Letters 7/30/2009

Dear Editor,
What's wrong with this picture in your last issue, July 16:
Environmental Conservation Police Officer grinning for the camera while holding up an injured bear cub by the scruff of its neck like a hunter's trophy.
This is the same kind of pose that would be taken by the hunter who has killed its mother.
How about a little sensitivity training for the Environmental Conservation Police Officers in the handling of injured animals, especially innocent young ones who may need our help and haven't yet learned what self-centered, human-supremist jerks we are?
And the injured cub wouldn't come out from its safe place under the deck after residents terrorized it for "several hours"? Hard to believe, isn't it?
Earl Hatleberg
Chichester, NY

Dear Editor,
As a licensed “Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitator” and co-founder of “The Phoenicia Cat Project”, I read in horror and disgust Jennifer Holtz’ July 16th column regarding her “serial killer” cat.
While it seems Ms. Holtz may find it amusing each time her cat drags in a tortured, half dead creature, who may or may not be finished off by one of her dogs, I like so many others do not find this amusing at all. It is appalling and unconscionable that Ms. Holtz would put a frightened, severely injured and helpless animal, screaming in terror and agony, outside in the dark and be able to go to bed, listening to its’ screams, and fall asleep only to then awaken the next morning and casually realize “the bunny was gone”. Her indifference to the cries of an animal in pain and suffering and its’ ensuing miserable death borders upon cruelty and exhibits a lack of moral character and judgement.
As an area resident, it amazes me Ms. Holtz is unaware of the several, easily accessible wildlife rescue & rehabilitators in the Shandaken-Woodstock area. All she needs do is pick up the phone and call the DEC, or go online, to locate the nearest “rehabber”. We will even go pick up the injured animal since it seems Ms. Holtz has neither the inclination nor impetus to deliver it to one of us. The animals in our care are treated both physically and medically by us until they are restored to health and ready to be released back into the wild. If it is obvious they will not recover, and especially are in severe discomfort, the alternative is a death with dignity, free of fear and pain through humane euthanization.
Several of Ms. Holtz’ columns in the past have featured the killing of animals, i.e., chickens, goats, etc. For that reason, I believe her column is inappropriate for your newspaper and especially for the eyes of innocent and impressionable children. If her column gives me nightmares, I shudder to think what effect it may have on the children who read her gruesome tales along with the accompanying descriptions of slaughtered and dying animals.
As for her “serial killer” cat, known serial killers when caught are locked up so they can no longer harm or kill the innocent victims they stalk. MS. HOLTZ, EITHER LOCK UP YOUR CAT OR BELL IT! And, the next time your “kitty” or dogs drag in an injured animal, show some pity and pick up the phone and call a local, licensed wildlife rescue & rehabilitator and maybe we’ll be able to save it from the agonizing death it will suffer if you do nothing.
Carol Shalaew
Phoenicia, NY
Editor’s Note: Just as this publication seeks to include voices from children to seniors among its columnists, and all stripes in its opinions, we hope to continue reflecting all aspects of the complexity of life in our times, and rural area. As a parent, we have learned that from exposure to everything from the Brothers Grimm to the heartbreak of losing pets, our young ones are the better for seeing life as a full drama, and not just the controlled work we often wish it were. We firmly believe that Ms. Holz’s writing is one of the highlights of what we do. But we welcome such dialogue... it strengthens us all!

