Dear Editor,
I would like to clear up some statements that I believe are incorrect or misleading in the article: Schan(c)k Throws in Towel, Olive Press, October 28, by Gary Alexander.
First of all, I have been questioning former Police Commissioner Robert Schanck’s claim to Olive residency for the past six or more years. The last time, was approximately three years ago. I was personally assured in a private conversation with Mr. Leifeld, who was running for re-election against Kevin Scanlon, that he knew it was wrong and would correct it. Before me, it was former Councilman John Hansen, who also questioned the validity of Mr. Schanck’s residency. It has been a well known fact that Mr. Schanck has resided in Saugerties for years. Certain members of the Town Board have also known it for years but chose to ignore it, and worse yet, helped to cover it up with total disregard for state law.
Every time this question (and others) have been raised, it has been labeled political. Am I the only person that sees this as a very simple, but effective, way to turn folks attention away from the issues at hand?
Why is it political that Mr. Schanck has been listed as a police officer on a list that he admitted supplying and certifying to the State Department of Criminal Justice Services when he in fact was not a police officer? Oh, and by the way, DCJS recently responded that they are in the process of removing Mr. Schanck from this list after receiving the Town’s letter notifying them that Mr. Schanck was never a police officer for the town, only a commissioner.
Why is it political that Mr. Schanck swore on an affidavit that his primary address is Florida and obtained a tax exemption for that residence, while at the same time, swearing he resides in Boiceville? There are no “addendums” to any affidavits, as Mr. Schanck tried to imply.
Why is it political that Mr. Schanck has a valid Florida driver’s license stating he resides in Sarasota County?
Why is it political that Mr. Schanck was registered to vote in the state of Florida until the morning after the October 5th town board meeting? When he became aware that the public knew this information, he called the very next morning and cancelled his voter registration (circa 1999), stating he had moved out of Sarasota County, Florida. Where did you move to, Mr. Schanck? Or is that just another lie?
I never stated that he VOTED in both states as reported in another of the recent articles by Gary Alexander. In fact, I had verbal verification that he had NEVER voted in Florida. But he stood before the Town Board and others stating he HAD NEVER been REGISTERED anywhere else - when in fact he knew he was.
All I did was supply facts - items that ANY ONE of the Town Board Members could have found on their own, but chose not to. And when these facts came to light, what did Mr. Schanck do? He tried to say it was his family and not him.
Mr. LaMonda states that I have “crossed the line” by including family members. I never questioned anything about his family. But Mr. Schanck didn’t mind implicating his own family: It was Mr. Schanck who went to his daughter and requested that she swear he resided with her at her Boiceville residence. It was Mr. Schanck who tried to include his son as the person in the Florida affidavits. Unless his son was born in 1945, he could not have been the person who registered to vote in 1999. Nor was his son the one who carries a Florida Drivers License listed on the Homestead Exemption request, along with his spouse, Nancy. And when all was said and done, it was Mr. Schanck who stated that it was a well known fact that he had several properties and resided in two states. No one else.
The only people crossing any lines are Mr. Schanck and the Town Board members who have known about these convoluted exercises and allowed them to go on. If anyone crossed any lines, Bruce, it was your Mr. Schanck. He alone registered to vote in two states and swore on numerous documents that his primary residence was in two states. No one else.
What kind of leadership example is this for the Town of Olive Police Officers and the general public who put their trust in their local officials? When facts that point to wrongdoing are presented, Bruce LaMonda, Berndt Leifeld and others, shout: “politics..., who cares..., investigate away.” I am puzzled by your need for attorney’s assistance with a question of integrity, honesty and simple right and wrong. Well Bruce, integrity and honesty are of the highest value to me, and I’m personally surprised at the lack thereof, shown by certain town Board members.
I would like to point out to the fine people of Olive that Mr. Schanck has NOT been the model “chief” that those around him, and the exposé Mr. Alexander chose to publish on October 28, would have you believe. Let’s remember the cornerstones that were laid by Mr. Robert Adsit, who dedicated many, many years to Olive and while involved with our Police Commission, was ALWAYS available for the officers and the town. Until Former Police Commissioner Richard Ostrander forced the issue, the Olive Police Department did NOT meet the MINIMUM training standards required by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Service. There is MUCH more that should be accomplished with our police department - so much more than a part-time “chief” would have time to accomplish. Or was it that he really didn’t want to? Look around us. Look at Woodstock or Shandaken’s police departments. I believe that in spite of the lack of structure and good leadership, the officers working for the Olive Police Department have continued with their individual high standards of integrity. And I agree with you, Mr. Schanck. I hope that the town is able to move forward and find an individual who can take this department to the level it SHOULD be at now.
Politics? The only politics going on here are those practiced by Mr. LaMonda, Mr. Leifeld and Mr. Schanck. The rest of the Town Board is accountable simply because they did nothing.
Sincerely,
Chris Johansen
West Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
The grant from the state’s Environmental Protection Fund to the Belleayre Ski Center is welcome news. The ski center is an important anchor of the region’s tourism economy and is precisely the kind of recreational facility that the Catskill Heritage Alliance applauds: it is accessible to all, and it preserves the harmony between the villages of the central Catskills and the sur” rounding wilderness.
Belleayre’s ability to complete its promised build-out, however; is dependent on the availability of sufficient resources, and the mega-resort now being proposed to surround the ski center puts those resources at risk. The water supply in the area is just one example. If built, the city-sized resort, all. on its own, could put our aquifer under stress and would conceivably use up so much water that both the ski center and local residents would suffer. The unwillingness or inability of some politicians in the area to see that this is an issue is disturbing to say the least. We urge instead that our elected officials take the lead in determining” the cumulative impacts on our communities of both an expanded ski center and the proposed mega- resort that would surround it. Belleayre is too important a public resource to have its future expansion threatened by the choking embrace of a private development. Susanna Margolis, Chairman, Catskill Heritage Alliance
Fleischmanns, NY

