Dear Editor, On the first Sunday of April, during the recent flood, two Girl Scout troops (Troop 1239 and Troop 1234) from Croton-on-Hudson, NY were struggling to find our way home through the Catskill Region of NY. We had 3 carloads of girls and 4 troop leaders. It was quite a harrowing experience, as we were stopped each time we found a new way to get home by the ever-increasing floodwaters. Just when we thought all hope was lost, and we would be spending the night at a Motel, we met our kind stranger. He heard us ask for directions, and instead of giving us yet another set of directions, which might have brought us to another closed road, he had us follow him, for 1/2 hour, until he found a way onto the Thruway.
We neglected to get his name, and have no way of thanking the man who led 16 girls and 4 women back and around the streets of Kingston NY. What a wonderful lesson of kindness for our girls, this unknown stranger, who spent part of his Sunday afternoon, leading us through the city .We hope, perhaps, he might read this newspaper, and feel our gratitude.
Girl Scout Troops 1239 and 1234
Croton On Hudson, NY

Dear Editor,
Late in the evening on Wednesday, March 23,20051 our family experienced a medical emergency. I needed to get to the hospital quickly but was unable to drive. In addition, due to the heavy snowfall, the driving conditions were extremely hazardous, so it was inappropriate for my wife with two small kids to drive me. Our only recourse was to call 911.
Needless to say, no one would have chosen to drive in such bad weather. Yet the Olive First Aid Unit’s volunteers responded to my call and drove me to Benedictine Hospital for emergency care. The Unit members acted with skill and efficiency, and I felt totally confident in their abilities.
On behalf of my family and myself, I wish to express our deepest appreciation to the Olive First Aid Unit for their response and help at a critical time, especially under such severe weather conditions. Their commitment to helping neighbors in distress is both a tribute and an inspiration to our community. We are extremely fortunate to have such volunteers, and we cannot thank the Olive First Aid Unit enough.
Note: The Olive First Aid Unit was organized in 1973 and contracts yearly with the Town of Olive to furnish general ambulance services to persons within the Town. This not-for-profit corporation operates on an around-the-clock basis and consists of volunteer members who are trained in emergency medical procedures. They currently maintain three, ambulances, which are housed individually at 19 Church Street in Shokan, at the intersection of Grassy Ridge Road and Sheldon Hill Road in Olivebridge, and at the Town Highway Garage, 53 Watson Hollow Road in West Shokan.
Edward Ojarovsky
West Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
As Chairman of the Ulster County Legislature, I am reaching out to residents and businesses imploring that we band together in an effort to provide donations to the victims still suffering from the flooding that devastated many areas in our county. Several Ulster County agencies have already taken the necessary steps toward securing state and federal grants that will help provide financial assistance. The time needed to accurately assess the loss of real property under state and federal guidelines is, however, lengthy.
Additionally, many of the victims have experienced a total loss of all personal belongings and are left without the basic necessities of day-to-day life. It is my hope that we can unite during a time of extreme need for many of our neighbors and help provide some basic essentials by donating things such as: bottled water, food, clothing, toiletries and, of course, monetary contributions. If there are people that may have rooms available to rent or would like to donate construction supplies or services, over 270 individuals have been temporarily or permanently displaced and are in immediate need of housing.
Anything that anyone is able to donate is greatly valued and may be sent to the United Way, 450 Albany Ave., Kingston, NY 12401. Please be sure to earmark all donations as "flood relief". I am speaking for all Legislators when I say your thoughts and considerations are very much appreciated.
Richard A. Gerentine, Chairman
Ulster County Legislature

Dear Editor,
I am very happy to say that Laura Tabbal of Samsonville has taken on the role of garden coordinator and educator at the Senior Residence at Tongore Pines in Olivebridge. Laura is a master gardener and school garden educator and has created a plan to grow vegetables, flowers, and herbs for residents and garden helpers at Tongore Pines. There are several avid gardeners at the 'Pines who are happy to have the garden finally worked. Lauras sweetheart Fred Keoghan is doing a lot of the heavy work making it a family affair. Steve Kellogg of Rondout Valley Topsoil is providing compost gratis for the second time as the soil in the raised beds has settled since construction. We need to build more beds and could use your surplus lumber.
We need a surplus wheelbarrow or garden cart, surplus plants and seeds, garden tools, bird houses, humming bird feeders, etc. Call Laura at 657-6151 for more details. We meet at the garden on Saturday mornings at 9.
Harvesting the herbs and veggies to put directly on pizza is always fun so we will build a traditional wood fired clay bake oven at the site as well. Call me at 657-2030 for more details on that little joyride.
