Letters to the Editor 7/5/2007

Dear Editor,
I am proud to be a Phoenicia community member. With talks of impending school closures and possible middle school reconfigurations, parents, neighbors, and business leaders have rallied. While this group may have been energized by emotion, they are substantially supporting their cause—to keep local schools—with research and intelligent probing. It’s also been reported that local businesses may suffer with the loss of our school. This potentially devastating loss has caused me to think about what would happen if we lost another of Phoenicia’s educational gems: the Windy Ridge Play School.
Housed in a converted barn on the Byer property, this school has been preparing children for Phoenicia Elementary for over 33 years. This year, eight of the 10 five-year-old graduates will be attending Phoenicia School (the other two will be attending Bennett). My daughter, Camilla, is one of them. Under the direction of Mary Garraffa (who ran a day care from her home for 13 years), and the assistance of Jenny Bella, Windy Ridge provides a safe, comfortable environment where kids learn, grow and thrive. The children are introduced to many subjects, including science and math, and started on the Handwriting without Tears program, which is used by Phoenicia Elementary, making the transition to kindergarten seamless. My daughter now has a solid foundation from which her formal education may begin—and she also has a clear understanding of fairness, sharing, and respect due to her teachers’ unending patience with all the students.
Just before the Windy Ridge year ended, the graduating students had the opportunity to visit Phoenicia School. There they collaborated with future schoolmates on an art project in Heidi LaMonda’s kindergarten classroom. My daughter was thrilled to see some of those kids in town soon thereafter. Phoenicia is small community that offers great things—Windy Ridge is one of them. Ann Byer founded the school (originally called Babes in the Woods) on the property where she grew up, and is maintained by her brother Mark and wife Candy, who care deeply for the institution they helped create, together over the years with Judy Bacharach, Judy Livoti, Sue Bernstein, Clare Brettschneider, and La Scanlon. This type of support is special to small communities, and I hope that parents of three year olds will consider Windy Ridge when choosing a pre-school for their child. Our family’s experience at Windy Ridge is just another reason why I’m thrilled to be raising my kids in Phoenicia.
Rebecca Ffrench
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
In response to Alex Gitter’s letter, in which he responded to my husband Chris Fischer’s letter, I like him have remained quiet over the years. That will end here as Mr. Gitter felt the need to support his family, I do as well.
You state that Mr. Fischer’s conduct during the five year lease made everyone realize the lease would be better off in the town’s hand, as it is? First of all, SAYS and Mr. Fischer went after the fields due to the fact that there was not enough adequate space for a town’s growing soccer program, (that Mr. Fischer began when we moved to Shandaken in 1997). During the five year lease the fields were maintained and used. The fields since their creation have been a political pawn, as is so much in the town of Shandaken. During the five year lease SAYS had little to no help from the town with the upkeep of the fields. But again, let me repeat they were maintained and had porta potties. Since the town’s so-called lease on the fields, yes they have been mowed, but that is all. We went to Mr. Cross in March letting him know that a high school girl’s travel team would be using the fields and we needed porta-potties. It is now June, and we have had to tell the teams that travel an hour to 2 hours away that they must use the woods to relieve themselves; how embarrassing, but quite typical of the town of Shakdaken.
As our five year lease approached its end, I, not Chris, began to send letters and make calls to Crossroads Ventures asking about a lease renewal. My letters and calls went unanswered until finally I spoke to someone from Mr. Gitter’s staff and was told that Mr. Gitter said we did not need a lease as it was his property and the fields could be used for whatever. Unfortunately, the special use permit that SAYS holds requires SAYS to hold a lease on the fields. Thus meaning that with the end of the lease came the end of the special use permit. I have the paperwork stating this if anyone would like to see it. Also without a lease SAYS could not obtain the insurance needed to hold them harmless for the use of fields. SAYS could not carry liability insurance on property it did not own or lease. Being a businessman I am confident Mr. Gitter knew we would run into this insurance dilemma.
Mr. Gitter, you accuse Chris of being Biased and ignorant? You also state that his conduct shows why he lost the lease on the fields??? The conduct you speak of came LONG after the lease was not renewed. Chris’s conduct through the five year term of the lease was appropriate and followed the protocol required to keep Crossroads “happy”. Let me also remind you of the countless hours Chris, his friends, our own children, SAYS members and many, many volunteers put into the making of those fields. How does Crossroads thank them for their time and concern for the children of Shandaken, they take back the lease and supposedly hand it over to the Town. The town that over the years has done little to nothing to support and provide quality programs to the youth of Shandaken. It is no wonder our elementary school’s enrollment is down so much.
