Why does 18 years ago seem to me more like 18 months ago? Maybe it’s because I have been around for so long.

So, here I go again, backing into a story. Before the news of town business in Santa Clara, Harrietstown, Tupper Lake and Keene read on — remember, this is October …

Headline: “BUFFALO SNOWSTORM CLEANUP TO COST MORE THAN $30 MILLION.”

“(Associated Press) — The state sent extra nurses Wednesday to help at busy hospitals treating patients for injuries related to last week’s record-setting snowstorm, which knocked out power to thousands and was blamed for 12 deaths.

“Erie County Executive Joel Giambra said the cost of storm cleanup is ‘definitely going to exceed $30 million,’ The New York Times reported in Thursday’s edition.

“More than 170 people have been treated for carbon monoxide poisoning from using improperly vented generators and stoves for heat. Others have hurt themselves or had heart attacks clearing piles of tree limbs that litter the region.

“Health officials said the deaths include one person hit by a falling tree limb, three killed by carbon monoxide and two who died shoveling snow.

“About 380,000 people originally lost power in the storm that dumped up to two feet of heavy snow last Thursday and Friday.

“The state Health Department deployed 17 nurses from around the state, in the first use of a special emergency nursing program set up after the September 11, 2001 attacks.”

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Excerpts from town stories

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“SANTA CLARA — The Town of Santa Clara has been embroiled in two, and expensive lawsuits that have dragged on for years.

“Both sides argue they’re fighting for fairness and principle; Town officials say wealthy property owners cannot be allowed to flaunt the law, while the property owners in question argue that the town is being irresponsible with its finances and stands to eventually lose in court.

“The two cases involve a floating boathouse built without permits in 2002 and for ownership of a 106-foot road off Saranac Inn Road that the town insists is a public right-of-way.

“Tonight the township may adopt its budget. The Town Board will meet at 7 p.m. at the town hall in Saranac Inn according to Town Supervisor Don Burgey II.”

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“HARRIETSTOWN — After months of public debate, the Harrietstown Town Board has decided in favor of doing annual assessing.

“The 3-2 decision to go with a six-year annual assessment maintenance plan came Monday in a special meeting. Councilman Howard Riley moved the resolution and Brian McDonnell and Ron Keough voted for the motion; Supervisor Larry Miller and Councilman Barry DeFuria voted against it.

“The vote means the town is scheduled to maintain a 100 percent equalization rate in coming years.

“For instance, if property is assessed at $75,000 but its market value is $100,000, the equalization rate would be 75 percent. In Harrietstown’s case, equalization rates are used in county, village and school taxes to ensure that various towns that don’t assess annually are taxed evenly.

“McDonnell is a member of the town’s Assessment Subcommittee and said following the vote; “It is in the best interest of most taxpayers in town.”

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“TUPPER LAKE –Taxes in the Town of Tupper Lake may decrease slightly according to tentative budget figures released by the town earlier this week.

“This year’s tax levy may weigh in at $1,961,762 with landowners inside the village billed at $3.63 per $1,000 of assessed value and $4.95 per $1,000 of assessed value for those outside the village, according to Town Administrator Sandie Strader.

“Compared to last year’s tax rate, a property owner with a property assessed at $100,000 in the village would save $13, while an identical property outside the village could save $22.

“The supervisor’s salary may be raised from $9,000 to $13,000, bringing it up to the same level as the town supervisor of Harrietstown’s salary, Strader added.

“Also in the proposal, town department heads have asked for pay raises of $2,000 each.

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“KEENE — In a 3-2 vote, the Keene Town Board resolved not to sponsor and support the resolutions proposed by the Ad-hoc Committee of Concerned Citizens at the regular monthly town meeting on October 10. About 50 people attended.

“The committee had asked to submit a set of resolutions to the U.S. House of Representatives. The resolution, ‘Civil Liberties and Separation of Powers’ and ‘War and Terrorism’ call on the House to conduct bipartisan investigations into alleged abuses of the Constitution by the current Bush Administration.

“Concerned Citizens Committee leader Lorraine Duvall stated at an earlier meeting that sponsorship by their local government would give them a greater voice at the national level.

“The Committee had collected 175 signatures of Keene residents in support of the investigation.

“Board members Robert Biesemeyer and Marcy Neville voted to sponsor the resolution.

“Supervisor William Ferebee and Councilmen Paul Martin and Lawrence Jacques voted no.

“Biesemeyer pointed out that the number of signatures obliged the board to sponsor the request and added, ‘the board does not have to agree with the resolutions in order to sponsor the request for a congressional investigation.

“Ferebee, Jacques and Martin expressed the view that the town was not the appropriate forum for the issue.”