The Large Parcel Article 78 lawsuit is kaput due to lack of written evidence and a statute of limitation that expired four months ago. Those with the testimony will not offer it up in written form. Our 3 local County Legislators have given me the yes, no, maybe routine for a month and it is clear that no written statements will be coming from that crowd. I believe that the numbers of voters in Olive vs. the other Towns may be a factor.
The next legal avenue is a plenary or full bore suit to be filed soon.
Given the enmity and social unrest caused by round one of the Large Parcel enactment, one may surmise that the School Board will weigh the merits of plunging us into round two of School District destruction. That is exactly what is happening, one enactment at a time. One would think that after a 30% school tax hike due to the increased reservoir assessment, the School Board would have deemed that enough life blood had been drawn for the first round, but no, they needed more blood. As a result, all of our major commercial retail sites are for sale. Wallets predictably closed after our disposable income evaporated instantly due to the optional Large Parcel enactment. I know of many whose mortgage payments have gone up by hundreds.
Our moderate income workers and fixed income seniors now face dispersal to hither and yon. They call this fair. Only a Judge and jury can arbit fairness, and the record and witnesses testimony is clear.
I relish the thought of the parade of witnesses before the jury. If lying to the Governor, Assembly, and Senate is business as usual and permissible, then that is the confirmation that democracy and the U.S. Constitution is dead, in NY, anyway. The same unlawful ruses was used at every level, giving us quite a roster of defendants. The trail of broken laws has made for a voluminous suit that seeks substantial damages from those individuals who carried out ORPS unlawful vision. Those involved in Ulster County are essentially NY ORPS patsies. They are in the calm before the storm. I wish them good luck and godspeed.
Mary Jane Bernholz, Rita Vanacore, and Cindy O'Connor for School Board! They are highly qualified and will serve Olive and Onteora well.
Much love,
Charles Blumstein
Olive, NY

Dear Editor,
My name is Jack Jordan and I am a candidate for the Board of Education because I would like to continue to promote quality education in a positive and cost effective manner. I will be retiring in September 2005 after 35 years as an educator. In my career I have had many experiences in the field of education that should assist me in being a productive member of the board.
I taught high school social studies and coached varsity basketball and golf at neighboring Tri Valley C.S. During that time I also served as President of the Teacher’s Association and successfully negotiated a new contract. I served as Dean of Students at T. V. prior to becoming H.S. principal. After four years as principal at T. V. I moved to Jeffersonville NY and assumed the post of high school principal at Jeffersonville-Youngsville C.S. I held that job for 3 1/2 years until I was selected as Superintendent of Schools for J-Y.
As superintendent I was responsible for facilitating referendums and three building projects. I had the opportunity to negotiate new contracts with the teachers and support staff. Responsible budget planning and implementation were key areas of my job. One of my major efforts was to lead the reorganization of our district with neighboring Narrowsburg and Delaware Valley. My tenure at J-Y ended with the successful merger and subsequent forming of the new Sullivan West C.S. For the past 5 1⁄2 years I have been the Director of Secondary Programs for Sullivan County B.O.C.E.S.
If elected, my educational philosophy will be the same as that which I have followed throughout my career and that is, the bottom line in decision-making must be what is in the best interest of the majority of the students. That’s why I have been in the education business and why I hope to be able to continue to make a positive impact as a member of your Board of Education. In addition, I believe it is important that each of the towns within the district have proportionately equal representation.
My wife Kathy and I live in Pine Hill. Kathy has lived in the Onteora district for most of her life. We each have one grown child. My daughter, Jennifer Jordan works for the Department of Social Services in Sullivan County and Kathy’s son, Dan Aley Jr. is a police officer in Binghamton. We have two granddaughters who attend Tri Valley C.S.
If elected I will do my part to support the continuing excellence in education that Onteora is widely recognized as having earned.
Communication + Teamwork = Success
Jack Jordan
Pine Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
Anyone who has had an opportunity to see and hear Lisa Childers close up comes away impressed with her mature focus on children and their education. For years we have seen how bright and informed she is, how attentive to the realities and the possibilities of education here and now. When School Board seats are up for election, we may see contenders whose approach is fueled by anger or by political concerns beyond that sphere. Despite provocations, Lisa Childers is not an angry person. She is a caring and knowing person whose eyes are on the real prize: quality education in a nurturing environment, achieved with all possible cost-efficiency.
Lisa is a loving and fair-minded person who, though her own parenthood is central to her life, takes a view that’s broad enough to benefit everybody’s children. And behind that petite image there is a toughness that comes from rightness. For the children’s sake, we can make no better use of our votes on May 17th.