From the beginning, Chris had one agenda, and that was to provide adequate programs to our youth so that when the kids got to the middle school and high school they too were making the teams. Chris has no other agenda. As for courage, Chris is one of the few people that do have the courage to say what he feels to be correct. You can take whatever you may from his “implication,” however, you should know that it is all related, unlike your claim of the fields having nothing to do with Chris’s comments or assumed comments on the Emerson. Chris has never looked for a pat on the back or a photo shoot in the paper to show his commitment to our area’s youth. The loss of the lease is just one more example of the true agenda happening with those involved in the Emerson and the Belleayre resort and better yet shows how those that have not jumped on the support ban wagon are handled.
Like I said earlier it is time that the truth about the soccer fields came out. Chris has never made it a political issue as politics is not a concern of his, and it has been and will always be about the kids. I will gladly answer any questions that anyone has about the entire lease situation from start to finish. In reading your letter, besides the few undeserving comments about Chris, your letter was as all letters that come form your “camp” and that is a letter basically seeking a pat on the back for the wonderfulness you have brought to Shandaken. So go ahead and take the pat, but while doing that be honest about the fields. I will be very anxious to see what becomes of that piece of property that was developed at no cost to Crossroads and by countless volunteer hours. As always there will be more to follow, I am sure.
Donna Fischer
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
I am writing to you in regards to this years summer Camp. In case many of you do not know, the town has cancelled Minekill and our private transportation, instead our little children must ride the UCART bus with stranger.
In a world that is no longer safe for children to go out and play safely, the Town
of Shandaken has taken away the only safe programs for our children. As I am sure you remember, my generation and the many others before me were able to play outside with no worries. Many of us left the house in the morning and not return until dinner. These mountains were safe and neither the children nor the parents were worried about who maybe lurking around. In today’s world it is no longer safe to let our children explore and have fun without a responsible adult with them at all times. Every single day there is news of kidnapping. You know longer just here about them from the cities you here about them in small towns more often now. This is no longer a safe world for children. There are many issues regarding summer camp thatconcerns me.
MINEKILL: At Minekill the grounds are fenced in, the kids can not wonder, at the entrance there is always at least one person watching everyone that comes into and out of Minekill, there are two doors that everyone must enter and leave through not a large parking lot where anyone can pick them up with out too much notice. Also, almost every child who lives in Shandaken
lives near water; at Minekill every child must take swim lessons, don't you think that when these children are playing in the streams that the need to know how to swim is important. You never know what can happen in these streams where there are NO lifeguards to help them. I agree there is not much shade at Minekill, but SUNSCREEN, It works. There is not that much more shade at Pine Hill. As for kids stubbing there toes on the concrete... WATER SHOES, they work great too. The distance? Every kid who lives in Shandaken is used to traveling distances to do anything with their families! At least at Minekill if the kids are hot and need to cool off they can go into the pools and cool off.
PINE HILL: The kids play, eat and swim near a very open and large parking lot where they can leave undetected. In fact, the playground is right next to the parking lot. It is not fenced in and kids could enter the woods without anyone noticing and get lost and anyone could get access to these children. In fact after I visited the Shandaken Rec Program at Pine Hill last year my children along with a few others were not allowed to attend camp on the days they went to Pine Hill Lake because these kids were not being supervised; when I could not find my daughters I asked the counselors and none of them know where they were either. The only way that you can say that Pine Hill Lake has more shade is if the kids are playing in the woods. If the kids want to cool off in the water they have to wait until the time that the counselors scheduled them to be in the water.
BUSES: As I stated in my opening this is no longer a safe world for our children and you want to put our children on public buses, some of these kids are 5 years old! This is ridiculous, who is liable when one of those "strangers inappropriately touches our children or physically harms them." The counselors will not be able to prevent it completely, most of them are still kids themselves.
Great, after it happens you will do something about it. Then everyone in town not only the parents will be asking what happened to the private busing that we had since at least the early 1980's, and why didn't our town protect our children from the beginning? But it will be too late!!!!
