Letters5/21/2009

Dear Editor,
WHY OH WHY OH WHY?
Would someone please explain to me the reasoning behind mowing down the wild flowers that grow alongside the reservoir's pedestrian ways? Not to mention along our country roads, like 28A, and even 28, which is so much more lovely with these flowers blooming! Do our tax dollars really have to be spent this way? Seeing these beautiful signs of spring and summer taken away from us gets my goat every year!- and please don't tell me it's to control ticks!!
Abby Heijnen
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
Congressman Maurice Hinchey has represented the New York 22nd Congressional District as a Democrat since first winning his seat in 1992. He currently sits on the House Appropriations Committee.
Our office has received many calls and e-mails in relation to a misinformation campaign that makes false claims about H.R. 875, the Food Safety Modernization Act. These calls and e-mails falsely claim that the bill would, among other things, criminalize backyard gardens, close farmers’ markets, and eliminate organic farming by requiring them to use certain types of seeds and fertilizer. Furthermore, these correspondences claim that H.R. 875 will pass Congress soon without amendments or debate.
All of these claims are completely false. Annenberg Political Fact Check described the e-mail campaign promoting these myths as “Internet hysteria.” As far as claims that H.R. 875 would target organic farmers, benefits manufacturers of genetically engineered seeds, and threatens to uproot backyard vegetable gardens across the country, Annenberg Political Fact Check says simply – “It doesn't.” The Organic Trade Association and the Organic Consumers Association have asserted that these claims are false.
Organic farmers have a strong record in providing safe, high quality foods to American families. The bill would not ban organic farming or require organic farms to use certain types of seeds or fertilizer.
The Food Safety Modernization Act would fix systemic problems in our food safety system by establishing a Food Safety Administration headed by an expert in food safety within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The bill also contains many welcome changes to the food safety system, including: granting mandatory recall authority, requiring traceability, establishing a strong risk-based inspection regime for food companies; and creating a system for certifying the safety of imported foods. This legislation also would penalize companies for knowingly selling tainted products, such as what has happened with the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA).
Below you will find a ‘Myth and Fact’ sheet that sets the record straight on this important bill. The food safety debate needs to move beyond these outrageous myths and focus on implementing the types of reform necessary to protect our food supply.
Myths and Facts
H.R. 875 – The Food Safety Modernization Act
MYTH: H.R. 875 “makes it illegal to grow your own garden” and would result in the “criminalization of the backyard gardener.”
FACT: There is no language in the bill that would regulate, penalize, or shut down backyard gardens. The focus of the bill is to ensure the safety of food in interstate commerce.
MYTH: H.R. 875 would mean a “goodbye to farmers markets” because it would regulate and penalize “each farmer who wishes to sell locally.”
FACT: There is no language in the bill that would result in farmers markets being regulated, penalized by any fines, or shut down. Farmers markets would be able to continue to flourish under the bill. In fact, the bill would insist that imported foods meet strict safety standards to ensure that unsafe imported foods are not competing with locally-grown foods.
MYTH: H.R. 875 would result in the “death of organic farming” or “mandate the use of chemicals or certain types of seeds on organic farms.”
FACT: There is no language in the bill that would stop or interfere with organic farming. The National Organic Program (NOP) is under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Food Safety Modernization Act only addresses food safety issues under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
MYTH: H.R. 875 was written by Monsanto and other large agribusiness companies because Stan Greenberg, Rep. DeLauro’s husband, is a consultant for Monsanto.
FACT: Monsanto and other large agribusiness companies did not write or express support for H.R. 875. Mr. Greenberg had no involvement in the drafting of the bill. Greenberg, Quinlan Rosner does no lobbying on any issue and its work is wholly independent. Mr. Greenberg never worked for Monsanto, and has not conducted surveys for Monsanto in the past decade. The bill is supported by several Members of Congress who have strong progressive records on issues involving farmers markets, organic farming, and locally-grown foods. Also, H.R. 875 is the only food safety legislation that has been supported by all the major consumer and food safety groups:
-- Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention
-- Center for Science in the Public Interest
-- Consumer Federation of America
-- Consumers Union
-- Food & Water Watch
-- The Pew Charitable Trusts
-- Safe Tables Our Priority
-- Trust for America’s Health
MYTH: H.R. 875 would implement a national animal ID system (NAIS).
