Letters to the Editor

12/4/2008

Dear Editor,
The implacable hostility of certain elements of the community, exhibited by a recent widely circulated Heritage Alliance letter to Governor Paterson and by a November 20th editorial in the Phoenicia Times, never ceases to amaze. Readers need to ponder the following facts:
1. Taxes are rising.
2. Municipal costs are rising.
3. Business failures are rising.
4. Tax and bank foreclosures are rising.
5. The economies of Delaware and Western Ulster counties are in deep trouble.
History records that recessions invariably hit deeper in our area than in the rest of the nation and recoveries come later. The best hope for the economic future of this area lies in tourism. Forty years of studies commissioned by the State and the City of New York make this abundantly clear.
It should be a matter of widespread local relief that the investors in the Belleayre Resort, despite 10 years of assault by certain members of the community, are still willing to pursue their vision of restoring what was once a thriving tourism industry in this region and to take the financial risks necessary to build the Belleayre Resort project.
The nay-sayers’ recent demands that the state renege on the commitment it made in the Agreement in Principle is fraught with distortions and outright falsehoods. The facts are these:
1. The state has never floated a figure for the improvement of Belleayre Ski Center north of $49 million, not “as much as $70 million” as is alleged.
2. The imminent construction of the new lodge and the improvement of the children’s facilities are long-recognized essentials to the ability of the Belleayre Ski Center to compete and to maximize the potential of what are, arguably, the best beginner ski slopes in the northeast.
3. The buy-out figure of essential lands from Crossroads Ventures is subject to professional appraisal by no less than three independent firms all working for either the State or the Open Space Institute. Crossroads is not involved in that process. The acquisition of this significant property for “Forever Wild” purposes is entirely consistent with the 11/19 editorial in the New York Times reminding politicians in office of the overwhelming support voters clearly signaled for the commitment to preserving open spaces.
4. The acquisition of the Highmount Ski Center, also subject to the same independent appraisal process, accomplishes a Belleayre Ski Center expansion which has been almost unanimously called for by voters and governments in Delaware and Western Ulster counties for the last 20 years. It adds considerable advanced skiing capability so necessary to successful competition with other ski facilities outside our region.
5. It is crystal clear that expansion of trails in the direction of the proposed Wildacres Hotel would commence only when and if ground is broken on the Wildacres resort; and that such expansion will also contribute significant vertical drop and advanced ski terrain to the state’s facility.
6. Lastly, the only direct link between the state ski center and Crossroads’ Belleayre Resort is a lift from the proposed Highmount Hotel to the top of the Highmount Ski Center, a facility for which Crossroads has committed itself to bear 100% of the cost.
Perhaps it’s time for the Catskill Heritage Alliance, the “Save the Mountain” folks and the editorial writers of the Phoenicia Times to wake up and smell the mulled wine. Tourism is our last, best hope for economic revitalization and overnight skier visits and fine, year-round accommodations are at the heart of any tourism initiative.
Joan Lawrence-Bauer
Crossroads Ventures LLC.
Mt. Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
The Belleayre Mountain Ski Center is a wonderful economic asset to our community and deserves expanded support from Albany. The proposed “Belleayre Resort” is a whole different animal. Spin masters from the proposed resort keep mixing up the two – hoping you will be tricked into supporting the biggest bailout of big-time millionaires in the history of the Catskills. They would like you to believe the ski area needs the resort but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, $5 million in State funds that were dedicated to improving the ski center a few years ago went up in smoke while they foolishly waited for this imaginary resort to be approved. That money is gone. Now the developer wants us to bail him out with a cool hundred million to float his sinking ship. This is one boat they should stop bailing out and let sink.
Dave Channon
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
Last week's letter from Richard Schaedle, Chairman of the Catskill Heritage Alliance asking Governor Paterson to reconsider a commitment to expand Belleayre Mt. Ski Center was both shocking and disheartening to those who have worked for decades to see some significant economic development effort in the region.