Dear Editor, There are two long running and seemingly unsolvable issues in Shandaken; one being the lack of cellular service and the other the deteriorating state of Route 28. Our district members of Congress and the State Assembly have been contacted, as well as department heads at the Department of Transportation, with letters and by phone with pleas for help. The economy and the fact that the cellular carriers are private companies are citied as the problem. Perhaps it is time for State officials and the cellular service providers to hear from the people, the people who need these services. Use the links below to join in signing the petitions to get your voice heard. Perhaps together we can be the pressure to move these issues forward. Please pass it on to all that travel Route 28 and Shandaken. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/route28
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cellularservice Or find go to www.shandaken.us and click the links to sign. Thank you, Peter DiSclafani, Supervisor Town of Shandaken Dear Editor, My wife is an artist and recently had two different occasions to relate to two different police forces in the local area with interestingly different experiences. See what you think. She was asked by a prominent artists association to show a number of her works which she was quite happy to do. A few weeks after she hung the works she received a call from the director and was informed that one of her works had been stolen from the show during normal open hours. The director was gracious, empathetic and trying to be helpful and pointed out that they could bracket the time of the theft but had no idea which of the various visitors might have taken the work. The director duly called in the local police and a report was taken. I went to the police station two days later with a print out of a picture of the work and asked to speak to the officer in charge of the case with the intent of finding out what further action was contemplated to try to retrieve the work. I was told by the duty officer that the officer who had taken the report was not available but would be contacted and should have gotten in touch with my wife. He took the picture and annotated it with the necessary identification info and indicated we could expect a contact soon. No such contact was make so I went in three20days later [ now 5 days from the date of the theft] and again was received by a [different] duty officer who informed me that the officer in question was at a training session all that week but should report in by 4 pm that evening and a [second] message was left for him. It is now exactly 1 week after the theft and we have yet to hear from the officer and have no idea what action is being taken or even contemplated to track down the missing piece. When I asked why it was necessary that the reporting officer follow up [meaning that any follow up would be delayed until his training session was completed], I was never given much of an answer except something that amounted to ‘that’s just the way we do it.’ Two days after the theft a second, totally unrelated, event happened to my wife as she drove home in the evening from a dinner with a good friend. As she drove along a rural road about a mile from our home just at dusk the car hit a length of clothes line strung across the road, presumably by some prankster. Other than some rattled nerves no damage was done to the vehicle or her person. Much of the clothes line was caught under the hood of the car and, rather than find out if the pranksters were nearby, she drove home with the line attached to the car. I immediately called the local police and an officer duly arrived to take a report. This officer, on the way to our home, had alre ady observed the scen e of the incident, had found pieces of the rope, had taken a survey of that area and simply wanted to confirm some details from my wife. We discussed the matter in a business like and very friendly manner and the officer left with the plan to knock on a few doors near the scene of the incident to let it be known that this was a dangerous practice [especially if the next vehicle had been a motorcycle or a bicycle instead of my wife in a car] and that parents should check with their children or at least keep an eye out for such pranks in the future. Beyond that, the same officer, unrequested by us, called the next day to report what he had accomplished and ask if he could do anything more for us. Two different kinds of incidents in two days to the same woman, dealt with in VERY distinctly different ways by two different local police officers in two different jurisdictions. Which would you hope to have to deal with if you needed police assistance? I leave it to your imagination to decide the identity of the various players in this tableau. Jac Conaway Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
Last week’s letter from Jac Conaway alluded to a theft at a local “artists association,” which of course was the Woodstock Artists Association & Museum. On Sunday, July -- between noon and 2 pm, a small work was taken from the downstairs gallery and presumably carried out of the building in a large purse or tote bag. Once the item was found missing, gallery staff called the police who responded promptly and courteously. A report was made. Gallery staff notified the artist by phone that day. WAAM carries insurance for theft, loss, or damage of fine art and the artist was promptly compensated.
We regret the loss of an original work of art and appreciate the artist’s understanding in the matter. WAAM is taking careful measures to increase security throughout our facility. Thank you to the Woodstock Police Department for their ongoing support in the stewardship of our exhibitions and grounds. Thank you also to the gallery staff involved for the professional way in which they handled this unfortunate incident.
Josephine Bloodgood,
Executive Director, Woodstock Artists Association & Museum

Dear Editor,
I have been following the most recent "crisis du jour" involving the Onteora School District and felt compelled to add my thoughts on the matter. I am referring, of course, to the hideous, morality-decaying, youth-destroying, perfidious bud vase (oops, shot glass) prom souvenir.
My feeling is, really, folks, get over it. Some people (and we all know who they are if we have read the Freeman and/or Olive Press) seem to have way, way too much time on their hands or, in the case of the District Attorney (who I otherwise greatly respect for the good work he does and did as a Public Defender) seem to just want to jump on the band-wagon and get their names in the paper; but, he is an elected official, after all.
