The Olive Press - Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor 6/7/2007

Dear Editor,
The subtle bias and innuendo found in media coverage of the Onteora school district serves to keep the embers of disharmony and division alive and well. In a recent article Ms. Childers laments the fact that the reservoir taxes are not credited to all towns instead of accruing solely to Olive. No mention is made of the vast state lands that accrue solely to Shandaken or of the wealth generating business district that accrues solely to Woodstock. No mention is made that if the school district desires to treat all taxpayers the same and achieve absolute nominal parity it can form its own assessing unit that would eliminate apportionment within the school district entirely. No mention is made of the disparity that exists between individual properties within Woodstock as reported in the Woodstock Times.
Would the individual towns that comprise the district agree to give up their assessing unit authority over school taxes? Doubtful given the result of sharpened Woodstock pencils that lowered the towns value by ten percent during the revaluation of 2004 in a blazing upward market.
School board president D'Orazio was recently quoted as stating "I think that our job as a school district is to treat all taxpayers the same." Of the five towns that comprise the district, only Olive is subject to forfeiture of half its tax base causing wild upward tax swings. Of the two towns with outdated assessments, only Olive was compelled to do a revaluation.
Ms. Childers has repeatedly implied that the sole concern and mission of the citizens group Olive Matters and Olive school board candidates is to defeat the Large Parcel Law. These demeaning insults are belied by the dedication, professionalism, and service rendered by board members from Olive.
When a local publisher was affected by a wild upward tax swing caused by a selective revaluation of a few properties in his town he editorialized and trumpeted the unfairness of the violation of the equal protection provisions of the US and NY constitutions. No mention of Olive's right to equal protection is made when Olive is the only town subject to wild upward tax swings on a yearly basis. Likewise, mention of equal protection is absent when it comes to compelling only Olive to do a revaluation.
Ms. Childers laments the imbalance of the Olive-dominated school board. The failure of Woodstock to turn out to vote may signal that Woodstock voters will no longer support candidates who foster disharmony and division by singling out one town for "special treatment". Balance will return when all taxpayers are treated the same.
The Large Parcel Law discourages timely up to date assessment of the reservoir by penalizing Olive with possible forfeiture of half its tax base if NY ORPS happens to disagree with the updated assessment. It is a mere disagreement in assessed value that triggers designation as a Large Parcel and subjects Olive to forfeiture and wild upward tax swings. Olive had a professional appraisal done on the reservoir by an engineering firm that specializes in this type of assessment. The whole school district would benefit as Olive becomes more valuable resulting in a larger apportionment assigned to Olive. Not benefiting enough, Large Parcel proponents seek to confiscate the whole reservoir levy for redistribution to the other towns in the district. This exercise of pure greed has created a heavy toll of disharmony and division within the district.
Why should Olive take the risk? If Olive decides not to risk forfeiture and keep the outdated assessment then the school district as a whole loses. One could fill volumes with the problems associated with this law.
Ironically, when used as a voluntary relief measure as described to the Governor and NY Legislature prior to passage, it can mitigate wild upward tax swings. One of the sponsors wrote to Gov. Pataki telling him the law would prevent hard hit seniors in his district from experiencing wild upward tax swings. I guess Olive seniors don't deserve such protection. Unfortunately the sponsors lied to the governor and Legislature about its provisions and its proponents have used this so called "optional" law to create economic hardship, disharmony and division in a district already beset with a cultural divide. One thing is sure, Olive would never seek to gain by the creation of loss to another town by any means. My hope is that the local media outlets will stop fanning the flames of disharmony and division and start reporting the whole story with all aspects and alternatives explored. To do otherwise is to help perpetuate and intensify the division caused by the differential treatment of Olive taxpayers.
Charles Blumstein
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
A couple letters appeared in the May 24, 2007 edition of The Olive Press which complain of unfair tactics re: the vote for two of three candidates. Jan Baer charges the Press failed to "anounce the school board elections, or report the news fairly". The point is made that the person that lost "was not the best qualified or was he the one with the best interests of Olive in mind".