FACT: There is no language in the bill that would implement NAIS, which is under the jurisdiction of the USDA. H.R. 875 addresses issues under the jurisdiction of the FDA.
MYTH: H.R. 875 will pass the Congress next week without amendments or debate.
FACT: Food safety legislation has yet to be considered by any Congressional committee. As legislation moves forward, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will consider H.R. 759 as its base bill. The Senate HELP Committee will consider S. 510 as its base bill.
Jeff Lieberson, Press Officer
Rep. Maurice Hinchey
Washington, DC

Dear Editor,
Today, the Assembly passed legislation that would allow people to marry in New York State without regard to their gender. This measure would grant same-sex couples the rights and responsibilities of marriage that are extended to any other married couple. Under this bill, clergy would not be required to perform a ceremony or recognize a same-sex marriage.
This legislation is an important step forward for New York State. As a lawmaker, I believe that it is our duty to provide citizens with equal opportunities. This bill removes the discriminatory barriers that deprive individuals of the rights of other married individuals and awards legal recognition to all marriages. While civil unions are thought by some to be a stepping stone to equality, they simply cannot overcome the thousands of differences in our laws. By recognizing marriage equality, partners will now be protected under law and given access to basic legal rights to which other married couples are entitled, including ownership of property, health care, hospital visitation, taxation, insurance coverage, child custody, pension benefits and testimonial privileges.
Making marriage equality the law of the land is the only way we can assure the full spectrum of rights is granted to all our citizens. By passage of this legislation, New York will join Maine, Vermont, Iowa and Massachusetts in recognizing marriage equity under the law.
Kevin Cahill, NYS Assembly
Kingston, NY

Dear Editor,
I tried to do the right thing: I went out and bought a pair of felt-less wading shoes. But I’m too late to protect the Esopus Creek in the Catskills from the spread of didymo, the “rock-snot” algae infesting premier trout streams in New York and New England. The Department of Envir-onmental Conservation says didymo has now been confirmed in the Esopus, as it has in the East and West branches of the Delaware River and the Battenkill River.
The news has caused considerable distress. Newspapers in the region have called the algae “fer ocious” and raised the possibility of trout “annihilation.” Sen. Chuck Schumer even hiked to the water’s edge beneath the Five Arch Bridge in black topcoat and yellow necktie to announce he would ask for $20 million to fight invasive species.
Why didymo has suddenly bloomed since the summer of 2006, after leaving our trout streams alone for who knows how long, is a mystery. Scientists say the main way it spreads from one waterway to the next is in the damp felt soles of anglers’ shoes, but the linings of the shoes, breathable waders, fly lines and flies can also conceivably spread it — and, of course, so can birds and animals.
The bad news about the Esopus came as little surprise.
“Since we did not become aware of didymo last year until late September,” DEC Region 4 fisheries biologist Norm McBride told me last summer, “it was highly likely that anglers inadvertently introduced didymo through the Del aware system.
“Since the Delaware system is a popular destination for anglers from all over New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, it is highly probable that didymo was inadvertently introduced to numerous waters throughout the East Coast.”
The time came this spring for new footwear, so I heeded the call of Trout Unlimited and bought a pair of Simms wading shoes with Vibram “sticky rubber” soles that the company claims are resistant to aquatic nuisance species, and are just as effective as felt when walking on slippery, underwater rocks.
They’d better be. I’m not as young as I used to be, and I dislike falling in the water more than ever. The rubber soles will be a big improvement when hiking through the woods; felt is lousy on mud and leaves. In the water, I’m kind of a timid wader anyway, and I will rely more on careful foot placement, steady movements and a wading staff to stay upright than the traction of my shoes. My new shoes gripped just fine in the fly shop. They will be christened on the Esopus next week.
Will didymo “devastate” the Esopus? I sure hope not. It’s far and away my favorite place to fish, and it would be heartbreaking to see it ruined. But I’m not panicking yet because, at least to my knowledge, the other places where it has been found haven’t been ruined. I am aware of reports by some anglers of algae gunking up their flies on the Esopus this season, but the one time I was there, I had no such problems.
The DEC and Trout Unlimited say we should soak waders and wading shoes in hot water with bleach or dish detergent, or, at the very least, make sure they are utterly dry before fishing a new body of water. I’ve heard of ang lers planning to have “didymo” and “non-didymo” waders, but I don’t think that will work. These days, I think all waders have to be considered didymo waders.
