(letters from December 21, 2006)

Dear Editor,
Last Saturday I had the good fortune of visiting The Phoenicia School PTA's Tag Sale. What wonderful holiday presents that I found. Even more wonderful was what became of my hat and coat. It warms me just to think about it. As I was readying to leave the tag sale, I set down my hat and coat on one of the tables that had "For Sale" items. I had found more presents! After some time I went looking for my hat and coat and couldn't find them. Someone had bought them and left. Oh how terrible all the volunteers felt. Instantly they started sharing stories of whom they thought bought my hat and coat. "It was a stranger new to Phoenicia" said one volunteer. "She's camping on Old 28 by the Zen Mountain Monestary" said another. "Her son is at the Monestary" said a third.
As I thanked all these detectives I marvelled at their kindness and care. "She's driving a white station wagon or VW Passat" said another.
Off I went to cruise Phoenicia looking for this woman with my hat and coat. The Monestary was in a quiet period -- though kindly took my noted addressed to "someone who's Mom is camping nearby."
The next day there was a call but my answering machine was full! The next day a message was left on my cell phone. The woman had gotten my message and my coat and hat were going to be returned. Then I heard it was given to somebody who knew me. Then I heard it was at a local restaurant. Next think I knew it was at my Dad's house! Wow!
So many of the community helped me get my coat back. Even now a week later, people I hardly know have been asking me if I ever found my hat. For those of you who know the movie "It's A Wonderful Life," Phoenicia sure feels like Bedford Falls. Thanks everyone! Thanks Phoenicia!
Rob Cruickshank
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
People are wondering if there is any solution to the Gordian knot (namely the religious directives) we’re facing again in Kingston with the Berger Commission’s recommendations for our two hospitals. Based on our colleagues’ experience at MergerWatch, there is.
Abortion, as is frequently reported, is not the only stumbling block to a merger between Kingston and Benedictine hospitals. It is far more complicated than that. Other services at issue include contraception, contraceptive counseling, tubal ligations, vasectomies, infertility services, discussion of condoms with patients who are at risk of transmitting or contracting STDs or HIV/AIDS, as well as curtailment of one’s end-of-life choices. All these services are subject to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.
MergerWatch has worked with community-based health advocates in more than 50 hospital merger cases in 25 states, including Kingston’s in 1997-98. As a result of their nationwide experience, they have developed successful models to preserve patients’ ability to continue to obtain the comprehensive health services at a hospital where they have received these in the past.
Two excellent examples of consolidation that preserve each hospital’s historic mission and role in the community were created in the mid-1990s at the Fletcher Allen Health System in Burlington, VT, and more recently in Louisville, KY, with the Catholic-affiliated Caritas Hospitals and Jewish Hospital Healthcare Services. Both created joint ventures that allow each hospital to maintain its own identity, buildings, religious mission, and pattern of service delivery. Several structural measures are key to making such arrangements work: governance, location, and funding streams.
It’s important to structure the governance of the merged hospitals, as the Berger Commission recommends, so that both hospitals will retain their historic missions. The non-sectarian hospital (Kingston Hospital) should continue to provide reproductive services at the same time the religious hospital (Benedictine) will be protected from involvement in services to which it has an objection. MergerWatch learned this can be achieved through a legal entity for reproductive services carved out of the governing structure of the merged health system. This will address both hospitals’ needs.
Regarding location, the Berger Commission and logic dictates that the delivery of reproductive services be maintained at Kingston Hospital. Reproductive services should be kept within the hospital walls for several reasons, one of which is that an emergency or complicated pregnancy may require hospitalization and surgery. A separate or “proximate” location is subject to harassment, and demeaningly isolates reproductive services from all other hospital-provided health care.
Funding for these services, and payment of staff to provide them, needs to be structured separately from the merged funding streams of the combined hospitals.
With these three conditions met, it would seem that people of good will can come together to make our hospitals more efficient and cost-effective.
