Dear Editor,
On August 22 Onteora school board members voted not to vote on the Large Parcel Bill that would have equalized tax rates in all of the Towns. In effect that was the same as the bill being defeated. The vote was 4 to 3 against voting for the Bill. The board agreed that by not voting on the Bill it would send a signal to the New York State legislature that they felt that this type of legislation fractures the cohesiveness of the school district and that no school district should be involved in political issues. Last year they thought voting for the Large Parcel Bill was the right thing to do. Do they really think that the State is going to change their ruling or is there another reason why they didn’t want to see the Bill passed? Three of the four trustees that voted not to vote on the Bill live in the Town of Olive. As reported residents of Olive will see a $7.77 per $1000.00 in assessed value, but if the board had voted for the Large Parcel Bill Olive residents would have paid $9.92 per $1000.00 assessed value. Based on $1000.00 of assessed value, Woodstock will pay $11.60, Shandaken $42.05, Lexington $13.55, Marbletown $10.62, Hurley $10.47. If the Bill had passed all Towns would have seen a decrease in what they paid per $1000.00 of assessed value. What’s going on here?
Board President Marino D’Orazio said that it was his duty as a school board trustee to see that taxes were applied fairly and equitably. I thought that it was the responsibility of all the trustees to see that all Towns were to be treated fairly and equitably. He went on to say that if a house is valued at $100,000.00 it should be taxed at the same rate as another house of the same value regardless of which town the property is located. For many years the Town of Olive paid very low taxes while the rest of the Towns made up the total cost of the school district's expenses.
William Warnecke
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
Congressman Hinchey and State Comptroller Hevesi are out of the loop. They have based their latest attempt to derail the Belleayre Resort on out of date information. I would like to bring you, and them, up to speed.
Two months ago, the regional EPA administrator wrote a letter to a group of NYC Congressmen, calling for "a constructive dialogue meant to seek consensus...that would provide for resolution of the long-standing disagreements that have surrounded this project." We couldn't agree more!
With than in mind, we recently met with various officers from the EPA and laid out new concepts to explore. The regional director, after learning of these concepts, said that he is reserving judgment until he sees for himself what our new direction might mean economically and environmentally. For now, he is no longer supporting the Hinchey "Compromise."
All of this took place long before Congressman Hinchey sent a press release last week, belatedly trumpeting the EPA's support of his plan. It seems he even convinced Comptroller Hevesi that his plan was gaining momentum. He was wrong to do so. From what we can see, there is no spirit of compromise coming from the Hinchey camp. His plan is an ultimatum, not a compromise. And it is Ulster County and the town of Shandaken that will suffer the most, as his plan calls for the elimination of several million in annual tax revenue and hundreds of well-paying, full-time jobs.
I should explain why we aren't announcing our new concepts to you. It is because they are exactly that...concepts. We are continuing our talks with key regulatory agencies. If they don't approve new plans, then there is no need to announce something that has no chance of seeing the light of day. When we are confident that we have even tentative support from the regulatory agencies, we will then meet with environmental, business and government leaders to lay out the new future of the Belleayre Resort. Stay tuned!
To date, we are still embroiled in a lengthy environmental review process as required by the State. Mr. Hinchey is not part of that process. Mr. Hevesi is not part of the process. It would be well for them to stop roiling the waters -- it is they, not us, who are kicking up dirt and generating turbidity.
Paul Rakov
Crossroads Ventures
Mt. Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
As many of you know by now, we're in Iraq for as long as our leader stays in office. That's what he said in his news conference on Monday. To quote: "We’re not leaving [Iraq] so long as I’m the President. That would be a huge mistake.” Bush leaves office in January 2009. Only 2-1/2 years from now.
He also stated that 'The terrorists attacked us and killed 3,000 of our citizens before we started the freedom agenda in the Middle East." When asked specifically, what Iraq had to do with 911 he replied: "Nothing, except for it's part of -- and nobody's ever suggested in this administration that Saddam Hussein ordered the attack. Iraq was a -- the lesson of September the 11th is take threats before they fully materialize. Nobody has ever suggested that the attacks of September 11th were ordered by Iraq".
He never said that Saddam Hussein was involved in the bringing down of the WTC. Well, I'm glad he made that clear, now that we know that we're in Iraq for more than 2 years, in the midst of a Civil War. Doesn't that just make you want to ask your kids to enlist? Speaking of enlisting, how long do you think it will be before our leader brings back the draft? Now that he is supremely comfortable in his position of an unchallenged leader of all branches of government and the army, I'll wager that it won't take too long.
