Each New Year’s Eve brings about a new set of changes and anticipation for the new year. What will change, what will be different next year? I, like the rest of America, will start off 2009 “celebrating” an economic recession. As a resident of New York state, I’ll be “celebrating” another wonderful part of these trying times: Gov. David Paterson’s proposed state budget and its 88 new taxes.

My friend Shannon has for years been tirelessly — sometimes annoyingly — optimistic. However, for this post I am borrowing a leaf from her book and am looking at 2009 through a pair of rose-hued glasses. So there may be 88 new taxes, so what?? I will base my New Year’s resolutions around the proposed taxes!! In my overly-optimistic eyes, these new fees couldn’t have come at a better time. Observe ….

Proposed Tax: 18% tax on non-nutritional beverages

Resolution: No more pop!! Never mind that I adore Coke … I guess I don’t really need those calories after all.

Proposed Tax: Ipod tax on digitally downloaded media

ReSolution: No fear here! I will continue sailing the digital waves of piracy and pilfering my songs.

Proposed Tax: Tuition increases at SUNY schools

ReSolution: Meh, who needs a Master’s degree, anyway? I didn’t care much for studying the first time around ….

Proposed Tax: A $136 million tax on cable satellite TV and radio

Resolution: Well, I’ve been meaning to get to the theatre and see more new movies anyway, so here’s my reasoning to do so.

Proposed Tax: $53 million tax on entertainment purchases like movies and sporting events

Resolution: Hmm …. I’m beginning to think my plan is flawed. But as for sporting events, after this depressing Bills season I could see saving the money next year.

Proposed Tax: Change cigar tax from 34 cents to 50 cents a stogie

Resolution: All the more reason to not take up smoking! Another one crossed off the list

Proposed Tax: Increase fees for civil service exams by $5

ReSolution: Despite my job being overwhelmingly stressful and hateful some days, this little tax will gently remind me to stay put instead of making to jump to the U.S. Postal Service like I dreamed of in my youth. Same goes for the security guard training tax.

Proposed Tax: $6.5 million in fees collected from users of state parks. 

Resolution: Gee, good thing I got an array of camping equipment from Santa!! Guess I’ll just leave my cooler, hot dog roaster, tent, pie maker, pop-up canopy, backpack, mess kit, lantern and everything else in my closet. Who needs the great outdoors, right?

Proposed Tax: 25% Vehicle registration increase

ReSolution: That’s what bicycles are for, right?

Proposed Tax: An extra 5% sales tax on luxury cars, yachts, planes, furs and jewels

Resolution: Think how much money I’ll save by not registering my Jaguar and just riding my $100 bike

Proposed Tax: Erase tax break on clothing priced $110 or less

Resolution: Wait a minute …. so my $25 hoodie AND my fur muffler would both be taxed?! Is there a tax on paper bags, too?

Proposed Tax: $63 million tax on beer and alcohol, increasing the tax from 18.9 cents to 51 cents per gallon.

Resolution: Drinking less? Sounds like a traditional New Year’s resolution to me!

Proposed Tax: Extended tax on personal services including haircuts, pedicures and gym memberships.

Resolution: If my memory serves me correctly, Howard Hughes spent out the remainder of his days not clipping his nails, trimming his hair or seeing daylight. Did I mention that was after he lost his marbles?

So there you have it. Combining my resolutions with Paterson’s new taxes, I am looking at a stimulating 2009. One that will consist of me sitting home on the couch and growing fatter — even though I am consuming only diet Coke because it is too expensive to go to the gym — and occasionally peddling my bicycle out to the bars to order myself …. a water. All the while I’ll be looking increasingly more beautiful in my old, ratty clothing and unpolished fingers.

How can this outlook NOT seem promising? Happy 2009!

In an effort to be politically correct, the “holiday season” has been given many nicknames over the years. This way, holidays from Christmas to Kwanzaa to Hanukkah will be encompassed in the “holiday” banner.

Another familiar pseudonym given to the month of December is the “Season of Giving.” Salvation Army bell ringers are outside supermarkets and charities of every shape and size are asking for donations. At times it can almost seem daunting.

Yet, being charitable is an activity that should not be saved for one month a year. The unsung heroes of the community are not the ones that write the largest checks every December — they are the people who make contributions to their fellow mankind every day. 

Lending a helping hand does not always have to be a lavish affair. It can be something small, such as volunteering to do a park clean-up, or something more extensive like Habitat for Humanity. Volunteer programs come in every shape and size, from SPCA dog walkers to the plethora of positions available at local nursing homes and hospitals. 

I know for me personally, my charity of choice is the Red Cross, where I donate not by the dollar but by the pint. I’ve been an active blood donor for a number of years. Although I can’t always go through with the process — my iron levels continue to shift — I am always ready to make an effort. And why not? Aside from the fact there are free cookies and juice, and kindly grandmother-esque figures to talk to you when you are finished, the Red Cross is forever offering new incentives to bring donors in. This month it’s a bag of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, a favorite.

