Letter9/10/2009

Dear Editor,
Rainstorms and lightning, summer trips and fond memories... I hope this summer has been a time of travel, sharing and exploration for your family. We are ready to welcome you back at Bennett, Phoenicia and Woodstock Elementary schools, the Middle and High school on September 8th! Thanks to the hard work of our custodial and maintenance staff, the deep cleaning, floor polishing, replacement and moving will all be done in time for another year of learning.
We are starting the year with several new staff members. We are in the process of interviewing for a new Middle School principal. While we are in that process, Mr. Jack Jordan will return to Onteora as interim principal.
Mr. Jared Mance is the Director of Facilities and Operations, following in the footsteps of Mr. Jim O’Neill and Mr. Pete Giambrone, who both retired last school year. His management experience with Kingston Mechanical Contractors, Inc. has already been very valuable to our current projects.
High school and Middle school students are conditioning and practicing for all of the fall sports. Please mark October 3rd for Homecoming this year. I invite you to introduce yourself to Mr. Nicholas Millas, our new Director of Physical Education and Athletic Director, and learn more about our sports teams. During this school year we will roll out the second phase of our student information system, Infinite Campus. This will include training for teachers to provide a parent portal, and training for staff to launch an auto dialing system for all-district announcements.
The Board of Education invites you to select from the list of committee and task force choices, and become actively involved in supporting our district work. Space on each committee is limited, and some committees require specific experience and training. Please contact Fern Amster in the Superintendent’s Office to sign up.
I would like to share with you some inspiring words about parenting to reflect on as your children return to school. In Parenting from the Inside Out, Dr. Daniel J. Siegel, and Mary Hartzell so eloquently stated the need to be mindful in our nurturing relationships. Mindfulness is at the heart of nurturing relationships. When we are mindful, we live in the present moment and are aware of our own thoughts and feelings and also are open to those of our children. The ability to stay present with clarity within ourselves allows us to be fully present with others and to respect each person’s individual experience. No two people see things in exactly the same way. Mindfulness gives respect to the sovereignty of each person’s unique mind.
When we are being fully present as parents, when we are mindful, it enables our children to fully experience themselves in the moment. Children learn about themselves by the way we communicate with them. When we are preoccupied with the past or worried about the future, we are physically present with our children but are mentally absent. Children don’t need us to be fully available all the time, but they do need our presence during connecting interactions. Being mindful as a parent means having intention in your actions. With intention, you purposefully choose your behavior with your child’s emotional
well-being in mind. Children can readily detect intention and thrive when there is purposeful interaction with their parents. It is within our children’s emotional connections with us that they develop a deeper sense of themselves and a capacity or relating.
On another note, as we return to school we think about health and wellness. We are taking steps to reduce the spread of flu in Onteora. As you may know, flu can be easily spread from person to person. We want to keep the schools open to students and functioning in a normal manner
during flu season, but, we need your help to do this. Here's what you can do to help:
* Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.
* Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. Covering up their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable.
* Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
* Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.
* Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.
Lastly, please remember that if your child had free or reduced lunch last year, you must reapply this year. The deadline for applications (new or reapplying) is October 1st. The application is available on our website- under Administration, Director of Food Services. Please contact Christine Downs (657-2373 x241 or cdowns@onteora.k12.ny.us ) with any questions.
We are always happy to hear your comments, questions and feedback. Please feel free to call my office or send an email. (lford@onteora.k12.ny.us or 657-6383 x264)
Dr. Leslie Ford, Superintendent
Onteora Central School District
Boiceville, NY

Dear Editor,
The upcoming political season will bring with it the fanfare of campaign posters, rallies and political platforms. Unfortunately, it may bring forth rumors and disinformation that circulate on telephone lines, emails, and blogs. I have already heard one stating that Bert Leifeld is running but will step down and I will be appointed supervisor. Not true this campaign or the previous one when I first heard this absurd ploy. I have gotten calls asking why our supervisor is the highest paid in Ulster County, even in New York State. Not true. I have been contacted about having a public be heard session at the Town Board Meeting. Good idea. In fact, there has always been one the whole time I have served as your Councilman.
