Letters7/29/2010

Dear Editor,
Dr. Leslie Goldring Ford resigned as Superintendent of the Onteora School District as of July 9, 2010. A press release has been issued to this effect and is available here on the district web site: onteora.schoolwires.com
Moving forward, Assistant Superintendent for Business Victoria McLaren has been appointed as Acting Superintendent, with Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Dr. Katie O'Brien standing in if Victoria is absent.
Both of these talented administrators will continue to serve the District well, as the Board begins its search for a new Superintendent of Schools. We value both our Assistant Superintendents equally and appreciate our strong working relationships with them. Victoria was chosen because she is the tenured employee. She will be assuming these additional duties without receiving additional compensation.
The Board has already started the Interim Superintendent interview process, and plans to announce the appointment of an Interim in the very near future.
The Board is also commencing a search for a new Superintendent of Schools. We are grateful to Ulster BOCES, who will be assisting us with this search, without charging a fee. (The District will pay advertising costs.)
We are forming a shared decision-making team to conduct candidate interviews, per our district procedure. This team will be comprised of representatives from the Board, Central Administration, the Onteora Administrators' Association (OAA), the Onteora Teachers' Association (OTA), the Onteora Non-Teaching Employees Association (ONTEA), students and one community member from each of our four towns.
While the Board will resume regular meetings in August, we would very much like to hear from the staff and community now as to what qualities they would like to see in our next Superintendent. To that end, please email us at onteoraboe@onteora.k12.ny.us, or call 845-657-2677 x 490.
The Board would like to thank our central office personnel, our administrators and our union leadership for the spirit of teamwork and community they have shown.
As we enjoy the summer and plan for the school year, we look forward to working with all of you, and dedicate ourselves to making Onteora the absolute best school district it can be.
Laurie Osmond, President
Onteora CSD Board of Education
Dear Editor,
With the departure of Onteora School District's superintendent Dr. Leslie Ford, there has been talk of how the current board got elected. To say the trustees won their seats "to keep Phoenicia Elementary open" is reductive. The current board was never focused solely on keeping open one local elementary school. The campaign to elect them also was directed at keeping class sizes small in all three elementary schools, bus rides short, and fifth graders off of buses with high school seniors. The current board has done all those things, passed several budgets in harsh economic times, and developed a more open relationship with the public.
The previous board, as has been stated in these pages, intended to close Phoenicia as part of their consolidation plan. But they also had Woodstock Elementary in their sights. In fact, a very vocal member of that past board only recently opined that Woodstock Elementary stands on "prime real estate" that should be sold to a hotel chain. This same philosophy was uttered by a member of the previous board's budget advisory committee at a meeting where it was also stated that a child could very easily wander onto route 375 and incur for the district "the mother of all lawsuits." Almost everyone I know in Woodstock who caught wind of this stuff got angry. And, contrary to what some people thought would happen, they voted, and those votes helped to elect the current board.
In addition to consolidation, the previous board's long-range plan was a grade five-through-eight middle school, which would see, along with the busing issue, lots of kids crammed into the current middle school/high school while state funding to help taxpayers pay for enlargement of the facilities was pending. (Now we know that money would not have been there.) Lots of folks - not just those with interests in Phoenicia - did not want to see that happen, and they voted.
In spite of a dysfunctional relationship with the now-departed superintendent, the current board has worked very, very hard to make sure all Onteora kids get the best the community can give them. To view them merely as patrons of a village school isn't accurate. I'm proud of them, pleased that they parted ways with Dr. Ford, and happy to live in a community that votes with an eye on the needs of the students, not the bottom line.
Robert Burke Warren
Phoenicia, NY
Dear Editor,
Gus Murphy is right that government is a nessary evil. Mr. Murphy is also right that the ideas of Hamilton, Madison and Jay in the Federalist emphasized centralization. But while the anti-Federalists, who opposed the Constitution, lost the argument, they won key battles. The best part of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, was due to the anti-Federalists. Even today most Americans believe that freedom of speech, enshrined in the First Amendment, is the most important right.
As Charles Beard pointed out a century ago in his Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States the authors of the Constitution, who favored centralization and Federalism, were bankers and merchants. Alexander Hamilton, co-founder of the Bank of New York, was the most intellectually important Federalist. The centralizing party was always the party of the rich. Following the Federalists, the Whigs were formed to fight Andrew Jackson, the president of the working man, who abolished the equivalent of the Fed. The Republicans were formed to stop the South from seceding and to fight for higher tariffs, public works and the Fed.
