3/25/2010

Dear Editor,
I'm SCARED
I don't know about you, but I'm scared of the tea party. No kidding. My fear began when they started shouting at our representatives in their Town Hall meetings, but increased when they started toting guns to their meetings. Last night, I watched Rachel Maddow and learned more about the Tea Party and wanted to share it with you.
Although I knew that Dick Armey was connected to the Party, and I knew that they had adequate funding, I didn't know that his lobbying company, called FreedomWorks, was behind the whole thing. Their client? Bristol Meyers, Clients in the Insurance Industry, clients in the Oil Industry and the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emeritz, the country with the 7th largest oil reserves in the world. Dick Army doesn't try to cover this up since his FreedomWorks has details and instructions to their members on their website.
These instructions are on how to intimidate Public Representatives in town hall meetings. He also puts out news releases on the ever popular ABC News, which seems to advocate the Tea Party.
As it turns out, we don't have any "truth in reporting" laws, so how do we fight a wealthy group of people that know how to rile up and mobilize poor, uneducated and uninformed people? We are in big trouble so I'm writing this to go on record that: "I told you so."
We need to organize, and inform the people of the Tea Party Lies. If we don't, the newspapers and TV stations won't, and what will we be able to do when they convince their members that we, (those that do not belong to their group) are the enemy.
I'll close with some good news. Obama seems to be waking up and after watching his Monday night health care speech, I'm a bit hopeful that he maybe able to pull it off. Now, let us remember John Lennon and imagine better days.
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY
Dear Editor,
A number of Olive residents have questioned my claim that limousine liberals favor the wealthy, i.e., themselves. The financial elite has often been called the military industrial complex (MIC) but is more accurately a nexus of real estate, Wall Street and commercial banking with the MIC and so I will refer to it as the banking elite.
Gabriel Kolko in his Triumph of Conservatism shows that the establishment of the Federal Reserve Bank was part of a larger movement, Progressivism, that reflected the banking elite's interests. This followed three decades of cumulative politicization of the economy by the Mugwumps and Populists of the 1880s and 1890s. One fruit of these movements, the 1890 Sherman Anti-trust Act, supported increasing concentration of industry. Martin J. Sklar provides detailed documentation in his Corporate Reconstruction of American Capitalism 1890-1916. The establishment of the Federal Reserve Act in 1913 further enhanced the banking elite's domination, which was accelerated in 1932 when Franklin D. Roosevelt abolished the gold standard and confiscated all privately held gold.
The way that the Federal Reserve Bank helps the banking elite at the expense of the average American is that it increases the number of dollars in circulation, distributing them to the banking system. The banking system takes the reserves that the Fed gives it and expands the reserves further through fractional reserve banking. Briefly, when the fractional reserve banking system receives a Federal Reserve deposit (created out of thin air) of one dollar, it can expand the number of dollars by ten. Thus, the Federal Reserve Bank, which the banking system legally owns, can create deposits (reserves) out of thin air and then the banks can lend up to ten times the reserves also out of thin air. In other words, the Fed and the banking system cheapen the dollars that you own.
Economists, who are on the banking elite's payroll through consultancies, endowed chairs, and appointments to the Federal Reserve Bank staff, serve as an important propaganda source. They claim that the reserves are distributed evenly throughout the economy. Of course, this claim is absurd. Limousine liberals like William Greider (author of Secrets of the Temple) claim: (a) the Federal Reserve Bank helps the middle class but (b) the Federal Reserve Bank gives hundreds of billions of dollars to the Bunker Hunt, Wall Street speculators and recipients of foreign investment. Limousine liberals never question how it might be possible to give hundreds of billions to Wall Street banks and at the same time help the average American.
Thus, at the foundation of big government is big subsidy to the banking elite. But that's the least of big government's subsidy to limousine liberals. A bigger way is the Fed's bloating of the stock market. The way the Fed's monetary expansion bloats the stock market is by reducing interest rates. Low interest rates mean higher stock prices. The present value of future dividend payments are higher at a lower interest rate. Since stocks are present value indicators of a firm's future profits, lower interest rates reduce the discount factor and raise stock prices.
The income inequality about which limousine liberals shed crocodile tears is due to the system which they put in place: by keeping interest rates low, stock prices are buoyed and wealthy limousine liberals like George Soros and Warren Buffett become richer. The way that interest rates are kept low is by the Fed's and the banking system's increasing the amount of money. The increasing amount of money leads to higher prices (inflation). Higher prices mean the average American becomes poorer. Thus, the inflation adjusted wages of workers are reduced while stock prices are increased and the wealthy become wealtier. No source has advocated this system more aggressively or for longer than the New York Times.