I am writing to urge you to seek information rather than believe what someone says. The Town Board encourages you to attend meetings, call us and discuss issues and ask questions. Please, do not vote on the basis of rumors. Check out information at the Town Office. There are very competent workers, of all political parties, who can give facts rather than partisan fiction. Look to public records, not idle hearsay.
The election process should be about issues and service openly discussed and debated, not personal attacks and innuendos. We are too fine a town to be reduced to whispers and rumors.
Bruce A. La Monda
Town of Olive Councilman

Dear Editor,
The Phoenicia School Board has just solved the problem of the declining enrollment in their school. Just bus children from other "community" home schools and put them into Phoenicia Community School and the problem is solved. And to further protect their personal agenda, let's write a policy that will keep class sizes very small. We all know we can afford to hire more staff.
This new Phoenicia School Board campaigned on "No consolidation", "No long bus rides for their children", and "No 5-8 Middle School". I guess it is okay for other children to be on long bus rides from other community schools to balance the Phoenicia classes.
Master Plan for the future, as their children move to the Junior/Senior High School and they wonder what happened to all the great electives. That's right we never addressed the declining enrollment or maybe we can just bus children from Saugerties and Rondout districts because I'm sure they have lots of extra children they can "bus" to us.
Let's look at being fiscally responsible and make a real middle school. Let's talk about our children's educational future not the personal agendas of the Phoenicia School Board.
Rick Wolff
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending three different local events (out of the dozens on offer), each of which exemplified the depth of talent in this community, as well as the spirit of volunteerism, that makes this such a special place to call home.
Friday saw the opening night of the Shandaken Theatrical Society’s new Play Fair festival. Featuring six short plays by six local playwrights, drawing on the considerable acting skills of local residents, directors and producers, Play Fair had my teenage son and myself laughing hysterically throughout. It seems a little unfair to single any play out, as they were all marvelous, but Tom Cherwin’s “Psychotherapy” was above and beyond, easily good enough for the national stage. Play Fair runs until August 30; tickets are $12 and lower for two hours, a bargain compared to the average movie (especially allowing for the Theater’s $1 home-made snacks). Attending an event at the STS, on Church Street in Phoenicia, is not only good value, but it’s interactive and supports the arts in the community.
On Saturday, the Phoenicia Park saw a possibly unprecedented event: a gather of world-class (but locally based) singers and instrumentalists performing, under a tent, to a crowd of around 300 people, as what many of us hope will prove only to be the first Opera In The Park. This fund-raiser, for the purpose of replacing the antiquated playground equipment in the Park itself, was a success on so many levels, including the fact that it brought opera to the (relative) masses; that it was humorous as well as being classy; that it sought to incorporate show tunes and piano pieces; that local restaurants supplied freshly-made food at family-friendly prices… and that the thunderstorms stayed away until the concert was over. Credit is due to the community members who not only envisioned this idea but then had the sheer audacity (and wherewithal) to see it through. Hopefully, we will soon see the results in the playground itself.
We were not quite as lucky with the rain on Sunday at Kidstock on Belleayre Mountain (an event that also served as a fund-raiser for local animal charity Friends of Snuffy): a massive storm in mid-afternoon curtailed some of the outdoor activities. But the rain couldn’t dampen the crowd’s spirits. The hundreds of kids (and their parents, of course), merely focused their attentions from the Musical Woodland Journey, and the Rock'n'roll Fashion Show, and other outdoor events and stalls, and headed indoors to hear local musicians like Uncle Rock, and the School of Rock All-Stars, and participate in the Kids’ Pet Poetry Reading and Air-Guitar contest, with one fortunate kid winning a genuine electric guitar. A spirit of child-like wonder rained – sorry, reigned – throughout the day.
These were only some of the weekend’s myriad activities. There was modern opera at Mount Tremper Arts, a live show by Uncle Monk on Main Street in Phoenicia, the ongoing exhibitions at Arts Upstairs and Cabane Studios, not to mention the dozens of others shows, concerts, movies, gallery openings, and various performances taking place all the way up and down what we sometime call “the Route 28 corridor” but which we can also consider, more poetically, the Heart of the Catskills. We are, truly, blessed to live in such a thriving area.