Dear Editor,
First of all, my deepest appreciation to the New York Legislature for adoption of the so-called Large Parcel bill, enacted in early 2003. This legislation, which gives the option of implementing an alternative method of apportioning tax levies to individual school boards and county legislatures where taxing jurisdictions contain state designated large parcels, was long overdue. Without getting into the technical details of the criteria by which large parcels are designated, let me assure everyone that Ulster County has exactly two: the Ashokan and Rondout Reservoirs. People who try to convince us that “large parcels” will suddenly sprout up all over the place simply do not know what they are talking about.
Secondly, kudos to Supervisor Jeremy Wilber for really picking up this ball and scoring big for the taxpayers in Shandaken and Woodstock, especially with the school tax. Despite all the taunting and booing he kept it plain and simple and stuck to the facts. Woodstock should feel proud to have him represent them; he waged a heck of a battle.
Thirdly, a chapter in Profiles in Courage to the members of the Onteora School Board for doing the right thing under the most trying of circumstances.
Lastly, BRAVO Ulster County Legislature for standing up and doing the right thing, District 2 reps Mike Stock and Brian Shapiro are to be especially commended for spearheading the effort in the legislature.
My friends in Olive have no trouble confiding in private that although they don’t like paying taxes any more than me, they also know that with the new apportionment of school and county taxes they aren’t paying any more than the rest of us. A house with a market value of $100,OOO in Olive shouldn’t be paying any less than houses with the same market value in Shandaken (among the lowest in per capital income in the county) or Woodstock (among the highest).
Fair is fair. It’s really as simple as that. My deepest gratitude to all the above and to everyone who understands equal treatment under the law. Stacey Banks Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
Can someone please answer a question for me? How is it that we have had one of the wettest seasons on record, with full reservoirs all across the board, and yet the portal from the Schoharie Reservoir was stuck on high water flow all summer and, indeed, most of the season? It’s almost as if some unknown entity had swooped down upon the city and started “tinkering” with the amount of flow (and illegal turbidity) that was being dumped into the Esopus Creek each day. I know what some of you must be saying right about now: “Why should anybody else care about this topic other than a bunch of fishing fanatics?” Well, I’ll tell you. If you run a business in Shandaken that is in any way related to the tourist industry, your living depends on revenue generated in no small part from the Esopus. Fishennen travel many miles just to fish here. Some stay only an afternoon or a day, but many stay for days at a stretch. Fishermen spend lots of money on their passion. Flyfishermen are not shy about the unbelievable wads of cash they will lay out for an exciting fishing trip, paying for guides, supplies, tackle, flies, food and lodging, All this translates to an annual boost for our local economy. If we, as a community, continue to let the City of New York ruin the fishing in the Esopus, and, in fact, the overall character of this beautiful stream for the benefit of the comparatively small tubing business, we will end up with a waterway that resembles more the amusement park atmosphere of a zoom flume, than a wild and beautiful stream in the heart of our beloved Catskill Mountains. The tubing industry will not suffer if flows are reduced; the local economy, however, will be devastated if the fishermen stop coming. Thank you, The Angry Angler