Steve Knight
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
My name is Cindy O’Connor and this May I will be running for the Onteora Board of Education. I have lived In the Onteora School District since 1966 and graduated from Onteora in 1976. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree In Marketing from Kings Col/ege in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. My husband and I own and operate Sheldon Hill Forestry Supplies in Shoken, New York, which we started in 1984. I currently reside In Olivebridge with my husband Brian and two children, Tara and Troy. My daughter Tara attends the Onteara Middle School and is in eighth grade. while my son Troy attends Bennett Elementary and is in first grade. My oldest son Kevin, who would have been eighteen this March, was killed in 2002. Kevin is a great inspiration to me and will always live with us in our hearts.
I believe that the Onteora Board of Education needs members who are not afraid to ask and answer tough question, have common sense, are willing to be a hands-on board member, communicate with all members of our community and strive to create and build trust with an attitude of honesty. We must be concerned about the education and safety of our children. A Board of Education’s job is to make policy and utilize those policies to guide and determine decisions. A competent Board member must be willing to research all the facts in order to make knowledgeable and important decisions facing the future of Onteora. I believe I would be just that kind of Board Member. Therefore, I ask for your support in May by voting for me.
My personal experience has brought me on a journey I never would have believed. In 2003 I researched and learned all about New York State Pupil Transportation and the agencies that govern them, NYSED, NYS DMV and the Federal Motor Carrier Regulations. In 2004, I spoke before the New York State Assembly on dangerous and fatigued drivers and worked with Assemblyman Jonathan Bing of Manhattan and Senator John Bonaclc to introduce drowsy driving legislation. 2005 has lead me to starting an Ulster County Chapter of VOIDD, Victims Of Irresponsible Drowsy Drivers, called VOIDD “72” and an Ulster County Wide Drowsy Driving Education Program.
My many years of experience as a business owner have given me the knowledge of the importance for a sound budget and the need of spending funds in the correct place to benefit all. Since 1992 I have been involved with the Bennett Elementary School PT A. starting as a kindergarten parent and holding officer positions of President, Vice President and Treasurer. In 1996 I join the Bennett Playground Subcommittee and we raised nearly $60,000.00 in approximately eight short months for brand new playground equipment. This year I have been involved with forming the Communications Committee In order to increase the channels of communication between all stakeholders of the school community. My personal experience as student, parent, volunteer, business owner, and taxpayer has kept me in the know as to what this district needs, and what the stakeholders would like to see for the future of Onteora.
I want you to know that the passion and drive I carry in my heart for our children, school, community and what I believe; will be brought to the Onteora Central School District. Please make the right decision and choose me as Board Member of the Onteora School District.
Cindy O’Connor
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
I am Lisa Childers and on May 17, 2005, I will be running for the Onteora School Board. Because I have a son in the Onteora school system I became involved with the board of education and joined committees. Therefore, I am very aware of the strengths and weaknesses of our school district. Through my attendance of countless board meetings over the past four years, I have developed a strong understanding of policy, the budget process and the means to attain the educational and cultural standards that we all strive for.
I am currently in my second year as a Site Team parent representative at Woodstock Elementary School. To highlight some of my experience, I have introduced a Writing Workshop program and requested an integrated anti-bully program. This is where parents and teachers spent the day at a workshop designed to promote positive behavior. I also organize Woodstock and West Hurley families on Thanksgiving Day for Family of Woodstock annual dinner. We decorate the community center with art work by Woodstock Elementary school children. The Site Team is currently working with the county on a child run recycle program. As a Site Team Rep, I enjoy working with teachers, administrators and other parents. I also have experience as an assistant teacher. I am on the Future of the District Committee where we toured the schools, worked with the administration and made decisions for the school board to consider.
We should be very proud of Onteora's cultural achievements, especially in music. In addition, I understand the value of athletics and extra curricular activities, because my husband Keith Anderson is regional commissioner of American Youth Soccer Organization in Woodstock. I also acknowledge the hard work and attention that is needed to keep our programs successful.
The current board has shown wisdom in their choice of Superintendent, Justine Winters, who has given us a fiscally sound school budget while listening to the needs of all our towns and promoting quality education. As your representative on the school board, I will work diligently with the board and administration to promote public education that is not only affordable but of the highest caliber. Every school board election is important, but I believe this one will be a turning point for our future.
Lisa Childers
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
People often ask me why I moved here from Colorado. Something about the tone of this question suggests that I moved from a magnificent land to an area of less beauty, less splendor. What a misguided notion! I am daily more amazed at the beauty and diversity of these soft, green Catskill Mountains and feel privileged and gifted to live here.