Tony Fletcher
Mount Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
A remarkable thing happened recently in Phoenicia. We had the pleasure of having an evening of opera, performed by three world-class stars, who happen to live here, all within arms length of the audience. To these performers, Kerry Henderson, Maria Todaro and Louis Otey, we cannot express enough our thanks for their gift to us. They generously shared the beauty of their voices, while helping us further realize our vision of raising monies for much-needed playground equipment in our little park. And, not only did we get closer to our goal – along the way we discovered some other lessons of great import. By doing these fundraisers, we’ve uncovered a group of dedicated people, who with little fanfare have worked tirelessly together towards a greater goal. And, we’ve really enjoyed this camaraderie – and want our circle to continue to expand. And, while we hoped to obtain playground equipment – our two fundraisers – the outdoor movie night – and the opera – have further served to make us realize how varied programming for our little town park will draw a wider audience, and have real value for our community. There is so much potential. At the opera performance, excited attendees were talking about how great it would be to have an outdoor band shell. Suffice it to say, there was lots of positive energy inspired by the opera, and its seeds will go far.
Some of the many people and businesses who came together to make this event possible are: Performers: Kerry Henderson, Maria Todaro, Louis Otey; Pianists: Justin Kolb, Jennifer Peterson; The Community Choral Group of the Catskills directed by Richard Tucker and Maria Todaro; Electrician – John Hansen; Sound: Jon and Amanda Simaretta and Syntonic Design Group; Cindy Jewett- coordinator; Stage Construction - Glen Leisching, Vinny Wallace, JD Louis, John Hansen, Cindy Jewett; Stage Materials: Scot Griffin; Concession: Mary Garraffa, Rebecca Ffrench, Bethany Saltman, Eugenia Krause, Maxanne Resnick, Heather Roberts, Grace Louis, Michele Garner; Ticket Sales: Susan Robertson, Doris Bartlett, Barbara Redfield, Dave Pillard/Tenderland Home, Pine Hill Community Center, Lori’s Creative Cafe; Parking: Mike, Vinny Wallace, JD Louis, Dylan Jewett, Town Tinker, EBGormley Funeral Home, Bruce Winchell; Program : Vinny and Amy Wallace and the Shandaken Theatrical Society; Graphics: Kurt Boyer; Piano: Vincitore’s; Food Donations: Bread Alone, Peekamoose, Full Moon Resort, Jabelli’s Bakery, La Duchesse Anne, The Catskill Rose, Hanover Farms, Hong Kong of Boiceville, Flora Fernandez, Mary Garraffa, Rebecca Ffrench, Eugenia Krause, Barbara Redfield, The Phoenicia Market; Marketing: The Phoenicia Times, WAMC, WDST, Michele Garner and Kerry Henderson coordinating; Restroom Facilities: Harmony Builders; Choir Practice: The Phoenicia Methodist Church; Chair rental loans: St Francis De Sales; Paper Lanterns: made by the children of Windy Ridge Preschool and Woodland Playhouse; Video: Reaching Roots Studios, Ian Laughlin; Parish Field Fundraising coordinated by Shandaken Parks and Recreation Committee; Other Noteworthy Supporting Community Members: Amanda Rubin, Ricarda O’Connor, The Wilsey Family, The entire Gormley FamilyJ, Kadesha, and Stella, the singing dog.
Heather Roberts
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
Friends of Snuffy would like to thank Mel Litoff and the Belleayre Music Festival for producing Kidstock, Michael Lang, The School of Rock, Our Host, Uncle Rock and all the musical talent that made the Rock and Roll Fashion Show and the Woodland Musical Journey so magical. We could not have done this without our board, all of our wonderful volunteers, vendors and sponsors and Kurt Boyer's design for helping us get the word out.
