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Yogurt Dust Settled, Albany Will Address State Amphibian
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jun 1, 2014
Modified Jun 1, 2014
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Woodfrog
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jun 1, 2014
Modified Jun 1, 2014
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Now that Albany's strenuous debate over New York's state snack has concluded (yogurt), the government's turning its attention to more pressing matters—minimum wagemedical marijuanathe Dream Act the state amphibian. Once again, our state's fate lies in the hands of fourth graders, who have proposed officially bestowing the title upon the wood frog. Will the power of democracy prevail??
The Times reported on this pressing issue yesterday, noting efforts to pass a law making the wood frog the official state amphibian have been spearheaded by State Senator John A. DeFrancisco, at the request of an adorable fourth-grader from upstate town Skaneateles. "I really like frogs,” fourth-grader Lili Winkelman told the Grey Lady. “Because wood frogs can freeze in the winter and come back to life in the spring, they can help organ donors."
Senator DeFrancisco has a history of sensitivity to his youngest constituents: he once unsuccessfully sponsored a bill to create a "Children's Day" (Mother's and Father's get one, it isn't FAIR).
According to Wikipedia, the wood frog, and not Andrew Cuomo, is already New York's unofficial state amphibian. DeFrancisco's trying to get it on the books for real, but democracy's a tough process for a reason, kids. "We researched how long it took other things to become a law, five, six, seven years,” Irene Manna, Lilli's teacher, said. “The only thing that would be nice is if it passes before I die, and I’m 63."
It appears adult wood frogs spend summer months in woodlands, swamps, ravines, bogs or Rockaway Beach. During the fall, they leave summer habitats and migrate to neighboring uplands. Most frogs breed only once, though some will breed two or three times before moving to Park Slope and bringing their offspring to beer gardens.
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Rebecca Fishbein
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