Jane VanDeBogart
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
The long awaited report of the NY State Commission on Health Care Facilities was issued on November 28 with recommendations that are incredibly harsh, resulting in: the forced closings of over 20 hospitals, the mergers of many others, the reduction of over 4,500 hospital and nursing home beds, and the loss of thousands of jobs of health care workers. It seeks to decrease funding for hospitals, but will result in lower standards of health care. It was set up by the Republican Gov. Pataki, who must approve it in its entirety by December 5. The NY State Legislature must also approve it in its entirety by December 31. They cannot approve it in part. It’s all or nothing. The time-table of the report is suspicious coming right up to the day before the new Democratic Governor takes office. This is a steam-roller, if I ever saw one.
In Kingston, it calls for the merger of Kingston and Benedictine Hospitals, which have different practices concerning reproductive and women’s health. We thought this matter was settled years ago when the merger was rejected by an overwhelming majority of the community. Now we hear vague assurances that these problems will be worked out. How? Don’t let this lull you into a false complacency.
This report might be welcome if it came after we reformed our health care system to cover the uninsured of all ages, incomes, and employment (Medicare For All), with uniform benefits and one payer. The savings of administrative costs from 30 percent to 3 percent alone, would pay for added benefits of prescriptions, vision, dental and mental health care. It would help commercial interests stay in business, and roll back the loss of jobs.
Best of all, it would provide for preventive care, which is a money saver. Tell our governor-elect Spitzer not to jump on the bandwagon so quickly, and urge our State Senators and Assemblymen to reject of this report.
Esther Nason
Kingston, NY

Dear Editor,
What about all those meetings that the Onteora School Board has been holding on the school’s capital improvement or master plan. It appears that they can’t get together on just what to do. As reported School Board member Cindy O’Connor suggested that the board hold a meeting where the board would have a chance to, among themselves, digest information. She went on to say that the only time we ever get to talk is when we are rushed through meetings and we never get to discuss anything. Mr. D’Orazio wants to hold another community forum of some kind. Trying to decide on a 60 or 70 million dollars plus project is nothing to be rushed through at the last minute. The board’s decision will affect this school district’s tax payers for years to come. When you consider all the meetings that the board has been holding where parents, teachers, principals, Architects, Doctor Fox and others have been speaking since September it must be difficult to retain all that information and come to any real consensus. Video tapes are wonderful tools. Perhaps it would have been a good idea and easier to come to a consensus if all the meetings had been videoed taped so at any time during the process board members could have reviewed everything. The public would have also had the benefit of seeing and hearing all that was said. There is an audio tape made of every school board meeting.
There is an even more alarming problem with the master plan meetings that’s been going on. Who attended all of those meetings? You can bet that it was predominately parents that have children in school or will be starting school. You’d be hard pressed to find very many seniors that attended those meetings. So whose voices did the school board hear? They didn’t hear from very many voices of those that are having problems paying their school taxes. I hope the board realizes that Architects can easily make projects as big and as expensive as they can especially if their company benefits from the project. When the board is deciding what plan to go with, I hope they keep in mind that it’s very possible that big cost overruns could occur and even bigger problems can happen when you do any remodeling. I wonder if it’s absolutely necessary to do a project the size that’s being proposed. There are two empty schools sitting in West Hurley costing tax payers’ lots money. Not too many years ago we built a new school in Boiceville. At the time I thought that school was supposed to take care of the school’s needs for a long time. The student population in this School District has been decreasing for years and it’s predicted to continue dropping. It now stands at only 1939 students.
The School Board or the School administration will likely be sending out a survey some time in the near future. If the board chooses to go ahead with any of the three plans and want the true feelings of those that they haven’t heard from the survey must explain how any of the three plans is going to save tax payers money and how they are going to justify spending 60 or 70 million dollars. It should also explain how long the plan they choose will take care of the districts needs.
William Warnecke
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
Thank you to everyone who've expressed kind words of empathy for the lost of our dog, Alyja.
We have received dozens of emails and calls expressing sympathy and rage at this awful trauma. This great showing of support from the community is helping us heal from this horrendous incident.
While it was indeed frightening and infuriating this tragedy has raised awareness of the issue of trapping and how current regulations do not protect pets and hikers in the changing demographics of our area. Others have also shared similar encounters while walking in the woods. It is a growing problem which must be addressed.