Also thanks to the Phoenicia Times for their support and everyone else who supported us during this event. But most of all the kids and their families who donated pet food and money to the Pet Food Pantry. We could not have done it without all of you.
THANK YOU
Friends of Snuffy

DeaDear Editor,
You often hear about what the youth are doing - all negative; but let me tell you about what two young boys did today.
The Seniors were having their twice a month meeting and when the meeting ended at 2 o'clock, they exited the United Methodist Church hall to go their ways. One of the members of "the club" dropped her pocket book on the lawn of the church. Around 2:30 PM, two young boys, Ian Jameson from Shokan and Ethan Carr from Hurley came into the hall to ask if anyone lost their pocketbook. Upon looking through the bag, some members who always remain and play Canasta, found the name of the owner. She was called and notified about the recovery.
A huge THANK YOU to two young people who thoughtfully brought the pocket book to the church. Many times you read in the paper about the not so good antics of our youth, but here is proof of the positive integrity of some of our local youth. I was one of the six witnesses of this act and we were all moved by this action.
Lois Higgins
Lanesville, NY

Dear Editor,
We need a program that preserves Medicare and Medicaid; offers Affordable Health Care Coverage for Everyone; a public option must be included for anyone without insurance; it must include priority coverage for basic preventative health care and wellness care; equity in outcomes; it must be portable from job to job to unemployment to students who age out of family coverage; it must offer choice with cost controls; employers must contribute; and everyone must be covered.
Congress and the Federal Government should wake up and check out the State of Oregon Health Care program or DMAP. Visit the following link and read about a program that has been in place since 1994: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/aboutdhs/structure/dmap.shtml
The most important statements are: Prioritized list of Health Services, emphasis on
Preventative Care and no one can lose their health coverage. No one in Oregon can be denied Health Coverage - one program or another will pick the resident up - Medicare, Medicaid, Employer based, individuals, unemployed, students, high risk patients, those with pre-existing conditions. All you need to do is become a resident of Oregon and you will have health care coverage. If you cannot contribute to the cost; the State will pay from some other source in their budget.
All the scare tactics being used by the opponents to Health Care Reform are answered by the State of Oregon Health Care Program. It would certainly be a good starting point for our Congress to consider and adopt.
Vic Work
Wallkill, NY

Dear Editor,
I, Erik Karwatowski, am asking for your help with a great fundraiser I am participating in this September. Seven Connecticut College students and I will bike 300 miles from New York City to Washington, D.C as part of the Brita Climate Ride 2009. The ride consists of hundreds of cyclists pedaling in a 5-day, 300 mile ride to raise money for three important organizations, increase awareness of climate change, and support renewable energy legislation.
In order for me to participate however, I must raise at least $2,500 in pledges. Your dollars will help support the growing network of urban pathways rhough Rails-to Trails Conservancy, civic engagement through Focus the Nation, and implementing carbon-emissions reducing solutions to climate change through Clean Air-Cool Planet. Not only will your donations be going to leaders in the fight for a greener world but it will also be uniting a wide array of experts and student leaders for a beautiful trip. Not to mention helping 8 college students get in shape.
In addition to the students participating in the ride, another Connecticut College student will be joining us to make a documentary of the trip, which will be distributed to tv stations, entered in independent film festivals, and posted on the web. She is also working with news stations to provide footage for new stories, and different organizations who want to use footage for their various programs.
Your donation, no matter the size, will be greatly appreciated. Please send it to me at 111 High Mountain Road, W. Shokan, NY 12494
Erik Karwatowski
West Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
The big question for me now is, will they succeed in turning We the People against each other. It clearly is their goal, since they now know that they have nothing to lose because their ideology has failed them. This became clear when they used the term Nazi for our President. This has nothing to do with philosophy, or for that matter anything remotely connected to thought. Thought is now in the past. Those of us who have not been taken over by the "brain snatchers" can argue amongst ourselves whether to bail out banks versus people, whether to finance protection of the earth versus whether to finance murderous contractors. All of that is small stuff.
