4/24/2007

Dear Editor,
Ralph Legnini, Ann McGillicuddy and Laurie Osmond today announce their Candidacy in the upcoming election for the Onteora Central School District's Board Of Education. They join Donna Flayhan, who already announced her candidacy, in campaigning for the four vacant Board Seats. The election is to be held on May 20.
Flayhan, Legnini, McGuillicuddy, and Osmond are united and encourage everyone to vote for all four as a block. The four candidates, each of whom has at least one child in the School District, have agreed upon a ten-point shared platform (see attached document), that includes the following key issues:
* Moratorium on the Grades 5-8 Middle School configuration
* Save our Schools, Keep All Three Elementary Schools Open
* Moratorium on $69-$86M Bond Proposals
* If still an issue, Candidates Will Vote Not to Enact Large Parcel
Ralph Legnini has lived in the Onteora School District for 27 years, divided equally between the towns of Shandaken, Woodstock, and now Olive. He has two children in the public school system. He grew up in The Bronx, and moved to this area after graduating with a degree in music education from Herbert H. Lehman College. A musician who has recorded with artists like James Taylor and Kate Pierson, he has been music producer on Saturday Night Live, worked for producer Nile Rodgers with Mick Jagger and Madonna, and held a senior position in Todd Rundgren's Alchemedia Productions, where he administrated multi-million dollar recording/production budgets. Ralph now runs his own music production company. He is a third degree USAF certified black belt in the martial art of Aikido, and director of the Children's Aikido Program at Woodstock Aikido. "This election is not about separate towns within the School District. This is about the children across the whole of the School District. If together, we can keep our community schools open and thriving with quality education, wisely managed by a transparent school board – while staying fiscally responsible - it will be an accomplishment to be proud of." He can be contacted at rlegnini@hvc.rr.com
Ann McGillicuddy and her husband Cornelius moved to Shandaken from Kingston six years ago to raise their children in this beautiful rural area, with its community schools and friendly towns. Having grown up in a small village in the Hudson River Valley, she has a love of the mountains and streams. Ann has three sons, the eldest of whom is twelve. She is a Phoenicia school parent and a PTA executive member. In her spare time she bakes, knits, quilts, weaves and fishes. Ann enjoys bringing people together. She wants to be a part of affecting change. "Let's think outside of the box ~ In keeping our community schools open we will keep our children's education local, and we will help support our own economies, and create a strong foundation for the future of our hamlets and towns." She can be contacted at troutback@earthlink.net
Laurie Osmond is a parent with a child at Phoenicia Elementary School, and a small business owner. She and her family reside in Willow. She is an active member of the Phoenicia PTA, and is part of the team that helped bring recycling and an environmental awareness program to the school. She is also a member of the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce. A producer, writer and director with twenty years experience, Laurie's professional skills include coordinating groups of people, organizing, scheduling, budgeting, and thinking creatively. She attended Brown University and San Francisco State University, and has her B.A. in Broadcast Communication Arts. "I believe in creating a fiscally responsible, affordable plan for the District, that puts solid, broad-based education first and also values our local businesses and economies by keeping community schools open. This election is a wonderful opportunity to create something positive and inclusive for our children and our towns, and I look forward to serving." lauriego@yahoo.com
Donna Flayhan has two children at Woodstock Elementary (Grades K & 3), is an Associate Professor at SUNY-New Paltz. She received a B.A. from University of New Hampshire (1990), M.A. and a Ph.D. in Communication (Public Health & Cultural Studies) in 1997 at the University of Iowa. Flayhan Directs The Lower Manhattan Public Health Project, is on the Advisory Board of Unsung Heroes Helping Heroes, Inc (for the sick of 9/11), and is Vice President Elect of the New York State Communication Association. She and her family move to Woodstock from Maryland (where Flayhan worked on Gulf War Syndrome) in 2004. Flayhan lives in Woodstock, New York with her husband, two children, dog and cat. "I want to fix the transportation problems that are experienced from Big Indian to West Hurley...and I am for a Moratorium on the 5-8. No to 80 Million Dollar Bonds that will break our piggy banks and our childrens' spirits by forcing them to grow up too soon. Vote for us, we will reverse the 5-8 Middle School and Save all Three Elementary Schools from closure." flayhand@newpaltz.edu
Background: The current Board of Education has proposed a new Grades 5-8 Middle School configuration, which will force the closure of ANOTHER elementary school in the district (West Hurley closed in 2004). The combination of this new Middle School configuration, the closure of another elementary school, leaving only two elementary schools in the second largest district in the State, and bonds of up to $86,000,000 to pay for all the changes have drawn continued criticism from parents and taxpayers across the district, complaints that have failed to stop the current Board moving ahead with their plans. Three members of this current Board are up for re-election in May, and another seat has opened up due to a current Board Member's sudden retirement. Donna Flayhan, Ralph Legnini, Laurie Osmond, Ann McGillicuddy look forward to filling these four seats to ensure an open and interactive School Board.
