10/11/2007

Dear Editor,
Sure, you grew up here and loved it. When you were growing up here, you
probably didn't lock all your doors every time you ran down to the grocery store because you were worried about the 1,800 construction workers descending on your little mountain town every day for eight years to build a luxury hotel complex you can't afford to stay in. What if one of those construction workers suddenly decides he is late for work just about the time you are approaching in the oncoming lane with a car full of grandkids? Back then you probably weren't alarmed at the 400 plus minimum wage "guest workers" you will see in your neighborhood every day hitch hiking to work at the mega-resort complex coming soon to a mountain top near you. They are hitch-hiking because, in this era of tight credit, no banker in his right mind will give a hard-working minimum-wage earner an auto loan. If you want a career of minimum-wage sex harassment for your child, there will soon be a new business in town that can provide that. If you really want a secure future for your children in Shandaken, I suggest you send them to locksmith school.
Mark Loete
Chichester, NY

Dear Editor,
The following is a partial list of why Friends of Catskill Park did not sign the Agreement in Principle supporting the reconfigured Belleayre Resort. We see this area within the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve as one of rare and unique natural beauty, a remarkable resource of statewide significance, and believe it should be preserved for future generations to appreciate, learn from, and enjoy. Right now the area is growing organically. As we all know, 911 marked the beginning of a mass migration from urban to rural areas, and the central Catskills area has become a popular destination. So far, the area has been able to integrate that growth, but the building of the Belleayre Resort would jump the growth meter into the red. It would bring with it all the detriments of rapid growth such as higher taxes, destabilized communities, heavily-trafficked roads, a population influx, an exacerbation of the existing affordable housing crisis, environmental degradation and more. We could have supported a significantly smaller project that would integrate with, rather than overwhelm, the area, but we cannot support what is on the table now.
The modified proposal is still way oversized. It includes 370 hotel rooms and suites, 259 two- and three-bedroom time shares, an 18-hole golf course, spas, conference centers, restaurants, bars, clubhouses and more. It would effectively be a town on the mountain much larger than any of the neighboring villages. In fact, most of the components of the eastern site known as Big Indian Plateau, were simply moved to the new Highmount site on the west.
Development is proposed for steep slopes with 19 buildings at an elevation of over 3000 feet. Because of the increased frequency of heavy rains in the area, the potential for flooding and erosion is a very real concern. Once hundreds of mountaintop and mountainside acres have been deforested, it is difficult to prevent flooding and erosion during severe storm events, especially during construction. And the construction stage would last for up to 8 years. Storm water controls have often failed in less extreme conditions, including a recent situation at another local golf course.
We feel that Governor Spitzer is being extremely loose with taxpayer dollars. The State has agreed to purchase the Big Indian Plateau (approximately 1200 acres) for a cost of 14 million dollars. That is almost $12,000 per acre, many times what it would be worth on the open market and many times what the developer paid for it. In addition to this, the Belleayre Ski Center plans to build several new trails and lifts (also at taxpayer expense) that would integrate directly with the resort at a cost of millions more. Rumor has it that the price tag for the whole ski center integration and expansion is in the range of 45 million dollars. And, the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is the lead agency conducting the environmental review of the resort, the State runs the Belleayre Ski Center, and now the State is using taxpayer dollars to enhance this private development as well as the Ski Center. Taxpayer dollars are supposed to be used for the public good and this obvious conflict-of-interest does make us question who’s good is being publicly paid for here.
The local people would pay the most and in a variety of ways. Traffic on the already-busy and dangerous Route 28 would increase by many hundreds of vehicles per day. In addition to personal vehicles, there would be service trucks, supply trucks, delivery trucks, and trash trucks during operation. During construction, we would be sharing our one main roadway with a steady stream of construction vehicles.
The socio-economic impacts would be enormous. We don’t have the labor force to fill 600 jobs so a new population would have to be brought in and they would be entitled to services such as police and fire protection, education for their children, social services, etc -- all at taxpayer expense. And the developers plan to apply for tax breaks, so taxpayers would live with the cost impacts long before we get the tax revenue from the development. It can take up to 20 years for a development of this magnitude to pay full taxes when tax breaks are given. In actuality, taxpayers usually wind up subsidizing big development in a variety of ways, often to the detriment of their own quality of life.
For these reasons and many more, we will continue to make use of all of our options to downsize this development. We simply could not put our name on an agreement that would allow something that we believe is wrong for the area. Once it’s built, there is no turning back.
Judith Wyman
Chair, Friends of Catskill Park
Chichester, NY