In the late 1890s the Republican Party adopted Progressivism, another way to argue for centralization and the Fed. The final step was the creation of conservatism and the transformation of the two party system into a single Federalist Party. First, there was a conflict between William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt over whether the US economy should be socialist and regulated, which Theodore Roosevelt (a Republican) favored, or whether anti-trust enforcement should be the responsibility of the Justice Department, which Taft favored. As president, Taft ignored Roosevelt. This made Taft the first "conservative". Roosevelt ran as a third party candidate in the Bull Moose or Progressive Party, and helped Woodrow Wilson defeat Taft. This made Roosevelt the first "liberal". The debate between "liberals" and "conservatives" is between two kinds of Progressives. Both liberals and conservatives today would have been Federalists in 1786, Whigs in 1836 and Progressives in 1904. We have a one party Federalist system just like in 1788 when Washington was elected.
Franklin Roosevelt took the fake liberal-conservative distinction further. He realized that support for big business would be more effective if cloaked in rhetoric that sounded like it was supportive of labor. The Democrats became super-Federalists, even more aggressively supportive of centralization of power into the hands of the Federal Reserve Bank and Wall Street, by using the rhetoic of helping the poor. The supposed help was through ineffective programs like Social Security and the National Labor Relations Act. None of these laws cost big business very much and and involved wealth transfers from lower to middle income taxpayers. Progressivism created inner cities characterized by drug addiction and dependency. The welfare-dependent lumpen proletariat became a political bargaining chip, just like the Roman proletariat in the days of Augustus Caesar.
Has America been getting greater and greater since the Federalists/Progressives took power in 1904? Do increasing income inequality, the Depression, the Stagflation of the 1970s, the mismanagement of the oil spill, the banking crisis, inflation, the massive increase in big business power, the massive increase in Wall Street's power, the stagnating real hourly wage and the exodus of manufacturing tell us that the one party Federalist system has succeeded?
While Mr. Murphy is right that government is a necessary evil, is Berndt Leifeld's giving Olive's school teachers a six percent raise when everyone else is not getting a raise a necessary evil? Is it necessary to spend 45% of your income on wortheless government "services"? Is providing Medicaid to non-residents who arrive in New York and whose first stop is the Medicaid office a necessary evil? Was seeing 500,000 jobs exodus the state during the Cuomo administration a necessary evil?
Mitchell Langbert
West Shokan, NY
Dear Editor,
Imagine my delight to find, in your July 15th issue, that I am in the middle of a Mitchell Langbert sandwich. Yum. First i'd like to thank Mr. Langbert for responding to my question about public schools: Thanks.
Next i'd like to respond to his response: Huh???
Students are indeed taught to defer to authority, but this is neither liberal nor socialist (which terms are not synonymous). I take it as a practical matter of trying to have some control of the class. Further, I rather think of deference to authority as a conservative trait.
Blaming Democrats alone for the bank bailouts is silly; it was President Bush who signed that law, and his Treasury Secretary who implemented it. I'd argue that they were Republicans.
I was in high school at around the time that Mr. Langbert was, and well remember how doctrinaire and inflexible the left was in the 1970s. It struck me as very illiberal. However I'm always amazed at how Hayek and his fans see more totalitarian threat from the left, even to the point of discounting that threat from the right. Was not the old Soviet Union a very conservative thing?
As for Marx, allow me to cite the late Senator D.P.Moynihan: The theories about ethnicity and class developed by Karl Marx in the British Museum in the 1850s were disproved by Nathan Glazer in the New York Public Library in the 1950s. You can find statues of Karl Marx all over the world, but you hardly ever see a statue of Nat Glazer.
Gus Murphy
Brooklyn, NY
Dear Editor,
Losing your job is a very demoralizing experience. You can blame yourself, feeling like you did something wrong, when you had nothing to do with the economic circumstances surrounding the loss. The Republicans add insult to injury by insinuating that the jobless are slackers, responsible for their own circumstances. The Republicans continue their assault by denying the extension of unemployment benefits. We reject this characterization of American workers who have lost their jobs during this devastating recession. We support the continuation of unemployment benefits for our hard hit friends and neighbors who are going through hard times.