Putting all the hyperbole and rhetoric aside, the argument being made about the shot glasses is simply ludicrous, at best, and continually castigating Dr. Ford, the District Superintendent, for something which she had no part in, just reeks of pure petty maliciousness.
Of all the comments that I have seen regarding this issue, the only ones that make even a modicum of sense are those attributed to Misses Tara O'Conner and Kelsie Johnan, two recent Onteora High School graduates who spoke at the recent board meeting on 7/7, and whose comments were reported in the Freeman on 7/9.
I have been involved with the Onteora community for many years and have known many, many Onteora students, not least of whom is my son, who graduated in 2008. I believe his class was given a short round glass at the prom (oh, no, you could put alcohol in it!!!) and the preceding class was given a mug (beer - A&W root beer how can we possibly take a chance? - horrors!!!).
Now, I think that it is either the height of naivete or the pursuit of a personal agenda/vendetta to even think for a second that handing someone a souvenir that could be used to contain alcohol is going to induce or encourage drinking by the recipient. To blithly assert that the receipt of a shot glass (or any other type of object into which liquids can be poured) will encourage the possessor of said glass to drink and/or abuse alcohol is an absurd notion that has no more validity than asserting that giving a boy an axe will encourage him to become an axe murderer (shame on you, Boy Scouts of America) or that possessing matches or a flint (again, shame on the Boy Scouts) will encourage someone to be an arsonist. It is no doubt true that some of the recipients (or their parents) of these items will use them, at some point (we cannot make any assumptions about when, though) to hold some sort of beverage, alcoholic, or not, but it is equally true that these same individuals, if so inclined, would put that beverage into any available container (glass, coffee mug, paper cup, etc.) that is suitable for the purpose. It is also equally likely that the glass will end up sitting on a shelf next to other personally salient keepsakes, trophies, and mementos, as my sons does.
I think the issue really comes down to us as parents and what sorts of messages and values we impart to our children. If we are so insecure and unsure of our children as to think that the mere possession of something that can be used to hold alcohol will, "send the message" that it is therefore OK to abuse alcohol and encourage them to do so, then I think we need to do some serious soul-searching and reflection about ourselves and our ability to impart socially responsible values to our children. If, however, we trust our children to make good decisions and to have some sense of responsibility and self-discipline, as I do with my children, and as I think most of us do, then this is clearly a specious argument.
So, I say, look at yourself and do not blame the school (and/or anyone associated with it) for your own fears and shortcomings as a parent. Have a little confidence in your children, give them the benefit of the doubt and the respect that they deserve, stop the Chicken Little imitations and move on.
Finally, please do not attempt to misconstrue this letter as an endorsement of alcohol use by anone (adult or teenager) - it is certainly not and to suggest so would be a gross misunderstanding of the content of the letter. But it is a call to exercise a lot more common sense and a whole lot less of "political correctness" run amok. Our children deserve no less from us.
Patrick McCabe
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
What’s happening to the Onteora School Board? If ever a School Board had a train wreck it’s the Onteora School Board. They not only had a train wreck they’ve run completely off the track. Since April 2008 four board members have quit the board. That’s not good for tax payers because that kind of distraction doesn’t help to solve the enormous problems this district faces. As reported board member Resnick said, I would stress that the board needs to find better ways in working with themselves. That would certainly be a very good thing. Some members said they quit because of personal reasons. That could mean anything. Some would say that the board doesn’t get along with one another. Others might say that those that quit couldn’t or didn’t want to make the tough decisions. Minutes of the board’s meetings have shown that they are not being very effective in fixing the cost per student predicament that we have in the district.
Tax payers should be concerned especially those that voted for the members that quit. If the members that quit ran for office on the platform to keep the Phoenicia school open what are the tax payers that voted for them thinking? Regardless of what platform they ran on their supporters must be somewhat up-set. Will anyone else quit?
Instead of wasting essential time trying to find someone to blame the shot glass flap on they should be devoting all their available time on finding ways to bring down the cost per student in the district. Tara O’Connor had a very simple suggesting that would end the shot glass fiasco. As reported she suggested a new policy to address allowable souvenirs or a tweaking of an already existing policy. Seems that at least one board member should have thought of doing that instead of trying to find someone to blame that would not change anything.
