No School Board Races

A district wide election will take place on May 18 at local elementary schools. Voters will be asked to approve the budget that will raise the tax levy by 3.9 percent.
At that time, two board seats will also be up for election, although at present there are no challengers for the two incumbents seeking reelection.
The deadline for handing in board candidate petitions was April 19 and other than the two incumbents Rob Kurnit and Tom Hickey, there were no other petitions handed in.
The school board appointed the two in September 2009, after two seats were vacated by the resignations of Michelle Friedel and Rick Wolff. Kurnit and Hickey's names will be on the ballot, but because there are no other candidates, they will automatically continue for an additional three years.
Kurnit lives in the town of Woodstock and is married to an Onteora teacher. Hickey lives in Pine Hill and currently has two children attending school in the district.
At Tuesday night's board of education meeting at the Middle/High school board members thanked the administration for their hard work and last minute changes.
Marching Band and Color Guard was restored. Half of the Gifted and Talented budget was restored and BOCES will continue to run the program.
Board members plan to look into a homegrown district enrichment program for the following year. Initially these programs were eliminated from the budget during the Superintendent's recommendation a week ago. but funding was found through teacher retirement savings.
Overall, 11.5 teaching positions will be eliminated. This includes GED, Speech, special educators and a middle school team. Out of the eleven full time teachers, six retired and two resigned. Three teachers will be laid-off.
Of the full time non-teaching group, twelve positions will be eliminated. Of this group, only one has announced a retirement, but they have until April 30 to take advantage of retirement incentives. Other cuts include, a librarian, high school after school homework help, INDIE, technology and cheerleading.
In a six to one vote, the board approved a ballot proposition that would allow voters to decide on $35,000 to purchase a new seven-passenger vehicle. This will replace a 1999 model with 200,717 miles clocked on it. Trustee Donna Flayhan voted against the proposition.
On April 13, Superintendent Leslie Ford unveiled the 2010/2011 Onteora district school budget with a similar recommendation of a .31 percent budget increase and said the budget hike is being driven by increased health insurance, retirement contribution and contractual salary increases. Cuts in State aid and earned interest revenue also add to the mix.
At the April 13 board of education meeting at the Middle/High School, several parents and students spoke in protest of program cuts. Over the previous weekends, several color guard members demonstrated on the Woodstock Village Green.
The district was presented with an offer from BOCES to restore part of the Gifted and Talented program. Instead of a budget of $224,357 it would be cut roughly in half to $112,000. Assistant Superintendent Kathleen O'Brien was not overly appreciative of the offer stating that it was, "too much money for too little (program)." O'Brien voiced concern about how much hands-on time kids would receive with instructors.
Under board direction, additional administrative costs were reduced from the budget, which helped to restore some of the programs. Athletic teams, JV sports and the music teacher have been reinstated into the budget. Three Middle/High school clerical workers will be eliminated at a savings of $92,161; Overtime pay will be reduced at a savings of $27,480; Attorney fee reduction will save the district $25,000 and paying off debt for an 2008 bus purchase saves $43,306.
If voters rejected the budget two times, a contingent budget would have a levy impact of 2.85 percent. Other cuts would include Volleyball, Golf, and JV sports, as well as after school homework help at the Middle School level.
"I have to applaud the board for getting it down to 3.9 percent because this really makes sense for the community to support," Ford said.
She asked the community to "think locally," and support the children and noted that she, Assistant Superintendent Victoria McLaren and board members will be presenting the budget at town board meetings in the following weeks.