The period of the Fed's greatest power began in 1971 and continues today. During this 39 year history, American workers' wages began to stagnate in the early to mid 1970s. They continue to stagnate today. American workers today earn per hour what they earned in 1971. Prior to 1971, real hourly wages increased 2% per year. The post 1971 period saw massive increases in stock prices and increasing income inequality. All of this is due to the policies of limousine liberals, beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt, who abolished the gold standard and Richard M. Nixon, who declared "We are all Keynesians now."
Sincerely,
Mitchell Langbert
West Shokan, NY
Dear Editor,
Our founding fathers recognized, that they couldn't predict the future. Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to James Madison: "No society can make a perpetual constitution, or even a perpetual law. The earth always belongs to the living generation.... Every constitution, then, and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19 years. If it goes longer, it is and act of force and not of right." They wanted the Constitution to be a living document for future generations to make better. Consequently, our founding fathers included Article I, Section 8 of our Constitution, that provides and extensive list of the powers of Congress. The list concludes with: "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof." The Declaration of Independence was written primarily by Thomas Jefferson. "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Some Americans consider Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment Insurance and Universal Healthcare the creation of a cradle-to-grave dependency class, but many of us view these programs as the fulfillment of a promise made by our founding fathers. Although, versions of: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you," are shared by 21 world religions, many Americans don't subscribe to this Golden Rule. Lifewise, many members of Congress disregard this ethical code that states one has a right to just treatment, and a responsibility to ensure justice for others. It's also called the ethic of reciprocity and is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights.
Over 44,000 fellow Americans die every year, because they don't have healthcare insurance. Will your representative in Congress vote against healthcare reform. Who will apologize to the families of those 44,000 Americans for voting against healthcare legislation.
Jim O'Leary
Delhi, NY
Dear Editor,
I stood before the seated board in the Onteora Central School District the other night at their regular meeting. A board who for the past two years has put aside the needs of the students and tax payers and has concentrated on personal agendas and hysteria. A board who has a pseudo superior philosophy about education that applies to private schools and their budgets, not a public school district that is struggling the give the best education possible to all of its students.
This board has negated an exemplary strategic plan, has bypassed years of research by a qualified committee concerning the middle school configuration and who haunts our administrators and teaching staff by disallowing their educated strategies and expertise.
We now stand at a critical turning point in our district history. A few years ago this board put aside a long range fiscal and educational plan which steered our district towards fiscal stability and educational excellence in the name of protecting one community's wants (not needs).
As a result of indecision and band-aid approaches, this board has allowed our taxes to continually increase without a responsible plan for stabilization. We are now faced with crippling decisions that will affect this district for years to come and the only thing this board can do is to micro-manage and try to eliminate our very qualified administrative staff in the name of saving our district money. This board has blocked our administrators at every turn concerning decisions about the future education of our students.
In order to keep our tax increase below 4%, this board must cut $1.5 million dollars out of our budget. How are they directing these cuts? Let's start by their directing the elimination of our Pupil Personnel Services Director and piling that over extended position on to the shoulders of our Assistant Superintendent in charge of curriculum. Never mind that there are more future mandates coming down from the government concerning special education rulings. Then add to that the elimination of competitive sports. And top it off with directives for very specific cuts that they know absolutely nothing about but want to see what these cuts look like on paper so they can make more irresponsible moves.
Now, just suppose this budget they are trying to created gets voted down at the polls. That will mean they will have to cut another 1.5 million dollars. We, now, have only 1,639 students in our school district and we are housing them in five facilities. As much as anyone would hate to do it, the only logical decisions are to consolidate our district.
In my own quest to understand the different positions and in talking with many educators and financial experts, these are the results that I believe would help our district. We must face the fact that the entire world population is facing a birthing decline, not just the Onteora district. Advertising how wonderful we are will not get us enough students to ward off the inevitable consolidation. 1,639 students do not require five buildings. And if the sixth graders are placed into the middle school configuration (as this board is contemplating investigating even though the whole concept was outlined for them five years ago), then that will leave an extremely low population in our three elementary schools.
So...what if we closed Phoenicia and sold it to the town of Phoenicia for $1. They could use it for town offices, senior center, town library, community center...the possibilities are mind boggling. Then, instead of selling or leasing West Hurley, put the Woodstock School up for sale and relocate the students to a real campus with expansion possibilities in West Hurley. Just think...nine acres directly across the street from a golf course and walking distance to the infamous "Woodstock." What hotel chain wouldn't eat that one up?