Onteora Parents Group

Dear Editor,
A synopsis of Olive Matters meeting held on 16 April 2008
Last night, members of Olive Matters met with Ralph Legnini, an Olive candidate for the Onteora School Board. He is running as a block with three other candidates (Shandaken, Phoenicia, and Woodstock). We listened to Mr. Legnini's platform, and although we are sympathetic to his wants for the district and a specific few students, we found his platform not aligned with the best interest of the taxpayers, or the entire student body. Mr. Legnini's and the others platform ignores the declining enrollment and its effects on 7-8th grade student population and the High School students future needs. It focuses only on maintaining the status quo at taxpayers expense. We therefore feel we cannot, as Olive Matters, support Mr. Legnini or the block of candidates that he is running with.
Olive Matters empathizes with those wanting what they want. We value community schools. The facts are that the Onteora School District over the last 20 years has become a huge dinosaur with a very large appetite for taxpayers money. For the past three years, the incumbents, Bernholz, Vanacore, and O'Connor, along with other board members, have gone over the budget with a fine tooth comb, sought and took the advice of numerous volunteer committees from the community and paid researchers to come up with a budget this year--a 1% increased tax levy; the lowest ever--that reflects the concerns for lowering school taxes, and a plan to preserve and enhance the educational opportunities for ALL the districts students.
Therefore, the general consensus of Olive Matters is to recommend and support only: Cindy O'Connor, Mary Jane Bernholz, and Rita Vanacore for re-election to the Onteora School Board.
Olive Matters

Dear Editor,
My name is Ann McGillicuddy and I am running for Onteora School Board, on a unified slate with three other parents in our onteora community ~ Donna Flayhan, Ralph Legnini and Laurie Osmond.
We do not agree with the direction that our school district is headed in. We hold a different vision for our district’s future. In order to affect change, we understand that we must change the board.
I appreciate all the hard work and years of service the incumbents have given to the board. The 5-8 ms is not a convincing educational configuration. In fact, studies show that it is not effective in a rural school district ~ and we are classified rural. The 5-8 MS configuration does NOT have 99% teacher approval as a member of the panel stated at the Woodstock town board meeting on April 15. Many teachers in the district have expressed their concern of the 5-8 configuration to me. Studies show that 6th, 7th and 8th graders have higher academic achievement in k-6 or k-8 schools, than when taken away from the lower grades. Aren’t our society’s children growing up too fast already?
I would also like to know why transportation costs have never been studied or if they have, not given to the public. Why did the Budget Advisory Committee explore other facets of our budget, but NOT transportation costs? I would think that our fuel costs are extremely high and they could possibly be a large chunk of the % of the budget. I have read studies which indicate that a school district which closes a school and continues to consolidate, actually spends more on transportation costs. It can be a misperception that a district will save money; especially in a rural school district. Our district encompasses 300 square miles!
I cite from a paper written by a Cornell Professor entitled, “What Does a School Mean to a Community? Assessing the social and economic benefits of schools to rural villages in New York “
“Why is it important to document and quantify what a school means to small rural villages? First, it is important for policy makers, educational administrators, and local citizens to understand that schools are vital to rural communities. The money that might be saved through consolidation could be forfeited in lost taxes, declining property values and lost businesses. I have shown a pattern of consistent results... Housing values are considerably higher and municipal infrastructure is more developed in small villages with schools... There is a body of research which shows that in communities where the citizenry is civically engaged, local businesses prosper, and that these factors anchor populations to place. My results show that in even the smallest rural villages in New York, schools serve as important markers of social and economic viability and vitality. “
If you would like to find out more about our platform; please go to www.saveouronteoraschools.com
Ann McGillicuddy
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
At Tuesday night’s (4/15) Woodstock Town Board Meeting, Onteora CSD Superintendent Leslie Ford introduced a Budget Advisory Committee (BAC), which presented a number of recommendations that included closing an Elementary School, selling any unused Elementary Schools, reducing teacher salaries and benefits where possible, and other measures.
Although the presentation was detailed, and questions following were specific, there are still points that remain unanswered or misrepresented:
• The Budget Advisory Committee pointed out that 75% of the budget is committed and not immediately controllable, and only approximately 3-4% is controllable in the short term. (50% of the District
budget is committed to salaries, 25% is committed to benefits. Of this 75%, 18% is for Special Education salaries and budgets.) However, this leaves an additional 21-22% that has not been accounted for.
Where does this go?
• Administrative position and salary reduction was not discussed by the BAC. Why not?
• What percentage of the budget goes to Administrative salaries and benefits?
• On Tuesday, April 8th, the Board of Education approved a measure put forth by the Ulster County School Boards Association that contained the following: “To attract and retain regional education leaders, eliminate the salary & benefit cap on
District Superintendents.”
• It was mentioned that on 1/15/08, KSQ Architects recommended only two elementary schools in their plans. It was not mentioned that they were instructed to do so, and that in February 2006, based on community meetings and input from all “stakeholders”, KSQ Architects’ original recommendation was to keep three elementary schools open and create a 6-8 Middle School (Plan A.) This recommendation was later disregarded.