Morgan Lyle
E. Northport, NY

Dear Editor,
I was much aggrieved by the ruling made on April 15, 2009 by Olive Town Justice Ron Wright to release to their owner, David Delisio, the 18 dogs that had been removed from his barn by the Ulster County SPCA because of the inhumane conditions in which Mr. Delisio was kenneling the dogs. Whether or not Mr. Delisio had the right to have the dogs returned to him pending a trial of the alleged inhumane conditions, Judge Wright should not have released them to Mr. Delisio until Judge Wright had made a personal inspection of the dogs’ living quarters. I would venture that our Town court is not so crowded with cases that its justice could not have taken the time to visit Mr. Delisio’s barn before rendering his pro tem decision to return the dogs until a trial date.
Robert G. Tischler, Esq.
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
The attached missal has been on hold for a few weeks as it was composed over a month ago. It may be old news but the impending departure of a OCSD board member is a pre-curser of more trouble to come at Onteora. I believe others than me are tired of all of the following.
Corey Cavallaro of the Onteora Teachers Association states that he has continually attempted to address the OCS Board and Administration in public forum on contract negotiations. He notes the District has stalled bargaining negotiations for over 250 days. This tells me that the teachers contract has expired and the teachers are continuing their chosen vocation . Mr. Cavallaro has offered to meet in executive session and answer questions from the board. The board's and Administration's behavior is unacceptable and would not be tolerated in the real world.
Apparently the OCS board and administration are playing a game which is frowned on by management executives, Unions instructors, and experts. There are always three options available to responsible leaders; choose "yes", choose "no" and choose to "do nothing". Mr. Cavallaro has received no response except for a memo seeking a fact finding through a third party. This is some kind of a joke by the OCS board and the OCS administration. Both groups need re-calibration and an attitude adjustment.
The OCSB and administration , according to Mr. Cavallero would rather "farm" out the responsibility to Tax paid consultants than do the work they are obligated and/or being paid to do. Quite often the consultants are dismissed along with their recommendations and are paid anyway. The board offers themselves and competes individually for the positions they hold while the Administration is hired to plan and manage the OCS's resources. Contracting out one's job/task is not an option. It's referred to as "outsourcing"; not much appreciated these days especially in the public arena.
The OCS board and administration have come to behave like politicians who hire consultants, form Commissions, Authoritys, Committees and other unelected "experts" thus avoiding accoutability. Note: Engineering consultants hired by State and City governments when they already have an Engineering Department is a prime example. Then the U.S. Rep. commission for pay raises under House Spkr Jim Wright that would take effect if no action was taken by the commission. [Yes, that's the language used]. How about the NYC Tri-Boro and NY State Bridge & Tunnel Authoritys that raise tolls and fees; or the Metro Transit Authority that sets fares and fare increases [note the current mess].
Has anyone noticed that the Chairman of each of these entities receives much more compensation than the appointing officer [Governor or Executive]?
The Onteora Central School system is so bloated and featherbedded that even as registration and attendance diminishes, costs and expenses increase disproportionately. I have seen large buses on Weber Lane with 3-4 students on board morning and evening.There are a number of "Home schooled" in the district that relieves the OCS budget which accordingly leaves more for the actual attendees. Don't give us the expense of the home school "monitor" which is a once a week visit. That feature is quite reasonable. Anyone wish to debate? publicly? OCS Admin. has the figures.
Wake up Olive/Hurley! Most of OCSD is made up of "interloper" towns that were hosting failed schools. For 45 of the 55 years of Onteora there has been nothing but discord, arguments and even stealing Olive's/Hurley's tax revenue. When I and my age group attended Kingston High School in the 30's and 40's, Olive/Hurley paid a contract bus fee and Olive/Hurley paid the Kingston School System tuition per student. No arguments, no interference, and no coveting anyone's tax revenues. There was one bus on Rte. 28 and one bus on Rte 28A. We all started early and began our school day at 8:00 AM. We all did quite well in life, career and retirement. We are fluent in English [imagine that] plus a foreign language, Social Sciences, History, Geography and MATH. New Mexico is indeed a state in the United States and I know where Diego Garcia [not a person] is.
It's time to put away the Knives and end the "Hack and Slash" confrontations.
Mr. Legnini's resignation timing and justification was "right on". He recognized an "Animal House" and departed graciously. I suspect there just wasn't enough aspirin or Brioschi in his "First Aid" Kit to last his term. Thank you sir, for trying. Now another board member "needs more time for her family". Thank you also for serving and trying. Strange; the last board had no resignees. Thank you also.
