(Letters from April 26, 2007)

Dear Editor,
On behalf of all the children enrolled in the Onteora Central School District, I want to extend grateful thanks to all community members who have closely followed our budget and bond processes this year. It has truly been a year where community input, partnership and support have been utilized to the best interests of programs that support students.
All of us are aware of significant issues affecting the district at this time. The first is declining enrollment. Although it would be easier to plan if services, programs and classrooms were able to decline at the same rate as student enrollment, it is never that simple an equation. We currently have more students promoting from Onteora than enrolling as new learners. Students do not leave or arrive in neat packages that help us to wrap an appropriate level of service around them. We will continue to address this issue through the projected decline.
We are fortunate to have leadership at many levels of the district. As your Superintendent, I am pleased to join a team whose strength I can rely on. We must all be cognizant of the continuous effort necessary to maintain our district. These include setting universally understood and upheld leadership practices, mining the enthusiasm, energy, integrity and motivation of all employees to ensure the highest level of instructional, employment and fiscal practices, and monitoring the continued use of sound business practices.
I urge students, parents and community members to access the successive presentations for the 2007-08 budget available on the district website. These intend to provide the full story of the budgeting process, its potential and limitations for your review. I know all of you will want as much information as you can possibly receive to make an informed decision on May 15, 2007.
Leslie Ford
Onteora Superintendent

Dear Editor,
Here we go again. It's spring and just like crocus, school budgets sprout in Ulster County. In the Onteora School district, its business as usual, another large increase in the yearly school budget of 5.6%. HELLO… is anybody listening out there? Elected officials, do the job you were elected to do, look out for the taxpayers in the district, too. When was the last time a working stiff in Ulster County got a raise in their pay of 5 1/2 percent? I know I never did. With all the increases we have to bear, gas goes up daily along with food and need I mention medicine? Our elected officials MUST do a better job of holding the yearly budget increases to a more realistic percentage. I know I would vote for a 3-4% increase. But come on, almost double what the average person gets for a yearly raise is just not realistic.
We tax payers do not have the money to continually fund an ever-increasing bloated school district. Oh, for sure they will wring their hands about the potential cuts in sports and music. Hey, come on. We have an ever-decreasing school population. Do we ever hear of teacher's reductions to go along with that decreasing population? No. There are also coming proposals about closing and consolidating schools within the district to go along with that decreasing school population to the tune of many millions of dollars. And God knows how much the tax papers will have to pay for that.
Remember the headlines about the baby boomer population? It's here and now. With many more people retiring and going on fixed incomes, this business as usual, screw-the-tax payer budgets must go.
Bruce Kanvin
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
Last year Onteora’s board members cut over $300,000.00 from the budget, but before it was all said and done they turned around and put the money right back in. On March 29, 2007 Superintendent Dr. Ford presented a budget proposal that made several cuts in personal, but her budget still ended up with a 5.28 percent increase. Some board members expressed concern with the 5.28 percent increase that Dr. Ford presented. There appears to be some disagreement in the board and what direction to go. School board members Mary Jane Bernholz and Dave Patterson said that they do not want to see the late bus eliminated. Chairman D’Orazio wanted to know if they were willing to sacrifice two music positions. Bernholz also asked Dr. Ford to try to bring the budget down to at least a four percent increase. What do board members want? They can’t have it both ways. Do they want to go along with Dr. Ford’s proposal or do they want to reduce the tax burden even further? Unless a lot of money is found the budget cannot be reduced without making cuts some where.
At that same meeting, as reported, teacher Luke White pointed to the human cost and said these are actual people that you’re considering to cut. I’d like to remind Mr. White that tax payers are human to. Tax payers, yes we are human, struggle to pay their taxes that help to pay for his and all school personal’s salary and life time benefits. Few tax payers in the district live on salaries that are being paid to Onteora’s teachers and others that work at the school. There’s something seriously wrong in our society when seniors have to struggle to live on their fixed incomes and some probably have no Health Insurance yet they have to pay their taxes that at end up helping to pay for health insurance and other benefits for those that work at our schools.