Dear Editor,
To preserve their ability to participate fully in the review process, without restriction, Catskill Heritage Alliance, Friends of Catskill Park, Sierra Club and Pine Hill Water District Coalition did not sign the Governor's Agreement with Developer Dean Gitter.
Many members of the local Ashokan-Pepacton chapter of Trout Unlimited, those who actually fish these streams, disagreed with their state Chair's unilateral decision to sign in their name. It's reported that he was pressured by phone calls from Governor Spitzer and others, and then given only 20 minutes to review and sign the 25-page legal Agreement. Sierra Club has also come under withering pressure to reverse their NY (Atlantic) Chapter's decision not to sign the Agreement. The developer was overheard boasting that the Governor promised to "get" the Sierra Club for him. They're certainly working at it.
Politicians and reporters may sigh and protest that this is a "done deal" but they are just incorrect. The ordinary review process will continue.
New citizen groups like Highmount Preservation Association (HPA) and Hardenburgh Association of Residents and Taxpayers (HART) have formed as voters finally get to see what's actually in the new proposal. It was developed in secret negotiations and sprung on the public during a surprise September 5th PR extravaganza in Kingston calculated to roll over all opposition.
But in addition to the scale, with 629 units (2 hotels, 18-hole golf course, spa, underground spa, conference center, stores, restaurants, clubhouse, time shares, detached homes, etc.) only slightly smaller than in the previous DEIS, new questions have arisen:
· Many new buildings and a new road -- parts above 3000' elevation -- wind up the steep slopes of Belleayre Mountain.
· The development will require extensive blasting close to forest preserve lands, watercourses and existing homes;
· No accounting of the taxpayer-funded ski lifts, trails and snowmaking into and for the private development, in addition to taxpayers buying 1200 acres for $14,000,000;
· Water supply pump testing not yet completed; as they fail to prove supply, the developer tries to change the testing requirements.
· The project will use the Village of Pine Hill’s oversized Sewage Treatment Plant capacity, built with taxpayer funds;
· S tormwater runoff protocols for the new Highmount Development are conceptual only;
DEC, DEP requirements or recommendations that locals chafe under, waived or relaxed;
This new development requires a new SDEIS. The first step will be a scoping session when concerned parties will bring their issues forward at a public session or in writing. Watch for it.
See the developer's maps, exhibits and the Agreement at http://www.catskillheritage.org/. I urge citizens to consider the precedent for future development of open space in the Catskill Park, along Route 28 and in Ulster County.
Julie McQuain
Hardenburgh Representative,
UC Environmental Mgmnt Council
Member, Hardenburgh Association of Resident's and Taxpayers (HART)

Dear Editor,
For the record...
We are grateful for press coverage of our organization- the Highmount Preservation Association (HPA) and would like to correct the record on a few points, particularly in Mr. Gitter’s statements quoted by Jay Braman. Both Mr. Braman and Mr. Gitter have confused the HPA with the Hardenburgh residents and taxpayers group- HART. The two groups have distinct memberships and leadership. HPA was formed by residents of Highmount, Galli Curci Road and Todd Mountain in direct response to the release of the governor’s Agreement In Principle (AIP). We do share with the other groups in the fight- HART, The Catskill Heritage Alliance (CHA), Friends of Catskill Park, the Sierra Club and SavetheMountain.net a common goal of preserving the natural legacy of the Catskills.
The developer gives the impression that opposition to carving up Belleayre Mountain and Highmount for mega-development is limited to the “same faces” that fought his original grandiose plans. We’re reminded of Donald Rumsfeld’s characterization of the opposition in Iraq as a few “dead-enders.” In fact, opposition to the AIP is broad-based and growing. Some business people may look to the planned development for short-term gain but if you poll the public, you find either ambivalence or fierce opposition.
Mr. Gitter claims that by opposing Crossroads Ventures development plan, we are also opposing the organizations and agencies that signed the AIP. We question just how willingly they agreed to become cheerleaders for this project. What was said to well-respected environmental advocates such as the NRDC, Riverkeeper and Trout Unlimited to get them to sign on to a mega-build sprawling clear to the top of unspoiled mountains? What was said to the DEC for it to agree to Disneyland in the High Catskills? What did it take for the DEP to agree that shifting the threat from Ashokan to Pepacton is a step in the right direction? We believe that Governor Spitzer could answer these questions. We know in the case of TU that the state chairman, Ron Urban, was given 20 minutes to read the 25-page document during which he received phone calls from Governor Spitzer and Mayor Bloomberg and held no consultation with the local TU chapter. Today, there is widespread dissatisfaction in the ranks with the chairman’s unilateral decision and the local Ashokan-Pepacton Watershed chapter is exploring its legal options for opposing the AIP. In addition, the Sierra Club, which is still in the fight, is coming under intense pressure from the governor’s office to fold.
The NRDC, the DEP, etc., charged with defending the environment and citizen’s long-term interests respectively, are in lockstep behind Dean Gitter, of all people. Governor Spitzer played matchmaker to this unlikely union. He ran and was elected as an environmentalist but now, barely 10 months into his term as governor he has gone from being environmentally green to being money green. There are ways to create jobs through sustainable, environmentally sound development; building a resort city on a mountainside isn’t one.
Matt Frisch, Coordinator
Freddi Dunleavey, Communications Director
Highmount Preservation Association
A member of the SavetheMountain.net coalition