• One of the Board members stated that “99%” of all the teachers in the district support a 5-8 Middle School. This is flatly untrue. No figures were offered to support that claim.
• In the BAC’s initial presentation on 3/11/08, the members specifically stated that the sale of the Woodstock Elementary School property would likely be
the most lucrative for the District. At Tuesday’s meeting in Woodstock, that language was omitted.
• In response to a question, the BAC affirmed that their recommendations would maintain current class sizes. This is incorrect. Their recommendations would increase class sizes to the limits allowable. Maintaining current class sizes is not the same as not exceeding current class size limits.
• The Budget Advisory Committee states that the annual savings proposed by closing a school neatly equals the annual cost of a proposed bond of $45 million. But the total costs of proposed bonds range from $70-$86 million, as detailed in KSQ Architects’ presentation of 1/15/08. So why is just a $45 million bond being discussed? Does the Board hope to break it into pieces to make it seem more palatable?
• It was also revealed that the members of the Budget Advisory Committee were suggested by the Board, so perhaps it is no coincidence at all that the numbers coincide so neatly.
I urge everyone to examine what is going on in the District very carefully. Go to meetings, talk to your friends and neighbors, do your homework, and make sure to go to your local Elementary School on May 20, from 2-9pm and VOTE for the School Board Candidate of your choice.
I am pleased to be running for School Board with Donna Flayhan, Ralph Legnini and Ann McGillicuddy, and hope
that our cross-community message of a moratorium on the 5-8 Middle School, opposition to closing a community Elementary School, moratorium on a bond of $70-$86 million and promise not to vote to enact Large Parcel will resonate with voters. The wrong educational decisions not only hurt our children, but our communities, local businesses and property values as well.
Laurie Osmond
Willow, NY

Dear Editor,
There’s been a lot going on for the past three years in the Onteora School District. School Board members and school administrators working together have had to make some of the most difficult decisions in recent memory. Declining student population, the highest cost per student in Ulster County and keeping the budget at a reasonable tax levy forced decisions that were tough to make. The decisions that were made utilize the district's resources and staff efficiently for the best interest of the students while being fiscally responsible to the tax payers. The board is expected to make a decision on where to place the 5-8 middle school on May 06, 2008. According to the Board elementary discussions deciding on how to best utilize the district's buildings will begin in June and the final decisions will be made in the fall of 2008. There are ongoing discussions about consolidating the district. Consolidating the district will be cost effective in many ways.
Unfortunately there appears to be various rumors floating around the district that have some parts of the community upset and there is a small group exploring the possibility of breaking away from the District. Some in this group think the board will end up closing the Woodstock school. Recently the board approved spending more than a million dollars to install a new heating system in the Woodstock school. Why would the board close the Woodstock school after spending that kind of tax payer’s money?
District tax payers should make their decisions based on the true facts and not what they hear from those that disagree with the board.
William Warnecke
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
Despite Mr. Vanacore's attempt to strike fear into the hearts of Olive residents by evoking the spectre of Large Parcel, the fact remains that for people in the other towns, Olive's revaluation and other developments have simply made this a non-issue.
Recent newspaper reports confirm that the idea behind the reval was to shrink any difference between apportionment and equalization rate to remove one of the law's requirements so as to remove the huge tax hikes imposed on Olive residents after its enactment. It is not hard to expect that with both NYC and Olive recently agreeing on a value, that ORPS would say otherwise. With the ORPS acceptance of this value, there would not even BE a Large Parcel vote coming before the School Board. And should ORPS' deliberations on the matter extend past the deadline for the OSD Board to decide, it would clearly be responsible to take no action at all while waiting on ORPS..
Mr. Vanacore laments that some candidates, including his mother, have been accused of only caring "about what's good for Olive" yet, he then proceeds to attempt to rally Olive over a non-issue in an exclusionary way which hurts the process and attempts to re-open old wounds which were just starting to heal. Can we not all applaud the efforts of the Town of Olive in pushing for their reval and working so hard in their fight against NYC and just finally move on and focus on the REAL issues at hand?
No one denies that the candidates up for re-election have dedicated many long hours in their commitments as Trustees. However, it is clear from public reactions at a multitude of meetings that the public, so far, has been unconvinced that the vision which they have put forth is the best one for this school district.
In fact, the real issue that Mr. Vanacore avoids and one which is of concern to us all is the proposed series of bonds, which has been reported to add up to be as high as 80 million dollars, not counting possible partial reimbursements from government. With the Ulster County Jail coming in at 100 million plus, it is hard to imagine spending anywhere close to that in a District with declining enrollment and paid for by just our member towns; at least the 100m for the jail is the responsibility of all of Ulster County.
One must wonder just how much that will cost the taxpayers of this district. Maybe Mr. Vanacore forgets that the OSD Board is supposed to represent all of the constituent communities within the OSD. For someone who seems worried about the taxes in Olive, Mr. Vanacore seems to be forgetting that most people want to know how much something is going to cost them before they agree to pay for it. No one likes to have their taxes take a huge hike, right? Isn’t that what the whole LP episode taught us?