There are no line items posted on the school’s Web Page so as it stands right now, we don’t know what money goes where. What will the board do? Will the board use the recently 6.1% increase in State aid to reduce taxes or will they restore some items that Dr. Ford took out of the budget. We’ll have to wait to see the finale results after the School Board meets on April 10, 2007 when the Superintendent will present revisions to the budget. Will the board favor the tax payers or the school?
William Warnecke
Glenford, NY
Dear Editor,
There is considerable talk about the overall efficacy of the Star plan for providing for reduction of Property Tax for support of education. Those of us at the lower end of the financial totem pole find it a godsend - for those who qualify. The fact remains that a property tax to support education is unfair. Many individuals as well as businesses have considerable inherent property but have fairly meager incomes while many have very modest property but very generous incomes. Many have very little or no property but considerable wealth. We need the government to find an equitable way for funding education, based on income, not property. If our Assembly and Senate would get together on a non partisan effort it could be done. Do it, it is possible. Other States do.
Along the same line is the way the State EPIC plan is helping qualified elderly with low income to obtain great savings in the cost of drugs. It is truly a life saver for those of us who have it but it doesn't help a bit to reduce that grossly high cost of drugs. Those who don't qualify are being shafted. With a single payer, national health insurance plan in place with the government in the driver's seat the cost of drugs could be regulated or negotiated to reasonable level as it is done in most other countries. Kevin Cahill has been helpful in making Epic possible and we thank him. Kevin is in favor of universal or national Health care insurance so we hope he is making a big push for its adoption in the U.S.A. We must get those rascals out who are profiteering by our non-program of health care.
This ties in to the school tax problem. On of the big items in school budgets which is escalating all the time is the cost of health care for school employees.
We better remember that STAR and Epic exist because of political will of the moment and could vanish rather easily. Let's work for basic changes which will benefit all.
Mescal Hornbeck
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
The larger picture is that Don Imus is far from being the only radio "personality" who indulges in racist, sexist, etc, talk. Why doesn't Howard Stern, for example, get flagged for his bigotry and crudities?
The difference is that Stern has mastered the art of putting ironic brackets around such comments - the subliminal message being that he's commenting humorously this kind of talk, not really "engaging" in it himself. So we can all listen to his shtick and feel very postmodern and
sophisticated about our ability to savor the irony and subtle, multileveled cultural allusion involved in the use of The N Word and the use of ho to refer to black women. To accuse Stern of actually being racist would be to soooo not get it! Uncool.
Imus never mastered this approach, which is why he's gotten in trouble
so many times over the years and why he's the one who has (finally) had to pay the price, unlike some others. Listening to the audio clip of his comment about the Rutgers players, how he says it is just as interesting as the words themselves: The comment is offhand, by-the-by, not even very much connected to the subject of the conversation - in other words, normalized, the way a Southern white man of 50 years ago (or even more recently) might say it in casual conversation.
And so, in the amoral world of mainstream mass media, Imus's greatest sin isn't his racism, but actually just a punctuation error: He left off the brackets.
Eric Laursen
New York, NY

Dear Editor,
You didn't search to hard to find me, budshotdogs@aol.com or you could of found me on the road selling Hot Dogs. Why write about something when you don't even know the facts. To get the story straight I sold her equipment only, not the Business. I don't know why she thinks I sold her the business. Her & I have a paper that said she purchase only the equipment. I did say to her that she could use my name to help her out in business for the rest of the season of 2003. She must of mist understood me. You wouldn't want to eat their, that's why I went back in business. I was asked to by a lot of people in the town. They ate their once and they won't go back. Its not the cleanest hot dog wagon around. They had problems with the Health Dept. in the past. I do not serve the Onteora high school population she does. I serve the road traffic on 28 and my new location is up by the Boiceville Inn. Now you have the story straight...
Bud Rose
Route 28, NY

Dear Editor,
This is the way every woman's right to sovereignty over her own body, reproduction and sexuality is lost. Five "well meaning" men, Justices, have decided that they must "protect" the morally deficient, unintelligent American citizen--female, from making a thoughtless decision about her own reproductive health. She might come to regret it. She is a child.