Dear Editor,
The American people have given their president another four years to govern the country. And although we have just been through the most polarizing campaign in recent memory, most Democrats and Republicans agree that our nation now needs to be united.
Although President Bush won the election, there are still millions who disagree strongly with him on many points. Their views must be listened to with respect. Blindly forging ahead with policies that barely half the nation supports is no way to win the hearts of the opposition. To serve the country, our president must go beyond protecting the American people from terror. He has to address the many social ills plaguing our nation, which divide its citizens from one another and from the rest of the world. This will require bipartisan action, openness, and even more importantly, humility, prayer, and personal sacrifice.
Whether we are saddened or elated by the prospect of another four years, now is not the time for depression or gloating. How can we help our country? In these last four years, we have not cared enough for our neighbor and for the great need of the world. The time of greed and materialism has to come to an end. We have to start caring for other people, other nations, and especially our children. And whether or not we agree with him, we should pray for our president that God gives him the wisdom to guide our nation through these turbulent times.
Our president says that he is a man of faith. Perhaps he can learn important military and spiritual lessons by studying the history of the founder of his faith. Jesus himself said that the days of "an eye for an eye" are over. Instead, he told us not to resist an evil person, "but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also, and if anyone compels you to go one mile, go with him two." Jesus lived under Roman occupation and under the fear of war and terror, yet he instructed us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and do good to those who hate us.
Jesus called on his followers to be peacemakers. It is easy to pay our taxes, abide by the rule of law, and otherwise dutifully give to Caesar what is Caesar's. But in the end, only when we each become a peacemaker will we achieve the unity that politicians of all stripes are fond of giving lip service to.
Today the whole world is watching our president. He can leave a legacy that will be hard to surpass by future presidents, if he truly acts on the faith he professes to have. This is a crucial moment in history. May our president, and all of us, be found worthy.
Johann Christoph Arnold
Bruderhof, Rifton, NY

Dear Editor,
I am a father of a child in the Saugerties school system. I am writing to you to open a discussion about our school children in the area of diet and foods in our school system. I believe as parents and teachers of these children we have the responsibility of taking care of their daily health and nutrition at school specifically. If we take the care and time needed to make changes in programs we find non-nutritional or worse it will make our children healthier and higher functioning at school and at home.
I have a very hard time figuring out exactly what my child is offered to eat for lunch, what he is allowed to eat for lunch, and finally what he may be required to eat for lunch. I wonder if the children are allowed to eat sugars and carbohydrates without any fresh fruits or vegetables. I understand that I could very well just make my son lunch everyday and there would be no discussion brought but then what of our youth in general? I am convinced that my son and other children are experiencing academic and social performance issues at school and in life to some degree due to their diet and food choices at school.
It may sound odd to refer to a documentary film at this point but I will regardless because watching it has had such a profound effect on me and other parents I know. It has just been released and it is called Super Size Me, by Morgan Spurlock. It is available at Blockbuster Video. It is a major wake up call in regards to diet in the United States. You must see it!
\ After listening to the data from the film, it seems like the "food" programs in our schools are pretty comparable to that of our prisons and hospitals. The Sloppy Joe mix, pizza, chicken fingers, French toast sticks, Nachos and all sorts of over-processed foods are cheap and easy to ship and store in their cans and vats, but their nutritional value is nonexistent or worse. We may be guilty of conditioning or rather feeding our kids to grow up craving and eating sugar drenched, over-processed, void of nutrients, grease drenched-calorie loaded foods. Obesity and overeating is now second only to smoking cigarettes as cause of death in United States. Doctors say obesity and complications of obesity and overeating will be the number one cause of death in the United States at this current rate.
A group called the G.M.A. (Grocery Manufactures of America), a very powerful and seemingly untouchable lobby, seems to be the main offender in all this. They represent all the huge companies that make up the food suppliers of our schools and institutions. They are featured in the documentary film and their goal is to get their products sold and make the shareholders happy. They are not in the business of providing good nutritional foods for healthy children with balanced diets. They admitted their complicity and the president of GMA actually resigned after the release of the film.
On the brighter side there are terrific diet plans out there. World famous dietician and nutritionist, Dr. Gary Null who has written over 100 books on nutrition and is famous all over the world has offered to design a food program for free for any school in the United States wanting to change their methods and goals in regards to nutrition and diet.
There are a handful of special school systems in the U.S. starting to have marked success with nutritional lunch programs and the removal of vending machines filled with junk food or soda on school grounds. In social and academic areas, improvements are being realized already due to a much healthier food programs for less or the same cost!
"The children are our future," may sound cliche but please, let's be one of the first to make the smart choice and not just endlessly turn a blind eye to what we all know is going on with our school food programs. The pressure from the food service corporations and junk food giants to continue as we are is intense but our children are worth making the change for better nutrition. Especially since we are responsible to our kids and to the State of New York for raising smart and healthy kids right? Who is signing off on these diet plans? Watch the film and see what you feel like at the end. It may be difficult to arrange the changes. Kids love sugar, we know that. It may be trying to get it started but there are models and data to study. Please forgive me for raising an issue that I am only just beginning to understand or truer yet, to not be in denial about any longer. Let's not be the last. Let us not delay on this. Let's be one of the first.
Nicholas Parker
Saugerties, NY