It's time this board stopped discussing and started acting. It's time this board listened to the expert directive from our highly qualified administrators and educators, all of whom we pay dearly. It's time this board did what it is supposed to do - make and execute policy and leave the day to day decisions to the people we employ, thus ensuring a success educational process and a fiscally stable district.
Oh, by the way, all of you people in all the school districts who are constantly complaining about the rise in school taxes? Stop complaining and get out to the board meeting and tell our boards what you want them to do. After all, you elected them!
Rita Vanacore
Shokan, NY
Dear Editor,
A writer has suggested that the Onteora School Board "put the Woodstock School up for sale and relocate the students to a real campus with expansion possibilities in West Hurley. Just think...nine acres directly across the street from a golf course and walking distance to the infamous 'Woodstock.' What hotel chain wouldn't eat that one up?"
A hotel? I'm not conversant with the hospitality industry, but I do know that our local innkeepers, like our restaurateurs and other seasonally dependent entrepreneurs, have a very difficult time attracting customers in the off season, which can be six months or more of the year. My guess is that were the hospitality industry to have identified "the infamous Woodstock" as a viable location, we would have had one by now. Woodstock does not need another large property sitting empty.
It is true that West Hurley's mothballed 37-acre campus has great potential, but the dwindling student population made it untenable to keep it operational. It is true as well that districtwide enrollment has dropped precipitously over the past decade or so, but the population of Woodstock Elementary is on an upswing. Moreover, it is true that consolidation appears to be the trend of our age, but this is not a magic bullet. One problem may lie with the configuration of the Onteora School District, the state's second largest in terms of geography, encompassing Olive, Shandaken, West Hurley and Glenford, much of Woodstock, and portions of Marbletown and Hunter. A first step could be for the Commissioner of Education, in concert with BOCES, to fund a study of Woodstock's three school districts - Onteora, Saugerties, and Kingston Consolidated - to examine a redistricting plan and evaluate the possible benefits to the students and the community.
Once a Town loses its elementary school, it does not get it back. In my capacity as Town Supervisor as well as a private citizen of Woodstock, I feel strongly that our community derives great cultural, economic, and emotional benefits from the presence of the Woodstock Elementary School, and I believe that keeping this school open should be a priority for our elected school board (to whom, whatever our differences may be, I extend my deep gratitude for their valiant service - past, present, and future - in a very difficult and generally thankless job).
Jeff Moran, Supervisor
Woodstock, NY
Dear Editor,
Well, here we are again. Dr. Ford said she was pleased to present pianist Justin Kolb to an enthusiastic audience last Thursday evening, a program where the wonderful music faculty was praised from the stage and the importance of the school music program emphasized. But now, as last year, we face the prospect of the dissolution of the elementary strings program at Onteora. Talk of it simply being a matter of "more group lessons, less private ones" is inaccurate and misleading. The most recently hired music teacher, Melissa Glover, will probably not be able to stay on in a part-time position. Without her, there is a cascading effect of inefficient travel and instruction. I could quote from my previous letter last year when we were faced with a similar situation. The enormous benefits of this music curriculum in our schools cannot be over-emphasized. It is programs like these that will attract new families and families who may have gone elsewhere for their children's education. For most families, the school music program is the only chance their children will have to learn to play an instrument, and that allows students from all ethnic and economic groups to learn a common language and be part of a musical community. Who knows what talent and self-expression and self confidence might develop from that opportunity? Most important to remember is that once such a program is allowed to expire, it will be almost impossible to resuscitate; these things only go one way...
The very real correlations between music education and the growth of the brain, music education and mathematical ability, music education and graduation rates, may lead to the danger of underestimating the value of music education for its own sake. If you value it, stand up for it. Do your cost/benefit analysis if you must; I don't think you'll find that saving the half-time cost of one teacher will make up for the very real and irreplaceable loss that the Onteora district will experience if they make this disastrous cut.
Lauren Silver
Phoenicia, NY
Dear Editor,
On behalf of Onteora Central School District and the HS Music Department, I would like to thank Justin Kolb, pianist, for gracing our Auditorium with his talent. Justin Kolbs' expertise was matched by his program selection, knowledge, insightful comments, and humor. We truly appreciate his support for our fine music program.