This is a Civil Rights issue. It's about whose decision it is.
I believe it's my decision. Your decision. Five male Justices notwithstanding.
On a day when the Attorney General lost his authority in Gonzales v. US Senate, the Supreme Court lost its authority over American women with its ruling on Gonzales v. Carhart.
Julie McQuain
Hardenburgh, NY

Dear Editor,
The letter by David Turan in the Times of March 29 was excellent in regards to what is going on with our Washington politicians. The first casualty of any war is the truth, ie. the Civil War because the South had the North beat in trade due to free labor. It was not really to free the slaves, that was secondary. President Lincoln wanted to send them back to Africa but he did not live long enough to do it. If that would have happened, the chiefs who sold them to the horrible white slave traders for trinkets because they had too many to feed and care for would have had them murdered. Once again they would have been put in chains in the bottom of the slave ships.
Now for WWI another lie was a war to end all wars. WWII was for the four freedoms. Another lie is that Japan started it. About three weeks before, President Roosevelt sent the Emporer of Japan a very insulting letter to the effect that they had to give up two of their best islands and oil supply. When the Japanese fleet left for Pearl Harbor President Roosevelt was notified by Navy intelligence. He ordered all under him to keep quiet because he wanted the American people enraged. Another lie: When the Alaska pipeline was being built and paid for by the United States taxpayers the oil would go to them. It went to Japan in appreciation for all the billions of dollars that they made for the Illuminati.
The present war in Iraq is for control of oil by the Vice President's clique. Still another lie is that the national war debt from WWI and II has not been paid. The war is run by counterfeit money. If you or I did the same we would be put in prison.
Ed Ocker
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
The Kingston and Benedictine hospitals have finally announced their long-awaited public forums on a proposed “realignment.” The last several months, many decisions have been made, behind closed doors, and only recently have officials met, once, with small groups. As a member of Health Care STAT, a new community-based organization, I was one of those who attended an April 6 meeting at The Kingston Hospital.
A number of questions haven’t been answered to my satisfaction, and others’. Among them:
The Kingston Hospital is moving away from its mission by agreeing to move reproductive services out of the hospital. Why?
What about security concerns if scheduled surgeries, such as tubal ligations, abortions, and vasectomies, are moved out of Kingston Hospital, across the pedestrian bridge into the Medical Arts Building? It wouldn’t take long for people who are opposed to these services to find out where they are performed. Anyone could walk in and be disruptive.
What guarantee is there that reproductive health services will remain available in the proposed “Ambulatory Surgery Center?” What if other occupants of the building experience harassment and decide to move out as a result? What effect would that have on the future of the Center?
Where will lower-income people go if some services are “realigned” out of Kingston Hospital into Benedictine Hospital, which is bound by Religious Directives?
What about other services, such as counseling for HIV/AIDS and STD’s (sexually-transmitted disease)? In this day and age everyone ought to have the opportunity to learn what precautions to take to protect their lives, and the health of others as well.
We were told the doctor-patient relationship is sacrosanct – and that’s supposed to ease our concerns. But what if the doctor has signed a document saying he or she will abide by the Religious Directives and is therefore not free to discuss a patient’s options with regard to any banned services?
How much will all this cost? According to Board of Trustees chairman Dr. Eugene Heslin, Kingston Hospital will be investing about $500,000 in making the ambulatory center possible. He also said the hospital will be seeking about $3 million from the state to complete the necessary funding.
For answers to your questions, attend a meeting sponsored by the hospitals – all 7:00 p.m. Thursdays:
Apr. 26 - Ulster County Office Building, Kingston
May 3 - Ulster BOCES, New Paltz
May 10 - Student Lounge, Ulster Community College, Stone Ridge
May 17 - Cahill Elementary School, Saugerties
May 24 - Onteora High School, Boiceville
Mildred M. Meyer
High Falls, NY

Dear Editor,
There is a crisis in health freedom. On April 30, 2007 the FDA will close the public comment period on a "Guidance" which will classify every alternative practice as medicine so that only licensed physicians can carry out the procedure AND vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc., will suddenly become "untested drugs" which will be forbidden.