The Catskill Heritage Alliance inaccurately describes the proposed expansion of Belleayre Mt. as a perk for a private resort developer, implies that the State is giving money to a private sector property, says the State is going to over-pay if it buys land and says that now is not the time to be investing in Belleayre. The Catskill Heritage Alliance has apposed any Compromise and economic development since the beginning.
A factual analysis would show that people in this region were trying to get Belleayre Mt. expanded long before the Belleayre Resort Project ever came on the horizon. A detailed study of the region and the ski center in 1963 concluded the facilities should be turned into a year 'round resort with golf, swimming and tennis. Keep in mind that way back then, we still had the Grand Hotel open with 400 rooms and a golf course. More than 20 years ago, voters across the state voted in favor of expanding Belleayre Mt. Ski Center. Those of us here - then and now - are still waiting.
Crossroads Ventures spent millions of dollars in engineering and environmental reviews trying to build a resort complex with a hotel and golf course on 1200 acres the state now wants to buy. By law, no acquisition can take place until there is a independent appraisal completed to determine the fair market value of the property. It is hardly a perk for the developers to have to give all of that up in order to have any chance of moving their project forward. However, in the Agreement in Principle, it was agreed to let the State buy that property and make it forever-wild so they could move forward with their project.
All other taxpayer dollars will be invested by the State in expanding and improving the infrastructure at Belleayre Mt. Ski Center. The improvements at the ski center will benefit everyone who uses the
facility - not just those staying at the Resort. The improvements and the resort will also benefit us because they will create desperately needed new jobs, currently estimated at over 500. This will provide substantial gains in real estate, sales, lodging, state and federal income taxes. No State dollars will be spent on private property as purported to the Governor by the Catskill Heritage Alliance. The improvements will further benefit us by making Belleayre Ski Center a more competitive and attractive destination. It will draw more skiers and support more local employment.
The Delaware County (IDA) Industrial Development Agency recently commissioned a study to determine the impact of New York City’s (LAP) Land Acquisition Plan in the next 10 year (FAD) Filter Avoidance Determination period on the local economy. The FAD requires New York City to spend an additional 300 Million dollars buying land in the watershed. The preliminary results of the study, released in recent town meetings, show that historically lands purchased by New York City have their tax values challenged and reduced by 50%. As stated by Middletown Town Supervisor Len Utter in the town meeting on Thursday night, there are 12,000 acres of developable land in the town of Middletown, of that amount 7,000 acres, or over 58%, are owned or controlled by New York City. When the city does implement its $300 million buyout over the next 10 years, Delaware County can expect a job loss of 617 manufacturing jobs and $20,707 in per person earnings in that sector. Without responsible industry and development, how are we to carry the growing tax tab?
Over 1500 local supporters of Partners for Progress believes the Agreement in Principle, supported by numerous environmental groups, is critical in meeting this and other future economic challenges.
To the assertion that now is not the time to invest in Belleayre, we say - if not now, when? Some of us have waited 45 years to see Belleayre become a year 'round resort. Others of us have waited more than 20 years to see the ski center expanded to its Constitutional limit. A few of us have waited for more than 10 years for the Belleayre Resort to be built, bringing nearly 500 new jobs and important tax revenues to the economy.
Mr.Schaedle’s conclusions are sad and self serving, because if you look at our true heritage, it is one that is filled by tourism and over 10,000 beds in Delaware County alone. If Mr.Schaedle wants to resurrect cauliflower farms and steam engines I cannot fault his nostalgia, but his mindset is detrimental to those people who worry about how they are going to pay to put fuel in their cars, heat their homes, and feed their families.
The expansion of the Ski Center and approval of the Resort Project are in the midst of a mandated review process. For the Catskill Heritage Alliance to call for that process to be halted and rehash a bunch of misstatements, half truths, and outright falsehoods is despicable as well as absurd.
Our county is in great trouble, our state, our community. If our country is to recover, we need economic development now more than ever. This is the time to support the expansion of Belleayre Mountain and the Belleayre Resort Project. We need the positive impacts previously outlined to support local working families.
Lewis E. Kolar, President & Chairman
Partners for Progress
Margaretville, NY