COUNSELORS: Last year, I went to Pine Hill Lake, Minekill and on a field trip at least once last year to spend time with my kids. At each place the counselors were in groups of themselves talking to each other, listening to there Ipods (mp3 players) or making out with their boyfriends/girlfriends. And they were not helping the little kids put sunscreen on, the other Never did I see a counselor in the water with the kids. This is not what I consider responsible counselors!
COST: You want to save money? Is the cost of camp paid through our taxes? Didn't we pay our taxes this year? So what is the problem? So, now that you saved money instead of doing good for our kids where is that extra money going? Lastly if the Rec program is cheaper or closing will the town be lowering our taxes being the town will be paying less or nothing for the Rec program or will someone else get that money?
After talking to last year’s counselor regarding the Rec program she gave me the impression that the program was coming to an end. After seeing what is going on this year I belive that she was right. If there is no safe Rec program where are these kids going to go? There are not many day cares in the area and there are many parents that can not afford child care. So where are these children with working parents going to go? The streets? The streams to cool off (but without many knowing how to swim)? The Pine Hill Community Center (which is not always open and if they do not live in Pine HIll how will they get there)?
The Shandaken Rec/Minekill has been going on in our town for what seems to be forever. The kids have fun, they learn to swim.... some even get to take life guard training. Some of my most favored memories from when I was a kid happened at Minekill!!
The Town is taking away from our kids, what else are they going to take away from us??
Jessica Ryder
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
As a World War II veteran I attended the Flag Day Ceremonies at the Phoenicia Elementary School. I was truly impressed and I congratulate the faculty of Phoenicia School for instilling in the minds of the students about patriotism and what our flag stands for.
It was wonderful to hear the 1st grade students sing, “Your Grand Old Flag”. Everyone participated and they all sang loud and clear. I’m sure this required a lot of dedication on the 1st grade teachers and Mr. David Laks to get the children to memorize the words.
I congratulate the students who participated in the essay contest “What the American Flag Means to Me.” Dylan Patterson took 1st place, Dominique Hilgers 2nd and Angela Kastel 3rd. Great job; well done ladies.
Accolades go to Mr. David Laks and the students of the band. They sounded great and to Devine Reiss for his playing “Call to Colors” was excellent.
We always hear negative remarks about our young people, well I tell you if the students of Phoenicia School are an example of our younger generation we have nothing to worry about. Their behavior was outstanding, which is a refection of the principle and the faculty of the Phoenicia Elementary School and their parents.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Helen Cordo for being MC. This was Helen’s 33rd year, keep up the good works Helen.
I salute each and everyone of you. God Bless You and God Bless America
Howard Sebald, World War II Vet
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
I’m sure that if you have attended any Town Board meetings in the last four years you are fed up with the wild ranting and character assassination that goes on. It is time that this stops.
We have not even started with the political campaign, and already the lunatic fringe has started with Dave Channon’s ravings.
I have had a brief talk with Dave Pillard of the Democratic committee about these letters and he said he bas no control over these people. I asked him if this was the way he was going to run the upcoming campaign, be said he didn’t have the time to discuss it at this time.
As a Republican committeeman I want this behavior of innuendo and character assassination to stop and to run this campaign in a civil manner and to stick to the issues and the abilities of the candidates.
We will not sink to the level of the Dave Channons of the Democratic Party. If this continues, we of the Republican Party hope that you will take it for what it is and where it comes from, and ignore it.
Robert Kalb
Big Indian, NY

Dear Editor,
We need a change in Shandaken!
I was busy in my store with customers on a beautiful Saturday when Bob Kalb, chairman of the Shandaken Republican Committee, stormed into my business. Trying to take care of my customers and still find out why Mr. Kalb needed to interrupt I learned Mr. Kalb was upset with a letter to the editor someone had written in a local paper. Assuming I had something to do with the letter he asked me if the letter was going to set the tone for the election season. I repeatedly told him it was inappropriate to barge into my store and discuss this and repeatedly asked him to call me so we could set up a time when we could talk. He stormed out and accused me of just not caring.
I hoped Mr. Kalb would be civil and extend the courtesy of a phone call to me. Since he did not I must ask why he did not go to the author of the letter in the first place? I had nothing to do with the letter that upset him. The letter does not reflect the views of the Shandaken Democratic Committee. I and other Shandaken Democratic Committee members will always proudly sign any letters to the editor we compose. I have no more control over who writes letters to the editor and their content than does Mr. Kalb. I, however, do have control over the way I behave.