If the candidate in mind was Marino D'Orazio I must disagree with that evaluation as to qualifications, but I am satisfied that Mr D'Orazio will have more "down" time to devote to family, golf and tennis. Mr D'Orazio certainly was/is not a friend of Olive or Hurley as his interpretation of the LPA subjected us to the reality of robbery without a weapon. "Hijacking" our assets is what now makes the Onteora Board undiversified as opposed to "diversified": which the Editorial of May 10, 2007 hoped for. Perhaps we haved kicked the camel out of the tent [Aesops Fable].
Jac Conway of Olivebridge complains in a letter of reply to Maxanne Resnick's letter in which she endorses Mr. D'Orazio and [as Jac laments] "urged voters to NOT vote for either of the other two candidates. Mr Conway rightly states that one may campaign, endorse and vote for the candidate of their choice and conversely encourage anyone to not vote at all. Our folks in Washington do the first, not the latter all the time. I believe we in Olive and Hurley are pleased with the results, Hallelujah!
I suggest that come next OSD Board election with Ms Resnick on the ballot she be replaced with another Olive or "committed" Hurley resident. Perhaps the "interlopers" will feel "unwanted" sufficiently to create their very own School District and leave Olive, Hurley, the NYC Reservoir and OSD to our own devices. Otherwise every board member election will be focussed on LPA and not the educcational priorities that come to the fore every year. The Olive Press. of course loves to "stir the pot" and then lecture the rest of us with "peace","love" and "understanding" [ala the '60s]. That is as it should be except when other residents of the District have their hands in "our" pockets.
Woodstock has a beautiful golf course that is marketable and ready for LPA. The lovely hamlet of Shandaken will soon have a wonderful mountain top resort that will generate "wild" swings in potential LPA value. Not sure what Marbletown has. Jimmy Spina's tavern burned down years ago. Nick Brown's Bar is no longer needed to support his kids in college and the Blue Flame "flamed" out.
Just a reminder that OSD calendars cost money to produce and mail. That's fine, but lets pay for them individually and be rid of the "sub bureaucracies"! Onteora School Administrators follow the political "handbook" and appear to be inept.
The May 24 editorial was "loaded" but rightly recommended that we should be grateful for the greatest nation in the world with the longest living "Laws" of the land in history. It even provides for it's own changes or ammendments [27 so far]. Our living and deceased Military members are remembered every day whether the Iraq "adventure" is acceptable or not.
Glenn T. Anderson
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
As for the letters that Glenn Anderson writes in the Times, he must think he has the wisdom of Solomon. He is like a rooster crowing. From now on he will be known as Rooster Glenn. So now I will give him some facts to crow about.
For two weeks the Emporer of Japan tried to surrender to the Allies but they refused to listen to him as they wanted to see what destruction the atomic bomb would do. It was used on two defenseless cities of mostly women and children. More than fifty million were killed. It's people like Rooster Glenn who are running this great land to the result that many countries are turning against us to the extent that they don't even want our money. So long for now Rooster Glenn.
Ed Ocker
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
Just trying to understand; allow NYC to widen and straighten 28A because the Lemon Squeeze is closed and there are a few people who, despite that they choose to live in the country, prefer a highway to get to work all of a few minutes faster and that less curves might mean fewer accidents. Well, maybe I am just not that smart when it comes to country logic, but this I do know.. .. a wide and straight 28A will decrease the quality of life in our community because it won’t be as beautiful as it is now, we won’t have the canopy of trees that we have now, it will be hotter in summer because there will be more blacktop and less trees, we will all be driving a lot faster, there will be more accidents (there are more accidents now on 28), there will be more trucks and more traffic, the property values will go down but not our taxes, there will be a negative impact on wild life, faster traffic means more noise pollution and more air pollution. The city says two years, don’t hold your breath. But then again, after all of the construction and and destruction of trees taken and debris and inconvenience, there will be fewer weekenders buying or building homes in Olive, because weekenders don’t want to come to the country to live near a highway, Olive won’t benefit by the increased property taxes weekender pay because we all know the weekenders are paying more taxes than anyone else. And, just imagine, if we get both a nice wide and straight 28A and the Lemon squeeze reopened, we won’t have to worry about those pesky eagles (and those bird watchers) any more because they are likely to fly the coop too.