Remember this holiday season to be kind to your fellow man. But after the 12 days of Christmas have come and gone, do not let the season end. There are many people out there who are in need of help every day, not just once a year.

Then of course there is that natural high you get from knowing you just helped someone, or even potentially saved a life. In my case that high may be attributed to my remaining blood rushing around the body, but either way it is a great feeling.

Happy holidays to you and yours from the staff of the Journal-Register.

Jessica Wasmund is the city editor for The Journal-Register. Comments are welcomed at jessica.wasmund@gnnewspaper.com

Anyone passing The Journal-Register lately may have noticed our nicely-decorated front windows. Unfortunately, we here can’t take credit for a job well-done.

One of Medina’s own community members stepped forward and volunteered to give the office a makeover for the holiday season. He, his wife and daughter spent a long afternoon — dressed in Santa hats — hanging bulbs and fashioning Santa’s naughty and nice list.

Working at a newspaper I am forever bombarded with “bad” news because, well, bad news sells. The more sordid the better: from local problems to national conflicts. Just today an Ill. governor was arrested for trying to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat.

It’s nice to see there are kind people still out there. I’d like to extend a very hearty “thank you!” to our team of elves. Make sure you check out the display windows when you pass by this Christmas season.

Admittedly, I’m a bit of a thrill-seeker. I’ve always had a strong affiliation for roller coasters — and the taller and faster they are, the better. I’m willing to try most anything once, despite the fact I get nasty vertigo when it comes to heights.

However, one place I would prefer not to walk the line of danger is the middle of the street.

On more than one occasion lately, I’ve found myself having to jump backward as a car, truck, what have you goes barreling through the crosswalk — sometimes when I’m already three-quarters across.

One would assume that in a day in which lawsuits are dished out at the drop of the hat, motorists would be overly cautious; however, this is rarely the case. Not only do many people refuse to stop for those crossing the street —within the crosswalk lines — they have the audacity to give “the eye” to pedestrians in their way.

According to state law, if a pedestrian is in a crosswalk, they have the right-of-way. Additionally, if there is potential danger to that pedestrian, drivers must yield. 

However, if a person crosses where there is no crosswalk, drivers technically have the right-of-way. 

It all comes down to manners and courtesy. Yes, in today’s world everyone is in a hurry, and everyone feels they are entitled. But these simple road rules boil down to more than just safety issues. Would it be worth it to fly through a crosswalk and hit someone just to make sure you’ve arrived to a doctor’s appointment on time? Especially if that person is smart enough to get your plate numbers and hit you with a lawsuit?

That’s highly doubtful. Drivers: Please slow down!

Jessica Wasmund is the city editor for The Journal-Register. Comments are welcomed at jessica.wasmund@gnnewspaper.com.

Commentary originally published in the Dec. 8 edition of The Journal-Register.

As the economy struggles with a recession, competition for the jobs still available continues to increase. Higher education has always been an instant advantage on any resume. 

However, affording higher education — whether bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees or more — is becoming increasingly difficult. The Associated Press released the results of an independent report on American colleges today and all states, with the exception of California, flunked when it came to affordability.

States were measured on an A to F scale monitoring the performance of their public and private institutions. New York’s own SUNY system will continue to see cuts in funding; after an initial 7 percent cut in August by Gov. David Paterson, an additional $11.2 million was cut from the operating budget in an effort to further reduce the budget gap.

So with all these cuts to funding, money must be made elsewhere: In the form of tuition. Tuition spikes will undoubtedly hit hardest among lower- and middle-class families, who even after financial aid will find difficulties funding college. It has been estimated in the past few years that only about one of every 17 young people from the nation’s poorest families are expected to earn a bachelor’s degree by age 24. Likewise, for wealthy families the odds are closer to one in two.

Overall, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 27 percent of Americans have a bachelor’s degree.

So in a society that all but demands college degrees from employees — but makes them more difficult financially to obtain — the vicious cycle continues. Families struggle to make ends meet to send their children to colleges that continue to hike tuition following budget cuts, so on and so forth.

In the end, the country is seeing an overall shift as the once blurry line between the haves and have-nots begins to sharpen, and a decrease in the number of those of the younger generation pursuing advanced degrees.

Each week, more layoffs are reported throughout the country. America is in an economical slump, and while elected officials make plans to try and reverse the trends, little to no solutions are given to those who are currently unemployed.

Thus, many of these people are turning to welfare, many of whom are facing ridicule. Ever since its conception, welfare programs have been called into question due to the many who abuse the system.

Yet for every person who is collecting a welfare check who may be able to find work, there are many who generally need the financial support. These are not just people who may have fallen on harsh times — there are many with varying degrees of disabilities.

While many physical symptoms can be obvious, there are still many problems that may prevent people from working. Mental and emotional disabilities may not be prevalent to the unknowing individual. As the case with many of these disorders, various forms of treatment including counseling and medication may be necessary for an individual to function on their own in everyday life — let alone hold down a job.