Glenn T. Anderson
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
A Public Hearing was held recently (May 6) for concerned Ulster County citizens to voice their pleasure or not for a ten cent fee to be charged for plastic bags at retail establishments. I listened to the 22 speakers at the Public Hearing and while Legislator Bischoff (Chairman of Laws & Rules Committee for the Legislature) believes that 14 speakers were in favor of the law and the other eight (8) were opposed, what it comes down to is a matter of common sense. The environmentalists, however, would like you to believe that by charging a 10 cent charge on plastic bags, the problem will be eliminated.
While I can appreciate the intent, do we really need another “feel good” piece of legislation? Don’t we have a recycling law on the books already and littering laws that are not being enforced? Deposits on bottles and cans sounded like a solution too, but people are still making a living collecting them off the sides of the roads and streets. The enticement of five cents to return bottles and cans is not working either. Add that to the candy wrappers, cigarette packs, dirty diapers, empty coffee cups, bags and wrappers from fast food establishments (guess they weren’t paying attention to the recently adopted calorie content law) that account for the debris that lies along the roadside, the problem clearly is enforcing the laws that exist.
While I cannot believe I am saying this—I find myself agreeing with Legislator Provenzano who, when hosting a local morning radio show, announced she is “opposed” to the ten cent fee because it will “hurt the large families” and is in favor of “educating the public,” while Legislator Bischoff, on the other hand, argued repeatedly with a member of the community on another radio show that plastic bags are not manufactured in the USA. Ed Gaddy spoke on that issue, and I can assure you Mr. Gaddy did his homework and can back-up his statements. He quotes where these plastic bags are made in the United States and can tell you what grade of plastic they are and how long they will take to break down. He has it down to a science.
It was, however, quite a revelation to hear members of the American Chemistry Council, Food Industry Alliance of New York State and representatives from area supermarkets comment at the Public Hearing. What I found most disturbing is there is a state law currently that mandates grocery stores to recycle plastic bags. So, why the need for another law?
I can recall when this Legislative body once questioned why styrofoam cups were being purchased for coffee consumption. Why are we not hearing about recycling styrofoam? And that indeed was one of the comments offered by one of the last speakers at the Public Hearing. Today, though, it is a hit on plastic bags. Why not styrofoam? It is highly flammable, toxic, takes a long time to break down in the environment (as well) and it will block digestive tracts of animals if they consume it and will eventually starve.
Why are plastic sippie cups placed at legislators’ desks during meetings if they are concerned about recycling and filling up landfills? I would not suggest that anyone run out just yet and order paper cups because they also pose problems for the environment. There is no recycling for paper cups; they are either lined with plastic or coated in wax. Plus, when the paper portion finally breaks down in a landfill, it leaks chemicals into the ground.
Another speaker (Imre Beke) eloquently stated that one percent of an annual salary of a person (making minimum wage) would be spent on plastic bags. This local law potentially will hurt the low income families the most as they struggle to put food on their tables and meet their every day expenses. Yet, another member of the community (who called Legislator Bischoff’s radio show) stated that the poor would save money in the long run if they simply purchased reusable bags. Their savings would be realized in no time. That point is well taken, but they may not have the extra money to pay for these bags. Is some agency going to donate them to the needy so they won’t get charged the 10 cents per plastic bag?
In my “Paper or Plastic” 101 Class today I learned the following from a National Geographic News article from 2003:
· Plastic bags are cheap to produce
· 80 percent of the grocery and convenience stores use them
· 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed world-wide each year
· Recycling of plastic bags is in high demand from companies that use them in building materials
· Millions of plastic bags end up as litter—which is an enforcement issue
· The Film and Bag Federation (trade group with the Society of Plastics Industry based in Washington DC) stated the right choice between paper or plastic is clearly plastic
· Plastic bags consume 40 percent less energy, generate 80 percent less solid waste, produce 70 percent fewer atmospheric emissions and release up to 94 percent fewer waterborne wastes
· The economic advantage for store owners is that it costs one cent for a plastic bag; paper bags cost four cents
· Plastic bags account for four out of every five bags handed out at the grocery store
· Plastic bags are becoming a victim of their success and the development of biodegradable plastic bags is making great strides
· Ireland, Taiwan, South Africa, Australia and Bangladesh have taxed the plastic bags or banned their use entirely
· Just about everyone in Ireland carries a reusable bag
· The American Plastics Council is leary of imposing a tax (use fee) on plastic bags because it would cost tens of thousands of jobs and result in an increase in energy consumption, pollution, landfill space and grocery prices as store owners would resort to more expensive paper bags as an alternative
In addition, when you log on to “reusablebags.com” there are many informative articles from the PlasTax (Ireland’s Plastic Bag Tax), Problems with Plastic Bottles, The Hidden Costs of Cheap Reusable Shopping Bags, The Ugly Truth About Plastic Bags—The Numbers, Top 10 Reasons Why Bans on Plastic Bags Don’t Make Sense, What About Biodegradable Bags, Paper Bags Are Better Than Plastic to Facts and Figures Regarding the True Cost of Plastic Bags (to name a few).