William Warnecke
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
This is a story about a professional shirking his own responsibilities, and passing the buck to an innocent employee.
Carol Silverman has been an employee of the Onteora Central School District from February 1, 1990 to the present. She was transferred to the Bennett Elementary School on September 1, 1991 until she was unexpectedly ousted from her position on June 30, 2009. She was unjustly charged with not performing her duties, being insubordinate and violating her contract.
Although Mrs. Silverman is not an administrator, she has effectively handled the day to day workings of the Bennett School for about 20 years. She has been an integral part of the community through her work with the Bennett families during the years.
Through word of mounth, some of the community has come to realize that Mr. Buono relied heavily on Mrs. Silverman's experience and expertise. This was demonstrated by his calling her at home and other locations to verify procedures when he first became principal, a mere two years ago. As time passed, be began to blame his lack of knowledge on Mrs. Silverman rather than taking responsibility for his position. He became hostile and resentful. We are aware of the harassment, defamation of character, and slander that was perpetrated on Mrs. Silverman over a long, agonizing period of time. She was falsely accused, unjustly reprimanded, disciplined and embarrassed; all documented and placed in her personnel file.
Suddenly, on June 22, 2009, Mrs. Silverman was informed by Mr. Buono that as of July 1, she was no longer at Bennett.
We are appalled and heartbroken, and cannot imagine how Bennett will ever be the same without Mrs. Silverman. She is truly a Bennett icon. The Bennett community would like Mr. Buono to explain his actions. Parents of the Onteora community are very concerned since this is not the first time we are hearing about and experiencing negative and inappropriate conduct regarding Mr. Buono. This feeling holds true for elementary as well as high school parents.
We just want the entire community to be aware of this unjust situation.
Amy Pliskin
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor, With the recent passage of the historic Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, President Obama has called on each of us to contribute to our nation’s economic and moral recovery by volunteering to serve our communities, and thus our country. But where should you volunteer to make a real, lasting difference in the lives of others? One excellent option is to become a trained CASA volunteer who works on behalf of children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect and who need placement in a safe and permanent home. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) volunteers serve in 33 counties across New York State. After an extensive screening and training process CASA volunteers are appointed by Family Court judges to help determine the best interests of children who may have been victimized in their own homes. The volunteer’s role is to review the Family Court file, interview the children, parents, family members, social workers, attorneys and other persons involved in the children’s lives, present a factual report to the court, and monitor the progress of court orders until the children reach permanency. CASA volunteers are adults, over the age of twenty-one, whose sole interests are to promote the well being of displaced children as they pass through Family Court and child welfare system. Sadly, as economic stressors mount and pressures on families increase, so does the need for CASA volunteers—who provide essential services at no cost to taxpayers. Now, more than ever, children across New York State are waiting for your help. The gift of your time and compassion can change the life of a hurt and scared child. Please visit www.casanys.org to find out how you can volunteer. Speak up for a child, and help to change the world! CASANYS promotes and supports community advocacy programs that train and supervise volunteers who assist Family Courts in making crucial decisions affecting abused and neglected children. We are currently seeking volunteers to be part of a “Friends of CASA” subcommittee of the Board. If interested, please contact CASANYS at 518-426-5354 or mail@casanys.org. Kathleen Crowley, Ph.D. Board President, CASANYS Albany, NY
Dear Editor,
It's simple. Health care in the U.S. is a profitable business, just as banks backing toxic mortgages are. They are in the business of increasing their holdings and that is their main ambition. They are
part of the "in crowd"; the bankers, oil companies, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, etc. Nice guys, but without conscience. That is to be left at the door before entering. Just
look at AIG, and see if you can understand the connection between an insurance company and toxic mortgages.
There are private insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid. I won't go into how these are all set up today, since that will take much more research on my part. However, I would like to share with you some basic facts, just in case you are nearing Medicare age. Choosing an HMO over Medicare can be a bad mistake. In my opinion, even before Medicare age, an HMO is a mistake. Why would you allow a profitable insurance company to severely limit your choice of doctor, hospital, length of stay, etc.? If you chose Medicare as your primary, you can see any doctor that accepts Medicare, and most of the best surgeons, neurologists, etc. have chosen to contribute their time to Medicare, whereas HMO's are generally very limited in their choices. Since the rules and regulations in our country have been largely removed, you can't trust anything that is said in advertisements. You simply must do your own research. My urgent advise today is to stick with Medicare as your primary, and then do research on the best "secondary" company you can find for the extra 20%.