Leslie Ford, Superintendent
Onteora School District
Dear Editor,
I just left this week's 3/16/10 Board of Education meeting, still in progress at our beautiful Phoenicia Elementary School, and wanted to take a minute to reassure students, parents and Onteora district taxpayers that yes, the Board heard your impassioned pleas tonight. They heard your requests, your suggestions and your fervor and they were clearly moved.
At the point I left the meeting to come home after a long, long day, the Administration and the Administrative Cabinet were presenting the three different proposed budget scenarios to the Board. With many of the line items, I was so pleased to hear Board Trustees remark, "This needs to be looked at again" or "We can't support a cut like that." Hot button items like the music program, the talented and gifted program, athletics - the Board Trustees were asking all the right questions for our students and our families and therefore, for all of us in our community.
During such a difficult time for public education and for schools nationwide, I'm delighted that we have such a caring, well-rounded, opinionated Board that's not ready nor willing to take the easy way out; a Board that's looking at all the angles with educated, caring insight; a Board that stands by its good decision to abandon an unpopular strategic plan from the recent years past.
Unless we as a community vote to approve a tax increase above and beyond what's on the table right now, cuts will come and they certainly will hurt. But I am confident that our Board of Education Trustees are making solid decisions, so now, before I collapse in bed, I want to say, thank you!
Abbe Aronson
Mount Tremper, NY
Dear Editor,
If NYC builds you a sewage treatment plant for free and you take ownership of something you might not be able to afford the maintenance,you need to find out what the cost of upkeep are going to be in the future.it would be more cost effective to let NYC build the plants and let NYC keep the ownership. If the plants get built, they should allow for growth of the town.
Bob Burke
Phoenicia, NY
Dear Editor,
In a recent article about the economic situation and the lay offs these past months, ythe former Sweet Sue's waitress Lea was highlighted in particular. I don't know her personally, but reading all these letters and any mention of her name to the locals, it always became a passionate discussion. First I thought, boy these people have nothing better to do. Then hearing what they all had to say about this person made me curious. I have been in human resources for over 20 years, and feel I have good judgment of people, so on my way home from skiing thought I would pop in to Sunfrost. Well, good fortune would have it, there she was. With an obvious fan base of customers buzzing around the cafe counter, as I walked in her welcoming smile greeted me and at once I felt at home. She had a magic touch of making each person feel she was there just for them, making recommendations of food, what to do for this and that ailment, even telling one customer to make sure they add acidophilus to their dogs diet. Her appearance was conservative and feminine with a beautiful embroidered skirt her hair neatly pulled away from her face and just enough sass in her voice to keep the crowd entertained. It would seem that Sweet Sue's couldn't afford to lose Lea's talent. Maybe I should open my own restaurant and get Lea running it. She would ensure success.
Christina Moltaine
Brooklyn, NY
Dear Editor,
For the past ten years, Nicole Quinn and I have offered a playwriting workshop to Rondout Valley High School Drama Club students as BOCES guest artists. Students write, direct and act in short plays on any subject they choose. We've always taken the position that it's a PG-13 event. (PG-13 movies are routinely screened in the classroom, so this seems appropriate.)
New superintendent Rosario Agostaro and principal Andrew Davenport have announced that all entertainment presented at the school should be family-appropriate, with no adult language or themes. They've cited a line in the School's Code of Conduct referring to "conduct, dress and language deemed unacceptable and inappropriate on school property" to bolster their argument. This would effectively ban a number of our students' short plays, which deal with drug use, homophobia, teen sexuality, drinking and other topics on our students' minds. It would also have prevented the Drama Club from producing plays by Sam Shepard, Harold Pinter, and possibly even Aristophanes' Lysistrata, as it has in past years. Student film programs, Wake-Up Week presentations, WISE senior projects and other public events could be subject to similar censorship for language and content.
The Code of Conduct - clearly intended to cover interpersonal behavior, not artistic expression - is also alarmingly vague. While some may deem minimal usage of four-letter words "unacceptable and inappropriate," many of us would deem censorship of students' work "unacceptable and inappropriate." Who gets to do the deeming?
In September 2001, Nicole and I wrote a play entitled War At Home: Students Respond to 9/11 with 40 Drama Club members. It was subsequently published by Playscripts and has received over 70 productions worldwide, raising more than $6000 for charities chosen by our student authors. The script includes several dramatically effective expletives. The only schools to request permission to delete this language have been a couple of private Christian academies. Under these new guidelines, this play - created at Rondout High School a decade ago - could not be performed there today.