Statistics have vastly increased since 2003 and many more countries and cities have banned the use of plastic bags. Most assuredly The American Plastics Council can probably now report that everyone in Ireland and the above mentioned countries continue to use reusable bags and those who don’t are fined or whisked off to jail, though I did not find anything conclusive in my research.
Knowledge is Power and I have educated myself on the use of “paper or plastic” bags. It is my hope that our representatives will make the honorable decision to take steps to enlighten the public in becoming more educated on recycling efforts in our communities and not adopt Introductory Local Law No. 3 of 2009.
Quite frankly, we don’t need another fee to be added to our already exorbitant grocery bills when shopping for essentials. We don’t need to be told what kind of bag the essentials should be placed in and carted home. Let us make that choice.
I will continue to use plastic bags because my cat and dogs love them and I am educated enough to use them wisely.
Ellen DiFalco
Kingston, NY

Dear Editor,
For some it's sixteen years of advocacy, for me it's only 5. For homeowners it's been decades of pleading and working for property tax relief and reform.
There's a bill before the NYS Senate called the Krueger bill (S4239). We anticipate an assembly "same as" bill shortly. For some reason, it took a New York City senator to sponsor this excellent bill and lead the charge. She's done so among the Democratic Conference, the majority party in the senate.
I'm happy and not surprised to learn that Hudson Valley's Republican Senator John Bonacic has signed on as a sponsor, among the early and still few Republicans to do so. Yay, Senator Bonacic.
Through an income tax credit, the bill's circuit breaker will immediately REDUCE the property tax for our most overburdened homeowners and help them keep their homes while the use of that archaic tax itself is gradually reduced.
Here are some highlights of Senate bill #4239:
" With the circuit breaker, the state would set a maximum percentage of income a household is expected to pay in property taxes, and the state would pay 70 percent of the excess in the form of a state income tax credit.
" It leaves Basic and Enhanced STAR untouched.
" Its relief is phased-in to keep the cost down during this fiscal situation. Beneficiaries and benefits will increase each year until fully phased in during the fourth year. Phase-in of renters begins in the second year.
" This CB applies to all Ad Valorem taxes, unlike the current STAR relief, which applies only to school property taxes.
" There's a 5-year residency requirement, largely to limit the program's cost and to target relief to those already overburdened for several years, and to discourage overspending on new home purchase.
Property tax reform advocates in the Hudson Valley (www.hvproperty-taxreform.org) and beyond (www.nys-propertytaxreform.org) are specifically and right now pushing for passage of the S4239 Circuit Breaker in the session ending June 22.
We urge all to contact their senators and assembly members and ask for their hardy support of the S4239 Circuit Breaker!
Carole Kraus
Property Tax Reform Task Force
Accord, NY

Dear Editor,
"I read the news today oh boy."
Once again, we see that government officials lied. The New York Times reports on May 8, "U.S. Admits Afghan Civilians Died in Raids." Of course they will not admit the whole truth. Instead, as the article says, "United States officials acknowledged Thursday for the first time that at least some of what might be 100 civilian deaths in western Afghanistan had been caused by American bombs." Again lies or at best half truths.
Chris Hedges worked as a foreign correspondent for The New York Times for two decades. Here's his comments on the recent slaughter:
"The bodies of dozens, perhaps well over a hundred, women, children and men, their corpses blown into bits of human flesh by iron fragmentation bombs dropped by U.S. warplanes in a village in the western province of Farah, illustrates the futility of the Afghan war. We are not delivering democracy or liberation or development. We are delivering massive, sophisticated forms of industrial slaughter. And because we have employed the blunt and horrible instrument of war in a land we know little about and are incapable of reading, we embody the barbarism we claim to be seeking to defeat...we are the best recruiting weapon the Taliban possesses."