Dear Editor,
Over the past couple of weeks as a resident of the Town of Hardenburgh I attended two meetings concerning the Belleayre Resort. Although my husband and I are against the resort, nothing we heard changed our minds, if anything it only convinced us we were right. We thought we knew everything we needed to know, but the new things we found out just blew us away. If you think you know everything you need to know think again, the whole game plan for this resort has changed. I think they call it the old bait and switch move. Go to a meeting near you, look at the new maps. This resort is not downsized all that much. They have taken everything from one side of the mountain and moved it to the other side and they're building up, not down. Go check out the maps and see for yourselves.
We found out how our democratic system failed us, starting with Governor Spitzer. We found out how he thinks closed door meetings and trade off with special interests is acceptable. How our representatives were hit with gag orders so the public couldn't know what was going on. To our senators who without visiting the site think that we are so impoverished here that we will fall for anything, Shame on you Hilary, and all our representatives who let us down.
I also find the DEC who will not allow us to take gravel out of our own streams to protect our homes from being flooded are willing to sign off on a project that will allow complete destruction of the mountains in the watershed, not including the runoff and God knows what else.
And last but not least is the environmental groups, where did you go on this? You are supposed to be there to protect the Catskill Park, what happened?
I must admit Crossroads did send a gentleman to answer questions we had, most of the time his answers were I don't know or I'll find out. I'd think by now they should have the answers well rehearsed.
Many of the questions were old ones such as jobs, fire, police, ambulance, traffic, pollution, taxes, etc. One subject was the four-lane highway, where it will start and end. If your house sits along the Route 28 corridor I'd be thinking eminent domain, they have to get the land somewhere.
I could go on and on about the changes and tactics they are using to run this resort down our throats, but I won't. You need to seek the truth yourselves.
My husband and I have firsthand experience with this subject. We lived in a beautiful area with mountains. They came in and clear cut all the trees and we listened to chain saws and blasting and jackhammers and truck traffic for years. The engineers said they had everything planned out, well the first time we had heavy rain everything flooded. The best engineers in the world cannot control mother nature, I wouldn't want to be living downhill from this resort when she chooses her path.
This whole resort issue reminds me of a fairy tale we all know. The fairy tale is Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. We are Red Riding Hood and the resort is disguised as the wolf waiting to devour us.
So the people of Hardenburgh let them know we may be a small group, but we can roar with the best of them. Join your neighbors who are getting this resort shoved down their throats, and in their backyards. Don't sit back and say it doesn't concern me, it concerns us all. And you never know when that backyard could be yours.
Let your elected officials know you're not letting our futures be decided behind closed doors again.
Bernadette Beyea
Hardenburgh,NY

Dear Editor,
A letter sent to Gov. Spitzer...
I guess I was just naive thinking that the beauty and pristine nature of the area would remain that way – business & profit always win out – I thought the Republicans were the worst offenders - you were my team - I have followed you for years loving the way you fought for justice – but to cave in without due process for the rest of us is just dirty tricks at work.
Dean Gitter does not care about the environment - just the dollars. The traffic, noise and pollution will ruin our Catskill area and the run-off into the Esopus will be devastating for the water flowing to NYC.
Irwin Marcus
Boiceville, NY

Dear Editor,
Despite nine years of studies and debates and an agreement in principal between most environmental groups and economic development forces, the hyperbole surrounding the Belleayre Resort continues.
It continues in part, because local newspapers fuel it with sloppy journalism and biased reporting, designed to keep controversy alive and sell more newspapers. A case in point is two stories written by Paul Smart in a single week after the resort announcement. A story in Woodstock Times and a story in the Phoenicia Times were virtually identical. Virtually, but with some notable exceptions.
The start of the Woodstock Times story says "It's over." But in the Phoenicia Times, the story begins "On the surface, it seemed to be all but over." Assuming someone read both stories, that leaves a reader to wonder. "Well, is it over or isn't it?" The reality is that most people don't read both papers. Most people read one or the other. So why does a paper want the Woodstock readers to think it's over and the Phoenicia readers to think there's still something going on behind the scenes that we don't know about?
In the Woodstock Times, Smart tells readers the state would purchase 1,216 acres of land known as the Big Indian plateau. In the Phoenicia Times the same week, Smart makes that number read 1,400 acres. In the Woodstock Times story, Smart notes that Congressman Hinchey had signed on to the agreement but was not in attendance. That fact was not highlighted in the Phoenicia Times story. The Woodstock Times story tells us Dean Gitter will get to build half of his project. The Phoenicia Times says that, but then adds that he will get to build three-quarters of the project if you look at the actual number of rooms.
There are other differences, but you get the drift. Reporters and their editors tell us what they want us to know and shape the news to get the results they want to get. In this case a single reporter and two different editors (Brian Hollander at the Woodstock Times and Brian Powers at the Phoenicia Times) gave us two different slants on exactly the same story. They are not alone. Reporters and editors in every other paper do the same thing. And they do this not just when they are reporting on the Belleayre Resort, but when they are reporting on elected officials, candidates for public office, and other important issues of the day.
When one single writer uses different facts in two different papers in the very same week (such as the number of acres in a proposal), it highlights the problem in a way that makes it easier to see. One has to question the reporting and the goals and objectives of the reporter and the publication.
As we move forward through the coming election cycle, and the next year of review of the Belleayre Resort, I would urge writers to be careful about what they write and readers to be cautious about what they believe. Every story has more than two sides and we are better served by people who would try to unite us than by those who continue to foster division.
Joan Lawrence-Bauer
Big Indian, NY
Editor’s Note: When stories appear in different publications, they inevitably get edited differently. Furthermore, facts change between editions of papers... ever read the way AP stories shift over a day? The move from “done” to what is now becoming “not quite done” is the result of observation of processes and the defensiveness inherent in letters such as this... which unfortunately, because of the writer’s background as a reporter and public relations specialist, feels disingenuous. Yet we agree that all news reading be done with care and from many sides. A last note, I, Paul Smart, am editor of this paper.