I have learned that there are Eighty-nine countries and eight US states which prohibit the use of leg hold traps. Right now in New York legislation is pending. Initiative A1835 which would allow counties to ban trapping is stalled in committee. This bill, if passed, would allow county governments to restrict or even prohibit all trapping with in a county limits. While it may be advisable to establish fundamental wildlife policies that are consistent statewide, local jurisdictions need to have the flexibility to adapt and fine-tune those restrictions to effectively protect and work in the best interest of the general public.
State Assemblyman, Steve Englebright is a co-sponsor of a much weaker bill, A04434, which would prohibit the use of body-gripping traps within 100 feet of a public highway, road, dwelling, school, playground, day care facility, athletic field, bike or walking path, and 500 feet of such facilities without the permission of the owners. Shockingly, none of these restrictions are currently addressed under DEC regulations.
Some have already written letter to State Senator, the Attorney General and the Governor’s Office asking for the elimination or at least reviewing current regulation of trapping animals. If you agree with bill A1835 to allow counties to ban trapping please contact your state Senator and urge him/her to support this legislation as a first step. Thank You.
Ron Aja
West Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
As the owner of Stanley, one of two dogs caught in an animal trap several weeks ago, I would like to add my voice to the chorus of outrage over the legality of these cruel devices on nearby State lands - or anywhere else for that matter. Stanley’s left front and rear legs were caught in one these snapping metal jaws just a few feet from a well-marked bike trail that connects to Wilson State Park; if he hadn’t stepped in it another local dog probably would have. But even if they were placed in locations where pets were unlikely victims, the pure inhumanity of this form of “hunting” should be enough to prohibit their use. They should be banned everywhere.
Randy Schain
Bearsville, NY

Dear Editor,
Traps are low, mean things. There's no sport, no challenge, nothing bold or brave about them. I'm not a hunter but it seems like traps and hunting are apples and oranges. A true hunter gets my respect by knowing and caring about the woods they're in, by tracking with skill and patience, by respecting and choosing their quarry carefully, by being a crack shot so as to kill cleanly and humanely if one is going to kill. Traps are the opposite of all that. They sit like little land mines, snagging any random creature for a slow death if the trapper is held up. They have no business in a public park, in or out of camping season. Folks who use Wilson Park in the winter should have their safety considered just as much as summer campers. Dogs and kids do wander off trails sometimes and don't deserve injury or psychological trauma for instinctively exploring. Mixed-use activities in one space can get to be too mixed and rules can be amended if the public pushes for it. Warning signs should be a bare minimum requirement.
Traps seem like relics from another era, when people lived off the land and perhaps some cruelty was needed just to survive the harsh winters. The designation 'fur-trapping' sounds like it's for commerce, not for eating. So are there locals making a living selling muskrat or beaver pelts? Who's setting the nameless traps in Wilson Park? Speak up and tell your side; tens of thousands of dog owners are listening.
As for the illegal trap that killed the ten year old dog, that's another matter and an ugly one. Whoever set it might have faced negligent homicide charges down the road, since it clearly could have also killed a child in the same way. A child innocently somersaulting in the leaves, say. Who knows, maybe that poor dog prevented death or serious harm being done to a toddler later on. My heart goes to the family and especially the ten year old boy. Those of us who love our dogs know they are family members. It's hard enough to lose family under any circumstances, but that was an absolute nightmare.
Maybe the person who set that kill-trap has a relative with a loyal seeing-eye dog. Or knows someone who was found - trapped - in rubble by a concerned rescue dog. Or has heard stories of brave fire or police dogs who risk their lives to save humans every day. There is no other animal that does these things. The person who set that trap has caused much pain for not near enough reason. They have taken the life of a valued and loved being. May their dreams be haunted 'til they repent.
I advise people to check out their property, with a long stick or maybe a metal detector and spring any of these death-traps they might find.
David Waldo
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
This letter is addressed to the cruel sicko that set that animal trap that murdered that shepherd-collie Alya. Anyone that would do this should be put in the jaws of this trap and have it around some of their body parts. This goes for anyone that uses these traps. You misfit of a human.