No child left behind worked. All of our youth's brain functioning was taken away from science, healing, arts and philosophy, and put into Wall Street. The American Dream was theirs if they would just put a small down payment of a piece of their souls, and commit to a lifetime of numbers. To make the commitment even easier for them, they were told that they could hold on to their souls, by contributing some of their money to the needy, and get a tax deduction. What they didn't account for, is that once the erosion of the souls begin, they would eventually reach a no turning back point, just like in all the vampire stories.
To turn this letter into some more practical information, I'd like to move on to Medicare. I have a number of baby boomer friends, who actually believe that they should hold on to the private insurance that they had gotten from the office. Now, I know that my friends can't possibly be stupid, so let's use the term "un-informed", (although I'd prefer mis-informed). If Medicare is not your primary health care choice, and is instead your secondary, you have been had.
FYI: There are two basic parts, (leaving out the add-ons) to your Medicare insurance. Your primary and your secondary. The primary makes the decisions and the secondary just pays 20% of whatever the primary decides to pay. So, if you have an HMO as your primary, you are limited to their choice of doctors, their choice of care, their choice of everything relating to your health care. Medicare, then adds an extra 20% of whatever they rule on. Count them out on any appeals, etc. It's not their job, when they are secondary.
On the other hand, if Medicare is your primary, they make all of the decisions. At the present time, Medicare covers 80% of just about everything you want.
For me, it covers any doctor I wish to see, for as many visits as I wish to have, in many other States, as well as New York State. So, if you want to go to a specialist in a particular disease out of State, you can travel there, and pay only for your own travel expenses. Medicare pays for all doctors that accept Medicare, which is just about all doctors that are in medicine in order to heal. (Some alternative practitioners are not included). It also pays for any tests that the doctor requires, and probably overpays for that, (but that's another story). Of course, when you chose Medicare as your primary, they pay 80% of all that I've listed, including hospital stays, re-hab, long term care, etc. Then, you get to choose your secondary. That company, (whoever is available in your area) pays the additional 20% of what's left after Medicare pays the 20%. Secondaries do not make the decisions, when Medicare is your primary.
I don't know if I've made this clear enough. I know that there are people that charge fees for trying to explain this. I'm doing the best I can, in the limited space I have in a letter. You can go to your nearest Medicare office, and get further information. The bottom line is: Let's not absorb any of the lies that are coming out about health care. Let's get to the truth and then decide. And let's block dangerous people from Town Hall meetings, and remove any that speak out of turn and regain our right to listen and to speak to our representatives. Why are we allowing this to happen?
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
I am writing to urge people to (enjoy and) support a new local business: the Alchemy Cafe, located in the same complex as the Bear Cafe, the Bearsville Theater and WDST on Rt. 212 in Bearsville. Alchemy is a wonderful place to hear music and enjoy good food and friends. There are open mics every Wednesday (music) and Thursday (poetry), as well as regular music shows over the weekends.
As many local musicians have discovered, Alchemy provides a superb context for the performer, which in turn means good things for the audience. The founders, Stephanie Izarek and Nick Martin, are to be congratulated for bringing this most welcome addition to our community. Go to Alchemy! You'll be glad you did!
For more information, see their web page at: alchemyofwoodstock.com
Luke Hunsberger
Shady, NY

Dear Editor,
Jennifer Holz writes often moving pieces about life on the farm and kids growing up. By all accounts, she also does great work in the community. She is not blind to the suffering of animals but, in the way she described her cat's nasty habits, she may have shown a lack of sensitivity. This does not make her a bad person. We have all said and done things that we later wish we could take back. Our attitudes change over time as a result of our experiences. Living on a farm, Ms Holz may have a less sentimental attitude toward animal life than an animal rescuer such as Ms Shalaew. By the way, I assume Ms Shalaew is a vegetarian because you can't get much more inhumane than the way cows, pigs and chickens are treated on factory farms. In any case, a bell collar for Kitty and a simple apology for the unintended offence would probably have done the trick.
