it so far.

This is my s500. It's been used heavily at work and play for the past 2 years, and has been very durable. I too it everywhere. There is an issue with the lens/focus motor that I need to have repaired, but once that is done this camera go into fullt equipped spare status.

This is the camera that started it all. My very first digital camera, a Canon S110 2.1 MP. This camera is now in reserve status.

And the workhorse of the fleet, my Canon Digital Rebel 300D 6.3MP. This camera has been all over the country with me over the past three or so years I've had it, and taken thousands of photos. I really like the camera, and the Tamron Xi 18-200 lens is great, very versatile "walk around" lens.

So, those are the cameras I use. I'm currently looking to purchase a digital camcorder for shooting movies.

BTW, you may ask why I have spare and reserve cameras. It's because I HAVE to have a camera with me at all times. It never fails that when I don't, I miss a great shot.

Metro North Commuter Railroad M-7 Express Passing Through Hartsdale NY

Here's a video I shot with my new camera of a Metro North (Express from White Plain-GCT) passing through Hartsdale on October 26th, 2006.

Goodbye Carvel!

Well, after knowing that Carvel was planning on closing at the end of 2006 for over 7 months now, the Town Of Greenburgh seems to have taken interest. There's even an article in the NY Times, by reporter Erin Duggan who is one of few reporters nowadays actually covering issues that matter to us accurately. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/27/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/29wecarvel.html


Here are some photos of the dilipidated property. It definetly needs something, I would have liked to see Carvel maybe split the property (they do have a lot of property for just an ice cream store) and build a "retro" Carvel there. Note that I said Carvel.....the property was sold by the Thomas And Agnes Carvel Foundation, a formerly very active charity that funded a lot of childrens projects in Greenburgh. (Tom and Agnes were residents of Ardsley, and cared a lot about Central Ave) Now that both have died, the fund is run by people that don't have the same vision. Carvel Corp should step up to the plate, and build something that nods to the companies heritage there. It's BS that Focus Brands, the current corporate owner of the Carvel brand, says they couldn't do anything. Truth is, they could care less. They didn't want to do anything.

It's funny how the franchisee cited high taxes......and Supervisor Feiner is spending $15,000 of Greenbrugh tax money to "study" Central Ave. Coupled with the high taxes because of studys like that, and other Greenburgh extravagences such as a $20 million dollar new library in the internet age complete with a taxpayer funded cafe, and Greenburgh's ridiculous quanitity of regulations, it makes opening a business nearly impossible for someone just starting out or trying to keep their business alive.

Anothe side note for this building, this is the design that inspired Ray Croc (Founder of Mcdonalds) This building has so much heritage, yet I can almost guarantee it's going to be a yet another bland chain bank or pharmacy on this propery. Although I am hoping for a nice down to earth, affordable resturant or fun and useful retailer. And I hope Carvel is somehow incorporated into this new development.

Everybody claims they couldn't be the one to save Carvel....it's sad how the greed of a few people took another longstanding institution away from Hartsdale. Oh well, I guess that's the times we live in nowadays. I guess parent's don't take their kids out for ice cream anymore.

I'm going to miss the days where I could walk down to Barnes and Noble, browse through and pick up a good book, and then get a milkshake afterwards.

Thanks again to Erin Duggan and the NY Times for bringing what's happening in Hartsdale into the public eye. The Carvel article was great.

NBC's "Heroes"

Is anyone watching "Heroes" on Monday nights on NBC? Such a great show! I don't watch a lot of television (most of my time is spent working on the internet when at home) but Kristen got me hooked on this show.

It's my new favorite show actually. Each episode it keeps getting better and better, and I love the suspense and the way the charecters are intertwined. There's not many shows I look foward too, but even with Tivo, this has me tuned into my TV every Monday night.

It's a hard show to get into if you haven't been watching from the begining though.

Fly To Chicago For Only $36

For the next 36 hours, jetBlue is offering a $36 fare to Chicago. GREAT deal, the only thing that sucks is that it's wintertime. Still a good oppurtunity to buff Chicago

[QUOTE]Between New York City (JFK)and Chicago (O'Hare)
Our $36 fare is only good for 36 hours! You have until 11:59 p.m. MST, Friday, October 27 to take advantage of this low introductory fare, so book now!
Prices do not include applicable taxes/fees. Sale fares require up to a 14-day advance purchase. Travel must be booked by October 27, 2006, 11:59 p.m. MT. Travel must be completed between January 4, 2007 and February 15, 2007. [/QUOTE]

http://www.jetblue.com

M-7 Arriving In Hartsdale Fall 2006

From my train ride today, here's a photo of an Metro North M-7 arriving at Hartsdale station around 10:30hrs.

Metro North is such a photogenic railroad, especially in the fall.

Fire Engine Almost Rolls Over Arriving At Fire (Video)

Check out this video on YouTube from Queensland, New Zeland. The ladder truck almost rolls over arriving at a working fire. Intense video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAMf2uesu0A

Simple Solution For Mask (And Firefighter) Identification

As those who have spent time on the fireground know, sometime’s it’s hard to clearly see who’s who when everyone is wearing an SCBA mask. Another issue is that sometimes all masks look the same, and sometimes your mask gets inadvertendtly swapped with someone elses whether at the scene or in the station.

I developed a simple solution for this that enhances fireground identity and provides for a definite way to know your mask is yours.

Read what I did at FireEMSAlpha.com:http://fireemsalpha.com/?p=8

(FireEMSAlpha.com is currently in the process of relaunching and reloading content. More content coming soon)

Hartsdale- The Community That Service Built

This is the sign that welcomes everybody to Hartsdale as they drive up West Hartsdale Avenue into Hartsdale. It's one of my favorite parts of the village, because it reflects what Hartsdale used to be.

"Hartsdale- The Community That Service Built" says a lot. Hartsdale used to be a working class town, with affordable houses for the people who worked in the factories in Yonkers and Hastings and other service industries in the area.

Hartsdale used to have it's own school system. It used to be a lot more down to earth, even when I was a kid. This sign is still a memento of times past, and I'm suprised (and happy) that it still stands today.

Hartsdale nowadays is a lot more bland. A lot of repetitve chain stores, a large commuter railroad station, and Greenburgh schools have all transformed this former community into just another suburban town. There's not much Hartsdale spirit left, and most of the figures that made Hartsdale what it was have moved on or died. For instance, the closing of the office supply store recently in the village section of Hartsdale was another death in the heritage of Hartsdale. This, undoubtedly, will become something boring, like the tanning salon that opened in another vacant storefront on the avenue, or something upscale or something you wouldn't use everyday.

Thankfully, we have Big Top still left.

"Hartsdale-The Community That Service Built". And now what? No more pride or buidling. Now just another bland section of the Town Of Greenburgh that people just live in or past through.....I miss the Hartsdale community that I remember was still there when I was a kid.