Simon Ennis
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
Your article concerning Kelly Ward's dog being caught by a hunter's trap was a learning experience. I had no idea that trapping of animals was still being done in New York State and that people's pets could be at risk.
As far as trappers who defend trapping with scientific data that shows the animals are not being tortured, their evidence was obtained by studying the chemical reactions of animals caught in traps and also through videotaping. If using traps is humane, I would like to see them try it on themselves!
As there have also been other recent incidents of dogs being injured or killed by traps in the Catskill Mountain region, please write to officials to increase and enforce regulations against trapping in our area.
Larissa Sobi
Fleischmanns, NY

Dear Editor,
The idea of brainstorming as a problem-solving tool is a wonderful one.
And it seems to be catching on as computers make idea gathering easy. I got a recent e-mail from Scenic Hudson seeking ideas on strategies for economic development in the Hudson Valley. My reply reflected my belief that sustainable human development must be based on the model provided by the natural world that has been working since life began on earth. The model, of course, surrounds us and some of the basic principles are actually pretty straightforward. The complexity behind them, however, is astounding and the young science of ecology is scratching at the surface.
Three biggies are an amazingly efficient use of energy, basically 100 percent recycling of matter and absolutely irrefutable ironclad limits to growth.
To me, development in terms of quantity is at its maximum in the Hudson Valley. Any more sprawl will severely threaten open space, farmland, scenic views and all the other indicators of environmental quality such as the condition of our water and air. There is a dangerous and, unfortunately, pervasive misunderstanding out there that land is "empty" or not working for us if it's not riddled with human development. The truth is that open land is providing us with food, clean water and air, recreation and aesthetic qualities that I know are vital for health and the joy of living. Endless miles of land suffering from mal-de-mall and the rest of the sprawl conspire to deaden the senses and kill one's spirit.
It is time to pursue strategies for economic development that grow quality rather than simply more of the same ugly old thing. We have plenty. Let's make what we already have more efficient in energy use and material recycling, more diverse, beautiful, better constructed, etc.
Consolidate building in areas already built up. Reconstruct old buildings or build on the footprints of previous buildings. Use already environmentally compromised areas before cutting into new land. Make downtowns so attractive and able to provide the necessities people don't need to move to the suburbs and create sprawl. Build green and landscape with native materials. I believe that growing quality will provide a greater number and diversity of jobs and at the same time work for the open space we need. The list of ideas is free to grow longer and longer with less greed and more imagination.
Controlling quantity is in step with the natural economy - or what we call the ecology - as there is absolutely no such thing as infinite growth on a finite planet. But growth in quality, as measured by the ever-increasing diversity inherent in healthy environments, has no bounds.
A golf course is a monoculture that might be thought of as an ecological vacuum. Nature desperately wants to fill that vacuum with other species.
Man must expend a lot of energy and a lot of herbicide and pesticide to defend the vacuum against the natural drive toward diversity. If the golf course is allowed to return to nature, ecological succession takes over.
This is a predictable series of plant and animal communities, the last of which is called the climax community and is what one would find in an undisturbed situation typical of a particular region. The early stages of succession are typically represented by fast-growing, short-lived species.
They are the pioneers. Growth in biomass, which is the amount of living matter (quantity), is fast and the increase in diversity (quality) is slow. Later on as we near the climax community, the growth in biomass levels off and approaches a steady state while the growth of diversity continues as the community becomes more complex. With complexity, the number of ecological niches increases. A niche may be thought of as a species' "job" or role in the community.
So the pioneers roll into Oklahoma. They are tough and pound out a subsistence living in the harsh environment. The have large families, die young and fight with each other. But more and more keep arriving and towns evolve. Diversity increases as new jobs open up; merchants, lawmen and miners appear. Complexity grows as artists, journalists, schoolteachers and, inevitably, lawyers and politicians join the fray. Cities are next and now it's the environment trying to eke out a living. I don't think it's in question that man's social evolution must follow the plan so beautifully illustrated for us by nature. Do or die! Let's hear it for more niches and less sprawl!