While I think there is general public support for the idea of renovating our schools and the need to do so, this school Board majority seems to be moving forward with plans that do not reflect the will of the people within the school district. Of course, such displeasure would surely be represented by the bonds not being passed, in which case, the OSD would have to rethink the proposals and try again. In order to save time, it seems clear that it would be much better to increase efforts to inform the public and allow more interaction.
It is exciting to see the New Paltz Schools using tools like blogs to help promote community involvement on issues like 5-8 middle schools, etc. and wonder why we can not do the same.
Recent visits by Dr. Ford to local town boards is a step in the right direction, but the information provided is limited in scope, perhaps due to time constraints to be fair to Dr. Ford. If recent meetings are any indication, the public wants MORE involvement in the process, not less, and more information more quickly.
This Board majority has been accused of not laying a good foundation for community involvement and ignoring clear public calls for more transparency in the process and restraint in proceeding with current plans. Other charges include the desire to centralize all of the students on the Boiceville campus, thereby removing the community schools which bring so much character to this area. While I understand the frustration that comes from sitting on issues through long drawn-out processes, making sure that the actions reflect the will of the public should come right after determining what's best for the kids. And if what they think is best for the kids is unpopular, it is incumbent upon them to convince the public how important it really is, and so far, that hasn't happened if public comments are how we judge that.
One of the folks who spoke at the Shandaken Town Meeting on April 7th likened the OSD to a 40+ million dollar business with declining sales. Well, when you have declining sales, you certainly want to cut costs, which is commendable (especially in view of our highest-in-the-state per pupil cost). But neither do you want to cut the sales force... and closing community schools would make the OSD a LOT less desirable for people considering a move into this area. If enrollment is declining, how do you boost it? In addition to looking at how to cut costs, should we not also look into ways to make our schools MORE attractive to others thinking about coming into the area? The public should be encouraged to become MORE involved with the Elementary Schools, not less involved. We live in a community of amazingly creative people. Surely we can come up with ideas on how to make our schools more dynamic and educationally vibrant.
And finally, with a group of Woodstock property owners actively seeking to have the OSD split into 2 smaller districts, it seems reckless to move forward with any plans for renewal and / or construction until that issue is satisfactorily resolved, one way or the other. To that end, perhaps it is best if the OSD Board of Trustees puts a moratorium on further actions on changes to the current configuration until that issue is resolved.
Tom Hickey
Oliverea, NY

Dear Editor,
There are several issues I would like to address in response to recent letters to the editor and press releases.
Re: 5-8 Middle School. The school board voted on this configuration after THREE years of research, which consisted of input from teachers, paid researchers, and a community advisory group looking into the pros and cons of a 5-8 MS. The pros outweighed the cons.
Teachers in the district are excited and believe the 5-8 MS will give students more educational opportunities. With declining enrollment in the 7-8th grades, it will eventually cause the cancellation of enrichment programs. Having a 5-8 MS will ensure that music/band and art will be there in the future for your K-4th grader. A 5-8 MS, IF it were to occur, would not be happening overnight. It will take a minimum of 2-3 years before a middle school could be fully functioning.
Re: Indie Program. It was SUGGESTED that if the district could provide this service in-school with the purchase of some equipment, the district could save $150,000 a year.
Re: Ruthless Cuts. The Budgetary Advisory Committee made RECOMMENDATIONS. They SUGGESTED where money could be saved. Their recommendations are not written in stone, and IF all of their RECOMMENDATIONS were enacted, it would take YEARS to implement.
Re: $86 million bond. This is what a “wish list” looks like and what it would cost if wishes were granted, and it is NOT the actual amount of money that you will be asked to bond.
Re: School Board Participation in Community, Transparency, and Communication. This present school board has created committees consisting of administrators, educators, business people, and community members from the entire district to report back to them, enabling them to make informed decisions on the effects and benefits of proposed changes to the students/schools. The committees are: Communications, Facility, Early Childhood Development, Policy, Technology, and the Budgetary Advisory Committee. And, this board has held more public forums in the past three years than any other board that I know of. There is a District Newsletter, District Website, calendar, and press releases to keep the district informed.
Re: Olive Benefits. Please show me where the Olive school board members favored Olive students and disregarded the rest. Does removing junk food from vending machines and initiating the Winswipe so free and reduced lunch students can participate in the food program without embarrassment, favor only Olive students? Does keeping your school taxes to a 3-4% increase for the past three years, where other districts have had a 6-10% increase only benefit Olive residents? Is only Olive benefiting from a 1% increased tax levy in the budget this year? And with the possibility of Bennett School closing to make it a Middle School, how does this benefit the Town of Olive?
Re: Large Parcel. It is disheartening to have to inform people once again that the Large Parcel will NOT go away, unless or until ORPS agrees with Olive’s assessed value of the reservoir each and every year! Today, NYC and the Town of Olive have a 10 year agreement not to sue each other. What will happen if ORPS doesn’t agree, or in 10 years if ORPS, NYC, and Olive disagree once again on the value of the reservoir?