Bad? Real Bad! But public outcry can stop this assault on your health and your freedom.
Spread the word! Tell everyone in your Circle of Influence, professionals, alternative practitioners, nutrient and herb companies, everyone! Let them know how important their participation is to make sure the FDA backs off from this repressive course.
Please share this link with them and urge them to take action: http://tinyurl.com/2u7ghc
Yours in health and freedom,
Rima E. Laibow, MD, Medical Director
Natural Solutions Foundation

Dear Editor,
I recently read Amy Chua's World On Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability and I highly recommend it when it comes for the Bush Administration's problem in both Iraq and Afghanistan and other hot spots all around the planet. Chua is a professor at Yale Law School who frequently lectures frequently on the impact of globalization on government, business and academic groups around the world. Chua is not an anti-globalist. Applying an ethnic-cultural analysis Chua warns that adding "raw unrestrained democracy and capitalism are intensifying ethnic resentment and global violence with potentially catastrophic results"
The growing American conflict with ultra radical Islamic fundamentalists is perhaps the best example of her main theme where she documents one example after another. The problem is not exclusively between the people of Islamic faith but all of the emerging nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The local ethnic majority gains power based on the premise of popular elections and the ruling minority is then subject to genocide, violence, terrorism and rape. Chua does not blame the native majority who for centuries are being exploited. Instead she blames the free trade policies of the neo-liberals and free market conservatives who use the development of both democracy and the development of a free market economy which in reality is total dependence to US controlled and dominated World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Chua has her finger directly on the policies of US world domination. When George W. Bush traveled to Turkey he demanded that the Islamic world give up its concept of theocracy. All of the US allies in the current conflict in the Middle East are not progressive nor are they in any way interested in developing secular democracies.
One must ask where does Bush really stand? We know he is keeping the US unilaterally in Iraq with no date set to end the occupation. The war against the Taliban in Afghanistan is now turning into the same situation in Iraq. The opposition is against the West and its ideas of a democratic secular government and free market economies opened to the West. The old Soviet Union attempted to force communism and their form Western society to the people of Afghanistan who resisted and finally defeated a soviet invasion and occupation.
None of the Democratic leadership is really against staying in Iraq or funding the war as long as a time-table is put in place to put an end to the occupation is established. This end date can change in 2008 as soon as the Democrats are fully in control. It is just a matter of time before the draft is reintroduced.
Then there is going to be a battle between the hawks and the peace representatives. US dominance of the world markets and the global political reality is the real goal of US policy. Those who control the oil and the other natural resources will be able to dominate the world. The way things are going, much of the poor of the world will die off en mass whether by global warming, replacing fossil fuels with ethanol, and other vitally important commodities. In the industrial world, the population is already dropping with each passing generation where the old will out number the young. The problem is global capitalism will help fund candidates that meet their agenda whether publicly or privately. America is quickly degenerating into a failed state. If you give the American people enough money-manure they will remain out of the process, conservatively accepting their sheep-like existence.
I think the victory of last October is being missed by everyone in politics and it is the grass roots anti-war movement and the great mass of American people who are poor and are not on the money-manure line. It is this group of anti-capitalists, anti-greed and pro-humanistic alternatives that provide any basis for hope. This is why I can only encourage everyone against this war to mobilize and go to the every demonstration and activity they can. We need to make our own separate peace with the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. A vast majority of Americans are moving towards independent politics which is welcomed and needed because this is the main cog of change.
Tom Siblo
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
The impeachment of a president is a grave and tedious affair. To impeach both President and Vice -President at the same time is next to impossible. Yet this is what must occur if we are to continue as a nation of citizens equal under the law. I have heard people argue that impeachment will tie up congress and prevent meaningful work from being accomplished. They cite our recent experience with the Clinton administration as an example. My response is to point out the fact that while congress gleefully combed over the fine points of how someone can squirm when caught cheating on their wife, Bill Clinton was not actually doing the nation any harm. Our current situation is more urgent, as George Bush and his accomplice Dick Cheney could easily do considerable more damage than they have already with their criminal behavior continuing unchallenged.