Dear Editor,
In the Letters to the Editor, October 14th issue of the Olive Press, Linda Burkhardt wrote of her disappointment in her fellow citizens. She car was broken down along the detour section of Route 28 near Olivebridge. She was overwhelmed by the fact that so many would go by without stopping to help.
Unfortunately, today, most of the cars traveling through our town are not native to this area. Many have moved here from areas that aren’t as trusting of strangers seen along side the road. It doesn’t matter that you are female - it doesn’t matter that it might be obvious you need help. It’s the real world!
May I suggest that had a majority of the town board members not expended their efforts (and town money) to fight local efforts to have a cell tower, your whole scenario could have been much happier. You could have called Bruce Proper to come to your aid on his lunch hour and never left the safety of your vehicle. Imagine yourself in the same situation, but in pitch dark! After all, you never know who might be stopping to “help” these days, either.
Cindy Johansen
West Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
Election day 2004 has come and gone and the "Wednesday Morning Quarterbacks" are replaying the game. Everyone has their individual and unique explanation of what went wrong and/or what went right. I am satisfied that there was no repeat of Florida 2000 and that candidate John Kerry exhibited the grace and dignity to acknowledge the loss early on. Of course the math in Ohio was such that there was no chance of victory. And today Iowa came roaring in with it's 5 electoral votes for GW as if to say, "take that".
Now, I have the opportunity to chime in as a lifelong Democrat as to what went wrong with the Kerry effort from my perspective. It's really the mindset of the Democrat Party and it's failure to see and understand where the voting population; the citizens of this great nation are going or want to go. I happen to be a Zel Miller Democrat and a disciple of Harry Truman and John Kennedy. These were men who said what they meant and meant what they said. One said, "the buck stops here" and the other subscribed to tax rebates and tax reductions.
The losers of this past election now want the winners to conform to their thesis and bad habits if we are to get along. How dumb can they be? The Germans or Japanese didn't dictate any terms in 1945 and we got along famously. The people have spoken. They have placed values, faith and security [yes, the war in Iraq] at the top of their priority list. Somewhere down that list is health care [for all?], [minimum] wages and prices, unemployment and Social Security. Three million excess votes confirmed all that. Six referendums around the country re: "same sex marriage" went down big time; like 3:1. And apparently the "Right Wing Christian Fundamentalists", Roman Catholics, Pentacostals and Evangelical Jesus "freaks" [ala Gus Murphy] got their message across. The ultimate human rights violation, abortion and the other abomination, partial birth abortion was part of the equation (read Psalm 139). Did anyone notice that while George Bush was attempting to integrate church with state [as some charged], John Kerry was campaigning in the churches like a political prostitute.
That brings me to another point. The Democrats are "eating their young" by promoting abortion. Who will replace the Democrats at the polls when we know that young people emulate their parents; if the fetuses can make it into the [real] world. And as Olive's resident economist I would advise all who will listen; abortion reduces future consumers. Less consumers, less demand. Less demand, less jobs. Arn't you glad you're here?
Wake up Democrats! The Republicans will have served for 36 of the 56 years from 1953 to 2009. There is a plethora of old mainstream Democrats out there and since the activity for 2008 began on November 3, 2004 perhaps it's time to forget primaries and revisit the old time tested "smoke filled back room". I'll take DeSapio, Daley, Walker and Fitzgerald anytime to make my selection(s). Oh, excuse me. Most of you don't remember those political architects of two generations ago. Today, Nov. 5 I'm 78. That qualifies me as an elder statesman.
Glenn T. Anderson
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
I Am Not Included
in a country filled with freedoms
the religious right has pillaged hope
with your shrewd words
those that show their devotion
to your morals and convictions
only those
only those
only those
are included
until devastation will unfold

annihilation of independent thinkers
opposition will be restrained
the bill of rights for the zealous few
the christians with your cloistered view
only those
only those
only those
are included
until devastation will unfold

what of people of different skin tones
those that believe in other names of gods
you have deceived us by giving the impression
that we the freedom to love, to worship and believe
in a country that preaches democracy
only those
only those
only those
are included
until devastation will unfold
Missy Nebenhaus
Chichester, NY