Re: Olive School Board Members. When complaining about the many Olive residents on the school board, remember to thank Jeremy Wilber, Bob Cross and their merry men for making this happen. It was through their mantra of “low tax Olive” and “a house in Woodstock and a house in Olive . . .” that got the Large Parcel Law enacted against Olive causing its taxes to increase 90% in one year. Now that this sleepy little town was awakened and roared, Olive is being told to get over it, fogedaboudit, and move on.
Wilber et al, claimed Olive kept the reservoir value high to lower Olive taxes. Now that NYC has agreed that the reservoir was undervalued, and has vindicated Olive’s assessment of the reservoir, will Olive’s taxes be lowered? No. The fact is it will probably cause Olive’s taxes to increase again this year. After that, Olive will get a reprieve from large increases for 10 years. And BTW, increasing the value of the reservoir benefits the entire district and all Ulster County taxpayers. This present school board is to be thanked for getting the Onteora District attorney involved in Olive’s lawsuits. That convinced NYC to compromise with the Town of Olive and may have saved the district from having to repay NYC $14 million dollars.
Vote for Cindy O’Connor, Mary Jane Bernholz, and Rita Vanacore. They find solutions to problems. They are taxpayers. They have or had children and grandchildren in the Onteora School District. They want what is best for ALL the students and all the taxpayers of the district. They are the TAXPAYER’S CANDIDATES.
Judith Boggess
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
As a taxpayer I am grateful to Mary Jane Bernholz, Cindy O'Connor and Rita Vanacore for being fiscally responsible. They were instrumental in engaging the district's attorneys to act on our behalf in the recent law suit brought by the City of New York, which alleged that Onteora owed them a refund of nearly $14 million dollars in back taxes for over-assessed tax payments. On behalf of the school district, which was granted "Intervenor" status, OCS' attorneys succeeded in gaining a dismissal of a major portion of New York's claim with a smaller amount still being considered by the court.
Also, at a recent board meeting, the Budget Advisory Committee, which was appointed by the board, informed us that Onteora is faced with rapidly declining enrollment and skyrocketing costs. In just six years enrollment will drop from 1800 to 1400. If the status quo is maintained, the current cost of educating a student will rise from nearly $25,000 to approximately $42,000. The committee realizes that the current cost is outrageous and that timely measures must be taken to avoid the disaster which the district imminently faces.
Their suggestion to close another elementary school and implement the 5-8 Middle School makes perfect sense and it is supported by these board members. It will enable Onteora to make better use of its facilities through consolidation. At the same time, by divesting itself of an elementary building, major savings will be gained through not having to repair, maintain, and heat a building which is no longer needed. What is being proposed by the committee will bear similar fruit for the Onteora taxpayers. Do you realize that the current elementary schools cost nearly $90,000 each to heat? Do you understand that repair and maintenance costs are soaring? Consolidation is warranted and it is the fiscally responsible measure to take when enrollment declines.
While some parents feel strongly about the closing of a school, consider the fact that these measures will enable some people to afford their taxes and not lose their homes. Fiscal responsibility demands that the school board make the difficult decisions which will not only provide a quality education, but also make it affordable for the taxpayers. To do otherwise is irresponsible.
Mary Jane Bernholz, Cindy O'Connor and Rita Vanacore have each spent 20-50 hours per week for the last three years to get the district aimed in the right direction. They have earned the right to continue and finish the quality work which they have started. They care about the children and they care about the taxpayers. They also have a firm understanding of the challenges facing our school. Our district needs the leadership, fiscal responsibility and dedication which each of them bring to the board.
Join me in voting for them on May 20th. We need their experience and wisdom.
John R. Tisch
West Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
On May 20, voters in the Onteora Central School District will be going to the polls to elect Trustees for the School Board. Most years just two Trustee positions are up for election, but this year, in part because of the sudden resignation of a Board Trustee, four of the seven total seats - a majority - are up for grabs. As such, and given the current board’s controversial plans for a new Grades 5-8 Middle School, the closure of another elementary school, and multimillion dollar bonds costing up to $86million, it’s fair to say that this is the most important Board election in many years.
Donna Flayhan, Ralph Legnini, Ann McGillicuddy and Laurie Osmond are running for the four vacant seats as a united block, on a shared platform that includes the following key positions:
Education first: Kids Matter
Moratorium on the Grades 5-8 Middle School configuration
· Save our Schools. Keep all 3 Elementary Schools open
Moratorium on $69-$86M
Bond Proposals
If still an issue, Candidates will not vote to enact Large Parcel.