As to Mr. Kalb's claim that I just don't care it couldn't be further from the truth. I care very deeply about this town. I care so much I'm going to do my darndest to work with Shandakenites of all political affiliations and help get candidates elected who will make the rude, arrogant, and uncivil behaviour of the present Town of Shandaken administration and those associated with it a thing of the past.
We really do need a change in Shandaken!
Dave Pillard
Shandaken Democratic Committee

Dear Editor,
This week, Amy Goodman interviewed Ralph Nader. I was for Dean last time around, and must admit, I was one of those branding Nader “The Spoiler”. However, I will begin my practice in compassion today by writing about his recent message. It was very strong, and I will pass it on to you.
It was that Democracy needs us. We, the People need to let our so called representatives what we think. But, more important, during this next year of election time, we need to let the contenders know what we think about the issues. He said that while we still have time, we need to demonstrate, rally, be seen and be heard. He also pointed out something very important. That is, that at present, we only attend the speeches and rallies of our chosen candidates. What we should be doing, is attending the speeches of the ones we don’t support. We need to let them know that we are aware of what’s going on in Washington and do not approve. With a few exceptions, they know that they are stealing our money and putting some of it in their own pockets. We need to tell them that they’re busted. Why are we all so polite? It is our given right to be heard. Corruption is rampant in Washington. Even our selected candidates pussy foot around the true issues - afraid to come out against the war, against mixing religion and politics, against ear marks. I have to assume that they’re not all protecting the Corporate mob. But, I can’t help but wonder why they privatized the voting machines instead of truly counting our votes - and what about Greg Palast’s latest story on “Vulture Funds”, which is where companies buy up debts of poor nations cheaply and then sue them for the full amount. (More on this later.) Can we possibly fix this? If not, I’ve thought about joining the ranks of those that Invest in their companies to try to keep my head above water. But, I’m more concerned about my spiritual well being to give up as long as there are people like John Conyors, Al Gore and Greg Palast around. So, when the evil-doers come to town, expect to see me there. I hope you’ll come too. Jill Paperno Glenford, NY

Dear Editor, Of all the outrageous defenses of Dean Gitter in recent years, Alex Gitter’s letter, published 6/21/07, is certainly among the worst. While I realize that it is part of the job description for Crossroad/Emerson/numerous-other-corporation employees to periodically defend Dean in print, Alex’s adaptation of recent accusations is imprudent if not purely illusory.
The day after the inexplicable fire burnt the Emerson, I received a call from Hugh Reynolds, editor of the Freeman, asking for a response to DEAN GITTER’S accusation that it was opponents of the Belleayre Resort who burnt the Emerson. Astonished, I was the first to comment that this was actually a charge of attempted murder, since I understood there to be about 8 people staying there. Alex’s Daddy-dearest quickly tried to backtrack on his comments, but it was too late they were out there.
So, basically Dean started all the finger pointing. And since no squirrels with matches were out there to be apprehended, to call the fire mysterious is hardly libelous. But to accuse innocent people of attempted murder and arson, well that’s slanderous.
While Dean then kept his mouth shut publicly, nothing stopped him from having many good people in town from being investigated for this enigmatic incineration. For the past ten years, Dean Gitter has orchestrated the acrimony and division in this town. It is he who should be ashamed for all the horrible things he has done. Thank goodness for papers like the Phoenicia Times and Olive Press, that respect free speech and allow good townspeople like Chris Fischer to defend themselves.
First, the gossip has always been that it was arson, but not by Gitter’s opponents. Deal with it. Second, who really cares about the success or lack there-of, of the Catskill Corners/Emerson Compound? Fine, it looks nice, but really, how many times have they had to overhaul their concept? Seems like a 3 yr cycle. As for their award as the most outstanding small inn in North America? Hello, Conde-Naste awards this to their paid advertisers and the voting is so loose my dog could have voted. Go ahead, Google it. It’s all hype and PR. They have discarded more employees then they have retained so their so-called employment record fools no one. The whole scenario could never have gotten this far without Emily’s blind devotion and deep pockets.