At a Board of Education meeting on March 9, 2010, Drama Club advisor Joseph Reeder and over a dozen students and community members spoke out in support of the playwrights workshop and freedom of expression. Many more have sent letters. If this issue concerns you, please contact the Rondout Valley Board of Education, Superintendent, and Principal via the school's website, http://www.rondout.k12.ny.us/home/.
Nina Shengold, BOCES guest artist, RVHS Drama Club
Stone Ridge, NY
Dear Editor,
Ever wonder why New York State ranks midway nationally in state taxes, while its counties rank among the highest? The reason is unfunded or partially funded mandates. The political philosophy of Albany is pass the bill and then pass the buck.
Congress is just as bad; Florida fouls up their election and in response congress passes the Help America Vote Act which will significantly raise local property taxes. It is geared to replace our inexpensive and highly secure voting machines with very costly and questionable ones. Thanks congress, just what we need in New York, additional property taxes.
Same thing on the county level. One of the most aggravating things about
attending legislative meetings is to witness the attitude of some of our legislators toward spending state and federal money. The attitude being, grab whatever you can and spend it.
NY State continues to spend significantly more than it takes in. Sooner or later the state legislature will have to do something about it. And since most of them are in the pocket of special interest groups they will probably pass along the costs to the counties.
For Ulster County, this means taxes will have to go up or spending will have to come down. Bad news, for all involved, as this time around the average property owner is as cash poor as the government (look at the number of properties that are in tax delinquency).
It is obvious to anyone that doesn't work for the county that these financial times calls for government to start shutting down the departments, programs, and
services that are either too costly or ineffective.
Last year Hein was able to consolidate some departments and eliminate others which held down our property taxes for this year. Two weeks ago he froze spending as revenues continue to fall. Needless to say the budgetary forecast
for next year looks grim.
Hopefully legislative help is on the way. Its been a long time, decades perhaps, since the Ulster County Legislature significantly reduced spending. Perhaps this year will be different as Chairman Wadnola and a number of first and second term legislators seem determined to hold the line on taxes.
As a discontented taxpayer, I wish them well.
Thomas P Kadgen
Shokan, NY
Dear Editor,
It seems so strange that so many people with answering machines don't use a message that tells the caller that the person and number are the ones that the caller wishes to contact. Really careful business-like people do. It is troublesome to get an answer that gives neither. So you wonder before you leave a message if it was the right person, if you dialed correctly and should I leave the message not knowing these things. For a good many calls it may not matter. For others it may be very important that the right person get the message. Can't people realize that it is important? I usually remark when giving my message that the message on the answering machine did not tell me if I had the right number. I have spoken directly to others about it and had some change their message. Being careful about things like this makes the social machinery run better.
Mescal Hornbeck
Woodstock, NY
Dear Editor,
I have just received a letter from Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum soliciting memberships for the NY State Sheriffs Association Institute Inc. Van Blarcum prominently identifies himself as Ulster County's sheriff.
I have no idea if that is a good organization or not. Personally, I'm not interested. But I am very disturbed that one of our high profile public officials [especially one in the law enforcement arm] so overtly uses the power and [hopefully] prestige of his office to solicit funds from the public. He starts the letter with a statement that "... it is my responsibility to uphold the laws of New York...". While I could not agree more with that statement, it seems to me that there should be a law that it is vital to keep our law enforcement officials above and entirely separate from this kind of money grubbing for such a self promoting private organization.
I wonder if our Attorney General has thought to look into conflict of interest and other ethical issues in this situation?
Jac Conaway
Olivebridge, NY
Dear Editor,
The Ulster County State of the County given by County Executive Michael Hein was a good summary of the year 2009. His reference to defending the Charter form of government is somewhat Don Quixote and windmill in nature. No one is trying to change the Charter government hence there is no need for paranoia.
His efforts to create shared services is a great start but there is enormous mistrust on the Town level for this program and some see it as a cost shift from the County to the Towns. His suggestion that Towns pay extra for Sheriff's services is ill advised. He cuts the County budget but passes the expense to the Town. Sounds like zero sum mathematics to me. The devil is in the details and the details have not been clearly defined to date.
Mr. Hein needs to lead by example. Hopefully in the 2010 round of downsizing measures he will cut his own budget. The Press Secretary line would be a good place to start. I would suggest he consider adopting Edwards Deming's Total Quality Management model and retire his autocratic style. Ulster County has an enormously talented body of employees. If Mr. Hein were to engage Ulster County employees with the respect they deserve he could realize economies and efficiencies and maintain morale and spirit de corp. Total Quality Management of course means positive and open communication both laterally and vertically. Mr. Hein currently communicates with the Legislature and other County Leaders via press releases in the Daily Freeman. This is both rude and unproductive. He is not Mr. Cellophane just yet.