Each of these candidates is a local parent with children in the School District. Between them, they reside in the towns of Woodstock, Olive and Shandaken. They are all actively engaged in the Community at large. Apart from the above crucial issues, they have come together to help unite the Onteora Central School District, which for too long, at Board level, has played individual towns in the District off against the other towns. Over the coming weeks, the candidates will be attending many functions and meetings across the School District, where they will be happy to talk about their individual and collective positions. You are invited to read more about their platform, and their individual biographies, at a web site especially established for this election, www.saveouronteoraschools.com. This site also has the e-mail address for each of the candidates.
Should you support these candidates, and wish to directly contribute to the campaign, which is incurring considerable costs for high-visibility promotional materials, please send a check to Ann McGillicuddy, 6347 Rt. 28, Phoenicia, NY 12464. Please note on your check that it is for the Election Campaign and state if you would like a written receipt.
Again, this is a crucial election for the future of our district. Please study the issues, talk to the various candidates, and mark your calendar for May 20, when voting will take place at the four Elementary School buildings.
Tony Fletcher
Mt. Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
After listening to the discussion about Empire Zones at the April Town Board meeting, the following is the crux of what I came away with. Crossroads Ventures wants a significant part of the proposed resort to be declared an Empire Zone. That would mean that they would get millions in tax breaks over a period of ten years. They are claiming that the Town would get more money with the resort being an Empire Zone than they would with an IDA tax abatement package or other tax-break packages that may be available to them. Of course, they don't have any of these packages yet and there are no guarantees they would or could get them.
The bottom line appears to be that Crossroads wants to increase their profits on the backs of the taxpayers. So far, the State has agreed to pay Crossroads 14 million for Big Indian Ridge, which is estimated to be at least 3 times what it would bring on the open market. We, the taxpayers, are the ones over-paying for this. The State has also agreed to create new ski trails and lifts at the Belleayre Ski Center to directly service Crossroads' resort. This would cost the taxpayers (that's us) tens of millions. Now the developers are claiming to offer Shandaken the 'best deal for the Town' as to which tax break program they use. Of course, these tax break programs are all paid for by the taxpayers on the state, county, and/or local level.
The obvious question to Crossroads is: Did it ever occur to Crossroads to simply PAY THEIR TAXES LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN TOWN AND STOP LOOKING FOR HANDOUTS FROM THE TAXPAYERS? That is, if they ever get permitted.
Judith Wyman
Chichester, NY

Dear Editor,
Think about the Devil and Daniel Webster. The developer wants us to sign a bargain- by creating an “Empire Zone” exclusively for him, and getting everyone in New York State to pay his taxes… or he will try to force Shandaken to pay his taxes in the IDA program. That’s extortion. He only paid his long overdue Emerson tax arrears days before he would have lost his IDA tax breaks. He ought to pay back the millions of our tax dollars that NYS and NYC have wasted on the environmental review of the Belleayre resort so far. The resort is still nowhere near passing the review. It never will. Pigs don’t fly. I feel sorry for those who have invested in it.
But stupid things do happen. Take the Kingston prison. Please. Everywhere mega projects like this get built, taxes go up. The cost of living goes up. People can no longer afford to live in their homes. They lose their homes. The developer buys up more property dirt cheap.
The developer is a genius… at conning people. If we pay his taxes, ours will go down. Importing 300 poverty wage workers will help our economy. Cutting down steep forested slopes will reduce flooding. He is doing all of this for our benefit. It’s like invading Iraq will bring down the cost of oil.
Worse yet, The Empire Zone can’t benefit our existing businesses, even in the hamlets. It used to, but they passed a clever new rule that makes it impossible.
It gets better. Kingston Mayor Sottile wants us to give the developer’s millionaire backers EZ tax breaks. Maybe he just loves millionaires. Or maybe he wants hundreds of poor people from Kingston to move up here. When this was suggested, he turned red and shouted “You should be ashamed of yourselves!” and stormed out of the room.
I expect the Townsman and rumor mongers to twist my comments into an elitist NIMBY rant against poor people, when I am really criticizing the super rich. We don’t need jobs for poor people any more than we need poor prople. We need jobs for middle class people so we can afford to live well and raise our families here. Living wage jobs for all, not welfare for the wealthy and poverty wage jobs for the rest of us.
Remember that corporate chain resorts always hire the top salary people from within. They save the crummy jobs for the locals. Don’t encourage the developer’s developmental disorder with EZ tax breaks.
People come here because they love to hike. Daniel Webster has some advice for the developer. Take a hike.
Dave Channon
Shandaken NY

Dear Editor,
A resolution to create an Empire Zone for the two hotels being proposed by Crossroads Ventures in the Town of Shandaken and the Town of Middletown was presented to the Shandaken Town Board on April 7, 2008. All residents and taxpayers should be aware that at this time, 26 companies which have been EZ recipients are being investigated by Empire State Development.
One of these companies, River Radiology, Kingston, NY has received $102,656 in EZ credits for what looks like a total of ONE full time job and no jobs created in 2006.
The Empire State Development Corp. has a list of 26 companies that it is seeking to remove from the tax-break program. Here's the list, according to the state agency, of the companies, the job projections or the investments that they failed to meet.