Dear Editor,
The suggestion that we refuse the money Albany has earmarked for the development of The Belleayre Ski Center and the Belleayre Resort is totally wacky. Many anti-development voices do so with very selfish personal agendas.
It sounds like the Catskill Heritage Alliance is trying to use the present economic climate to support their position that no progress takes place here. To suggest that Albany not give money to this area and instead help hospitals and schools, etc., is naïve not altruistic. Does the CHA think they can direct where the money will go if it is refused here?
Churches are closing! Classrooms are getting smaller and smaller which will lead to schools closing and families moving away, searching for closer schools! Stores and other businesses are closing (look at our Main Streets)! The Real Estate market is disappearing! Our friends and neighbors are moving away in search of jobs! The Hospital is struggling!
How many more clues do we need to understand we need an economic stimulus here? I can't think of anything we can do without the help of Albany, that comes near the $60 million that the state is prepared to infuse into this area to help us. If the money is refused, does the CHA really think that the money will be returned to us, the taxpayers?
While the CHA does not think the state should be involved in recreational facilities, the City of New York is negotiating to buy land at a cost of $250 million in Coney Island for development of recreational facilities in cooperation with private companies. A similar partnership has occurred in the Adirondacks. So why should we give up this chance?
If we turn down this economic package, what guarantee do we have that the money isn't going to more development in the Adirondack ski area? Or even into Coney Island recreation.
It is irresponsible and self-serving to even suggest refusing the money. Can those pointing their fingers come up with a better, realistic approach to help our community survive?
Judy Shiner
Big Indian, NY