J Douglas
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
Why is it that in an article discussing converting space for ambulance workers you must yet again BASH the town’s previous ambulance employees? What purpose does that serve? Is it that you think your continuing attempts to discredit them will distract attention from the disarray in the current ambulance squad? Not only is that a false notion, it doesn’t show much respect for the residents of Shandaken. Perhaps you are simply trying to agitate us, and if that is the case, congratulations, you have succeeded. So, with that said, let us examine this issue and pose some questions that need be answered before this project costs us (the taxpayers) more money than it is worth.
First, why do we suddenly have to rush into converting this space immediately? We (the previous employees) of the town ambulance have waited for many, many years for space with each administrator promising to do it, now all of a sudden it must be done today. Why? Why would you use the Good Neighbor Fund, and why are you planning on doing that without public input? Is there a rush to get it done before the taxpayers find out about the serious shortfall in revenue that is occurring in the new ambulance administration? Each dollar lost in revenue is a dollar out of the taxpayer’s pocket. We were bringing in $175,000.00+ a year in revenue. The relative cost to the taxpayers for the ambulance was less in 2006 than when Jerry took charge of the ambulance in 1997, with upgrades in the capability and standard of care of the service. What has the ambulance recovered in revenue so far in 2007? We have asked that question at board meetings with no answers.
When asked at the last meeting what ambulance revenues for the previous month were, because it was not mentioned in his report, he said $8,900. Strange, that is the same amount he reported in the prior month. Even if this is fact, revenues should be $12,000-$15,000 per month to maintain the revenue the previous management was bringing in, an amount the Supervisor has budgeted for as anticipated revenues.
Let’s talk about the billing process for a moment. Peggy Vitarius was hired as the “Administrator”, with her duties being billing, scheduling and paperwork. According to Bob, she assured the board she was able to do medical billing. Then in the following month she was asking the Town Board to hire an out of town commercial billing agency. Why? We thought she knew how to do billing. Bob Cross said that $12,000.00 of her salary was for billing (more than Lisa was getting paid) so why were we going to hire a billing company when Peggy was already getting paid to do the job. We didn’t agree, nor did the audience that evening at the town board meeting.
How much money has been brought in since her administration began. Bob Cross states he doesn’t know, and I quote “I have no idea what is billed out, what comes in or anything else”. So we know that Peggy probably does not know how to do the billing, an outside agency was not hired, no one else was appointed to the job, so how is the billing getting done? Are we paying for it to be done by others and just don’t know it? Is it getting done at all? Check it out taxpayers. You will be paying for it.
Next: You constantly rave about the amount of people that Peggy has brought to the ambulance. Where are they? Appointed Paramedics: Delameter, Parrish, Berry, Kessick etc. have never done a shift. Seth Finch came and left due to “internal politics”, and in fact several others that she brought here to work are already gone. Why? Fact: Many names on the roster have never worked a shift but it looks great on paper. Fact: For the past 2 weeks we have many shifts without a Paramedic. Do you all have scanners? Oh yeah, much of the communication is being handled via telephone because they don’t want anyone to know. Shhh! Mobile Life is dispatched from Kingston regularly to provide paramedic services that were provided 24/7 by our own agency prior to January 2, 2007. Fact: Most of the people that have been appointed to the ambulance are drivers and although they are great and I have nothing against any of them, they are just that, drivers, and many of them have no emergency driving experience. They can render no necessary medical treatment while waiting for another agency to come. Fact: There are residents in this town that are so uncomfortable with the current staff on the ambulance that they call Mobile Life direct from Kingston. How sad is that. Fact: Since the new administration Olive First Aid no longer uses Shandaken Ambulance for paramedic mutual aid in Boiceville. Shandaken Ambulance and the Olive First Aid Squad put this agreement in place when Shandaken began providing paramedic services in 1998. The reason being our children go to those schools in Boiceville, and Shandaken Ambulance could provide paramedic services 20 minutes sooner than an agency from Kingston. Not any more, have any concerns about that? Fact: Now on each ambulance call we have both ambulances and a fly-car responding with multiple drivers and an EMT. How much is that costing? How much do these people get paid? Does everyone get paid for that? And why is an EMT driving the fly car around town? Why do the ambulances sit outside restaurants with the motors running? Do you know what fuel costs are today? We asked for copies of the ambulance payroll after Peggy told us we could have them. When we called Town Hall we were told to talk to Bob, and guess what - no return phone call.