A-28 is a national coalition of peace and justice groups encouraging the public to make the word IMPEACH visible in any manner they can imagine. They accuse George Bush and Dick Cheney of lying the nation into a war of aggression, spying in open violation of the law, and sanctioning the use of torture.These are high crimes and misdemeanors that demand accountability through the Constitutional mechanism of impeachment.
This unfortunate duty is the responsibility of The House of Representatives. Since Congress doesn't seem to get it, on April 28 Americans from Miami, Florida to North Pole, Alaska are going to spell it out for them: IMPEACH! It's time to say NO to impunity for lying, spying, and torture.
Code Pink-Hudson Valley Contingent is sponsoring a local A-28 Action in Kingston, NY on Saturday April 28, 2007 from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm. People will rally on the sidewalk along Rt 9W (also known as Ulster Avenue,) across from the King's Mall, which is home of Ulster County's Military Recruiting Center.
Can you think of a better way to spend the afternoon?
Christina Countryman
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
Thomas Freidman, the Pulitzer Prize winning author, has said the Muslim community, the people whose future is being destroyed by Jihadists, have been silent and that a "moral surge" is needed. Here is a poem he made public by Wajeha al-Huwaider, a Saudi author:
When you cannot find a single garden in your city, but there is a mosque on every corner - you know that you are in an Arab country.
When you see people living in the past with all the trappings of modernity - do not be surprised, you are in an Arab country.
When religion has control over science - you can be sure that you are in an Arab country.
When clerics are referred to as "scholars" - don't be astonished, you are in an Arab country.
When you see the ruler transformed into a demigod who never dies or relinquishes his power, and nobody is permitted to criticize - do not be too upset, you are in an Arab country.
When you find that the large majority of people oppose freedom and find joy in slavery - do not be too distressed, you are in an Arab country.
When you hear the clerics saying that democracy is heresy, but seizing every opportunity provided by democracy to grab high positions - do not be surprised, you are in an Arab country...
When you discover that a woman is worth half of what a man is worth, or less - do not be surprised, you are in an Arab country...
When land is more important than human beings - you are in an Arab country...
When fear constantly lives in the eyes of the people - you can be certain you are in an Arab country.
There is a war within Islam being waged by Hezbollah, Hamas, Al Qaeda and others. For those naive citizens of our mountains, be careful who and what you romanticize and the truths you accept because you have very little knowledge about what is happening in the desert thousands of miles away from these mountains.
Jeffrey Cohen
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
The writing on the wall has always been with us. That which cultures most need to know but choose not to look at. In the case of the United States our graffiti has always been about class and race. While race gets its fair viewing, discussing class is virtually taboo especially since the myth has been created that America is a classless society. Who but the elitist mythmakers themselves would promote such an idea?
The American system of government was designed to insulate and protect the upper classes from the majority in its inception. Over 200 years ago James Madison wrote in the Federalist Papers that we must create a form of government to protect us from "the leveling spirit of the people." The leveling spirit referring to the working classes justifiable outrage over the gross inequalities of that day. The American working class has virtually fought a constant war throughout American history for the rights we have today. Yet this is largely unknown due to careful editing in the classroom curricula. The working class fought and died for labor rights and civil rights. The armories in every city in America are not there in case we're attacked by Mexico. They were built in preparation for another uprising by the majority.
Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal was concessions made to the working class when the US was on the brink of anarchy during the Great Depression. While it seems the average American has forgotten most of this, the ruling class has not.
The Neo Conservative agenda, as outlined in documents put out by members in and out of the Bush regime, all boldly assert their desire for Global Dominance in the new millennium. This agenda is evident in the stolen 2000/2004 elections, the false terror attack of 9/11, the Patriot act, the passing of the help corporate America steal our vote act and the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
While 9/11 was indeed a terror attack, it was one that was designed to make the American people fearful and compliant. In this it succeeded very well. It is time the majority remembered again that fighting for our rights is the only way we will keep them. A 400 million dollar open and ongoing contract was signed with KBR, a subsidiary of Halliburton, in 2006 to start construction of new detention centers in America. Who do you think they're for?