The county needs to develop strategic plans and this effort will need the commitment of all the talent available inside and outside of Ulster County. The County Executive and the Legislature must work together to accomplish this. Mr. Hein's weekly crisis Du jour is not a helpful approach. Mr. Hein "Tear Down this Wall".
All Counties and Towns in New York State need to unite and proclaim to both State and Federal government that unfunded mandates are unsustainable. The ability to pay has been surpassed and "Home Rule" is eradicated. The United States needs to secure its borders and enforce existing immigration laws. Once done the economy will improve.
True progress in 2010 will require true cooperation. There is much room for improvement in this area.
Jack Hayes
Ulster County Legislature
Gardiner, NY
Dear Editor,
I feel I must respond to a recent letter to the editor by County Legislator Hayes that contained inaccurate information. Unfortunately, Legislator Hayes failed to research the facts and did a disservice to the public by providing misinformation regarding government communication.
I have urged all government officials to set aside partisan politics as we strive to protect the taxpayers of Ulster County during these challenging times and reform a long broken government. My administration is committed to open communication. To that end, I have initiated regular meetings with the leadership of both parties, meet with individual legislators on a daily basis, and provide full access to department heads and other management staff at legislative committee meetings. It has long been my position that all levels of government must work together to better serve taxpayers, so County government now works closely with the town supervisors at their regularly scheduled monthly meetings to better coordinate overall operations and share information.
In addition, as we strive to best serve the people of Ulster County and provide the greatest degree of transparency, the county website - www.ulstercountyny.gov - has been completely overhauled. This site now provides another option for citizens to access an enormous amount of useful information. I encourage anyone seeking additional information to please contact my office at 340-3800. My door is always open.
I am not a career politician. I am an individual passionate about serving our community and making a difference during the most difficult financial conditions since the Great Depression. Part of being Ulster County's first County Executive includes making the tough choices needed to best prepare our area for the future. The same tough choices American families are making every day. I am honored to serve as County Executive and look forward to working with all Legislators to protect taxpayers and make the much-needed changes to insure a brighter future.
Michael P. Hein, County Executive
Kingston, NY
Dear Editor,
I want to express my appreciation for County Executive Hein's leadership and Family of Woodstock Executive Director Michael Berg's persistence in bringing stakeholders together to save the Evolve program. As a counselor in the program who has worked with batterers for over 20 years, I am pleased to see that the community was able to rally and make this program a priority. We understand the importance of our work in the community and it's nice to know others do as well. We have probably prevented thousands of domestic violence incidents over the life of the program making Ulster County and safer place for all.
Jay Sadowitz
Woodstock, NY
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank The Bistro, New World Home Cooking, Le Canard Enchaine, and Fleisher's Meats for their continued support of my 5th annual free Valentines Day Relationship Skills Workshop. These businesses have contributed gift certificates for the raffle I hold every year at the end of the workshop. I also want to thank Woodstock Times, the Chronogram, the Poughkeepsie Journal, the Times Herald Record, the Saugerties Post Star, and the Daily Freeman for coverage of this free community service.
The workshop is based upon the Imago Relationship approach developed over 20 years ago and popularized in the book, Getting the Love You Want by Harville Hendrix. At its core is a specific dialogue process that teaches a successful communication skillset with broad appeal, applicable for parenting, individuals, couples, and groups, in addition to dispute resolution and business applications.
Clayton Horsey
Woodstock, NY
Dear Editor,
One of the great tragedies of the current economic conditions is its disastrous effect on household pets. When a provider can't put enough food on the table for the family, how do they feed the dog or cat?
Of the 150-plus families and individuals who rely on the Woodstock Food Pantry, many must care for much-loved pets, in most cases a dog. Often they feel compelled to give up their animals to the ASPCA for adoption, but the loss of a longtime four-legged friend can have a severe psychological impact on the individual or family. Though they may be doing their best, many cannot prevent the deterioration of the health of their pets because they are forced to reduce the amount and quality of the food they provide.