Dear Editor,
Two of my children attend the Phoenicia school. I am very concerned about the grade 5-8 Middle School configuration which the Board of Education voted for at the June 5, 2007 meeting and its ramifications. Parents in Phoenicia have formed a research group and Onteora Parents Yahoo Group, with many files downloaded, to be better informed. We have been studying the grade 5-8 Middle School and how it relates to our rural district.
We are a rural school district. We are not a wealthy suburban district with a non-profit set up, like Chappaqua, which our Middle School Steering committee, and board of education based a large part of their decision on.
At a June 2007 Board of Education meeting, where Onteora Middle School principal retired, we were told that lots of information regarding a grade 5-8 Middle School was available for anyone to review. I persisted all summer, but found the Chappaqua visit and the National Middle School Association Summary (the main report) are the bulk of information available. View it on the Onteora Web Site. Most references are from the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Would our students be allowed to use research this outdated?
As a parent and taxpayer I ask the board of education to re-visit this decision for a grade 5-8 Middle School. Across this country, districts are abandoning the grade 5-8 Middle School. The same National Middle School Association. I just referred to reports only nine percent of U.S. Middle School principals accept 5-8 as a good grade configuration. Clearly stated in our Architect’s report, our Middle School Steering Committee’s Goal is for a 5-8 Middle School. Why? If it is not a sound educational plan; is it to close a school?
Of the two plans that include a 5-8 Middle School — one plan consists of only (2) k-4 schools. The other plan calls for (1) k-1 school and (1) 2-4 school. Imagine all children in the District travelling to (1) school for k-1 and to (1) school for 2-4 ! We are geographically, the 2nd largest District in New York State ! This makes no sense fiscally, educationally (more transitions for a child) or last but not least, environmentally. Bussing would be a huge problem, at increased costs. Can we then conclude that (1) elementary School will become the 5-8 Middle School, or (1) elementary school will close ? Either way, one of our communities will lose a school.
On June 19, the Superintendent, in her Educational Plan Press Release writes this is an exciting time for our school district and she states that the new Board will be deciding the timeline of how to implement the decision of 5-8 Middle School and which buildings will be used. I agree that this is an exciting time for our School District. We have a 6 new administrators (High School Assistant Principal, Middle School principal, Bennett principal, Director of Transportation, Interim High School Principal, and Superintendent of Schools). We are searching for a new High School principal. Shouldn’t we concentrate on creating a well-equipped, well-maintained building for our High School students? A magnet to keep and entice families.
In conclusion, please remember that we, the Onteora families and taxpayers, will be directly affected by your decisions. The 5-8 Middle School configuration is not in the best interest of our rural community schools. We greatly appreciate your enormous amount of time as a Member of the School Board and, we hold you to make the best, most informed decisions when it comes to the education of our children. Our children are the future of our communities and our world at large.
Ann McGillicuddy
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
This is in reference to my Foil request, FOIL 2007/08- #7.
Recently I submitted a Foil request asking for the District’s total cost of salaries, benefits and overtime in both the Maintenance and Custodial Departments. I also asked for the reason for working overtime in both of those Departments and how many employees worked in those departments.
In the second registered letter reply dated August 20, 2007 Victoria McLaren wrote. The information requested in your FOIL request number FOIL 2007 / 08 #7 Custodial / Maintenance is available. The request includes 438 pages at .25 cents per page for total due of $109.50. Please make a check payable to the Onteora School District. As soon as the funds are received, the documents will be mailed to you or you may make an appointment to review the documents at no cost.
I feel that it goes beyond being unreasonable to expect an untrained financial person like me to pay $109.50 for documents that I probably wouldn’t understand. Even if I were to go to the school to read the documents I would certainly have many questions. It’s to be noted that the administration is not obligated in any way to answer any questions that I may have. Also, I would have to make many trips to the school to read all of those 438 pages.
I requested the above information because I was interested in researching the possibility of sub-contracting the work done by the above-mentioned departments. Sub-contracting some or all of the work being done by the above-mentioned departments would more then likely be more cost effective then the way that it’s being done today. Using cost-effective measures makes good business practice, reduces spending and saves tax payers’ money.
If I may, I would like to ask that all recipients of this correspondence forward their comments regarding the possibility of sub-contracting all or a part of the work now being done by our Custodial and Maintenance Departments.
William Warnecke
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
Election Day is just around the corner – a very important election for the residents of Ulster County and the Town of Shandaken. Do you want another robbery of over 40 million dollars of taxpayer money for the county jail? Or do you want another robbery of $50,000 cost overrun for the Phoenicia Filtration Plant – a plant that isn’t even finished yet and the water is lousy. If politicians claim credit for good things – they should accept the blame for their mistakes – and pay for them.
Shandaken has one politician with claims of serving the town well for 8 years but fails to point out that during most of that time had 2 well paying positions in the town – positions that gave over an opportunity to extend many political favors. Also, serving both positions at the same time one could call it very unethical at the least. During most of those eight years you also had the majority of your political party on the board. What big things were accomplished? Do we need this kind of leadership?
Besides regular town business we have some big decisions to make in the future. The cellular towers, Belleayre Resort, bringing the ambulance department back to the finesse it had, the Phoenicia Sewer District, dredging the streams, and taxes – to name a few. Some of these problems have lingered for years.
Peter DiSclafani can provide the town with this strong leadership that is needed. He believes in open government, representing all people, and solving problems. He will make us happy and proud to again say “we live in the Town of Shandaken.” Let’s work together as neighbors for the betterment of all of Shandaken. - where is there a better place?
Lonnie Gale
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
How disheartening it is to attend Town Board meetings. It is nice to know that the public is invited to a Board workshop meeting, however there will be no public input allowed, but that really doesn't matter since one of the topics of the meeting is the preliminary budget no one has seen anyway, and another is the proposed cell tower lease that the Board has already refused to discuss.
The saying "it is all done with smoke and mirrors comes to mind" The presentation made by the current ambulance administrator was just so much smoke. On the on hand, it was nice to know that there are a few competent paramedics on the squad. However, after months of asking questions about the actual workings of the squad, there are many questions that continually go unanswered, and will apparently never be answered. All we are told is that there are more and more people on the squad, and they are bigger and better than ever. Here are a few questions regarding staffing and appointments.