The wake up call is here. Join your local 9/11 group; call 679-3879 and watch the Propaganda Machine on Woodstock cable access every Sunday evening @8pm.
Francis Posavec
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
We have a recent letter writer who is thrilled with the fact that rednecks (his word, not mine) still run the good old USA. This is really entertaining stuff, full of old fashioned ranting about communists and Marxists hanging out in Woodstock and chomping at the bit to subvert the free market system. I hope he keeps writing. I enjoy the giddy ride on the time machine back to the 1950s.
As would be expected, this fellow doesn't "believe" in global warming. It also is a Marxist plot dreamed up for the purpose of doing in the free market system. Apparently the world's scientists don't realize this and I trust he'll write a letter that will help them see the light.
Fact #1: Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere acts like the glass of a greenhouse (traps heat within) and is therefore capable of warming the planet.
Fact #2: Man is taking vast amounts of carbon out of storage (coal, oil and gas) and putting it back in the atmosphere therefore increasing its content of carbon dioxide.
Obvious deduction: Man is warming the planet and creating climate change.
Peter Koch
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
I would like to thank Legislator Dean Fabiano, the members of the Environmental Committee and the entire Ulster County Legislature for supporting a resolution last week to create a Global Warming Advisory Committee.
No matter where you stand on the issue of Global Warming, I believe we all can agree that Ulster County must continue to do all it can to protect the environment and urge local governments, businesses and citizens to do likewise.
Hopefully, the committee will develop new local policies and initiatives that will help reduce carbon emissions, which many experts believe is the primary cause of global warming.
Joe Roberti
Ulster County Legislator, District 4
Glasco, NY

Dear Editor,
The bloodshed and horror at Virginia Tech has many causes. Freud said that we are all angry all the time, and for someone unable to manage that rage, coupled with the ease of obtaining firearms. Tragedies like these can be the outlet for their insecurity.
What is hardly ever mentioned is the negative influence of war. We are told repeatedly, now with our occupation of Iraq, that killing for political purposes is acceptable. Soldiers are gratuitously praised as "the nations finest," bombs are used for widespread destruction, and civilians are slaughtered by the multitudes.
With this daily immorality reported in the media in a manner that basically excuses what is going on, we get accustomed to permitting our government to kill as a matter of policy. It's thus too easy, by extension, for individuals to feel similarly emboldened.
Steve Josephs
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
Thank you all in the news media for your coverage of the horrendous shooting at Virginia Tech. The shots and the killings that occurred at this university will affect every human being in our nation. There will be great fear and anxiety, especially in college students, high school students, and school children with the question, "Can it also happen here in my school?" Our hearts and prayers are with the families who lost a loved one, or had a loved one injured.
About the future, may God give us the strength not to respond by becoming tougher on crime. This is, tragically, what happens in the wake of such shootings. Let us not forget the lesson that the Amish taught to us after that tragic shooting their grade school. Their response was love and forgiveness, which taught the entire world a lesson. This senseless cycle of death and violence can only be overcome with good. The power of love will destroy any violent deed. Most of all may God give us the strength to love one another more and that we all join hands and look up to God from where comes the only answer.
Johann Christoph Arnold, Pastor
Woodcrest Community
Rifton, NY

Dear Editor,
Sunday's weather was predicted to be a phenomenon, the one in a century storm; snow, torrential rain and howling wind. Well, it did snow a good 5 inches of wet, heavy snow. The tree limbs sagged under its weight, bending but not breaking. The wind was completely calm, not a hint of a breeze all day long. The snow fell straight and gently covering the landscape in a cloak of white. Gradually around noon there was a transition from snow to sleet to eventually rain, but still dead calm.