When the soccer fields were first proposed, it was questioned whether Dean really was making a gesture to serve the children or was this just a publicity scam and a ruse to set the groundwork to have the parcel rezoned thru a gradual change of use? That was why people opposed it, not because they hated the sound of kids playing. Who was surprised when the SAYS lease was not renewed? Not me. I believe SAYS and all the people who worked on and supported the soccer fields had the best of intentions, but not Dean Gitter. Crossroads took advantage of all the good people who, for the children, leveled, replanted, seeded and maintained the property. When the SAYS special permit came up for renewal there was not one complaint. So when SAYS wanted to renew their lease why wouldn’t Gitter renew it? Why did he suggest they break the law and play on the field illegally instead? Who is better served now that the town holds the lease? Certainly not the taxpayers. Now through School and Town taxes we are paying to maintain a “park” that is suitable for one thing, soccer. Who is going to hold a party there with no shade or facilities? We have several town parks with pavilions and amenities so why did the town need a lease on this field and expand its uses? Mysterious.
Dean Gitter and his followers have overwhelmingly generated the unwarranted personal attacks that have prevailed in Shandaken for the past decade. When Dean, with the help of Jane Todd and Dean Palen of the Ulster County Health Department, stole the Pine Hill Water Company, (Definition of steal from Mirriam-Webster; a: to take or appropriate without right or leave and with intent to keep or make use of wrongfully b: to take away by force or unjust means), the people who stood up to him were publicly maligned by Dean and his cronies in countless ways. There were full page ads, malicious news stories in the town’s “official” paper, and false police report’s filed to name a few. We were accused of sabotaging the decaying pipes that crumbled under 6-feet of frozen ground. Perhaps those squirrels with matches knew some groundhogs with backhoes. When we objected to the HUD Grant funds being released to purchase the Pine Hill Water Company pipes from Dean, instead of agreeing with us that the grant was issued to purchase the intact system and not just the decaying pipes Gitter was trying to sell, Jane Todd and Dean Gitter accused us of sabotaging the negotiations. They forgot to mention two key facts, HUD officials agreed with us that had those funds been incorrectly released it would have been unrepresentative of the grant application and Dean Gitter’s attorney knew the Town could have acquired the system for free, as evidenced by a letter to Jane Todd.
So, it is not surprising that when Chris Fisher speaks out, he is harassed by Gitter’s zoning officer while the over building and sprawl in Mt. Tremper go unimpeded. I could go on and on, but I get the sense that Shandaken is very much aware that the Shandaken Republicans have been having their strings pulled by Dean Gitter for far too long. While a diminished support for the resort may still linger it’s time to ask why? Do these people have a silent interest in the resort? How will they benefit by it going forward? We all know many people were approached and asked to invest when the resort plans were still under wraps and they declined. Surely not everyone said no. I have often wondered why certain residents are so fervently supportive of such an ill-conceived plan that they would stand by or worse, play a part in the nasty maligning of their neighbors that Dean Gitter and his followers have been responsible for. It has to be more that the promise of a free golf club membership.
At this point the fate of the resort lies in the State’s adjudication process. It’s time for our town’s government to go back to doing what’s best for all the people, not just a select few. In November, our town should affirm we have had enough and vote these people out.
Mary Herrmann
Pine Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
It is interesting to note that when it comes to vitamin intake there is still a lot of emphasis on the need to take vitamin C supplements in the belief that vitamin C is a panacea for many ills, will prevent colds etc. The fact is that since Linus Pauling touted the role of that vitamin and recommended mega doses in the mid-1900s people have somehow been impressed to the point of feeling the importance of it. The facts are that there is very little evidence to substantiate the roles claimed for it. Actually there has been very significant findings that other vitamins and nutrients are more likely to be deficient in our diets. Vitamin D is definitely more important that it has been thought. Folic acid (Folate) and Omega 3 and even Calcium are vital and often in short supply. It is vital that we include foods fortified with vitamin D get sunshine exposure - just a little bit goes a long way to provide Vitamin D. The need for fish twice a week for Omega 3 and three to four servings of a variety of vegetables and three or more fruit servings are important and not nearly as hard as it sounds to get them. Of course this can only be done with three well planned meals a day, not haphazard eating.
Mescal Hornbeck
Woodstock, NY


Dear Editor,
In a book that I had not looked at for a few decades I found as a book mark, a membership card. It stated: I have de-clared my name to the office of the Secretary General of the United Nations to be on record with the Declaration of the Indi-viduals against the Crime of Silence.