· How many positions exist for the ambulance squad, and how many personnel that have been appointed are actually working?
· What is the screening process for prospective employees? A very important issue, since the Board unanimously voted to appoint 5 members to the ambulance in January, none of which had even submitted an application to the town. At the last meeting, Bob stated he had phone calls from 2 paramedics that would like to join, so he would appoint them as well. Nice. In light of the growing roster, do we need them, and more importantly Bob, what do you know about them? What do you, or the rest of the board know about the individuals appointed (unanimously) at this meeting?
· What is the standard, where is the due diligence? Ever consider background checks; ever consider a drug and alcohol screening policy? Given the open floodgate policy that is in effect, and the times we are living in, I think that is not only appropriate, but also should be mandatory.
· In budgetary matters, I hear that there is going to be a $30,000. increase in the ambulance budget. Why? Bear in mind, that if ambulance revenues have fallen short by $30,000, then an increase in the budget by that amount is actually a $60,000. increase to the taxpayers. More smoke and mirrors.
There are many more unanswered questions involving this Town Board, but in the interest of time and space I will end with this statement. Pay close attention to this budget process, it is the last gasp of a lame administration, and it is your money they are playing with.
Jerry Pearlman
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
My name is Lynne O’Brophy and I’m running for the Shandaken Town Board. I’m writing to raise a voice against negative campaigning. Unhappily, many people seem to think that negative, and often nasty, campaigning in our national elections is good, simply because it works. And it’s human nature to think that “where there’s smoke there must be fire.” I strongly oppose the whole idea of negative campaigning and I urge you to challenge that kind of mean-spirited thinking in our local elections.
My feeling is that negative campaigning works because the candidates haven’t the moxie to offer anything better, much less some real-world specifics on what they’d bring to government. Instead they talk in nothing but generalities for fear they might lose a vote or two if they say what they really think. So we get to chose on the basis of cheap slogans, who we like best, or who best appeals to our prejudices. And we almost never hear real-world SPECIFICS on what the candidates want to do on things like health care, social security, education, the war in Iraq, the security of our borders against terrorists. illegal immigration, jobs, the safety of air travel or prescription drugs or food inspections or much of anything else. And then we later complain about our public officials.Yuk.
I can’t do much about all this on a national level. But in my own campaign for Town Board you won’t hear a negative word about who screwed up in the past, what’s wrong with my opponents, or what’s wrong with those who disagree with my position on the issues. I think you can figure out those things for yourself and don’t need help from me. Instead, I want to concentrate on exactly what I hope to bring to our town government. In the simplest terms it comes down to thinking in positive, practical terms about each of the issues - looking for approaches that will bring us together rather than draw more lines in the sand. I’ll also be talking very specifically about each of the issues in my campaign. Maybe we can all strike a blow for fair-minded debate and what we are for, not just what we’re against. Who knows - we might even set an example for others!
Lynne O’Brophy
Phoenicia, NY
Dear Editor,
Once upon a time not to long ago there lived in these hills an old man with all kinds of illnesses. He spent most of his time helping others any way he could, never asking anything in return. The happy faces of the recipients were sufficient reward. Old fashioned by today’s standards he believed that somewhere there was this tremendous energy force that regulated all things large and small. He called that force God. As was taught years ago he honored that force trying to obey a set of rules carved in stone tablets, 10 in all. Not so very much, but sometimes difficult to do. He gave all he had to all he could as long as he was able, yet not enough, for the world had changed from his youth. Nobody cared for anybody but themselves. On every street corner there was filth in it’s many forms – from prostitution to drugs and liquor. Any way to get a “buzz on.” The police tried to put a lid on it but were stymied by “The Law” they had to follow, the rules the people preferred to side step. Babies were having babies with no thought of responsibility. Disease ran rampant as soon as the doctors seemed to gain control another strain appeared. Yet the doctors themselves were part of the blame. It was their duty to push pills in order that their interest in the drug companies made for them profit. I think back about that old time religion “what gaineth a man if he loses his soul,” which is exactly what is happening. I can think of a hundred countries so beautiful it could make a man cry. All that is left now is ruins. The fighting still goes on and people die. Seems we have forgotten the Nazi Germany. Same thing, different players.
I am old now and considered useless, yet I know right from wrong. A different scenario recently played out for my benefit, to emphasize my helplessness I tried to fight, but lacked the strength. I witnessed a crime in progress. Tried to call for help, but much to my chagrin, the perpetrators were the security people and janitor who indicated I was looney and had me put into restraints, as they continued to commit the crime and torture me the entire afternoon. When I did finally get home I called the postal inspector of the United States, who assured me that NO ONE including himself could open a first class mail, addressed, sealed and stamped as this one was. He told me to call the police, which I did only to find out that no crime had been committed because later they gave back the money it contained. I must assume that I can hold up a store and seeing the arrival of the police simply hand back the money and not be charged with theft. Which makes no sense at all.
Let me empathize that no security guard or janitor has the right to blatantly steal from some senior patient in KINGSTON HOSPITAL. Thievery is thievery any way you look at it. I tried to contact Michael Kaminski, the CEO, but he refused to talk to me. I went a step furthering writing him a letter outlining the circumstances, and that has been ignored.
In Asia if they catch a thief they simply cut off his hand. We need stronger laws to protect the innocent. There are some very good doctors and excellent nurses at that hospital BUT there are some rotten apples that prey on the sick and elderly. Please, please take care of your valuables.
Bob Bossick
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
I attended the September 24 presentation on Ulster County’s new Open Space Plan at the Senior Citizen Center in Saugerties. I commend the Ulster County Planning Department and the Environmental Management Council, who worked together to develop the plan, on an outstanding job.
In 2004, I led a bi-partisan effort in the county Legislature to pass a resolution calling for an update of the county’s Open Space Plan, which was enacted in 1972.
Hopefully, the new plan will help communities develop “Smart Growth” strategies, protect historic, cultural and natural resources and create new recreational opportunities for Ulster County residents.
I look forward to working with my colleagues and community leaders on implementing the recommendations and meeting the goals outlined in Ulster County’s new Open Space Plan.
Joe Roberti
Ulster County Legislator, District 4