In today’s society, being on welfare can come with negative connotations. Receiving financial assistance from the government has translated into a nasty stigma. The word welfare has become synonymous with “lazy.” 

It is assumed that people are unemployed by choice when in fact many are simply incapable of working — be it for a physical or mental disability, or simply a run of bad luck. Many people receiving assistance are in fact employed; but the wages from their one, two or sometimes three part time jobs are still not enough to make a living. Especially in instances where multiple persons or small families are depending on the minimum wages.

Editorial originally published in the Dec. 1 edition of The Journal-Register.

This past week I’ve had the chance to attend two Career Days at both Lyndonville Middle School and Medina High School. I would like to take the chance now to say “thank you” to all the students who sat and listened to me ramble through my presentations. I can only hope I provided you some guidance toward your future careers.

One of the reasons I entered journalism in the first place was to help educate people. As much as I favor education, I do not have the tolerance for teaching school children. However, this was a great opportunity. Having a 17-year-old sister, I’m used to young adults … but not usually ones who are so interested in my job! That’s always a plus.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone

“While the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humilty and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.” — Barack Obama, presidential-elect acceptance speech, Nov. 4, 2008

Like millions of Americans, I sat glued to the television set last night, laptop in hand, watching the states light up red and blue on and gasping with each call. With the delay in calls from Indiana, it didn’t seem likely America was ready for change. Suddenly Penn. and Ohio lit up blue, and murmors from the McCain camping calling for “a miracle” were reported, and I slowly began to realize. This was potentially one of the most historic moments in American history, and I would be a part of it.

All along this election has been about race, to a degree, but nobody wanted to say it. The man to acknowledge it last night was none other than the defeated John McCain. McCain gave a most gracious and humbling speech, taking the blame for his own defeat and silencing the crowd when they dared to boo him. He referred to Obama as his friend and president, saying he would be working hard to serve him in the interest of the American people.

“That he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who once wrongly believed they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving,” McCain continued. “This is a historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.”

As voter shed tears and celebrated well into the wee hours of the morning, I went to bed exhausted and excited, and woke up this morning even happier — because today was the first day of great things yet to come. The public has spoken — voters saw a massive shift in battle ground states, as CO, NV, NM, IA, OH, VA and FL all called in blue, contrary to the results of the 2004 election where each state favored President Bush.

However, that doesn’t mean that Obama’s future is smooth sailing. Quite the contrary, he is entering the office at a time where there is much political termoil as the FDR administration. The road will be a long one, and we as Americans must do our best to show patience. We have elected our leader, and we must let him lead. Changes will not take place over night; rather, they will come in time. All good things to those who wait goes the saying — I can honestly say there are good things to come, but we need to wait it out.

“This victory alone is not the change we seek — it is only the chance to make that change,” Obama said, standing between two bulletproof glass walls.

He already knows he has many hurdles in front of him, and he already knows his own life may be at risk for the anarchists and staunch conservatives who did not vote in his favor. He is taking office in a dangerous time, setting a precedent, and taking a risk. We as Americans must believe in him and follow … and wait. Congrats Barack on a job well done … and can we follow you? Can we be patient? YES WE CAN!

So, as if working at a newspaper hasn’t given me enough exposure to the upcoming election, I decided to dress as none other than the most talked-about lady in the country for Halloween this year. That’s right, yours truly was strutting her stuff around Buffalo as Sarah Palin. And what a good Palin I did make — complete with baby Trig and pageant sash.

Sarah Palin makes a pit stop in Buffalo!

I find it interesting how much politics has infiltrated our pop culture, and how each general election seems more and more like a popularity contest. Gone are the days when illicit affairs were kept hush hush — nowadays everything is on the table, from how much candidates spend on clothing to hair cuts, whether or not they inhaled and whose daughter is in the army/pregnant/gay.

We no longer learn about just the platforms for which people are running, but their most intimate details. Well, in the grand scheme of things … who really cares? It’s understandable that an elected official should be a person of sound mind and good morales. But really, how much mud-slinging can we possibly have? Mistakes are made to help individuals grow and learn, so they don’t make the same mistakes again. 

Quite frankly, I prefer a candidate who has made a couple errors in his or her time. In my book, a few scuff marks, and admitting to them, makes you more credible. 

That being said, make sure to go out and vote Tuesday! Exercise your right as an American citizen, and make your selections based on how they stand on the issues, and whom you feel is the most qualified … not who made the fewest number of dumb choices in their youth!

This past weekend I had the chance to travel to Ithaca to visit my former roommate and one of my closest friends, Jaime. Sarah, Lara and I left Friday afternoon, and we spent a lovely weekend visiting. The weather was rainy Saturday but we made the best of it.

Having never been to Ithaca before, I did what any tourist would do – I took pictures. A LOT of pictures … none of which turned out even remotely nice. Regardless of such, it was a nice weekend catching up, and makes me further appreciate my friends and our unique sense of humor.