Dear Editor,
Week after week I read and personally listen to the opinions of others on how bad the economy is and how we need more viable businesses in Shandaken and the surrounding area and I don't understand it. First of all, Why would I want large business operations in the quiet residential community where I live and play? Large businesses with good paying jobs belong in the citified areas like Kingston.
If you check on-line you'll find a 35 to 85 jobs depending on the web-site. If you ask some of the firms looking to hire they will tell you that it is hard to find qualified people.
People who live in the Long Island suburbs travel 1 to 2 1/2 hours to New York City if they want the high paying jobs. If they wanted to live in the city noise, traffic, etc., they would.
I don't feel sorry for that out of work person sitting home because he can't find a job were he can go home for lunch. Get Off Your Ass!
On Long Island I have been looking to hire a male or female with a clean criminal and driving record for several months with no success. The work is mostly early A.M., approximately 5 hour days with some night work. It pays $15.00 hr. to start (training) and will increase to $20.00 in approximately 1 year. A good running vehicle is necessary and I pay $.45 per mile. I also pay for your travel time and mileage to & from the job.
So, how many applicants do you think I have received? Zero!
Maybe the only people that are out of work are those that need $250,000. per year to live.. That's why I don't know anyone out of work.
If I am correct then our next president is in trouble. Who is he going to collect his taxes from?
Robert E. Steiner
Big Indian, NY

Dear Editor,
We may need to start referring to the highway department as the Gang That Couldn't Route Straight. If you enter Phoenicia via Bridge Street there is a sign as you approach Main St. that urges you to turn right to follow a detour. (See photos attached.) However, if you turn right on Main St., as the sign instructs, you get as far as the Catholic church before you're warned that that road is closed!
From the same town that gave us the Phoenicia Hotel Landfill comes our own version of the Detour to Nowhere!
Stevan Alburty
Chichester, NY

Dear Editor,
Some Americans don't trust our government to take care of the poor and needy, because too many tax dollars get siphoned off. The difference between those conservatives and this liberal is that although I don't completely trust the government, I will not allow myself to become
cynical, by over generalize about our democratic process. It's my opinion that our government, through our representatives in Congress and the White House, will be as efficient and effective as we the
voters expect them to be. In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville’s “Democracy in America” pointed out; “In a democracy, people get the government they deserve.”
Too much of our tax dollars got siphoned off from our troops serving in Iraq, because there were as many “contractors” in Iraq as regular members of our armed forces. Hundreds of billions of emergency
appropriations never went to support our troops, but instead went directly into the pockets of crony war profiteers, like Blackwater.
Charitable organization can't always take care of the poor and the needy, because these organization sometimes become overwhelmed. The most obvious example, was New Orleans after hurricane Katrina, when both charitable organizations and our government were overwhelmed.
Before the 1929 collapse, three Republican Presidents Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover had occupied the oval office when recession started. I suspect two consecutive terms of Bush and a third term of McCain could have again driven this nation into a catastrophic depression. During the Great Depression the unemployment rate reached
20% and those charitable organizations attempting to help the needy were completely overwhelmed.
My grandfather was hard working carpenter, who was too proud to ask for
help. He and my mother survived the end of the winter of 1932-33, by eating turnips and sugar sandwiches.
Jim O'Leary
Delhi, NY