Saugerties Democratic Executive Committee: Mike Harkavy, Marcus Arthur, Donn Avallone, Beth Murphy, and Harriet Tomasko
Dear Editor,
Halliburton profits were up 83% in the second quarter, and their shares were up 5%. That's enough for you that own this stock to take a deep breath..... no.... deeper - please. Halliburton has more than one reason to be relieved. First, there is a possibility that the catastrophe partially caused by them could be coming to an end, unless of course, a hurricane hits the Gulf Coast, which it is known to do, before the relief wells are in place.
Still, they are hoping that the temporary cap, which seems to be working, may replace the necessity for the relief well(s) during the hurricane season. There is still no proof of it's holding, since there have been no experiments on anything being tried in the recent catastrophe, since it's never happened before. But fear not Halliburton stockholders, we've heard little of Halliburton during this 3 month catastrophe, so their PR seems to be holding up better than any wells in any ocean.
There are other reasons for Halliburton shares to be rising (along with everything else under land and sea). The biggest one is that Halliburton is involved in Hydraulic Fracturing, now, appropriately referred to as Fracking. In a Henry Waxman investigation, Halliburton admitted to using fluids containing diesel fuel from 2005-2007, to fracture oil and gas from underground in 15 states. FRACKING - Now coming to a field or farm in your neighborhood. Yes, these things go on behind our backs, and by the time it comes to our attention, it's way too late to prevent catastrophic toxins from having been exhumed into our air and water.
You don't have to believe me. If you have any sense of responsibility to your loved ones, particularly to your children and grandchildren, I can now state that it is your obligation to see the HBO movie called GASLAND. It not only explains it all, but shows proof of what has already happened in our neighboring Pennsylvania and other states. In addition, if you get HBO in your home, I implore you to invite your friends that do not have HBO to come and share your screen with them. A vote for temporarily suspending fracking in NYS is presently on the table. If we don't let our representatives know that we are passionate about this, they can just wait it out and then resume their business as usual, whatever that is. Please remember: DEMOCRACY IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT.
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY
Dear Editor,
At the urging of Julia Walsh - activist and project director of Frack Attack - I contacted New York State Sen. Thompson's office to speak at the State Senate Environmental Commission meeting in Albany. Public comment is not allowed on a bill that is not on the agenda. However, I was fortunate enough to be given special privilege to speak on behalf of environmental groups on the need for a moratorium on issuing DEC permits for hydrofracking.
I would like to share what I said at the meeting. It is imperative that people start to educate themselves on a critically important environmental issue confronting the state and nation:
"I am here on behalf of many organizations to speak about a bill that is not on the agenda but should be: The Englebright/Addabbo bill, which would put a moratorium in place on issuing gas drilling permits until the federal government concludes their scientific study.
"Last week a New York City public school had antifreeze fed into the school's water system causing the children to drink contaminated water out of the fountains. The children were rushed to the hospital.
"Now imagine that the water was contaminated with toluene, ethylene, methane and 500-plus other undisclosed chemicals that are used in horizontal gas drilling. If this were to happen, I am not so sure these kids would get out of the hospital.
"Yesterday, Congressman Hinchey spoke about 14 homes in Pennsylvania that had their wells closed due to water contamination from hydrofracking.
"And recently there were explosions from gas wells in Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia that killed and burned many workers and produced flames to shoot up over 70 feet high and seen for miles.
"Six states have documented a total of approximately 1,000 specific cases of water pollution attributable to hydrofracking technology. The former administration in Washington declared the practice - and the toxic water - off limits to the scrutiny of the EPA.
"This action led the states to fend for themselves, despite the limited financial resources.
"The Hudson Valley Business Journal states that if industry plans are ultimately approved, an estimated 200,000 wells will be sunk in central New York and Sullivan County.
"New York has a total of 17 inspectors to cover all safe water enforcement investigations throughout the state.
"The EPA has agreed to take another look at the potential adverse impacts that hydrofracking may have on water quality and public health.
"We owe it to the people of New York to let the experts conduct their study.
"We all understand New York is in a fiscal crisis. However, selling out our most precious commodity - our liquid gold - is not the answer.
"As a matter of fact, New York's fiscal crisis makes it more imperative that you enact this bill. Without the resources to manage this activity, there is a pretty good chance that disaster will happen, causing the state additional massive financial burden.
"The potential destruction of New York's drinking water is too important to play politics with.
"Our children's health and future cannot be for sale.
"I am asking on behalf of all the organizations I am here representing to put your name on this bill and do everything in your power to bring this to the floor this legislative session and see it become law. With the Assembly already stepping up to the plate, it is now up to all of you.