In an effort to help keep my beautiful mountains and waters clean, I am working with the Catskill Heritage Alliance to do much needed clean-up work at the Ashokan Reservoir, on two mornings, May 1st and May 21st. The spring rains and flooding have left a mess! Please help us pick up the trash and debris. We’re meeting at 8:45AM both mornings at the Frying Pan area of the reservoir and will work for two hours. All you need to bring are a pair of work gloves. Everything else, including permits to be on city land, will be provided. Call me for specific details. And please, please, try to make this date. I can be reached at #688-2038.
Jo-Anne Rowley
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
Without a live animal test for CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) no one can be certain the CWD isn’t “sporadic, familial, or environmentally caused”. We have no idea if animals are carriers and don’t succumb to the illness or if deer are like sheep with scrapies that carry a genetic marker. It is assumed that it is always fatal, because animals that have been found dead have tested positive. It is highly possible that the animal fails to some other disease or condition, yet CWD is always assumed. The case in NY is clearly evident that we don’t know all the answers. A healthy five year old whitetail doe with no clinical signs of any disease was sacrificed as compliance with the rigorous CWD surveillance program, and surprising all, tested positive.
CWD should not be likened to Mad Cow disease which is transmissible to humans. If CWD were transmissible to humans, we should see a higher number of cases of nvCJD in hunters and venison consumers, like they did in England when BSE jumped species. But we haven't, because CWD is a native deer disease, not a human one and venison remains safe to consume.
CWD does not travel and flourish on farms. Wyoming which has no deer farms at all, has the highest rate of CWD in the country. Even with this situation, wild deer herds are not becoming depopulated because of CWD. Relatively, CWD is not high risk to cervids when compared with severe winters, summer droughts, Johnes Disease, EHD, liver flukes or even coyotes. CWD must be considered in such a perspective.
If we wish to err on the side of over caution then the recent case in NY gives testimony to work that must be done on a parallel basis, with the cooperation of farmers and hunters, as current theories lead to environmental transmission as a prime vector. Not only do all farms with susceptible species need to be enrolled in a CWD surveillance program, but such a program must be developed for hunters and deer enthusiasts. The Departments of Fish and Wildlife need to aggressive looking for sick animals to test. Testing animals without clinical signs such as hunter harvests will not suffice. Wild cervids found sick or dead must be reported and tested, just like their farm raised counterparts. A permit process for hunters bringing in out of state deer kills must be developed, just as a permit process is required to move captive cervids. A secondary hunter certification program should be required for hunting license renewals which would educate hunters about current restrictions and regulations they are legally obliged to, just as deer farmers are informed when renewing their permits. Feeding bans of wild deer must be enforced, and retailers who continue to stock and sell deer feeds, blocks, baits should be fined. Requirements for wildlife rehabilitators must be revisited and guidance language and regulation must be adopted and enforced. Regulations should also be considered for taxidermists, slaughterhouses and rendering facilities dealing with potentially infectious material and offal, to help prevent environmental contamination.
CWD is misunderstood and misrepresented. If we were to truly act on behalf of those animals that both farmers and hunters affectionately have in common, we would be working at funding research and finding a live animal test rather than spending our time pointing fingers.
Martha Goodsell
North American Deer Farmers
Association, NY Branch Chair
Candor, NY

Dear Editor,
I attended an Onteora School Board Meeting last evening (April 5), only my second in 35 years here, for which I am a bit ashamed now. The phrase honest earnest endeavor comes to mind. No one is grandstanding on this board. They are civil to each other, respectful of supplicants, and they talk about children with affection. Our new Superintendent is sharp as a tack, efficient, and really a listener.
Although "thankless task" may not be quite right, "between a rock and a hard place" is perfect. One need not worry about kickbacks with this board of directors. There is nothing to work with here. I lowered my eyes from his when the president of the board thanked the track coach for personally buying the safety equipment for the high jump. It seems when taxpayers abandon their school, as ours have, State Law (I picture Scrooge, shaking his head) stops them from buying high jump mats, saxophones with all their keys, seats for the auditorium, etc. I am not making this up. That is the "rock."
In 30 years as a local teacher, I saw that parents here adore their kids. Some who came to the meeting last night touchingly pleaded their cases for keeping their kids in their "own" schools. That is the "hard place." 1) No cash. 2) Tighten things up. 3) No way!
The most dramatic moment all evening was when Onteora's very competent business manager concluded the budget presentation with prediction of a 3.8 percent tax increase "across the board." When asked what that would be without Olive pitching in equally, she admitted the rest of the district would rise above 4 percent. A dramatic moment because it clearly demonstrated that if the Large Parcel decision is overturned by the Olive-First partisans running for the Board this year, Woodstock, West Hurley and Shandaken citizens will continue to shoulder more than their Fair Share of the school taxes.