So we as taxpayers have very little information about the new ambulance service. We do know that before the Peggy Vitarius was appointed administrator we had reliable, professional paramedic service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We had an effective and efficient revenue recovery program. We had a functioning service that had no secrets, we were willing and able to answer any question about operations or finance clearly and honestly. Did we need ambulance quarters, absolutely. Did we need more staff, yes. But in light of all the issues, we were there 24/7 when we were needed and the quality of service was maintained. Any inquiries made these days are answered with vagueness and deception, if they are answered at all, and the people asking the questions are portrayed as enemies of the administration.
So Bob, if you want community support for this project, then you should provide some answers to the questions people ask. You cannot make your ambulance department look better by simply belittling the ones you left behind.
There are over 3,000 citizens in this town. Spend as much time looking after their interests as you do watching out for the fat cats. We know that Tony Lanza has a puppet named Rob on the board, and it is clear that other board members have puppet masters behind the scenes as well. Be a man, face the facts, do your job. Represent all the people, not just the special interest few that own your administration. They have already bailed out on you, so you really have nothing to lose.
Lisa Benjamin, NREMT-P
Jerry Pearlman, AEMT-P
Adele Pearlman, AEMT-I
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
I would like to bring to the attention to Town of Olive residents the fact that we have a lovely new dog kennel, built in part, with monies that have been raised through great effort, by Bev & Joe Stein.
It was not long ago, that Mr. Leifeld read a letter of appreciation from Bev to all those who graciously donated their time and effort in seeing this beautiful, clean and more comfortable kennel come into being.
What was not indicated - and what I've since come to find out - is that Bev and Joe Stein continue to collect donations to continue to RUN the kennel. Monies collected - and donations made in the way of leashes, blankets, food, will help to keep the kennel operating as it should into the future.
Often we think about the cost of building something - and the need for the building is to house dogs found astray in our town. Bev has networked with various shelters in the area to help find good homes for animals that have no owners - or who's owners fail to claim them. Bev & Joe donate their time - and that's a good portion of their time - won't you help? Watch for their collection cans - one is at the Boiceville Pitstop (Sunoco) in Boiceville - perhaps there are others. Or look Joe and Bev up and see what you can do to help. I'm sure we all agree, it's a very worthy cause.
Cindy Johansen,
Boiceville, NY

Dear Editor;
We are finding the description of the Kingston/Benedictine affiliation somewhat inaccurate when it is described as one "mandated" by the Berger Commission. While that is true in a sense, what really happened is that the Berger Commission approved a merger plan designed by the hospitals. The hospitals completely excluded the community in coming up with the proposal and essentially had it written into law by the Berger Commission, knowing this was a plan many would oppose. These public meetings really are a charade—how can the public give input when all of the major decisions have already been made?
Health Care STAT
Jo Shuman, chair
Millie Meyer
Jane VanDeBogart
Bonni Nechmias
Anna Bates
Susan Murphy
Sam Magarelli

Dear Editor,
It is outrageous to learn the possibility of Benedictine Hospital, a Christian, morally based institution, join with a secular humanist based, human butcher shop - Kingston Hospital.
And who gives New York State the authority to demand a merger between these two totally different hospitals? Rather than demand a merger New York State should demand that Kingston Hospital stop all abortions immediately.
