Check out the latest installment of our SeeClickFix series. We've partnered with the service to help Spa City and Saratoga County residents point out problem areas on local roadways and in local neighborhoods.

This week's piece looks at two areas tagged by Saratoga Springs residents as corridors for excessive speed, with comment from city police.

Spa City residents to SeeClickFix: High speeds not OK.

Myself, Steve Shoe, Barbara Lombardo and David Patterson (chair of Saratoga Springs High School's social studies department) just completed 20 multiple choice practice questions from the U.S. naturalization test in advance of a story running in our July 4 edition about local immigration and naturalization.

The results were unsurprising and disappointing for myself and Mr. Shoe. While Barbara and David scored perfectly, Steve and I each answered incorrectly once.

For Steve, it was the lack of a read through on a question on the Axis powers of WWII. He selected an answer that listed Austria-Hungary, but not Italy. Oops.

I failed to recognize Maine as one of four answers of a state that borders Canada (I chose to ignore walla-walla Washington, and selected Oregon).

It has been suggested by some that this test be posed to Mayor Johnson and the rest of the City Council. I'm not sure what generation they are from, but I'll venture a guess the U.S. is the only country they've ever called home. I guess if they can march in a flag day parade they should know how many amendments the Constitution has. What do you think, would it matter if they didn't ace it?

As I said after regretfully failing to achieve patriotic perfection, now that U.S. Soccer is out of the World Cup race, and Landon Donovan is facing accusations of infidelity, going back to the land of my ancestors may be a viable option. Auf wiedersehen Spa City!

Rep. Scott Murphy, D-Glens Falls, has accepted the endorsement of the Working Families Party. This is his second third party endorsement in as many weeks, last Wednesday he accepted the Independence Party line.

"I am honored to accept the endorsement of the Working Families Party," Murphy said in a statement. "I pledge to continue fighting to ease the burden on New York's small businesses and middle class families so we can work together to renew the Upstate economy."

In other news, Gov. Eliot Spitzer is set to co-host an hour-long primetime round table discussion show with Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Kathleen Parker starting this fall. The show will air at 8 p.m., replacing Campbell Brown.

“Kathleen is an extraordinary intellect whose sharp observations and wit are certain to resonate with viewers,” Spitzer said in a statement released by CNN. “I look forward to working alongside her in a discussion that will inform, challenge, and entertain. I am grateful to CNN for the opportunity to co-host a show that will advance the discussion of the defining issues of our time.”

And for those of you watching (or listening with one ear bud) the World Cup, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!!! See you in round two England!!!

The second installment of the series centered around our partnership with SeeClickFix is out today. This week's piece focuses on a lack of city traffic signals, as identified by area residents utilizing the program, at certain intersections within Saratoga Springs.Click here to read it.

In case you missed our first installment, regarding the right turn/straight lane on Weibel Avenue in front of the Hannaford plaza, click here.

Diane Loomis, the mother of Edward Loomis, a 17-year-old Saratoga High School junior who was killed by a drunk driver in 2008, shot this video to share her views on the last call policy being debated by the City Council (and all over town for that matter). The video was provided via email by Deputy of Accounts Michele Boxley.



What do you think? Is her opinion any more or less valid as those already made by city law enforcement officials and downtown business owners?