Four members of this present Board are up for re-election.
Olive-First residents are also running, to turn back the Fairness.
And, the budget vote is coming. Another year of rejected bare bones budget is so legally horrible that by the end of the meeting, I could not face the thought of it for us. Yes all of us. I live on Social Security, but what happened to our kids? When I see the enormous pick up trucks and SUVs we drive, I think the saxophones should have all their keys.
I was struck by what this intelligent board might do with some resources. I was tempted to ask for the mike to suggest the school system needs a good sales force. I even know where to find one. They are in the High School Cafeteria, in recruiter dress uniform, selling the most powerful military machine in the world to our impressionable kids. They would serve our democracy better fighting for the Onteora budget.
For a sales force, we must make do with those of us who care about our kids and equity in taxation. We must get out the vote, Woodstock, West Hurley and Shandaken!
Also... Sunday, May 1, New York City: A march and rally against the Iraq war and for nuclear disarmament will take place on that day, the day before the UN reviews the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The marchers will assemble on First Ave. from 50th St. north starting at 11 a.m. The march will begin at noon, following a route to the Heckscher Ballfields in Central Park, off 63rd St., where the rally begins at 2 p.m. The call for disarmament includes the 10,350 nuclear weapons in Washington's possession. The Iraq portion of the event includes a call to Bring Our Troops Home Now.
1,000 Japanese people, many of them survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and many European town mayors are coming to NYC for a whole month of activities, including a U.S. Veterans Workshop at the UN Church on May 3 at 2 p.m. Renowned photo journalist Takashi Morizumi will be interviewing U.S. Vets who are suffering from radioactive poisoning (aka "Gulf War Syndrome") and who have children born with deformities caused by depleted uranium. The founder of the Campaign to Abolish Depleted Uranium in Japan is organizing this event to educate about the danger of uranium weapons being used by the U. S. by the ton in Afghanistan and Iraq today. The rest of the world knows. The U.S. public does not. Even The New York Times does not mention it. May 1 march/rally is organized by Abolition Now and United for Peace and Justice. Information, (212) 726-9161, (212) 868-5545, http://www.abolitionnow.org/may1.html,
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/.
Joan Walker
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
When I was standing on the bridge watching the flood waters rise, I had an idea for the title of a song: "Why Don't We Do It While It Floods."
(It is possible the word flood has more than one meaning here and this title has not been copywritten.)
Self-observation: when I was a younger man pursuing women I was afraid of being rejected. Now that I am older I'm afraid of being accepted.
Robert Jacobson
Mount Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
The very structure of society is shaken and damaged by the fundamentalism of a relatively small percentage of people. We see Israel being disrupted by the militant terrorists of the Judaic religion and the Islamic fundamentalists terrorizing non-Muslim society as well as non-fundamentalist Muslims and preventing the development of sound governments and peaceful countries. The United States suffers at the hands of Christian fundamentalists. The belief they have the only truth and all people must be required to adhere to these beliefs can only be a recipe for serious trouble. A really healthy democracy is impossible with the fundamentalists sitting on the thrones. This drive to force others to believe the way they think is right and to punish behavior of which they do not approve is not inherent in any of the religious teachings but develops by individual adherents who are obsessed with this drive. They are people who often have limited education and who aren't able to look at all sides of a situation. They believe themselves to be superior to those of different beliefs and entitled to dominate.
Religion should provide opportunity for spiritual growth, guidance and support in meeting life's challenges, and satisfying social life in the community of fellow worshippers. It should not be a weapon against non-adherents. It would be great to hear more from the sector of the population that opposes the fundamentalists. All the religions are being terribly damaged by the fundamentalists. Church leaders and members alike should be heard from. Not only should they be heard from consistently but they should repudiate the fundamentalist stance by their political action at the polls.
Mescal Hornbeck
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
Question: Which town has the most land in the Onteora School District?
Answer: Shandaken.
Question: Which town has the highest assessed value?
Answer: Woodstock.
Question: Which town has had the most updated evaluation of assessed properties?
Answer: Hurley
Question: Which town pays a higher percentage of the taxes to the Onteora School District? Answer: Olive! ! ! !
Out of seven hundred school districts, only three have chosen the alternate means of assessment. Don’t you think that there is a good reason for that? The School District didn’t get one cent more from New York City! The Large Parcel has done nothing to “equalize” the property tax situation in the Onteora School District except to make one town the victim of two others. It has moved the School District into the political arena and out of the educational arena. Let’s leave tax assessing to the towns, not the Board of Education.
Kathryn G. Adams
Olive, NY