"On behalf of all of the following organizations and myself, thank you for giving us this time."
Susan Zimet, UC Legislator
New Paltz, NY
Dear Editor,
I thought you might want to see a post that will be on my blog (www.rollandsmith.blogspot.com) regarding the current controversy over "fracking" for gas in the Catskills and beyond.
"So you want to frack. It sounds good. Quick money, needed money and all you have to do is lease your land to the natural gas seekers and they do the rest. They pay you upfront and you've got cash in hand. It's a good deal in this economy. Right? You'd better read up on the horror stories. Better yet, see the documentary 'Gasland.'
"If you sign a gas lease agreement, eventually they (the gas people) come on your land with a drill derrick and high tech equipment and plunge into your land for a while and then the drilling take a turn and carves a bore a good distance horizontally. I don't know exactly how far, but it's not a few feet.
The Marcellus gas shale is a strata of rock that extends from the Catskills in New York, through Pennsylvania, portions of Ohio, most of West Virginia and into a little bit of Kentucky. It has been known about for decades, but new techniques have made the gas more recoverable.
Next comes a high-pressure earth enema filled with millions of gallons of your ground water, sand and caustic chemicals most of which are considered carcinogens by the DEP and EPA. The pressure creates a minor earthquake and cracks or fractures the shale rock structure to release the gas.
The problem is "residual waste," toxic wastewater that is supposed to be carted away for disposal, BUT...not all of it goes away. It stays within the fractured zone and in many cases pollutes by seeping into your aquifer, polluting your land, your drinking water and even your surface water for livestock and pets.
In one place in Dimock, Pennsylvania, where fracturing has been going on for some time, the ground water has turned brown, people got sick, livestock started loosing their hair, the stories go on and on.
This missive is not going to tell you what to do. Check it out yourself. I'm no more skilled on this than you are. I make no judgment in whatever choice you make. It's your land. I don't live on it, but there are definite consequences."
Rolland G. Smith
Phoenicia, NY
Dear Editor,
I have often sat reading some screed on this or that topic that involves 'energy' and it's glories and hazards. Nuclear energy, Marcellus shale drilling, solar collectors, wind farms, bicycling, and even 'eating locally' to save fossil fuel. While I applaud all the awareness building and good intentions that 'fuel' much of this writing and speaking and experimenting, I often cringe when I see well intentioned types spouting so called scientific 'facts' that are clearly ridiculous to bolster their points. While this practice might bolster, at least temporarily, excitement and even right action by the intended audience, it inevitably leads to confusion and 'detours' from effective action.
I would like to provide a basic outline of sound information about energy that might be of help in deeply thinking through your passions to effective action.
For us here on earth, there are only 3 PRIMARY sources of energy; The sun, radioactive decay of elements in the minerals composing the earth and, to a lesser degree, gravity. OK, OK, for the purists among you, there is a 4th rather trivial source from material such as meteors and cosmic rays raining continuously into the top of the atmosphere which does have a small, but detectable addition to atmospheric energy.
All other so called 'sources' of energy are really derived [or secondary] from these 3. As an example, wind energy is derived from solar energy as sun light heats part of the atmosphere while other parts are cooling, thus drawing warmer air up and drawing cooler air in near the ground. Tidal energy is derived from the changing gravitational attraction of the moon [mostly] and sun as the earth and moon rotate plus a small component from wind pushing the ocean waves around. Even the energy in fossil fuels, such as extracted oils, is really stored solar energy from photosynthesis many years ago.
I could go on and on about the complex ways these primary sources result in one or the other derived 'sources', but one particularly intense issue seems to illustrate the confusion well. "Geothermal" energy which many see as 'good' energy is primarily derived from the exact same source as "nuclear" energy, which the same people see as some how 'bad'. And interestingly, there is another set of people who see them exactly the opposite. Nuclear is a 'good', non polluting source [ignoring the 'waste' issue] while geothermal is too 'diffuse' and so is a waste of time. Both are primarily derived from the natural radioactive decay of certain elements in the earth. They are just delivered in different ways.
Which brings me to a different point. Usually the discussions around energy are not really, despite the words used, about the energy itself but about the way it is handled by humans. Thus, the nuclear debate is rarely about nuclear energy per se, but about how it is handled, both in its usable form and in the 'side effects' such as waste handling. Similar debates about the complexities of tapping wind or tidal energy are appearing now as well.