Dear Editor,
The Department of Social Services is appealing to the community for donations in order to provide the needy children, families and senior citizens in our community with Christmas/holiday gifts, new toys, or new warm clothing (for children, adults and seniors). Gift certificates for teenagers would be greatly appreciated.
Families and/or children can be "adopted" and monetary donations are also appreciated. Please make checks payable to: "The Ulster County Children's Celebration Fund" and send them to the attention of Laura Walzer, Dept. of Social Services, 1091 Development Court, Kingston, NY 12401. For more information, please contact Laura Walzer at 334-5139; Rachel Hunter at 334-5352; or Kristy Granger at 334-5298.
At this hectic time of year, we are often so consumed with our own schedules and obligations, that we may overlook those people in our community who may not be as fortunate as we are. In the spirit of giving during this season, we would appreciate any assistance in making this holiday season a special one for all. Thank you.
Laura Walzer, Rachel Hunter
and Kristy Granger
Children and Adult Services, UCDSS
Kingston, NY

Dear Editor,
Congratulations are to be given to the Ulster County Legislature on their recent passing of the bill that will ban smoking on property owned or under the control of the county. It is well known that secondhand smoke is a known cause of lung cancer, heart disease, bronchitis, asthma, and low birth rate in children. After all, cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 known chemical compounds, many of which are toxic. According to Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, "Exposure to secondhand smoke has been estimated to result in at least 38,000 annual deaths in the United States and over one million illnesses in children."
Tobacco use and dependence is the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in New York. Each year approximately 25,500 New York State residents die from their tobacco use, with an estimated 510,000 adults suffering from serious smoking caused diseases. The annual health care cost in New York caused by smoking is $8.17 billion, costing each household in New York State $903 in state and federal taxes.
The Ulster County Legislature has taken a bold step that will move Ulster County residents to consider making a stop smoking attempt. I would like to remind everyone that the New York State Smokers' Quitline is an excellent resource that can help you develop a quit plan; provide you with helpful quit tips; and upon completion of a telephonic interview may provide you with a starter kit of nicotine replacement therapy. Most New York State residents qualify. The Quitline number is 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487). Last year the Quitline had 214,884 incoming calls. Or, you may visit their website at www.nysmokefree.com.
Theresa Miller, Director
Tri-County Cessation Center
Lake Katrine, NY

Dear Editor,
Ulster County has an URGENT problem. In the past there were witch hunts. Today it's a hippie hunt. In the past they burnt them. Now they bust them.
The Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT) is leading the hippie hunt. They are rounding up those peaceful rascally varmints with a paramilitary unit, locked and loaded with assault weapons, shotguns, handguns and all the best equipment money can buy. When they lock them all up, the doctors, lawyers, judges, and businessmen won't be able to get their legal ounce of pot. This is an emergency!
Politicians smoke too, you know? Stop the drug war or lock up the world.
Joe Barton, a.k.a. Joe Anderson
Hurley, NY

Dear Editor,
Our disgraceful Supreme Court just made a ruling that dooms countless whales and dolphins, among other marine animals, to insanity, suffering, and death. This notoriously partisan and uncompassionate court overturned a lower federal court that had halted some naval sonar experiments off the coast of Hawaii - an area that should be a sanctuary for whales and dolphins, but instead is a place of misery and death.
Whales and dolphins may be the most intelligent species on earth. Along with that intelligence comes compassion and empathy. There are many documented cases of whales and dolphins saving drowning swimmers - humans and dogs.
Cetaceans' intense sensitivity to sound waves has caused them terrible distress when ships use sonar. Sonar confuses and upsets them. Sometimes they follow the waves, thinking it is a distress call from another animal. Sometimes, the cacophony of sonar waves from ships just drive them mad, and they beach themselves to die. It is a great tragedy that these magnificent, sapient beings are being tortured by our sonar devices. And for what? In many cases, so we can play war games!
Shame on us for putting war and fears of war ahead of the suffering of these beautiful creatures. We are not likely to have a naval war any time soon. We should stop the testing, and give these precious animals a chance to live happy lives.
If we continue to destroy them we do not deserve to be well and happy ourselves.
I can only hope that President Obama will add to a caring agenda the protection of whales and dolphins from this torture. It is bad enough they get trapped in fishing nets and die terribly that way; it's bad enough we pollute them to death; it's bad enough we have over-fished the oceans so they starve - must we also drive them insane with sonar?
Sadly, even if the new administration takes action, it will be too late for many hundreds of whales, dolphins, and other marine life.
Eileen Fay
Saugerties, NY