Company Location, Projected Jobs, Projected Investment
Kayser Real Estate, BUFFALO, 1, $1,050,000
Buffalo Motor Car, BUFFALO, 0 $300
Buffalo Motor Car, BUFFALO, 0, $10,000
601 Main St., BUFFALO, 2, $500,000
DBMK LLC, BUFFALO, 2, $5,200
Stephen B. McGarvey. BUFFALO, 2, $2,950,000
River Radiology, KINGSTON, 0, $3,400,000
C.M. Products Inc., ISLIP, 6, $188,000
203-124 Corp., MOUNT VERNON, 4, $285,000
200 S. 13th Ave. Realty, MOUNT VERNON, 2, $870,000
Millers Wood Dev. Corp., ONEIDA COUNTY, 1, $3,871,000
Oneida Silversmiths Inc,.ONEIDA COUNTY, 20, $7,200,000
160 Union Street LLC, POUGHKEEPSIE, 1, $1,331,553
First Niagara Centre, SCHENECTADY, 3, $0
230-275 Realty, SULLIVAN COUNTY, 1, $25,000
S & K Vouyiouklis, BROOKLYN, 2, $160,000
WL LLC, SYRACUSE, 1, $1,690,000
Rellsey Properties, SYRACUSE, 1, $20,000
Hudson River Place, TROY, 2, $150,000
G & S Associates, UTICA, 1, $5,000
The Senpike Mall Co., UTICA, 1, $7,000,000
The Alfred Weissman Dev. Corp.,YONKERS, 5, $250,000
NIKOLAOS Realty Corp., YONKERS, 5, $2,750,000
Michael,Meluke,Cila,Anderson, YONKERS, 2, $3,875,000
870 Nepperhan Ave., YONKERS, 2, $575,000
PVC Enterprises, Inc., YONKERS, 1, $10,500,000
I am glad that our Town Board has decided to table the resolution for the Crossroads' Empire Zone. I am also grateful to Don Gregorius and Brian Shapiro for appearing at the meeting on April 7 and for expressing their concerns regarding the Empire Zone proposal.
Freddi Dunleavey
Arkville, NY

Dear Editor,
I applaud the recent decision by Ulster County officials to hire a new company, Caremark, to administer UlsterRx, the county's discount prescription drug program. Caremark has a proven track record in this field, having managed Dutchess County's successful Prescription Discount Card Program. I am especially pleased that Ulster County residents will still be able to purchase prescriptions from Canada, which provides the greatest potential for savings.
In 2004, I led the effort in the county Legislature to create UlsterRx. There have been several media reports since then documenting the lack of participation in the program. Despite recent efforts by the county to promote UlsterRx, enrollment still did not meet expectations--especially when compared to enrollment in other counties with similar programs.
I firmly believe the previous plan administrator, due to poor customer service and an overly complicated enrollment process, was the main cause of the problems. I advocated for two years for the county to hire a new company to run UlsterRx. I am glad county officials took positive action to address my concerns.
It is my hope that with a new company, a easier (and free!) enrollment process, UlsterRx will be able to help more people in need afford the ever-rising costs of prescription drugs.
Joe Roberti
Ulster County Legislator
Saugerties, NY

Dear Editor,
In the draft of his farewell address, Eisenhower warned of the undue influence of the military-industrial-congressional complex. Thus, indicating the essential role Congress plays in the corruption of the military-industrial complex. Unfortunately, Eisenhower decided to strike the word congressional in order to placate members of Congress.
Our Senate used to pride itself on being the greatest deliberative body in the world, but under Republican leadership meaningful debate in the Senate was a rarity. On the eve of the vote to authorize the invasion of Iraq, Senator Robert Byrd asked: “Why is this chamber empty?” Congress abdicated its constitutional responsibility to decide whether our nation would go to war, by authorizing Bush to use force against Iraq.
In “Losing America,” Sen. Robert Byrd reveals that prior to the Iraqi war resolution some senators were almost terrified at the prospect of being labeled “unpatriotic,” if they voted against the resolution. He doubted that some members fully comprehended the magnitude of Bush’s grab for power and that Congress was relinquishing its Constitutional authority and responsibility. Byrd’s concern was that Bush was given a “blank check” for the unrestrained use of military power. Byrd
concluded; “Never in his view has America been led by such a dangerous head of state.”
Congressional Republicans have been an obedient, docile and compliant accessory to the executive branch of government. They must cease their hysterical, irrational fear-mongering and defend the Constitution, by aggressively conducting themselves as the independent and coequal branch of government they’re supposed to be.
The role of money in the re-election process, coupled with the diminished role for reasoned debate has produced an atmosphere conducive to institutionalized corruption. Democrats have initiated some positive changes, but they haven’t challenged our corrupt, imperialitic military-industrial congressional complex. Is this because some anticipate lucrative defense contracts for their districts?
Jim O'Leary
Delhi, NY

Dear Editor,
The bats are joining the bees and the polar bears in their flight from human error, often to their own demise.