Peter Koch
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
In 1958 I worked on the Gilboa Dam for Union 2448 building forms so that the concrete could be poured where the rotten places were cleaned out. The rot was due to native sand that had a lot of clay mixed. It was built about the same time that the Ashokan Dam was built with poor native sand also. My point is that New York City officials are doing people a great favor by closing the road that runs over the dam because a heavy truck could crush the rotten dam which could cause a large loss of life all the way down including Kingston.
Ed Ocker
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
According the Times-Union, state lawmakers are floating the idea of a pay-raise for the upcoming special legislative session called by out-going Republican Governor Pataki. I think that many New Yorkers would be quite unsympathetic to their pleas, as they currently are the third highest paid state legislators in the country. Since a sitting legislature cannot increase its pay, they are hoping to get it in at the tail-end of 2006 for 2007. I would like to see the state legislature enact some basic reform measures before giving itself a raise.
As a candidate for the 107th State Assembly district this past election cycle (thanks to all my supporters), I repeatedly called for fundamental reforms to many aspects of our state government. These included rule changes, clean elections, re-districting reform, and other measures. But to be honest, that may just be too much of a good thing for the current legislative leadership (which will be the next leadership). Perhaps we should start with something more tangible like asking our lawmakers to publish their schedules online. Would it not be nice to know with whom they are meeting and why? How about publishing the final language of a bill at least 24 hours prior to final floor vote, so that we can actually read the bills being passed? And how about publishing every piece of member-item spending on a separate line item in the budget with the sponsoring lawmaker’s name attached?
I know that I may be asking for a lot, but what the heck. Maybe someday we all just may remember that they work for us, not the other way around.
Kelly Keck
Stamford, NY

Dear Editor,
Perhaps my eyes are beginning to fail at age 80 or my reading skills and comprehension is fading. The Press of Dec 07,06 has a report of a lawsuit to be launched on our behalf re: the main Ashokan dam and traffic resumption.
The column brings us up to speed with the history of the dam beginning with 09-11 and is followed by various security actions by the State and NYC. The Lawyer is identified as well as the NYS security Czar, James Kallstrom who in justifying his new position invents all kinds of unconstitutional restrictions re: FOI [freedom of information]. [The court(s) have ruled]
One of these is publishing the results of an integrity inspection or test of a dam. C'mon James; The Olive main dam is not even on a terrorists radar. The "kill" rate is too minor and not worth the effort or expense of recruiting, casing, planning, executing or suicide. DEP has a surplus of "police officers" to run patrols at irregular intervals along with the regular "eyes and ears" traffic. Now I'm offering a solution to a perceived problem with no consultant's fee. DEP "police" can also stay out of the local police, sheriff and state police events and duties.
The strange part of the report is that the "Lemon Squeeze" morphs into Kallstrom's hasty retirement and his joining MBNA, an organization that is not popular since it "put the screws to families living on the financial edge". This is an old unpublisized tactic which causes a credit card company to increase its interest rate to those having a history of late payments to even other card companies. Fair enough; why should some folks go around leaving a trail of late [or no] payments as agreed to? Pay as you go and all will be fine. Who cares what James Kallstrom is doing or has not done? The bottom line is that NYC is not going to open the dam to traffic until Olive lowers the reservoir tax to, um-m-m, roughly half. That's fair.......to them.
Glenn T. Anderson
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
The Phriends of Phoenicia are pleased to announce that at the end of the 2006 summer season we received an unexpected “Certificate of Excellence for Community Beautification” from the Tongore Garden Club. We love what we do and it’s rewarding to know that others enjoy our efforts!
The Phriends is a small, all-volunteer group.We maintain 3 garden areas in town: at the Bridge Street entrance (under the sign), at the Post Office, and in Simpson Park. We are also busy litter picker-uppers, and we look forward to the day when there are some trash baskets
strategically placed in town.
We raise the money to finance our beautification work through our Shandaken Garden Tour and from donations from people who live and work in the hamlet of Phoenicia.
We are dormant for the winter, but if you think you might want to join us in the spring, contact Elizabeth Holland Kern at 688-7314. If you want to donate money for our gardens, send a check to: POP, PO Box 278, Phoenicia, NY 12464.
Elizabeth Holland Kern
for Phriends of Phoenicia