1. We are appalled and angered by the conduct of our country in Vietnam/IRAQ.
2.In the name of liberty, we have unleashed the awesome arsenal of the greatest military power in the world upon a small agricultural nation, killing, burning and mutilating its people. In the name of peace, we are creating a desert. In the name of security, we are inviting world conflagration.
3.We, the signers of this declaration, believe this war to be immoral. We believe it to be illegal. We must oppose it.
4. At Nuremberg, after World War 11, we tried, convicted and ex-ecuted men for the crime of OBEYING their government, when that government demanded of them CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. Millions more, who were not tried, were still guilty of THE CRIME OF SILENCE.
5.We have a commitment to the laws and principles we carefully forged in the AMERICAN CONSTITUTION, at the NUREMBERG TRIALS, and in the UNITED NATIONS CHARTER. Our own deep democratic traditions and our dedication to the ideal of human decency demand that we speak out.
We therefore declare our names to President Bush, and the Congress, as permanent witness to our opposition to the WAR IN IRAQ and as a demonstration that the conscience of America is alive. (Is it?)
Before Bush and the Congress’s ILLEGAL WAR OF CHOICE, there were no suicide bombers or road side explosives in Iraq... It is all too horrible to list the statistics which increase hourly.
Robert Jacobson
Mount Tremper

Dear Editor,
I read a disturbing letter from Alex Gitter in your June 21st issue. Despite Alex's protests, I remember that the fire at the Emerson was considered suspicious; in fact, Alex's father Dean at one point tried to blame it on the squirrels of the Catskills.
Alex's outrage at Chris Fischer's comments and the Phoenicia Times for printing Mr. Fisher's letter are odd considering that Alex never objected when his father paid for ads and his father's crony, Blake Killin, published editorials and news stories saying that I had sabotaged the water pipes in Pine Hill and that I either burned the Emerson down or knew who did. All baseless lies on behalf of political and financial gain, but not a peep from Alex about that!
Alex's theatrical outrage when someone from the community simply expresses his own opinion shows me that the nut does not fall far from the tree. Yet, Alex can indeed include me as one of the opponents of the proposed oversized resort who felt that the original Emerson was an asset to the town. It was scaled properly to allow an organic growth and some needed lodging to the area. Aside from some problems with sexual harassment
and the fact that the bulk of the employees were here on work visas, I thought that
the restoration of a lovely old building was commendable.
What Alex and his father are doing on the other side of the road might have been commendable, too, if it had been built on the specs that the Shandaken Planning Board approved.
Oh, by the way, Alex says he grew up here. Strangely, I can't find anyone who went to school with him. Maybe Alex can tell us where to find records of his attendance at Onteora or any of our elementary schools?
I moved to the area from NJ in 1976, and have been in Pine Hill since '78.
Pete DiModica
Pine Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
We don’t usually write letters. However a recent event has truly touched our hearts. My wife and I witnessed the miracle of birth, of a baby deer. She has stayed in our backyard for the last few months. The Mother felt confident enough to have her baby right in our backyard. Despite the fact that we have 2 small dogs, she never felt threatened. As the baby deer grew, she would run up to me and my wife. As if she was enticing us to come play. She would run all around our yard, jumping and kicking, full of life. It was truley a bueatiful scene. If the baby started getting to rambunctious, the Mother would snort and the baby would run to her side. We are very gifted to have witnessed this life event. Today, June 17th, The Mother crossed the road onto the Reservoir Property. She has done this everyday with the baby along side of her. The Mother was always cautious, listening for cars before she would cross the road. However today as she crossed a car traveling approx 50mph snuffed out the babys life. The car never stopped, or even slowed down, just continued on down the road. I was in my backyard at the time, and had seen the Mother and the baby in the field just moments before. As I headed down to my garage, I saw a strange car in my driveway. I then saw a young woman dragging the baby deer out of the roadway. We talked about it for a few minutes, and talked about how fast cars are traveling on 28A. The speed limit is 35 mph, although a reasonable limit would probably be 40-45. However most vehicles are traveling 50+ This stretch of road between Weidner Drive and Davis Park is a double yellow. However that dosent stop people from passing and speeding down this stretch everyday. Its especially dangerous on the weekends when the “Crotch Rocket” Motorcycles come thru here at 100+ My neighbors can all agree to that. Last year a woman riding a bicycle was hit by a car in front of our house. The speeding driver never stopped, and to our knowledge was never caught. We called 911 and they gave us a hard time. They wanted to know if she was injured? She was knocked off the bicycle and was laying in the middle of the road. With a big gash in her shoulder! What is the matter with people today that they place such small value on life? Whether it be a baby deer, or hitting a Woman on a bicycle. And in both instances leaving them for dead in the middle of the road. We all know that sometimes even under the best circumstances deer cannot be avoided. But I find it hard to believe that the driver who struck the bicyclist didn’t know they had done so. I guess a resonable question to ask then is where are the Police? We don;t want to be overly critical. And the Town of Olive has a fine Dept. But you would think between all the Depts. State, Sheriff, Olive, DEP. You could dedicate some patrols in this area. 28A is a very dangerous road with a lot of heavy truck traffic. It is also very narrow with many dangerous curves and blind spots. And with new developtments popping up it will only get worse. What happened to this poor baby dear is truley a shame, and we all share the blame. We all need to adjust our driving habits, and our attitudes towards life. Any Life. Think About it...
