Raising The Bar
            For the last two issues, we’ve run cutting edge stories about some of the quieter subjects that have tended to just disappear without a local newspaper keeping watch on our day-to-day life here in Olive. One was about some serious problems that arose during the approval process for the Tongore Pines senior housing complex in Olivebridge, a fine project, but one that seems to have been pushed through without much concern for the local community. The other, in this week’s property, is about an oversight concerning a housing development, where a badly-planned road went through that now needs significant repair. Both include quite a bit of finger pointing between different parties and agencies, yet the real problem that seems to have arisen in each is graver than something someone can stand up and apologize for.
            Our town has grown complacent over the years. Somehow, over years of life running along smoothly under the same people, year in and year out, more and more “t’s” have gone uncrossed, and more and more “I’s” undotted. The result is that the town is now on the verge of facing what all our neighbors have grown used to… litigation based on mistakes. And a possible erosion of trust in what is still primarily a decent administration, on both the paid and volunteer sides.
            Strangely, all of this has come up, though, just in time. Concurrent with the Tongore Pines and Planning SNAFU stories, we’ve learned that rock legend David Bowie and his supermodel wife Iman have bought a home in town and are starting to be seen around local establishments. Reports have come in that Paul McCartney and his new bride, Heather Mills, were house hunting in our parts. Bob Dylan was seen in Phoenicia (what DOES he look like these days, anyway?).
            A recent story pointed out how real estate prices just keep going up in our parts… along with demand. And in spite of the fears we’ve all been facing regarding the large tax parcel issue that will hopefully be given a year’s stalling come the next Onteora School Board meeting on August 20. Business seems to be doing decently along Route 28, and new owners are opening up the old Tongore Store in Olivebridge.
            The point of all these side glances? We’re changing as a community. And this publication is reflecting those changes… The town needs to operate differently to avoid the sorts of partisan and litigation problems that have plagued the likes of Marbletown and Woodstock, Shandaken and Hurley. We’ve got to be, well, a bit more professional about what we do.
            Does this have to mean we need to kick people out of jobs and start acting snooty around town offices? No. Because we’ve done good jobs in the past.
            We just have to remember to be careful again, and to look at the raising of these recent problems, right or wrong, as a raising of the bar we’re all seeking to measure up against.
            We just have to do better.