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All Youth

Of course the great charm of New Genesis performances is that their casts are adolescents and teenagers, and while proving a great occasion for exalting in that energy it also proved, as was this production's intent, that Shakespeare's age-its challenges and promise-remains our own.
To New Genesis Director Lesley Sawhill's credit, the performances by the New Genesis cast were resonant, weighty, hilarious and memorable. Eli Soruich looked a king as Henry, and his eve-of-battle soliloquy weighing what "hard condition" distinguishes that role carried a tingling pathos. Henry's counterpart, the Queen of France, performed by Lachlin Brooks was statuesque and always center-stage: They both proved grounding to the production's energy, as was Tiffanie Delozier's Hostess, among her other roles. Further, Brooks playing the French court's herald was terrifically sardonic and cocksure, making the reversal in her last, post-battle appearance to request a truce, "That we may wander o'er this bloody field/To look our dead, and then to bury them," devastating.
Marley Alford's performance of Katherine lit on the exuberant, particularly in the closing suitor scene with King Henry. All the "French" cohort spoke with a convincing accent: A good decision, not only distinguishing them but also lending many scenes a happy levity. Brandon Sawhill-Aja's Westmorland was also large in that: In fact, over-the-top madcap. Among the younger players, Sammy Furr added vast humor and scope as Pistol-a heart conqueror with a gutsy angelic voice-and Jermey Brownstein's laconic Burgundy was terrific. The same for the performances of Dante Cantor, Helena Ojarovsky and Joey Dragon-feisty and moving-as well as Asa Spurlock, who with the above noted Furr captivatingly held up Henry V's ecclesiastical wing.
Particular commendation should go to Finnian Shaw in his role as Chorus: Seated at stage edge to relate the play's historical frame, he achieved a glowing audience intimacy, even while maintaining a wonderfully ancient weariness.
That was helped a little by Shaw limping as he came on and off down stage, and Henry V's blocking, in general, was strong including aisle sweeps, mosh battle scenes and the deft use of upstage action. These circumscribed movements caught a great part of Shakespeare's compass-"within this wooden O the very casques/That did affront the air at Agincourt."
Of course "casques" are helmets for which bike helmets served in this production.
In fact it was in the cast's collaboration with Jen Dragon in idiosyncratic costuming that the contemporary verve and life of Shandaken teenagers manifested, including the charming use of cell phones to tell time. While in part humorously disjunctive, it gave a little bite to the "possible future" the New Genesis players sought to glean.
This might have also informed Ron Aja's stage design of grey outcrops: "I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,/Straining upon the start." It is a vision bleak, sharp-edged but veined with vitality.
The production further began around questions of Henry as hero, with a nod to Obama's Nobel speech: "...peace entails sacrifice." Setting aside by what logic our current American sacrifices, such as they are, might build peace, Henry went to war over questions about female secession and squabbles over lineage.
Underlying all these, of course, is the real, seemingly eternal, war rationale: Power; or the struggles of groups, each defined by whatever hokum, to wrest it from another. To whatever degree an answer to hero question this production borne, it seems also to point to another in which what power is innate to us is shared, and by New Genesis wonderfully so.
This July will see New Genesis outdoor productions of The Tempest and Romeo & Juliet at the Little Globe Theatre in West Shokan, and the call has gone out for players to join their performance workshops, "designed to train young actors (ages 7 to 17) in the collaborative process of creating theater."
For how to join, scheduling information and more, please alight and visit www.newgenesisproductions.org.
While fostering young talent and vision is in itself fantastic, behind a play's production is the building of a people; namely, the actual "collaborative process" is the real thing, the vibrant mettle. Underscoring the importance of the arts in forming community, a people are defined by how they work together, more perhaps than what results from such close work-which happily for the New Genesis players appears consistently rich.
In supporting these ventures, the people of Shandaken and Olive also prove themselves such.

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Ready To Take It Over

Mike Jonker presented his firm's proposal (LVDV Operations, Inc.) and informed the board that a clean water start up was successfully completed on March 16, with all equipment functioning properly. He stated that his company has been operating for 15 years and runs wastewater treatment plants in Cobleskill, Roxbury, Prattsville, Hobart, Bloomville, and Hamden. It is expected there will be three (3) full time personnel.
In other business on April 6, the board met and discussed with Kevin Young, attorney, who stated an amendment was needed for the Sewer Use Law which addresses charges for new hook ups and a Special Benefit Assessment. It was also noted that the town will take over the Wastewater Treatment Plant on July 1, when the town will become responsible for property insurance, telephone, etc. as these costs will no longer be born by the Catskill Watershed Corporation.
The Town Board regular meetings of April 12 (Audit) and April 13, were decidedly 'different' because Leifeld was not in attendance due to recent back surgery, which was the meeting's first topic of discussion.
Three resolutions were passed, the first having to do with the needed Special Benefit Assessment law for properties whose sewer use is greater than expected. If your usage falls higher than the allocated Gallons Per Day, the new law states, a Special Benefit Assessment shall be levied in the amount of $5,000 per EDU for households (all single family residences are assigned one EDU which is equivalent to 300 gallons of water use per day). or Non-household connections, if your use is greater than or equal to the Table A GPD, a Special Benefit Assessment shall be levied in the amount of $1,250 per 75 GPD above the Table A GPD.
Of special note: For those outside the Sewer District wishing to be connected to the sewer, provided there is capacity that allows for new connections to the plant, an additional charge will be required to compensate the Sewer District for it's embedded costs... to be determined by the Town Board at the time that a petition is submitted. Unless otherwise specified by resolution of the Town Board, the Special Benefit Assessment for a user outside the district is $10,000 per EDU of proposed flow.
A second resolution approved a contract with LVDV Operations, Inc. for the operation and maintenance of the Boiceville Wastewater Treatment Plant, giving specific responsibility for buildings and grounds maintenance, including lawn mowing, snow plowing and removal, as well as structural repairs and improvements to the buildings; all utilities, all equipment, materials and supplies necessary to operate the plant; to the town.
Cost of the services being provided by LVDV Operations, Inc. will be payable at the annual rates of $251,900 for 2010, $259,600 for 2011 and $267,500 for 2012. Special hourly rates for additional services outside their normal scope of duties will be billable at rates rising $2 per year from a $58/hr base.
New York City, however, will be responsible for the bulk of the costs of the Wastewater Treatment Plant - by other town's accounts, the percentage is 85% with the Town paying 15%.
A third and final Resolution noted National Library Week and encouraged all residents to visit the Olive Free Library to take advantage of the wonderful library resources available there.
In other business, Craig Grazier - who ran unsuccessfully for town board last November - was appointed Recreation Committee Chair, and Scott Kelder was appointed a member of the Recreation Committee. It was noted that work has been underway at all recreation fields to correct drainage issues, clear trees that had come down with the winter storms, and prepare for ball and summer camp, which start Tuesday, July 6th and end Thursday, August 12.
A Town Clean-up Weekend, put together by Sue Horner, secretary to the Supervisor, and Councilperson Linda Burkhardt will allow homeowners to turn in debris without charge to the Olive Transfer Station on the weekend of May 1st and 2nd.... With other events in the planning.
On a closing note, Deputy Supervisor LaMonda suggested that a page be left blank in memory of Cindy VanBuren, who passed away in March. Cindy was very active with many of the Town's youth and programs - and will be sadly missed. A celebration of her life is being planned for June 13, 2010 at Davis Park - watch for details.