If you care about animals or care about those who are faced with the gut-wrenching decision of giving up their pets or cutting back on their quality of nourishment, you can make a big difference with a dog or cat food donation to the Food Pantry. Pet food is relatively cheap, so a small investment goes a very long way! If you prefer, you can of course make a cash donation to the Good Neighbor Food Pantry, c/o Woodstock Reformed Church, 16 Tinker St. Woodstock 12498. Write the words "pet food" on the check or envelope.
Let's get together and help provide for these faithful companions who bring so much comfort to those who need it most.
David Corbett
Woodstock, NY
Dear Editor,
My friends mom passed after a trying time of older age taking over her body. She was elderly and had been missing her husband for 7 years. Time got the better of her and her bones were getting weak. She fell several times and needed brain surgery, a new hip, and other challenges. Her family expected her to go on forever, but , alas, the body knows better. Hospice became her living room so the family could be with her in her final moments.
Her girls all clustered around her, daughters and granddaughters. They could not stop trying to make her final moments comfortable and loving. She was never without a loving hand to hold, a beautiful smile to admire and the healing energy of unconditional love. Jen brought familiar items to her bedside to comfort her. Mom responded with smiles and twinkling eyes at each item.
One night, it was getting close to the end. Jen found her father's watch. She hadn't seen it for 7 years, since his passing to the other side. She placed the watch on Mom's chest. As soon as the watch touched her frail body, it began to tick. The girls were shocked and amazed! If Jen alone had seen this, she may not have believed it had happened. But, her entire family witnessed the event.
The watch had stopped at her father's time of death, 10:25PM, and now it was ticking away. By morning the watch said, 10:10AM. Jen's sister wanted to send her out for an errand. Jen refused to go. She wanted to wait until at least 10:45AM just in case something was going to happen.
The family gathered around Mom, held her hands, kissed her and embraced her. The watch stopped at 10:25AM and Mom had passed.
They could feel the energy shift in the room. They knew their father and mother were together once more. The watch ticked no more.
Lorry Salluzzi
Lanesville, NY
Dear Editor,
My deepest heartfelt thanks go out to everyone involved in the recent Hope For Haiti benefit at the Bearsville Theater. You raised $5200 for the Haitian People's Support Project and the result will be a bus full of food, medicine, disinfectant, clothing, tents, etc. going to Haiti from the Dominican Republic next week!
Special thanks go out to the Musicians: DJ Empress Selektor, Shirline Clark, Lisa Love, Dr. Know, Ingrid Sertso, Karl Berger, Tom Schmidt, Peter Buettner, Happy Traum, Jack DeJohnette, David Sancious, Don Byron, Jerry Marotta, Jimmy Eppard, Charlie Kniceley, Marc Black, Mike Esposito, Bill Ylitalo, Warren Bernhardt, Eric Parker, Little Earl Lundy, Ross Rice, Colin Almquist, Dan Cartright, and Eric Cartright.
Additional thanks also to Imperial Guitar and Soundworks for providing the backline music equipment, to Lucy Swenson of The Turning Mill for designing the poster, to Karen Falch of Print Express for printing and distribution, to stage hands James Orr, Matt Kehoe and Jah Jean; to production assistant Kevin Chase, to Bearsville's very professional staff: Robert Frazza, Peter Cantine, Grace and Walter and the rest; to Ani Weiss for the painting, and to Bob Margolis and Brian Hollander for great coverage in Woodstock Times, to the people that showed their love and support to Haiti in their time of need.
Most of all to Pierre and Terry Leroy from HPSP for their tireless efforts and good work they've done all these years!
Ted Orr
Woodstock, NY
Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter in desperation, in hopes that you can help save the identity of the hamlet of Big Indian in the town of Shandaken. My name is Jeffrey P. Laskow and I am the owner/landlord of the Big Indian/Oliverea Post Office located on State Route 28. A 21-year lease is expiring June 30, 2010. With exhausting attempts to renegotiate with the USPS for the same amount of rent, I find myself reaching out to you for help. It's become clear that the USPS is unwilling to negotiate any further and will try and close the facility by suspending service and/or stating eviction by the landlord, which is clearly not the case. A special docket number has been created by the Postal Regulatory Commission concerning these so-called evictions (Docket PI 2010-1) which has been happening all across America. The Closing/Consolidation of Post Offices Committee is currently involved and trying to rally support around the country to urge the USPS from closing small Level 11 facilities.
FYI, the total cost of operating ALL the rural post offices (Level 11) in the entire U.S. is one 1 percent of the total operating costs of the USPS (as per AUSPL) Also a special appraisal was ordered by the USPS which depicted a 50% decline in fair market property values in our area in the past three years. I guess they never reviewed our taxes.