Another aspect that is starting to get more attention in the various debates is the so called 'hidden' parts of the issues. For example, whether or not it is 'cheaper' to eat 'locally' grown foods than 'distantly' grown ones. It is not hard to show that in some situations the energy [and fuel] used per carrot or tomato delivered is actually less for them grown in Chile than in N. Jersey or N. Carolina. That does not make them taste better or worse or more or less nutritious either way or better for neighboring farmers. It simply confuses the discussion if provably false 'facts' are thrown in willy nilly.
A second example of so called 'hidden' costs is the environmental effects of producing the raw materials needed to capture and distribute direct solar energy [much less the derived solar energy in wind]. The mining and transportation of silicon, iron ore, copper and the petroleum products, etc. used to set up such a system is hard to calculate much less to integrate into such a discussion but have no less a real impact on the environment.
Keeping these basic facts in you mind while advocating for this or that way of saving our planet and its environment can only help you to be more secure in you advocacy and thus taken more seriously in your arguments. Please try to advocate from a grounded place and you will have a stronger effect.
Jac Conaway
Olivebridge, NY
Dear Editor,
Eighteen months into his first term, Mike Hein and his administration have much to be proud of. Beyond the nuts-and-bolts success stories in numerous county departments, Mike's key political achievement has been to provide leadership where before there was none. While it may be irksome to his political detractors, Mike's omnipresence is exactly what the county's voters demanded after decades of not knowing who should get the credit - or more often the blame - for Ulster County's dysfunctional government. Now we know. And as a result of the significant improvements in the functionality of the County government, there is a lot more credit, and a lot less blame, than there used to be.
The impact of Mike's leadership extends beyond the county's borders: the ability of this county to negotiate and cooperate with our neighbors, with Albany and with New York City have all been dramatically improved by the reform of our government and by Mike's proactive leadership and advocacy for our communities. It is to Mike's great credit that he has filled this role so successfully with no predecessor to emulate, his never having held elected office before. It's even more to his credit that he has managed the affairs of the county so successfully in a time of national economic turmoil.
It is a shame that rather than join in the celebration of the success of our new form of government - something that all the citizens of our county can and should be proud of - some on the other side of the aisle skip no opportunity to try to knock Mike down for their own partisan gain. I suppose they just want to go back to the days when they were in charge, back before we elected Mike and comptroller Elliott Auerbach. You know, the days of high taxes, wasteful spending, and no accountability. The good old days for them, perhaps, but not for the citizens of this county.
Julian Schreibman, chair
Ulster County Democratic Party
Dear Editor,
The Tour of the Catskills is back for a third year, and this year promises to be the most exciting one yet! This year's finale race features a climb up Platte Clove, a.k.a. Devil's Kitchen, for the first time in a bike race since the Tour de Trump race in the 1990's. The Tour of the Catskills is a three-day pro/amateur bicycle race that starts Friday, July 30 in Tannersville, is in Windham on Saturday, July 31 and ends on Sunday, August 1 in Hunter.
We are looking for volunteers to help with registration on Friday and road marshals on Saturday and/or Sunday. Any and all volunteers will receive a commemorative t-shirt and lunch on Sunday with the racers. As an incentive, groups or clubs that bring 10 or more volunteers over the course of the weekend are eligible to receive a $100 donation for their organization. This incentive is open to any kind of group and is not exclusive to athletic organizations. There are three 4-hour shifts available for just one day or as many as you'd like over the weekend.
The Tour of the Catskills is going to be an exciting event and I encourage everyone to take time for a short drive that weekend to come watch some of the race, and please consider volunteering for a few hours. For more information about the race or to volunteer, go to www.tourofthecatskills.com or email volunteers@tourofthecatskills.com.
Carrie Gray
Gloversville, NY
Dear Editor,
There are lots of fun FREE activities on the horizon at the Phoenicia Library on Main Street. Beginning July 28 and running for three consecutive Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, the library will be hosting Kids in the Kaatskills. With a morning and afternoon session (10:30 & 1:30), activities will include Mardi Gras mask-making; yoga; felting; silk-screening T-shirts; calligraphy, tie-dye and much more! The complete schedule can be found at http://phoenicialibrary.blogspot.com/ or stop by the Library and pick up a schedule.
In addition to our new blog, the Phoenicia Library now has a Facebook page!