Dear Editor,
Some change is definitely for the better, and that includes what has developed in Ulster County government in the last two years. County Legislator Don Gregorius has played a major part in that change. Through his work on the important Ways and Means Committee and his chairing of the Labor Negotiations and Relations Committee, as well as his attention to the details of governmental functioning, he has helped to make county government more efficient and effective.
Don is able to work with both Democrats and Republicans. He regularly works with town governments in his district to keep them informed about county issues and to protect their interests. His only agenda is to work for the good of those he has been elected to serve. I urge everyone in his district to vote to reelect Don Gregporius to the Ulster County legislature.
Sandra Gardner
Lake Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
I’ve been listening to Vincent Bradley’s claims that he has more experience than D. Holley Carnright. Although he claims he’s a C.P.A. ,he’s not very good at math. Holley Carnright has been our Chief Asst. D.A. and has been prosecuting and defending violent felony cases for almost 30 years. He has personally tried to verdict 10 murder cases, as well as countless manslaughter, robbery, rapes and violent sex offenses. Vincent Bradley has only been a lawyer for 8 or 9 years and has only done felony trial work for a few of those years. He has only done 13 felony trials-all of which he has had other lawyers to help him.
Mr. Bradley has never tried a violent felony case---not even one! Ask him. No murders, no rapes, no assaults, no robberies, no burglaries –NONE. Mr. Bradley claims he has more experience than Holley Carnright. At what? Certainly not at doing the work that our next D.A. will need to do. The D.A.’s office is not the place for on the job training….D. Holley Carnright has my vote!
Maryanne DeGroodt
Kingston, NY