I must commend the several doctors who are objecting to the use of their facility for "reproductive services" even though their subcutaneous objection is for contractual reasons. As you all well know the Hippocratic Oath, why don't you doctors just have the courage to express your outrage against abortion?
And where are all the lily-livered lawyers, judges, prosecutors and legislators when it comes to this Nazi policy of human extermination by legal sanction? Oh, you say it's Roe v. Wade, the law of the land. And, yes, so was Adolph Hitler's "solution" the law of the land. Roe v. Wade was a gross judicial error that must be corrected. Even the plaintiff, Jane Doe, recanted her complaint making the Roe v. Wade decision moot. You all should be ashamed of yourselves for not having the courage to uphold the real law - the protection of the pre-born child. The Benedictines must be shaking in their graves to know that Satan is invading their beloved institution.
This proposed merger must be abandoned. If such a merger does occur, I predict that in due time, performance of abortions will be ordered by the State over the objections of the Catholic Church. Mark my word!
Paul Henderson
Napanoch, NY

Dear Editor,
I was working in a restaurant in Queens in August of 1968 when the Soviets invaded Czechoslovakia. I remember a few of the staff standing in the kitchen listening to the radio newscasts, stunned. We didn't say anything to each other. Just shook our heads. How could a government be so arrogant to invade another country, I wondered. What could the Soviet people be thinking while the tanks were rolling in their name?
And today, I ask myself the same question, about our government. How could we be so arrogant to think it right to invade Iraq - and very possibly soon Iran. We have become what we despised.
I remember during that same period in the late 60s, or perhaps a little later, reading One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch by Solzhenitsyn, taken aback again, this time over the deplorable conditions of the gulag. Now the gulag is Guantanamo. We have let slip through our fingers the one reed we held so proudly when comparing ourselves to others: Our constitution, our staunch belief in human rights, our system of justice, disdain for torture, the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, the right to an attorney, the right to be charged before being detained. What can the American people be thinking while injustice is practiced in our name?
A year before the war in Iraq, tens of thousands marched on Washington and, a month before it began, millions protested in 800 cities around the world. None of this made a blip in the administration's plans. Many became discouraged. What is the point of protesting if it doesn't stop them?
But perhaps silence is much worse. If we don't speak up today, tomorrow, in the workplace, on the check-out line, at the concert, in the kitchen, at school, in the newspaper, we give it our blessing. If we don't speak up, very likely they will do it again. In Iran.
Lynda Crawford
Hurley, NY

Dear Editor,
This is an open letter to Governor Spitzer...
I would like you to explain your pursuit of two contradictory priorities. Both involve behavior problems. One you wish to correct; the second you wish to make worse.
On the one hand, you just made, as one of your priorities, an effort to save our “obese” New York children from their gluttony. You made that decision because you want to “save” these obese children from the consequences of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle which will otherwise cause havoc with their future health and happiness. That is a laudable goal.
On the other hand, you will try to increase addiction, bankruptcy, and criminality (as well as exacerbating community problems with additional stresses on infrastructures, school systems, and roads.)
Those are the immediate and long-range problems that will accrue because of your approval of a compact with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council for a casino. You are creating the condition which will wreak havoc on the lives of New Yorkers by opening up a convenient downstate gambling location. Not to mention the “delicate” issue of sovereignty, which is being challenged in several venues over questions ranging from the legality of sovereignty to abridgement of agreements, taxes, and, of course, land claims. The Seneca’s recent decision over the Thruway is a perfect example of that abrogation.
There is another major issue specific to the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council. I have just finished reading Iroquois on Fire: A voice from the Mohawk Nation by Douglas M. George-Kanentiio. In case you are not familiar with the book, Mr. George-Kanentiio discusses the Iroquois people from their early history to their current “predicament”. In the process, he discusses in depth the anarchy at Akwesasne and how some Mohawks and New York State profited from that condition. Most importantly, he documents the criminality that exists on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation in Chapter 8 (Akwesasne Collapse) pages 95-101.