Now, regarding our President's plan, I agree with him that there is some extravagance in the Medicare usage. When you can go to just about as many doctors as you wish, and take more tests than necessary, I feel that some of these expenses can be cut. I also believe that profit making companies should not be in charge of our health care. Watch out for the ads that claim that government operated insurance companies will take your choices away, since it is actually the opposite. When you remember that "truth in
advertising" is virtually gone, you then know that they can actually hide the truth, which is that it is the private insurance companies that take away your options.
I believe that once we expose the bonuses of insurance executives, as we have the banking bonuses, we can begin to know more about how the system works. Will we do anything about it? Well, I'm not in an optimistic mood today, so I'm just saying.
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
As we are seeing right now in Washington, D.C., the political appointment of a judge to any bench, whether it be County Court or Supreme Court, requires close scrutiny and considerable dialogue to ensure that any person nominated for a judgeship possesses the experience, knowledge and impartiality necessary to ensure that justice is served. Unfortunately, Governor Paterson has completely ignored all of these principles and made a mockery out of the Ulster County Court by appointing Deborah Schneer to the Ulster County Court Bench, with virtually no scrutiny at all. It was in fact nothing more than raw Albany politics, at its worst.
Let me be clear with the facts, based upon my own investigation of our politically appointed judge. Deborah Schneer has spent much of her career suing the taxpayers of New York State on behalf of convicted felons. One of infamous cases involved the filing of a civil suit against the State on behalf of notorious cop killer Bashir Hameed, a man who gunned down two New York City police officers. Mr. Hameed objected to the authorities placing him in restraints during a court proceeding, in spite of his violent criminal history, and hatred of law enforcement officials. Ms. Schneer incredibly argued that this was a violation of Mr. Hameed’s rights, and sued the taxpayers of New York on his behalf. The court demonstrated the good common sense that evidently evaded Ms. Schneer and threw the case out.
Locally, the Democratic Party search committee, comprised of mainstream Ulster County citizens, indicated that they preferred another, more qualified, less radical candidate from their own party for this appointment. The chaos and confusion that led to the Schneer selection even prompted one local newspaper to refer to Paterson’s choice of Schneer as the ‘accidental pick of an accidental governor.’
Our County Court Judge has the responsibility of protecting not just the rights of defendants and convicted criminals, but also the rights of those who have been victimized by these criminals. Ms. Schneer has spent so much of her career representing these criminals, in lawsuits against the state, that I am extremely concerned with her ability to conduct County Court in an unbiased manner.
The selection of Deborah Schneer was another in a string of poorly thought out, poorly investigated, and poorly executed decisions by Governor Paterson. Fortunately, Ulster County voters will have their chance to be heard on November 3rd.
Robin Yess, Executive Director
Ulster County Republican Committee
Highland, NY

Dear Editor,
A partial tally of the 34 participating artists in the Shandaken Art Studio Tour came up with these facts: $11862 in total art sales, an average of about 50 visitors to each studio, and a big spike in activity in local businesses. The Arts Upstairs had one of their best sales days in a very long time. 60 Main, a new store in Phoenicia, had their best day ever. People were observed all over town carrying the color brochure and map. I had visitors from around the country, and from my own neighborhood. People were delighted with the free,
eye opening experience. Here's a few comments from folks on the tour: "Fun, fun, fun exciting /exhausting!" " It was terrific - interested and interesting people." "Extremely validating, engaging. Made an
important contact." "Lots of fun, lots of great response from the people, 4 were from Boston." "Wonderful tour. We had lots of business. We felt the impact..." "Thanks so much for organizing the shandaken artists tour; the weekend was wonderful."