Losing such an important component of our rural community will have everlasting effects and create such hardships on the local economy that would never really fully recover. Small Level 11 facilities act as the glue that binds rural communities together. Our local post offices create a lifeline for residents during bad weather and times of local disaster; thus they serve a critical social and cultural public policy function that far surpasses any function they play as a retail or delivery point in the postal system. Why should small rural America pay for years of mismanagement by the USPS? As a USPS landlord for the past 21 years and a resident for 25, I become very sympathetic for needs and wants of the facility and the local community, examples; supplying propane gas for heat and lighting for the USPS during times of emergencies, opening my property for local events such as Shandaken Day, Big Indian Car Show and Native American Festivals. Without your help and the support of local government the facility will close within the blink of an eye, and be lost forever! And which one would be next?
Jeffrey P. Laskow
Big Indian, NY
Dear Editor,
Nowhere is it clearer than the "case for medical marijuana," that New York Senators need to put patient's needs ahead of politics. This legislation has failed since 1998 to become a law - a law to stop arresting sick and dying patients from arrest, prison, and criminal records. Now that the New York Assembly is on-board, it's time to convince the remaining doubtful Senators that the people of New York need this law. Citizens, patients and Health Care Professionals, it's time to stand up and let Senator John Bonacic know we demand protection for people with cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, arthritis and other serious ailments. New Jersey just added this safe and natural medicine to its doctors' bags; it's time New York joined 14 other compassionate states and did the same. Please go to www.nypatientsfirst.org to become a part of the solution! This should be the year we start protecting patients, but your voices are needed.
Jennifer Rog
Kingston, NY
Dear Editor,
On Wednesday, March 3, I received the best massage of my life at the holistic community health clinic, held four times a year at the Phoenicia Healing Arts Center on Main Street. Shiatsu practitioner Angel Ortloff is a genius, and the clinic is a real gift to the community. Acupuncturist Julia Rose, in her gentle but firm fashion, is working steadily on the vision she described to me in an interview three years ago, her desire to create a "community wellness center". This clinic, based on a similar endeavor operating in Woodstock, is the first step in that direction.
The clinic is free, with donations welcomed, and it is truly a community experience. Several of the practitioners, offering such options as reiki, homeopathy, massage therapy, flower essence counseling, and more, are people I have known and respected for years. I ran into four of my friends who showed up for appointments, and there was a lively chat in the waiting room after my session. I also met people I didn't know before, expanding my circle of acquaintances.
So if you don't have much money and want a treatment that will enhance your health in a holistic fashion, contact the Phoenicia Healing Arts Center and get on their email list for the next clinic, about three months from now. If, by some divine grace, you do have money, call for a referral. We have talented healers in this area who are not big-shot practitioners in it to get rich, but dedicated people trying to make a living. They charge less than city prices, and they are worth your patronage.
Violet Snow
Phoenicia and Teaneck, NJ
Dear Editor,
Why would this paper publish from "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, ( 1844-19000? This is not a philosophical or literary paper. It is a small town newspaper. Why would one read it? It is not easy reading. The chapter is about "The Rabble" and the phrase "herd mentality" is added. The Oxford dictionary defines herd as a large number of people, a rabble is a disparagement, a put down.
I ask myself why am I reading Stendhal, ( Henri Marie Beyle, 1783-1842), French author? After I had it for decades I read his novel , "The Red and the Black." It had a profound effect on me. I then started to read my copy of his selected letters. In a letter to his sister he also used the word rabble. Keep in mind these two men are influencing thinking and writing 100/150 years after their deaths.
Nietzsche confessed that the discovery of Stendhal was amongst the most fortunate chances in his life. The theory of the superman, (Zarathustra) , owed much to Stendhal. Taine, ( 1828-93) French philosopher and critic, read "The Red and the Black" about eighty times. For him, the author was the supreme author of the century.
Stendhal wrote to his sister who lived in Grenoble; "...you will see how all beings are isolated by egoism. In Paris that huge city, even after ten years of careful search, you will scarcely succeed in assembling a circle of thirty intelligent and sensitive people."
Nietzsche referred to the "scribbling rabble", "the power rabble", and "the pleasure rabble."
Stendhal writes "I thirst for a conversation which is something other than a ceremony."
Maybe, next, I will get into my portable Nietzsche. Can you believe someone read a book almost eighty times? Ah yes, no TV in those days, but Stendhal might have had fun with E-mail!
Robert Jacobson
Mt. Tremper, NY