Dear Editor,
No matter how the impact of 9/11 has been sensationalized, it was not masterminded by the government of a foreign state. It remains a terrorist act perpetrated by a Saudi Islamist fanatic and 19 men armed with box cutting knives.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell doesn’t think it’s terrorists that pose the greatest threat to this country. Recently, Powell said: “People will say it's terrorism, but are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what’s the great threat we’re facing?”
Powell went on to says that he would approach the problem of terrorism differently. He says that this doesn’t mean that there isn’t a terrorist threat, but that we are “taking too much counsel of our fears,” adding we shouldn’t destroy ourselves and use fear for political purposes.
Historically, our government has been more dangerous to our liberty, than the enemy it claims to protect us from. FDR insisted that Executive Order 9066 was necessary to save American lives. He used that order to imprison and pauperize 110,000 Americans while General DeWitt, told Congress: “It makes no difference whether he is an American citizen. He’s still a Japanese.”
Roosevelt’s internment of the Japanese was the worst blight on his presidency, and eventually necessitated a formal apology from our government to those citizens whose lives it ruined.
We have a long and painful history of ignoring the words of Benjamin Franklin that “those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
Jim O'Leary
Delhi, NY

Dear Editor,
Hannah Arendt wrote of the "banality of evil" concerning Nazi Germany. I certainly can relate that to the illegal U.S. invasion and U.S. occupation of Iraq. But more than anything it is the "overwhelmingness" of the evil that has made me mute. Why, I ask myself, is the letters section not full of outraged and anguished letters about the foreign
(U.S.) occupation of Iraq? Why, I have asked myself, have I not written even one letter to the editor about the war? Actually I have written two about 9/11 that were rejected for being too long, perhaps, and they were. Or maybe too "controversial", too "outside the permissable boundaries of discussion."
The 9/11 attacks were of course the "shock therapy" that allowed the public to accept the two wars we are involved in. So any discussion of the wars, how we got here, where we should go from here, have to include 9/11, and what really happened there. The discussion now is about how to leave. We can't just leave, says everyone from Dubya to Hillary, there would be a civil war, there would be a bloodbath. Of course, there already is, and we caused it. But to get more at the root of the problem we have to recognize that we did not invade because we believed Saddam had WMD's. The U.S. invaded to take control of the oil and of the region where so much oil is, and to make the region safer for Israel. Permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq are just as much in Hillary's plans as in Dubya's.
Even more to the root of the problem: elements in the U.S. government allowed or caused 9/11 to happen as a giant psychological operation on the American people to overwhelm us so we'd accept the illegal invasion and occupation of two other countries which just happen to be the keys to the Caspian Basin oil and gas and the Mid-east oil. And so we'd accept giving up our rights domestically and to advance the "unitary executive" theory that gives much more power to the President than the founding fathers intended in the Constitution.
Jim Veeder
Saugerties, NY

Dear Editor,
It is un-understandable to anyone who understands the concept of Universal Health Care or National Health Care under the aegis of the Government why there is so much confusion and misunderstanding leading to objection. Of all the Presidential hopefuls Dennis Kucinich alone articulates the concepts. John Edwards wants all covered but talks about the need of increasing taxes to make it possible. Hillary talks as though failure to pass the Clinton plans of 1984 or-5 indicates that it isn't wanted. Her plan then indicated utilizing of the agencies now in the saddle and somehow having a managed program.
A universal health care plan would save money all around which is why we need it. The money would come from the same sources which it now does, taxes, individual premiums, workers contributions, but all costs would be less and all Americans would be covered. Why and how would this be?
One reason would be because with all under one plan there would be a tremendous reduction in paper work for all involved. See GAO statistics for the billions now being spent because of the multiplicity of plans. The big reason is that the administrative cost would hover around 5 percent. With administrative costs of the HMOs and private Insurers above 20 percent and higher both because of the outrageous salaries paid those profiteers at the top and the fact that the population covered by these plans is relatively very small. The smaller the number in the pool, the larger the per capita contribution to the cost; and the money these companies spend on lobbying officials and spreading mistruths to the population, our money paid to them for Health Care coverage, is what makes that possible.
This country should be ashamed of itself. In failure to consider Health Care a right, in the low rating in health of its citizens, in the extremely high cost for health care which is highest in the world, and the inability of our manufacturers to compete with other countries because of the health care cost that is part of workers' benefits.
Mescal Hornbeck
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
It took an edict from the state to force our two hospitals to stop competing with each other and seriously determine how to provide skilled, but cost effective, care for the residents of this community. The state motive was to reduce the cost of healthcare statewide.
Both hospital CEO's are now explaining how by reporting to a parent corporation (an idea suggested and rejected eight years ago) overseeing both hospitals will enable each hospital to reduce cost while continuing to allow Kingston Hospital to provide reproductive services to the community.
I'm confused by their plan to accomplish the latter. Currently, Kingston Hospital has all the staff and equipment to perform abortions in its existing space. Given that the state edict was to reduce cost, how does spending $4M to build and equip a separate building on the Kingston Hospital campus to perform reproductive services make any sense? After all, it's still Kingston Hospital unless connected by a walkway to the main complex creates a disconnect.
Sure, the $4M will come out of the $48M just received from the state to assist in the merger. But rather than waste $4M on ideological correctness, why not use the $4M to further improve healthcare services, another one of the state objectives. I am totally in support of the merger; it is long overdue but let's use common sense and reason in the process.
Ronald E. Dietl
Kingston, NY