At the core of all this increased and expanded warfare in Afghanistan and Pakistan and continued presence and mounting death toll in Iraq is the issue of government lying and deception to the public - which since the end of the Bush era is now more sophisticated but just as rampant and endemic in our present leadership.
Take, for example, the President's statement, "My view is that nobody is above the law and, if there are clear instances of wrong-doing, that people should be prosecuted just like any ordinary citizen." Period, President Obama. There are no "buts" that come logically after that statement. Either the President and his Attorney General will abide by that or it was yet another propaganda lie fed to the American public.
After the torture memos came out publicly, showing what many of us knew long before their appearance, to this day Attorney General Holder refuses to appoint a special prosecutor. The law demands prosecution but as has become all too usual, some get away with crimes more premeditated and open to prosecution than even the horrific American bombing and killing of innocent civilians in Afghanistan.
When criminals like Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, Yoo, Bybee, Gonzalez and others walk the streets with impunity, Obama's grand statement about nobody being above the law, seems hollow and false.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates recently revealed that even after the planned closure of Guantanamo, the Obama administration may still imprison, without charges or trials, up to 100 prisoners. The administration has asked Congress for $50 million to build new facilities for them in the U.S.
Why? Because the only evidence was extracted by torture. So these men, without just cause or real evidence may remain imprisoned while those responsible walk free with little if any threat of prosecution from Obama's so called Justice Department.
So the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan expands further under the new Obama administration, the death toll mounts with our continued presence in Iraq, new prisons for those held with no charges are being built, the military budget is being vastly increased, billions will be spent for war while the economy continues to fail for many of us and it's all justified by deception, broken promises and outright lies - business as usual.
"The audacity of hope" my rear end. More like the continued audacity of war crimes.
Tarak Kauff
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
Every once in a while, I meet a local who reads my letters and compliments me. For that, I am most grateful and in fact, those meetings encourage me to continue. However, I want to point out that
my writings are usually commentaries on news that I would never have access to, if it weren't for the staff reporters of newspapers like the NY Times, or magazines like the Nation, or other journalists, like Roxana Saberi who was just released from an Iranian prison for trying to learn what was really happening there, and reporting it to us.
Therefore, this week I want to dispute the belief that the web is good enough, (and FREE) and therefore acceptable for our country to rely on for our information. First of all, although it looks free for now, it won't be. After all, television has been "free" for some time, if you don't count advertising and lobbyists. My father used
to say: "You get what you pay for". I beginning to think he was right. Isn't information about our standing in the world, our
policies in the world, and our own policies here at home important? If we don't know about illegitimate charges for health care, how on earth can we vote for the people that want to fix it? If we don't know that a country isn't the one that attacked us, and doesn't have weapons of mass destruction, although we were told that they did, then how can we prevent our young men and women from sacrificing their lives for the wrong cause? What, I must ask, is more important than information.
Right now, we have Dick Cheney all over the television, telling us that Obama is putting us in danger because torture, (which has been proven to be ineffective) is necessary to prevent another 911. How
would we have known that torture was going on in our name, if it weren't for reporters? Just remember, newspapers pay reporters to travel around the world, as well as within the lobbies of Washington,
to seek out the truth. I love to watch Keith Olberman and Rachel Novak on TV and hear their commentaries, but without reporters, they would be commenting on whatever those in power tell them. It's simply not acceptable. During these times of Fox TV, I can't help remembering Fred Friendly's warning to: "beware of the power of this tool. It will be used for good or for evil".
If we allow our newspapers to fold, and I admit that it may be impossible to stop, then the least we can do, is to insist on salvaging reporters somehow. What I do know is that we cannot accept mere commentary for news. That's what they have in North Korea. That's what they had in Germany. If people convert from paper to digital screens for their information, then aside from the yet unknown physical effects we're sure to learn about, what will we believe in? That torture is necessary? Piece of cake, if you control information.
Let's at least become aware of the fact that information is falling through the cracks and about to go under, and then see what our options are. One thing we can surely do is stop purchasing anything
that comes from misguided information sources, like the O'Reilly show. I think it's time for us to be truly conscious about where to spend our money. Maybe that's a start.