In the late afternoon I was motivated to take a broom and clear the clingy, wet snow from my car. I donned my winter attire, ripped jeans, a tee shirt and my ratty slippers and grabbed a broom and trudged through the now 3 inches of slushy snow and cleared or my car. When I was done I came back in and decided to do laundry and run the dishwasher incase the wind did materialize and the power went down. While at the kitchen sink I heard a dull thud and thinking something had fallen on the roof decided to go take a quick look. My home has two decks. One out back accessed from the kitchen and a larger, two level deck that you get to from the door in the living room. I checked the roof and found nothing and again, left my footprints in the slushy snow. I went to bed around 10 pm, still raining, still calm.
Waking around 12:30 the much touted wind had arrived. I could hear the wind driven rain hitting my bedroom window with the ferocity of an angry garden hose. As I slowly made my way toward the basement to stoke the wood stove I turn on the light on the kitchen deck and peered out at the driving rain and something caught my eye. There were additional "footprints" in the snow! They appeared to have come up the stairs from the lawn to the deck, circled and then went back the way they came. Curiously they came nowhere near the door. They were as big as the footprints I had left earlier. I'm getting concerned as I turn on the outside lights illuminating the Living Room deck to reveal the same mysterious footprints. It was clear that they came from the driveway up the one deck and down then purposely checked out the kitchen deck. Now my senses are heightened and I head downstairs to check the driveway. Oh man, there they are, heading from the side of my car along the driveway and up the deck. I need more information! I turn on the driveway spot lights and open the downstairs door and walk over in the torrential wind swept rain in my underwear, tee shirt and slippers to get a close up view.
As my eyes focus I'm relieved and freaking out in the same moment. At close perusal they are obviously NOT human footprints but rather those of a BEAR! I can clearly see they are paws with large claws…and they are as big as my footprints only wider! I quickly make my way indoors and lock the door behind me. I feed the stove and settle down in the recliner to dry off and calm down. After pondering the eventualities I turn out the lights and return to bed.
In the morning I open the shades and prepare to see what vision daylight sheds. Not only did a Large Bear circumnavigate my decks but as an additional affront it took a large dump at the bottom of the Living Deck's steps! I do not feed the Bears nor do I put the garbage in the receptacle until I'm ready to bring it to the curb for pick up. It must have been one curious, hungry Bear. I will certainly be more cautious as I leave my home from now on. Oh yeah, Bear's not only poop in the woods but anywhere they see fit!
Bob Nielsen
Boiceville, NY

Dear Editor,
My wife and I read with great interest Damien Toman's article regarding second home owners, in your March 1 issue. We love our home in Olivebridge and thoroughly enjoy the wonderful people we have met, the Catskill Mountain Park and the quiet roads of Ulster County. We spend our weekends hiking, cycling, walking our two dogs or just sitting and enjoying the quiet beauty.
And we both make every effort to know what is going on in the County and in the town in which we live. It is a fascinating experience to live by the Ashokan Reservoir and know that we actually rely upon that water back home in Manhattan. So in many ways we feel a deep connection. But it is difficult to actively participate in community affairs. Town councilman Henry Rank was quoted as saying that folks like us don't care about the local community and don't attend town board meetings. Well, as I believe that they are held on Tuesdays it is difficult for us because we are back working in Manhattan.
I would like to suggest that the town give thought to hosting a "get to know your community" day on a weekend in the spring. We would be delighted to attend and learn more about the important issues and also meet the town's leadership. In this was the town can reach out to those of us who aren't here during the week (much to our regret) and we in turn can demonstrate our interest in and commitment to the wonderful town we like to think of as our home.
Leonard J. Battifarano
New York, NY

Dear Editor,
Last spring, Bernard Handzel, photographed twelve Phoenicia library loving dogs.
The newly formed Friends of the Phoenicia Library now has fantastic Library Dog Note cards for sale. The proceeds will support our most excellent library services and programs.
Please stop by and buy a card for your favorite relative or friend.
And join the Friends of the Phoenicia Library!
Sincerely,
Michelle Spark
Friends of the Phoenicia Library