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Don't Tread On Them...

"The Tea Party is a nonpartisan political party," Johansen started to say in introduction when a man stood and loudly demanded, "Why, where there are certain politicians we don't like who done us bad, when there are certain political parties trying to screw us over... Why don't we just endorse George Phillips?"
Continuing his reference to the GOP candidate against longstanding Democratic Congressman Maurice Hinchey, the man went on to note that "Hinchey is a piece of garbage. If we don't endorse we're out of here."
And he left.
"I prefer we have a contract with the people we support, similar to the way the NRA rates candidates," Johansen continued, referring to the National Rife Association most in the room proudly belonged to. "I think you should make up your own minds."
As people grumbled more about Hinchey, local greengrocer Al Higley, who supplied hot dogs for the event, noted that such decisions should be made only after candidates were talked to. McGee shifted back to general talk of recent Rasmusson Polls showing a quarter of Americans showing support for the Tea Party movement, and the possibility of pulling in enough Democrats to really make a difference, eventually.
"The reason we're not part of the Republican Party is because we have to be able to hold their feet to the fire, too," she said. "We're not just a group out to help Republicans; we're here to help our country. It's about principals."
People stood to say why they were there.
"I'm tired of the left wing Democratic press labeling us as racist," said a black man festooned with NRA buttons and American flag pins. "I hate Obama not because he's black, not because he's a Democrat, but because he's a Democrat Socialist Communist. It bothers me that our first black president is a commie."
"He's the pre-curser to the Anti-Christ," someone added.
"I'm tired of screaming at the television set," yelled another man.
"They're picking everyone's pockets," Higley said. "They're taking our kids' lunch money!"
"I can see we're not going to have any trouble speaking plain," commented Johansen.
A candidate for the Republican nod for a run for the state assembly position held by Democrat Kevin Cahill was introduced. Don Wise noted how he had run against Hinchey as a young man, then spoke for an hour about the two party system, his background, his beliefs. He made mention of how there were people, poor and not, who "manipulated the system," then noted that when someone was having 7, 8, 9 kids by three or four different fathers, something else was wrong that needed addressing. He decried New York City's hold on state politics. He talked about term limits, Sheldon Silver's power. The need for an investigative service that looked into everyone getting social service aid of any sort, and misusing benefits.
When Wise mentioned Cahill's recent claims about bringing new jobs to the area, someone derisively suggested it was through the census.
Richie Ostrander asked about gun legislation and Wise noted he was a member of the NRA.
"Good thing," a number of folks noted.
"If you're a law-abiding citizen there should be no limits on your owning guns," he said. "God forbid you have to protect your family in your own home. You have to have the freedom to use that gun."
Someone brought up fishing licenses. Another raised the idea of taxing cigarettes.
When Wise suggested that cigarette and similar "sin taxes" might be a way of paying for what needed to be paid, someone else asked about taxing McDonalds for their food. When he started to suggest that might not be a bad idea several people answered with cries of, "That's liberal!"
"That's too much government for me," said one man, loudly. "The government is not my parents."
"You had us, Don, but I think you just lost us," added another man.
"This country has to stop and go back to the fork in the road," said Paul Ragonese, a former New York City hero cop and Woodstock police chief. "We need another Ronald Reagan."
"Now you understand how liberals do this," added Gerry Setchko, a former head of the Shandaken Republican Club. "They come in saying something's not good for you... Then they start chipping away at your rights."
When Wise was finally convinced to leave the stage, Higley, a former county legislator, gave a mini-speech about the need for jobs. He couldn't understand why people were fighting against gas drilling in the state, in the area, when it could help employ people and bring riches to the region.
"Al, it's time for you to get back into politics," said McGee.
Everyone started to get up to leave as McGee started talking about how "We want to help you with some simple tools." She asked for e-mail addresses for informational alerts.
"This is a venue to come forward," she said. "The first Tea Party candidate was Ross Perot. When he crapped out the whole movement disappeared..."
"There's food," Johansen noted, saying they'd need to set up some committees and setting the next meeting for the middle of May in Shokan Park.
"We have to look into local issues," he added as the room quickly, loudly emptied.

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