Dale & Edwina Van Valkenburgh West Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
We are writing to thank the Phoenicia water rescue team, police, ambulance, and fire departments, volunteers, and the owners and patrons of the Black Bear Cafe for rushing to the aid of our friends on Memorial Day weekend.
Our guests went out early Saturday morning in search of a safe place for their dog to swim. By safe, they meant away from the road. But they were unfamiliar with the currents in the Esopus Creek. First the dog, and then her owner were caught in the current. When 911 was called, the response was swift and tremendous. Though bruised and shaken, our friends and the dog are okay.
As second-home owners, we want to take this opportunity to publicly express our respect and gratitude.
Meredith Altman and Emily Rosenthal
Lanesville, NY

Dear Editor,
I cannot begin to explain the disgust and disappointment I have for the reporting of my mother-in-law, Iris Vega’s, death by the Kingston Daily Freeman. When my mother-in-law was missing I naively thought, let’s put her picture in the paper and ask the public to report if anyone has seen or heard from her. Seemed (at the time) like the best way to get her picture into the community. How stupid was I. I picked up the Freeman on Monday and began reading. The article started off with exactly what I would have expected. They had placed her picture on the front page, gave a description of her, her car, where her car was found, etc. I was in disbelief of what I read next. Somewhere in knowing all the sorrow and pain her family must have been feeling, the reporter felt it would be beneficial to state her recently deceased husband’s 9 year old conviction. Right? I mean why else would he have put that in the article. He does have a heart. Right? He must have known how her son’s, daughters, grandchild, friends etc where hurting and worrying so why would he put anything in the article to hurt them and demean her?
My mother-in-law was found 10 minutes from my house on John Street on sometime before midnight on Sunday. She had (according to police) died the prior Tuesday evening. Her body was covered and left in the woods for five days. We were told that she was not alone when she died and that a man had taken the police to the body. This man’s name is Alcides Rojas.
Monday evening I called the Freeman, explained who I was and was put through to a voicemail. I asked that someone call me back. No one called. After the second article was published “Missing Woman Found Dead” still mentioning her deceased husband’s conviction record, I called the Freeman AGAIN. Left another message, this time not so nice. I explained that I would EXPECT a call back and when someone does call me back, I would like to know how printing my mother-in-laws deceased husband’s 9 yr old conviction record is relevant to the case. I sincerely thought that now I would receive the phone call I had been waiting for. Surely they would want to speak to a family member. No one called.
It is certainly the third article “Battle to Overcome Drug Use Proved to Difficult” that I would like to address. Mary Fairchild, author of this article, did finally call my home the day this article was published. She had mentioned that she did try and call my home at 8:30 pm the evening before but the “phone just rang and rang”. Well Mary, this was probably because we were talking to a family member or trying to figure out how to get all of her sons home. She did not try again; finished her article and it went to print. Let me address the following issues within her article:
Not one person, not even Cathy Ortega whom is quoted throughout the article has EVER said that my mother-in-law used drugs. When I asked Mary if Cathy had said that she had knowledge of my mother-in-law doing drugs she said that Cathy had said the opposite that she had never seen or heard of her doing drugs. The police have told me that no one (except for the man who left her in the woods) has said they know of her using drugs, they have seen her do drugs, or they have heard her say that she does drugs. I will tell you why. My mother-in-law DID NOT do drugs. What Cathy did tell Mary was that my mother-in-law had left her husband because of the fact he was involved in drugs and that she was trying to stay away from the people and environments that are involved in that lifestyle. When I explained to Mary that we were very upset about the Freeman reporting on the prior convictions because this would give people a preconceived notion that my mother-in-law used drugs herself, her reply to me was “Can you blame them”.