Dear Editor,
Talk about the kettle calling the pot black. Governor Spitzer really wants two off-reservation Indian casinos for the Catskills and has upped his lobbying campaign. Not only has he tried to put pressure on Sectretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne but he is now pressuring Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee to investigate why Sect Kempthorne has not acted on an application for a casino at Monticello, New York.
This is the same Governor who has failed to collect the taxes due on gas and cigarettes sold to non-Indians on Indian land, even though it was passed/authorized by the New York legislature and its legality was reaffirmed by several recent legal decisions - including the Supreme Court.
One can only question why Spitzer is mounted on his high horse in putting pressure on Kempthorne to approve two casinos in Sullivan County while he is under his horse on enforcing the law about taxes with the Oneidas of Turning Stone casino fame.
I say that he is two-faced.
Susan Puretz
Saugerties, ny

Dear Editor,
The summer reading program at the Phoenicia Library was a great success. We had a multi-aged program for adults, young adults, and children. The computers at the library continue to be fully utilized. In July, 395 patrons used the on-line services of the library. The total July circulation for our little library in the mountains was 2925. Isn't that amazing? The library is a great place to borrow books, and books on tape, and other resources. It offers an expanding array of programs, and a very friendly and attentive staff.
This past weekend, the vacuum cleaner at the library smoked, and died. We are seeking a benefactor, who would volunteer to underwrite the cost of a replacement new vacuum. If you would like to participate, and help us in our effort to purchase a new vacuum, please contact the Library with your name and phone number, and I will give you a return call..
Once again, the library Director, staff, volunteers, and board members wish to thank all , for their continued support and patronage of the Phoenicia Library. We encourage all of you to find out more about the Phoenicia Library. It is a vital part of our community.
Best regards,
Mark Wilsey
Phoenicia Library Trustee

Dear Editor,
This year the Hamlet of Pine Hill was the perfectly festive for Shandaken Day. The true success of Shandaken Day is the hundreds of people who come together for the day to explore and celebrate everything about Shandaken and the Catskill Region. It’s never easy to put on event like Shandaken Day, but with the hard work and dedication from all of the following people and organizations the day, once again, proved to be highly successful. We would hope that people would read these words of appreciation and give you all a well-deserved pat on the back. Volunteerism is the heart and soul of our community, and every hand that helps strengthen that community deserves to be treasured. Special Thanks to all of the following:
Alan Carr; Autumn Carter; Tristan Daly; Tony Smith; RJ Stanley; Storm Stanley; Jessie Wilson; Stephanie Barnes; Wendy Barry; Jay Braman, Jr.; Elana Brazen; David Carr; Gary Carr, Jr.; Todd Carr; John Crawford; Phill Darmstadt; Jaime DeForest; Peter DiModica; Peter DiSclafani; Missy Esposito; Declan Feehan; Neil Goodrich; Gene Gormely; Steve Greener; RK Griffin; Robert Gurbo; Mary Herrman; Matt Johnson; Jack & Kathy Jordan; Chandra Lencina; Rick Locasto; Ernie Longhi; Skip Malley; Glenn Miller; Cathy Neal; Ellen Parker; Gina Reilly; Nancy Rosenthal; Joe Ryan; Renee Santos; Bonnie Schaedle; Carl Shaelaw; Cinthia Sinmon; Dave Smith; Maryann Somers; Bob & Sandra Stanley; Adam Steen; Joe Strauss, Jr.; Anique Taylor; Allison & Maryann; Audrey Taylor; Mike Weeks; Missy Weeks; Gene & Kim Yarkin; Andrew Zhilyqkov; James Krueger; Michael Kelly; Norm Wennet; Earl Pardini & the Slide Mtn. String Band; Michaela Talley & the Rubbaband; Adam Johnson & DETOUR; Catskillradio.org; Steve Witte & the Colonial Inn; Robert & Valerie Konefal & the Pine Hill Arms; Wadler Bros.; Naomi Graphics; Ulster Savings Bank; Tony Lanza & the Belleayre Mtn. Staff; Paul Van Blarcum & Ulster County Sherriff’s Dept.; James McGrath & Shandaken Police Dept.; Kingston Artist’s Soapbox Derby Comm.; Diane @ Stucki’s Embroidery Works; Tom Story & NYS DOT; Don Peterson & NYSEG; US Post Office- Pine Hill; Keith Johnson & Shandaken Highway Dept.; Brian Powers, Paul Smart & the Phoenicia Times Staff; Blake Killin & the Ulster County Townsman Staff; Shandaken-Allaben Hose Company; Shandaken Ambulance Squad; M.F. Whitney Hose Company; Florence Hamling & the Pine Hill Community Center; The Shandaken Day Committee: Bruce Barry (Co-Chair), Laurilyn Frasier, June LaMarca, Dakin Morehouse, Joe Munster and Maureen Nagy; ALL of Our Advertisers; ALL of Our Vendors; and, of course, ALL the residents of Pine Hill whose support and consideration for such an event makes it all a success for Pine Hill and the Town of Shandaken. Thank you all so very much. We look forward to seeing everyone at next year’s event in Mt. Tremper and Mt. Pleasant.
Sincerely yours,
Robert A. Stanley
Shandaken Day Comm. (Co-Chair)