Here are other upcoming events to note (with more info available online):
Aug. 1 & 8: Mah Jongg class for adult beginners, 10:30 - Noon (to register, email christina.ansoorian@gmail.com or call the Library 688.7811 )
Aug. 2 - Drumming workshop for kids with Jonathan Duda: 1 p.m. (1st session-ages 4-9; 2nd session - ages 10 & up)
The 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month is Story Time with Sue Bernstein at 11 a.m. with songs, stories, and puppetry; ages 1 & up.
August 9 -- our next Library Board meeting, which will include election of officers -- 7 p.m. (Please note that the date is one week earlier than our usual third Monday of the month)
Hope to see you at one or more of these events!
Holly George-Warren
Phoenicia Library Board
Dear Editor,
On Sunday, July 18th a number of volunteers gathered for what turned out to be a great day in Glenbrook Park. The Town of Shandaken would like to thank all those who showed up for a work day adding new amenities and some general improvements to our near 25 year old park. They installed the split rail fence for the new Shandaken Dog Park & Agility Center and made general grounds improvements all in preparation for this year's Shandaken Day event. Thanks go out to:
Gene Gormley, Tom Crucet, Diego Macedo, Sarah Hiller, Keith Johnson, Mitch Pintsky, Kerryth Kilduir, John & Melissa Thongs, Bob & Sandra Stanley, Ray Scarth, Barbara VanBlarclum, Joe Ryan, Christine Steen, Cinthia Sinmon, RJ Stanley, Storm Stanley, Kathy Jordan, Jane & John Rossitz, Alfred & Marge Peck, Mary &Stan Davis, Karin Connelly, Rolf Reis, Sue Lennon, Mary Lane, Gary & Martie Gailes, Kathy Williams, Eugene Sullivan , Gerry Setchko , Gary Carr, Jr., Diana Mae Munch, Ethan Bernstein, Jay Braman, Sr., Eric Hoffmeister- Highway Superintendant, Town of Shandaken Highway Dept., Friends of Snuffy, Kurt Boyer Design, Shandaken - Allaben Hose Co., Councilman Vin Bernstein, Councilman Jack Jordan and Rick LaCosta who cooked a wonderful BBQ for lunch for all the volunteers with food and items donated by: Phoenicia Supermarket, Hanover Farms, Boiceville Market, Wadler's Brothers, Morra's Market, Phoenicia Country Store & the Shandaken Republican Club. Thanks to Tim Hilgers & Paul Davis who worked diligently on concrete forms to fix the broken wall on Rte. 42 with wood donated by Farmer Jones Baby Barns. Thanks to the Phoenicia Rotary for the donation of Park Benches. Lastly, but certainly not least, are Art & Jen Christie whose spearheading of the dog park initiative helped not only purchase the supplies without a drop of taxpayer monies, but who have also gone way beyond the call of duty all for the community at large. On one of the hottest days this summer they all came together working until 7:30pm to "finish the job." I'd also like to thank our special lunchtime guest, as a bald eagle soared above the park to investigate our work.
We have another day slated again with a free BBQ for volunteers at the Glenbrook Park on Rte. 42 in Shandaken on Sunday, August 8th starting at 9am. All are welcome and we have multitude of jobs to be done from landscaping to painting and more. Thanks again to all our volunteers and we hope to see you all at the park.
Robert A. Stanley, Supervisor
Town of Shandaken
Dear Editor,
My name is Barbara Kathleen Negron my maiden name is Wood. I am the great granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin Wood who retired to Phoenicia New York and died there August 31, 1912. I am sure that he was buried in Phoenicia however, the question is where.
In the late 1940 when I was a little girl I remember going to a beautiful cabin in the woods where a stream ran outside our door. We picked blueberries and raspberries for our morning cereal. We swam in the stream which also had a water fall. I remember how cold it was and how refreshing the water felt on the hot summer day as we laid out on the rocks on our towels with the sun betting down on us.
After viewing the pictures on the internet of Phoenicia I believe that is where we spent those lazy warm summer days.
Of course this is a childhood memory which is always larger that what it really is however, if memory serves me correctly this property belonged to the Wood family.
My great grandfather B. Frank Wood as he liked to be called was involved in politics, lawyer, judge and a newspaper man. He was the Secretary of fish and wildlife under Governor Theodore Roosevelt. I am trying to lean more about him and possible you can point me the right direction.
1. Were did he live in Phoenicia?
2. Were is he buried in Phoenicia?
3. Are there any stories about him in Phoenicia?
Looking forward to hearing from you through this publication
Barbara Kathleen (Wood) Negron

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