Second, and most important, is that this monster, Alcides Rojas, left my mother-in-law, a Mother to my husband and his three brothers, the loving grandmother to five beautiful grandchild and genuine friend to numerous individuals to perish in the woods for five days. He watched her die, never calling for help. No anomious phone call to help her, nothing. Covered her body, took her car, drove to bowling alley, parked and went home to his apartment. The Freeman printed one small paragraph about this individual saying he was not “forthcoming” when he was questioned. This man repeatedly lied to the police for three days while my mother-in-law lie in the woods, first in the hot sun and then for three days of rain. Her body was in such condition that we were not even allowed to identify her. She could not be viewed at her funeral and all you can muster up about this man is that he was charged with a misdemeanor and was not “forthcoming”. The articles portrayed my mother-in-law as some unemployed (not true) drug user and yet portray him as merely a liar.
My mother-in-law does not deserve any of this. No one does. She was a good person, a good friend and I am proud to have known her. I will miss her terribly as will everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
It is very sad that I had to defend my mother-in-law in her death. None should have to do that but what’s done is done. I cannot change the way the Freeman portrayed my mother-in-law but I can ask that the next time a tragedy like this happens, that the reporters realize how every word that is written is affecting the family that is still morning and grieving a loved one. Have a heart.
Jodi Reyes and the family of Iris Vega
East Kingston, NY

Dear Editor,
The Onteora School District’s Web Site has a page titled Public Be Heard. It explains how to address any concerns that one may have and how to contact Board members. If you want to address the Onteora School Board of Education at a meeting the school suggests that you contact the District Clerk prior to the meeting. According to the School’s Web Page you have two minutes to speak, but the Board will not respond to comments at the meeting. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking in public and you have a comment or question for a particular trustee or all board members you have to send your comment or question to the District Clerk via e mail or regular mail. If you wish to keep your comment or question confidential you can not send it via e mail to the District Clerk because your e mail must be opened and then given to the Trustee that you want to contact. Schools Districts like the Kingston school district list all nine School Board members e mail addresses on the School’s Web Page. The Onteora School District does not list any Trustees e mail addresses on the School’s Web Site.
The School’s Public Be Heard Web Page does not explain how to obtain information that the District can not respond to using normal e mail communication. Some questions require you to submit a FOIL request. They will let you know. You can e mail the request, but the District will not respond to the request via e mail. It cost 25 cents per sheet to get the information that you’re looking for. And, it takes weeks to get the information. By not responding to FOIL requests via e mail the administration is spending tax dollars unnecessarily and it also forces individuals to spend money that they shouldn’t have to. Depending on how many pages your request requires it could cost $10.00 or more for the two registered mailings that it takes to process a FOIL request using the regular mail service.
New York State Board of Education Law requires all School District to respond to FOIL requests via e mail, but here’s the catch, if they have the capability to do so. In recent e mails Assistant Superintendent Victoria McLaren said that their system does not allow the documents that I requested to be produced in an electronic format because their payroll is in a DOS environment. What Mrs. McLaren didn’t say was that they were going to fix that problem. Processing FOIL requests via e mail would save time and tax payers dollars. DOS is a very old antiquated operating system. My computer back in 1989 had DOS as an operating system. There may be a good reason why the School is still using DOS, but it’s difficult to understand that a School District with a 46 million dollar budget is still using such an outdated antiquated operating system that can’t be used to e mail a document. I’m not a computer expert, but if a document can be read on a computer screen it seems to me that the document shown on the screen could be printed. Once the document is printed it then can be scanned and e mailed right from the scanner. One of the School’s computer experts should be able to figure out a way to correct the e mail problem and to save tax payer’s money and the time that it now takes to process FOIL requests.
William Warnecke
Glenford, NY