So, Governor Spitzer, if you know the facts in the above paragraphs, why and how could you sign a compact with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council?
Looking forward to your answer.
Susan Puretz
Saugerties, NY

Dear Editor,
We’d like to extend a special thank you to Susan Zimet for facilitating discussions leading to the settlement of an Article 78 lawsuit filed against Woodland Pond by a local environmental group. (Save the Woods and Wetlands). Susan’s involvement in these negotiations was clearly above and beyond her responsibilities as county legislator. She had no direct interest in the project or settlement of the lawsuit: she made this effort simply because several of her constituents asked for her help. Some of us (Woodland Pond applicants) approached Susan to see if there was anything she could do to help move the project along, as substantial delays at this point in time seriously threatened the future of the project. We understand a Woodland Pond board member also approached her for help.
Susan’s multi-faceted connections with her local constituents mean that she personally knows many individuals on both sides of this issue. She understands her constituents and the issues we care about in sufficient detail to provide appropriate support or criticism of our positions. Moreover, she is willing to take the time to study and absorb conceptual and factual details underlying particular problems or issues. Finally, she is a pragmatic, hands-on person who, confronted with a community problem, rolls up her sleeves to help resolve it. We are fortunate in having a person with Susan’s energy, commitment and negotiating skills as our county representative.
Thanks to Susan, the Article 78 suit has been settled in time to avoid any substantial delay in construction. If final approvals from various local and county agencies can be granted in a timely fashion, construction can begin by the end of this summer.
Signers: Dorothy Jessup, Martha Afzal, Craig & Betsy Haight, Aaron & Louise Bindman, Lynn Clarke & Martin Lodge, Trina & Rob Greene, Ruth Silverman, Joyce & Lee Gartrell, Max & Annette Finestone, Maggie MacDowell, Barbara Babb, John Fraccase, Bob & Peg Hinz, Anne Ellman, June Finer, Frances Ryder, Marjorie O’Neill, Dorothy Dangerfield, Jean Hicks, Lucille Weinstat, Julius Simon

Dear Editor,
The corporate-owned and controlled media, in their urgency to serve the outsourcing, taxpayer-subsidized, off-shoring, corporate paymasters of “our” pitiable excuse for a democracy, are constantly proclaiming that “we” need an influx of illegal aliens to do the work that Americans won’t do. The latest excuse for welcoming Mexico’s guidance of U.S. policy is the transparently racist accusation that black people don’t work as hard as the illegals. Well why should they? They’re not here by breaking our immigration laws; their ancestors, in most cases, were brought here as slaves, and therefore they are American citizens as much as any whites, and more so than most, if we use how far back their ancestry goes on this continent to judge. The same as whites, they recognize that they are being exploited by the mega-farm industry, so why should they do more work than the pay warrants? The illegals have to work like slaves if they don’t want to get turned in by the “farmer” or construction boss and deported back to Mexico, or whatever country they came from. (The illegals are not all Mexican; I remember one commentator stating that seven percent or more come from other countries, including from the Middle East and the orient. The open borders, and persecution of border patrol officers just trying to do their duty, encourages people from all over the world to enter across the U.S./Mexican border.)
Why are American workers always blamed for a supposed problem? Many citizens are doing minimum wage work (in its pay an insult to the worker in any case), because they don’t qualify by aptitude for better jobs. Why not blame the greedy business owners who pay anyone as little as they will work for, and pocket the difference between that and the price of the product?
The answer is that power is in the control of the wealthy, and always has been since the beginning of this country. Therefore the religion of Capitalism is fostered from elementary school on, by education, the media, political parties, and fear instilled in the masses by the idea of any other economic system. There is, in fact, some merit in the idea that the hardest and dirtiest jobs should be paid the highest wage. For example, if all citizens grew up in decent living conditions, health care and education, then if a company needed someone to clean the toilets in their office areas, they would have to pay more than to the clerks working at nice clean jobs! But of course many American citizens do not grow up with decent living conditions, healthcare, and education, which are desirable to the capitalist because he gets workers who can’t qualify for much else, if anything. To do the dirty jobs at a wage they must accept or go hungry, live on the street, or turn to crime. I’m sick and tired of hearing from the capitalist owned media that “Americans won’t do these jobs.” There are plenty of jobless American citizens who would do anything they physically could do, if the pay was commensurate with the value of the task to the employer.