Dear Editor,
The poorest country in the Western hemisphere and probably the world is a close neighbor of the wealthiest country, the USA. Three recent devastating hurricanes have wiped away what little in way of housing and possessions thousands of Haitians owned plus cutting them off from potable water and the wherewithal to exist.
For years Pierre Leroy of West Hurley, a native Haitian who had to flee Haiti under the Duvalier regime, has been working to help his people. He established the Haitian People's Support Project and we have enabled him with goods and funding to give direct help to Haitian people. The Living Word church of West Hurley and the Bruderhof Community of Tillson are providing continuous help to HPSP. The project has focused on helping communities and orphanages with buildings and physical structure and providing education, training, and developing productive jobs. Now that this devastation has occurred the organization is helping where help is desperately needed, to survive and get on its feet again. There is a desperate need for funds for rebuilding, obtaining the necessities of life at this moment so that the work can go forward. Our contributions will help HPSP to move forward toward a sustainable society. Pierre's personal project is re-forestation, much needed as the devastating mudslides on barren hillsides attests.
Other agencies are making requests for aid to Haiti. Among them are UNICEF, Plan International, Food for the Poor, etc. Contributions through them will give tremendous help. However, funding through Pierre Leroy will go directly for vital aid and will allow all who contribute to have the satisfaction of direct participation through the dedicated hands of a person many of us know and respect. We can make checks payable to "The Haitian Peoples Support Project" and mail to Pierre Leroy, 74 Broad Street, Hurley, NY, 12491.
Mescal Hornbeck
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
Since Barack Obama won the presidency, my son has been singing "The Star Spangled Banner" quite a lot. He keeps trying valiantly to master the octave-and-a-half melody. It's a tall order, but he soldiers on, loving the work. And I'm pretty sure I know where he got hooked on the national anthem: YouTube.
When we saw the cell phone movies of spontaneously assembled crowds in urban areas all over the country sharing their joy and singing "The Star Spangled Banner" I finally lost it. Perhaps because of our rural locale, the immensity of the election results had not yet hit me full force until I witnessed those grainy, distorted little missives from cyberspace. My son was riveted. Like me, he'd never seen anything like it.
"The Star Spangled Banner." Not "God Bless America", "My Country 'tis of Thee", or "America the Beautiful" - "The Star Spangled Banner." In Times Square, on St. Mark's Place, in front of the White House in Washington D.C., they threw their heads back and roared "The Star Spangled Banner."
Why that song? It's really hard to sing - probably the most difficult melody of any American patriotic song. By modern standards, the words are obtuse. "The Star Spangled Banner" is not about love of the physical attributes of our country, and it's not specifically about freedom or democracy. Rather, it's an ode to a flag that has stood through a battle.
A little history on which my son helped me: During the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key, District Attorney of Washington D.C., spent a long rainy night witnessing the fiery Battle of Baltimore as a captive on the H.M.S. Tonnant. At dawn, Key looked to the shore and saw a flag with fifteen stripes and fifteen stars waving in a smoky haze: Against the mighty onslaught of the Royal Navy, his fellow Americans had held their ground. Key, an amateur poet as well as a politician, took out a pencil and paper and made history.
It started as a poem, but Key's brother-in-law got the idea to put the words to the existing melody of a popular drinking song. Thus was born "The Star Spangled Banner." Within a century, Woodrow Wilson decreed that it would be played at national events, and eventually Herbert Hoover made it our official anthem.
So this odd, compelling mix of a jubilant poem borne in captivity married to a drinking song has persisted in our collective soul, and it welled up into mass consciousness on election night 2008. At first glance "The Star Spangled Banner" may seem an unlikely choice; in addition to the operatic tune, most folks do not know what the lyrics are describing, and interestingly, the song begins and ends with an unanswered question, making it feel more open-ended than most anthems.
But perhaps these inelegant qualities, the hard-to-parse text, the difficulty in navigating the melody, the lingering questions are part of the attraction; at their best, Americans are curious, drawn to challenges. To those who can grasp it, the inherent awkwardness of our political system is a point of pride. And like most drinking song melodies, "The Star Spangled Banner" sounds tailor-made for an exuberant crowd.
When people sang "The Star Spangled Banner" in the post-election euphoria, there may have been no flags to salute, but the overwhelming mood must have been similar to what Francis Scott Key felt that morning on Chesapeake Bay: against great odds and much fierce opposition, a battle was won, hope had survived, and even amid unanswered questions, work could begin anew on a different version of this organic experiment that is America. So whether or not they knew it consciously, those election night revelers picked the perfect song. And so has my son.
Robert Burke Warren
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
The first monthly Olivebridge neighborhood movie and "make your own wood- fired pizza" night held a few weeks ago was well attended and enjoyed by many and the December gathering will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6, 5pm, at the Odd Fellows Hall on Rt. 213 in Olivebridge. Park at the firehouse, bring a flashlight and dress warm. Pizza starts at 5pm and the film starts at 7pm with a discussion afterwards. Decembers movie, "Homegrown" (2008), is about a wanna-be farm family who chooses to live off the grid and farm their small urban plot in Pasadena, CA, due to the prohibitive cost of buying a farm elsewhere. The film puts a human face to the rapidly growing backyard farm movement that is taking hold in the US and around the globe. Novembers movie, "The Power of Community" (60min.) will be shown after the discussion if desired as many people had scheduling conflicts and missed the November gathering. The newly formed Olive re-localization group will meet afterwards to explore ways to enhance community resilience in light of the global economic breakdown.
Hope to see you there!
Charlie Blumstein
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
Congratulations Shandaken!
On electing Democratic Candidates to: Shandaken Town Board: Doris Bartlett; to Ulster County: Mike Hein, Eliot Auerbach; to NYS State Assembly: Kevin Cahill; to U.S. Congress: Maurice Hinchey; and our next president: Barak Obama!
Democrats locally and nationally have worked diligently to pay attention and respond to concerns with respect and inclusion. Now is the time to do one thing: learn about being a citizen. Then, participate in government, it's your right. It's our responsibility.
Get involved with the Democrats!
Do one thing locally. Get involved, volunteer for a town committee, or project.
Work on getting the people into office, who hear concerns and act with all, in mind. Spend time knowing your neighbors. Shandaken Town is large, census small.
Did you know we are 120 square miles, with only about 3,300 people living here?
Scratch those below 18, those that are here part-time (47%). You can see that everyone can do one thing, for Shandaken. Citizens are few, land mass great, responsiblity is all ours.
Want to know where to start?
Begin at the town hall, website -www.shandaken.us. See what Democrats are making possible for our Town of Shandaken! Then call us!
Michelle Spark
Shandaken Democrat Committee
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
My name is Tara O'Connor and I am a senior at Onteora High School and the President of SADD, Students Against Destructive Decisions. SADD's mission is to provide students with the best prevention and intervention tools possible to deal with the issues of underage drinking, other drug use, impaired driving and other destructive decisions. However, SADD promotes other causes such as our most recent "Support Our Troops" campaign. Causes such as this campaign helps other people while at the same time keeps our youth busy and engaged with our community.
Recently my uncle was sent to Iraq to fight in the war and learned that our troops in outpost locations live in horrible conditions and are in need of basic daily supplies such as toilet paper, wipes, toothpaste, and soap. we have been collecting supplies and donations to send to the troops for the holiday and will be shipping them off next week. We received such a positive response that we would like to keep this campaign going throughout the year and send monthly supplies to our men and women fighting in the war. We could use your help in this campaign by publishing this in the Olive Press and Phoenicia Times.
Tara O'Connor
Onteora SADD President