On the optimistic side, maybe now that we have a 72 day old president, we can leave it all up to him. Oh, didn't you watch the Obama comedy sketch at the Press Dinner, where he said that his next
l00 days in office would be accomplished in 72 days, and he would rest on the 73rd day? Well, I was wondering how long it took for us to believe that the world was created in 6 days, with a 7th day of rest. I'll bet it took many centuries. Well, with no reporters telling us the facts, I wondered how long it would take to twist the
Obama story around into believing that the country once called the United States, had a president that was only 72 days old. OK. Have I proven to you that I am not a reporter, but merely a commentator? Now you know the difference. Good night and Good Luck.
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
On May 13, I had the good fortune to have been invited by John Riedl and the Margaretville Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Wellness Committee to view a live assembly attended by Roxbury, Margaretville, and Andes K-6 grades.
The program was presented by Food Play (Foodplay.com), an Emmy award winning theatre group, from Massachusetts, promoting; healthier eating choices, reading nutrition labels, exercising, and getting enough sleep.
The students were very receptive, enthusiastic, and truly enjoyed the program. Information was sent home with all the children for their parents to see. The program was very well done, entertaining, and very informative.
Other Wellness programs took place last week including a Senior Wellness discussion, MCS Health Fair, a Wellness run, and a Wellness Cycling event. The week ended with a celebration at the Open Eye Theatre in appreciation of Margaretville Hospital and all the volunteers who work so hard for our area, including the volunteers at MMH Auxiliary Thrift Shop for their many hours of work.
My thanks to all who coordinated Wellness Week! I’m looking forward to more.
Judy Shiner
Big Indian, NY

Dear Editor,
With the 8th Annual Women’s Health and Fitness Expo completed for another year, I find myself overwhelmed by the number of community members who came together to make this event happen. Community involvement, dedication and volunteerism are the driving forces that have allowed the Women’s Health and Fitness Expo to grow to be the event it is today.
This year the Expo was fortunate to have, along with the many volunteers, a part-time staff with Wendy Lamb as expo coordinator and Laura LoPresti as assistant. Victoria Langling, with the help of her regular employer Markertek, recently came on board to help organize volunteers. Numerous other volunteers from teens to senior groups handed out flyers and spread the word to their community groups. Several organizations distributed flyers such as The Jewish Federation, The Alzheimer’s Association, The Girl Scouts of America, The Kingston Chamber of Commerce, The Kingston City Schools and numerous others. Web and Expo production were made possible with the help of Christine Baldelli and Matt Deakin of Lilypod Media.
The day of the event, Laurie Kelly, Director of UARC, in Kingston was invaluable in organization of registration and admissions at the event. Vindora Wixom, Director of ASK, personally directed the “VENUS CHALLENGE” in which local artists displayed artistically designed torsos that were auctioned for the benefit of the Women’s Health and Fitness Foundation and the artists. The League of Women Voters were back once again, as well as nursing students from the BOCES and Ulster County Community College.
Such local involvement, with over 150 booths, seminars, workshop, fitness and cooking demos by local hospitals, businesses, community and non- profit organizations, demonstrates our commitment to the building a healthier community. Sponsors contributing to the Expo this year were Markertek, MVP Healthcare, Medical Associates of the Hudson Valley, Ulster Savings Bank, Mid-Valley Cardiology, Hudson Valley Urology, Northern Dutchess Hospital, River Radiology, Adam’s Fairacre Farms and many more.
In addition, these community members have not only given of themselves, but have brought family and friends on board. My husband, Dr. Craig Moss and my daughter, Jessica helped in many ways from fundraising to working onsite at Tech City, giving out flyers and volunteering the day of the event. My colleagues at Medical Associates of the Hudson Valley, Dr. Marc Tack, Dr. Michael Sheran and Dr. Charles Kutler, as well as all the Medical Associates of the Hudson Valley staff, have supported the Expo since it’s inception. and continue to be a part of the event
This major undertaking is nurtured and guided by the dedication of The Women’s Health and Fitness Foundation Board. The support of Adele Reiter, Joyce Lieblich, Dr. Jane Ferguson, and Marc Braunstein, as well as many members of the supporting board, have allowed both the EXPO and the Foundation to grow and develop.
Thank you to all who have worked endlessly to make the 2008 Expo a success. We could not have done it without you and sincerely thank you for joining us in building a Healthy Hudson Valley!
Debra Karnasiewicz, M. D.
Kingston, NY