This Saturday morning, I woke to find a bat hanging from my south facing screen door. I’d never noticed that they had such cute pink ears before, but on to more important issues. Two of my friends told me that they too, had found dead bats in inappropriate places. I tried calling the local animal control, but quickly remembered that governmental agencies do not work on weekends, so I went to the internet, to learn of the new “White Nose Bats”.
It seems that erratic behavior of the bat population was discovered in Vermont, when they migrated out of their winter caves too early to survive. It is believed that they are dying either from the cold, or from starvation, since their food - insects, are not yet accessible.
Since the articles on the internet showed only that the true cause of this new phenomenon is not yet known, I returned to the phone, and reached the DEC in order to volunteer my dead bat to a laboratory. They told me that they didn’t need my bat, and that I should dispose of it. Further that although the white fungus on the nose, and elsewhere was harmless, I should nevertheless wear rubber gloves when removing them.
I’m writing this letter to alert you of the coming situation, since the government does not have the funds to report such things to you. Their funds, which we have contributed to them, are now inaccessible to us, since they are committed to Iraq, and now to the coming possibility of our next war with Iran. Therefore, it is up to us to do our own research.
When I asked an engineer friend of mine what his thoughts were, he suggested that the magnetic rays from cell phones could be causing the problem, since bats are basically blind, and get their marching orders from sounds. Maybe when you answer your cellphone and say: "I'm on the road", they are taking that as instructions to get moving. I think that it's our job to figure this out, and then do something about it, since the government is broke and can't be bothered with such things.
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
With the rise of gasoline and food prices, you may be thinking of ways to save money. This may be the moment for you to go to your local library!
Here in Pine HIll, the Morton Memorial Library is eager to see new customers. Besides an impressive collection of books, we have four computers, all on WiFi, plus DVDs and tapes. We try to get many of the books, fiction and nonfiction, recently reviewed in newspapers and magazines--although it may be hard to take them out, since our library belongs to the Mid-Hudson library association, and books may go out to readers in other libraries almost as soon as we get them. Many customers have found our collections truly amazing for a library in a small hamlet.
However, did you know you can order a book from your computer? All you need is a library card. Then ask our librarian how to go about it. If the book is not in our collection, it is probably in some other library belonging to Mid-Hudson association. The book wil soon arrive at our library and you'll be notified by our librarian.
A good book can take you far away -- to Afghanistan ("The Kite Runner") or 19th century Russia (the new translation of "War and Peace") Not to mention Los Angeles, Amsterdam, or New Jersey, in our collection of mysteries. Who needs cheap gasoline or airline tickets? A book can take you there with no further cost then a trip to your locatl library.
See you soon!
Elaine Mueller
Pine Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
Since it was virtually impossible to thank all the people that attended the Belleayre Mountain Hall of Fame Ceremony on my behalf on April 5, 2008, I would like to do so at this time.
I grew up on Belleayre Mountain, first skied the Moutnain in 1931, and retired from the Mountain in 1990. Belleayre Mountain has always been a place that I loved with a special place in my heart.
My introduction into the Belleayre Hall of Fame has been one of the most rewarding achievements of my life. It is like coming home to roost.
Again, thanks so much to all of you that attended on my behalf and to those responsible for electing me to the 2008 Hall of Fame. It is a great honor.
Robert "Bob" Munro
Highmount, NY

Dear Editor,
Attention walkers, joggers, and dog walkers! Want to earn, while you burn calories? While moving along our incredibly beautiful roads - Look Down! Bend Down! You will reap many benefits!
In a single space of twenty five feet along route #28 I noticed: two green beer bottles, a coke can, several Crushed Bud Cans (Someone really likes Bud, they are ubiquitous like the spring...), a burnt out popcorn popper, Snapple, Vitamin Water, and weed capitalization on an assorted amount of unknowable plastics. Last Butt not least, there were multiple cigarette remains, called Butt, or in gentler slang, cigarette litter.
Earning while you're burning is obvious to us - Adopt a Phoenicia byway (we can), or streambank, for that matter-
In shorts: As you walk, or run, carry a trash bag along the beautiful byways of Phoenicia. Bend those knees every few feet!
However, the Butt Factor, is confusing. As I strolled one mornig, I looked for an aesthetic quality or natural dispersion pattern on my walk, and could find none. Why bend for Butts? A Cigarette Butt's Carbon Foot print is larger than you think. Maybe even a size twelve in the sprightliness factor? Unlike paper products they’re not biodegradable. Nearly all cigarette filters are composed of a bundle of 12,000 plastic-like cellulose acetate fibers. It can take up to fifteen years, for the fibers to decay into a plastic powder that can’t be seen. As they do their deadly cargo is released...
Finally, remember this pledge oh ye striders into the spring: "U.S. LitterButt's Pledge":
"I pledge allegiance, as I trash, the United States of America, and to the cigarette butt carpet under which it's hidden, one more, what can it hurt, another non-biodegradable acetate filter for all."
(by John R. Polito - July 4, 2002)
Care for our footpaths, neighbors!
Michelle Spark
Phoenicia, NY