One of my favorite artists on the tour is Jim Gardner. His soulful photography is great, but his mastery of the sculptured human form is amazing. Jim's roots go back to the Lower East Side in the 1960's and the roots of his landscaping green thumb grow deeper into Shandaken
and Woodstock gardens every year.
Judith Singer deserves the credit for making this arts festival happen. I helped out every way I could. The two of us, with assistance from Anique Taylor, managed to six handedly pull off a fabulous event. People are getting an entirely new, fresh and positive impression of our beautiful town. It is a big stimulus for our main cottage industry, the creative arts. Thanks to the many businesses who sponsored the event. We promise, all of you who wanted to take out an ad in our brochure but didn't get in this time, you will be in next time. Remember, you can visit artist studios any day of the week, not just on festival weekends. Go to our website,
www.ShandakenArt.com to preview our artists' work and find out how to contact them. And look forward to our Holiday Mini-Tour in early December.
Dave Channon
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
Our town has recently celebrated its second annual Art Studio Tour. People walking down the street looking at their maps figuring-out how to get to the next artist's studio, while others shopped, tubed, ate, indeed, our town was alive. It was that way all weekend and into Monday. Bravo to Judith, Dave and Anique!
The Phoenician helped give us the alphabet, artists give us a vision. Long live art in Shandaken
Even our newspaper. lol
Alan Fliegel
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
I was glad to hear that Mrs. Umhey was pleased by the care she received from the Shandaken ambulance attendants, but I am compelled to write this letter to address the misinformation contained in Marions Memo’s of July 16th. She stated that the ambulance service proved too much for Gene Gormley Jr. after his father died. His father died in 1965. The Town ambulance was started in 1968. Gene is not Jr he is Gene 3rd.
I have been married to Gene for forty five years and have never known anything to be too much for him. He has been a leader in the Community and has been active in many civic projects. Anyone who knows him will agree to that. Not wanting people who were not here at that time to accept her remarks as accurate, I am compelled to write the first letter I have ever written to a newspaper.
To give a little history about how rural ambulance services operated for many years prior to 1968, it was common for local funeral homes to run an ambulance service as a service to their Communities. The Gormley Funeral Home did so for more than thirty years. Gene worked on the ambulance from the time he was a teenager. No ambulance attendants had the specific medical training required. In 1968 ,( three years after Gene 3rd had been running the service), new laws were enacted requiring specific EMT training for ambulance attendants. At that time, Gene notified the Town Board, including Mrs. Umhey, of the new laws and that he could no longer comply and afford to run the ambulance that the new law required for a 24 hour 7 day a week ambulance service. He recommended that they either start a paid ambulance service or contract with an established service. For a few months they did nothing. Gene, not wanting to see the Town have no service, operated without any charges for three months, since that was the only way he could legally do it by then. He offered to donate his fully equipped ambulance to the Town so that they could form their own service. That was the beginning of the Shandaken Ambulance Service and Gene did indeed donate the ambulance to the Town and worked as a driver when needed and provided coverage for Karl on several occasions. I do not know of any other Funeral Home run ambulance services that remained in business after that time.
Karl Bush, who had worked on the Ambulance with Gene went and took the training and ran the Town’s Service for several years and did a wonderful job.
Emergency Medical Care has progressed so much since that time and we are privileged to such a fine service available to us.
Maureen Gormley
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
We would like to thank all the wonderful people who came out Saturday night (July 18th) to enjoy a “Movie in the Park” at Phoenicia’s Parish Field. The movie was fun, but more than that a sense of community sharing and pure joy was felt by all. These are the things that bring us together and make us glad to be residents of our town.
This event was part of an ongoing effort by our group of volunteers who have come together to raise funds for new playground equipment for Phoenicia’s Parish Field. We hope you can join us for our next event “Opera in the Park” on August 22nd at Parish Field. This evening will feature internationally acclaimed opera singers and Phoenicia residents mezzo soprano Maria Todaro, baritone Louis Otey and bass-baritone Kerry Henderson. A chorus of local residents will make its debut, as well.
Tickets are on sale at Pine Hill Community Center, Tenderland Home and Lori’s Creative Café in Woodstock. For info contact operainthepark@gmail.com
Hope to see you there !!!
Parish Field Fundraisers
Phoenicia, NY