Phil Sullivan
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
On the eve of this Memorial Day, I’d like to send a simple note of appreciation to the organizers of last weekend’s Bring Our Troops Home/Barack Obama BBQ event at Ulster Landing Park. I was joined by dozens of fellow citizens from Ulster County, tired of the status quo, seeking real change in Washington and inspirational leadership as well. And the veggie burgers were excellent too! Please join me in attending many more engaging and informative events such as this one. For more information on local efforts for Obama, “google” Hudson Valley for Obama or go to www.barackobama.com and sign up at the upper right hand corner of the page, then join Hudson Valley for Obama.
Brian Shapiro
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
With this school year quickly coming to a close, and my upcoming trip to Australia as a People to People Student Ambassador just around the corner, I'd like to thank the many people that helped with the fundraising efforts in reaching my financial goal and making this trip possible.
This past Memorial Day weekend, I finished up my fundraising with a bake sale / raffle on Main Street in Phoenicia. My thanks go out to Mr. Marty Millman for allowing me to set up in front of the Phoenicia Pharmacy, (a prime spot for a very busy weekend). I also thank Barbara Jones, Tina DeLaura, Linda Storey and Rosalie Boland for donating baked goods for the sale.
My friends and neighbors like Mrs. Midge Gossoo and my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Sharon McKierney, sent monetary donations which greatly helped defer the cost of my tuition. Also received were generous donations from both the Shandaken Police Benevolent Association and the Neil Grant Foundation. Thank you for the kind-hearted words and for believing in me and the student ambassadorship program.
Original paintings by Bonnie DeLaura and hand-crafted items from Blanche Kirk, Helen Cordo, and many others, along with gift certificate donations from local retailers (Town Tinker Tube Rental and Miss Kitty's Hair Salon and others) helped make the raffle prize fundraiser a success.
A special thank you to the entire community for buying the cakes, purchasing the raffle tickets and attending the spagetti dinner fundraiser back in March. Your contributions have made my dream to experience the beautiful land down under a reality.
Megan Frano
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
My advanced placement environmental science teacher says that it only takes one person to make a positive difference in our rapidly deteriorating environment. There are significant changes we as individuals or families can make that are relatively low-tech and inexpensive. My family of five is making a difference in three areas: recycling and composting, lawn mowing, and solar hot-water heating.
We decided to take recycling and composting seriously, and now carefully separate aluminum foil, glass and paper for the local recycling service. Furthermore, we dispose of our paper towels and napkins by composting them with food scraps and garden waste. Combined, these changes have reduced our garbage disposal cost by half.
A recent Environmental Protection Agency study found that operating a gasoline-powered lawn mower for one hour produces the same amount of pollution as driving a car 300 miles. The mowing we did in previous years produced the same amount of pollution as driving 6,000 miles each summer. So we replaced the power mower with a manual push mower. Not only are we reducing pollution, but we get the same physical benefits as if we had bought an exercise machine.
Another study indicates that the typical American uses 25 gallons of hot water every day. Using an electric hot water heater, this consumes $950 worth of electricity per year for a family of our size. An evacuated tube solar hot-water heating system can provide more than half the hot water we use. The installed cost of the system is about $6,000, but with state and federal tax credits, our final cost is closer to $3,000. At current electricity rates, this investment will pay for itself in six years. Most likely rates will increase, and the payback will be even faster.
Also, the “power of one” family can save 1) landfill space and garbage hauling costs, 2) the equivalent of 6,000 miles of driving and 3) about $500 worth of electricity per year. Imagine what would happen if 1 million, or 5 million families decided to make use of this power.
Lisa Mommsen, Student
New Paltz, NY