Matt Frisch
Arkville, NY

Dear Editor,
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified e-waste as the fastest growing component of the solid waste stream. E-waste typically contains toxic and potentially hazardous constituents. Manufacturers do not pay for the cost to safely manage electronic products at the end of their useful life. Instead, the responsibility and costs for proper recycling for e-waste have been borne by local recycling programs, and by extension, taxpayers.
It is time for manufacturers to take responsibility for the disposal of electronic products at the end of their useful life. In June, the New York State Assembly passed an e-waste recycling bill (A.9049) that promotes better product stewardship. The State Senate needs to follow suit and adopt an identical bill, S.6047, when it returns for a special legislative session this fall. Similar legislation has been passed in 18 states, as well as New York City, and it would be a big step in the right direction for all New Yorkers that care about recycling and the environment.
Shifting primary responsibility for e-waste management from local recycling programs to manufacturers is a critical first step to advancing true product stewardship in New York State. As a result, manufacturers would have incentives to design more sustainable products that are less toxic and easier to recycle, while creating green jobs as part of e-waste take back programs -- all at no costs to local taxpayers.
Dianne Woske, President
New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling, Inc.

Dear Editor,
This is to share our experience dealing with Japanese Knotweed, that invasive non-native plant that is expanding rapidly throughout Ulster, Greene and Delaware Counties, among other parts of our state.
Although government funds to address the problem have been allocated to local agencies and nonprofit organizations, the destructive plant is spreading so rapidly--along Route 28, for example, as well as on Interstate 87 and down to the Pallisades Parkway--that citizens should consider dealing with the issue directly, at least where knotweed is found on their own property.
As most people know, knotweed "poses a significant threat to riparian [stream or river-bank] areas, where it can survive severe floods and is able to rapidly colonize scoured shores and islands,” according to the Plant Conservation Alliance. The more it spreads, the more it suffocates native plant life.
Last weekend, we discovered several bushes of the invader growing on a small watery hillside on our property at Broadstreet Hollow, Allaben. Gearing up for what we thought would be a Herculean task, akin to uprooting a thick, dead tree trunk, we were surprised to find that the plant is easily cut, and in some cases, easily removed by the roots. We simply got down on our hands and knees and broke off the stems as close to the roots as possible. The stems, being hollow, often snap. Where they didn't break off, we cut them with a small, hand held grass cutter. A sharp camping knife would have done just as well. It took us about an hour to complete the cutting and uprooting.
Then, we made sure to stuff all the debris--stems, leaves, white flowers--into plastic garbage bags, which are now on the way to be buried under tons of landfill. It's important to check that every leaf, stem section and flower is removed from the site, because knotweed expands precisely through such castoffs.
An alternative to bagging the debris is to burn them, which obviously needs to be done with great care.
We know that the tiny stem remains that we could not uproot will, next season, sprout up again, and that we will probably have to perform the operation again year after year, until the roots are thoroughly exhausted. We also know that tackling a few bushes is much easier than dealing with a virtual forest of knotweed, as is developing in so many parts of our community. But it's worth it. We can all make a contribution to controlling, if not eradicating, this toxic pest.
Nathan Weber, Wendy Most
Broadstreet Hollow, NY

Dear Editor,
Shandaken Day at Big Indian was a wonderful event! In spite of the the threatening weather the rain held off and the people came. I am grateful we have an annual celebration like this where we can connect as a community and enjoy each other’s fellowship.
I especially want to thank the Phoenicia Rotary Club for sharing their tent that day with the Walkway Flag Workshop project. Our town’s Rotarians are truly special people and donate so much of their time and resources to make Phoenicia, (and the rest of the world) a better place. Phoenicia Rotary has been very supportive of the upcoming procession over the highest pedestrian bridge in the world. It will be exciting for Shandaken to be one of 50 Ulster and Dutchess County towns parading our community-made flags on the Walkway Over the Hudson on Oct 3! All Shandakenites and friends are invited to march with our town that day (go to walkway.org for more information).
Please remember to get all flags to me by September 20th ( I will come pick up!) and if you are interested in making a flag for Shandaken, please contact me for materials ASAP at jwdragon@gmail.com.
Thanks!
Jen Dragon
Chichester, NY