Dear Editor,
I was both saddened and appalled by ther cartoon on the back page of your Oct. 14th issue.
If you wish to “bash” politicians, it’s your privilege (even though I do not appreciate blaming our President for everything), but to use our Lord as a mean-looking cartoon character is beyond excuse.
Your paper owes your readers an apology, as there are many here in Olive who have taken offense to this display of blasphemy.
Some day we may all be glad to call on Jesus Christ who loved us enough to die for the sins of the world and who is the Risen King and Lord.
Sincerely,
Alice M. Elmendorf
Olivebridge, NY
The Cartoonist Replies:
That was a Protestant Jesus, a sub-sect Protestant Jesus. As an imperfect Catholic in decent standing, my Jesus is rather swarthier. And I know well that this is a Protestant nation.
Therefore, I'd argue that I've committed not blasphemy but heresy; that I showed not contempt but dissent. Not that I shouldn't be burnt for either....

Dear Editor,
Olive has two new dumps!!!
Oh! Excuse me! It’s only our neighbors on grassy ridge road and another on Sheldon Hill that make it seem that way.
Shame on you both!!! And you know who you are!!!
Need directions to the town dump? Just ask one of your neater neighbors. You know the ones who care about what their neighborhood looks like. Or you can look it up in the yellow pages, unless that’s sitting on your front lawn too. Then take all your books, furniture, appliances, and other garbage right to the dump because its not going to grow feet to walk there by itself no matter how long you wait.
This garbage only breeds rodents.
Go ahead. Make an effort. Your neighbors would appreciate it.
Nauna Jeanette
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
I have a statement and a question:
Back in the early 1960s, two planes collided and the remains of one were never found.
I witnessed the one not found, going down in a ball of fire. I witnessed this from my home in Samsonville, and I remember thinking that it would end up in the Ashokan Reservoir near West Shokan.
The Daily Freeman had some articles about this matter. Back then, I remember that Ed Ocker had mentioned that a nephew had seen the fireball near Boiceville. It would be interesting to know what direction he was facing.
How about doing an article about this, requesting that any readers who saw this to let you know what location they saw the fireball. Maybe with additional info the location of the remains could be found.
Also… if the fireball did not end up in the waters, it most certainly would have started a fire if it fell in the woods. How about checking with the fire departments?
Audrey Orsland
Samsonville, NY

Dear Editor,
This is an Open Letter to Senator Bonacic and Assemblyman Cahill:
The Town of Olive Town Board, on behalf of its residents, requests that you keep the Town of Olive informed of any proposed amendments and or revisions to the Alternative Tax Apportionment Method Section 847 of the Real Property Tax Law, commonly known as the “Large Parcel Bill”.
We would also like to formally request that, as our representatives of the Town of Olive, you seek to have reservoir properties exempt from the so-called “Large Parcel Bill”. Reservoir properties clearly do not meet the intent of the legislation with regard to properties causing “wild swings in assessed values”. They are not properties that are conveyed and, in fact, reservoir properties maintain a very stable assessed value.
Our tax base is being divided among other towns, some as far away as Lexington, while this physical entity, the Ashokan Reservoir, is within the political boundaries of the Town of Olive. We feel that having to share the greater portion of our town’s tax base with other communities who do not have any portion of the facility within their political boundaries defies any reasonable logic.
It should be noted that the Town of Olive, as a whole town, has always paid its fair share of taxes in the Onteora School District and in the County of Ulster. Therefore, we contend that it is no other municipality’s concern what properties comprise the town’s tax base as long as we pay our fair share as a town. A town is the sum of its citizens and properties. Further it matters not who imposes this unfair method of taxation upon our residents, the results will continue to be the same failed school budgets. The only voice any citizen has is his or her vote. The fact that we have fewer voices in Olive will encourage us to speak louder, as one unison voice, until we are heard.
Sincerely,
Olive Town Board
Berndt Leifeld
Linda Burkhardt
Helen K. Chase
Bruce La Monda
Henry Rank