But, we still have an election coming up in Nov. Now, what would you say our chances are of taking back the House, and thereby one branch of government? Slim to none, I feel in my heart, however I have no choice but to continue fighting.
After all, I was raised in a democracy and I was blessed. I owe it to my country to continue to ask my fellow patriots for their participation. Although I am against the present policy of money buying the media and thereby winning elections, so long as it is still in place, it seems our only chance. So, I'm going to point out today, that the DNC is raising money for the upcoming elections on their site. http://www.democrats.org/
Now is the time for later, who knows what this country will look like. For all we know, our leaders are believers in the Rapture and trying to bring about the end of life on earth. Anything is possible.
Therefore, I promise to change some of my ways. For instance, now, when I meet someone who believes that Iraq had WMD's and had something to do with 911, I will not scream and yell at them, (or at least I will try). Now, instead, I will memorize our leader's statement and let them know that the admitted that Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with 911. I will then point out to them that there is a waiting line of Middle Eastern leaders that are waiting to show the world how much they hate us, which was not the situation before our war against Iraq. I will point out to them that we are in much greater danger now, than we were before we'd entered into this ill advised war.
For the sake of our children and our Grandchildren a reminder to all that Democracy is not a Spectator Sport.
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
In your 3 August 2006 issue there are two references to the current situation in the Middle East which need addressing: in "New Thermos" Gus Murphy takes a not-very-subtle swipe at Israel ("Children and peacekeepers killed"), while in a letter to the editor, Jill Paperno repeats verbatim a bunch of anti-Israel rhetoric without so much as an attempt to be subtle. I need to comment on both.
Mr. Murphy makes reference to what one must assume he means "innocents" being "killed", yet he does not deign to address how many innocent Israelis are also being killed. One has to wonder, as I do, just what Mr. Murphy's point was.
Ms. Paperno cites what she seems to believe are impartial, perhaps objective, and seemingly reliable, sources in her irresponsible diatribe against Israel. As for the "kidnapping" of Hamas members, does she actually think that the Israeli incursion into Gaza to imprison the two individuals she refers to was in fact the very first action? Does she not know why Israel would enter hostile territory? In fact, Israeli agents enter hostile territory to neutralize, if not eliminate, threats against its citizens and its very existence. Hamas, and, until recently, the so-called Palestinian Authority, have had clauses in their charters (I hesitate to use the term "constitution" herein) calling for the elimination of the Jewish state. As does Hezbollah. None of these organizations, nor their sponsors, hide the fact they hate Jews.
Why would the Jewish state, or any other state, not seek to neutralize or eliminate such dire threats to the lives of their citizens, or itself?
If there were people in Woodstock shooting weapons and missiles against the citizens of Glenford, would Ms. Paperno expect anyone to believe she would not be petitioning her representatives to neutralize, or eliminate, such threats?
Israel only seeks to be a homeland for Jews. There is no other place in the world, not in Europe, not in Arabia, nowhere else, where Jews are not under threat. Why should not Israel seek to eliminate any and all threats to its citizens or its very existence as a nation?
If the members of Hamas and Hezbollah were to stop threatening -- as does the patron of Hezbollah, the president of Iran -- to wipe the State of Israel from the face of the earth, then Israel would not need to neutralize, let alone eliminate, them.
Let Mr. Murphy and Ms. Paperno keep in mind that being anti-Israeli does not constitute being objective. Jews and Israelis simply want their enemies to leave them alone. But those enemies and sympathizers must remember that Jews and Israelis will never again let their enemies believe that Jews will go to their slaughter easily or silently.
S. Weir
Chichester, NY

Dear Editor,
Currently before Gov. George Pataki there are several pieces of legislation that have been passed by both the Assembly and the Senate that positively impact on the lives of people with disabilities within New York State. They are as follows:
" Mental Health Alternatives to Solitary Confinement, known as the "SHU Law" (bills A.3926-A/S.2207-C). The purpose of the SHU Law is to prevent the current use of regular under-staffed and funded local infirmary special housing units for individuals who are severely mentally challenged where such inmates who are a danger to themselves and others. The new law provides for placement within an appropriate mental health facility rather the general prison population, including the local prison infirmary where most severe cases are sent without appropriate levels of care. This new law requires the inmate to get the medically necessary care rather than languishing in the local prison infirmary without medications or therapeutic services. The governor must sign this bill within the next three weeks in order for it to become law.
" ADA Title III Added to the NYS Human Rights Law. The ADA Title III adoption into New York State has been passed by both the Assembly and the Senate (bills A.3926-A/S.2207-C) and is waiting for Gov. Pataki to sign it into law. This legislation adopts the ADA Title III in its completed form as part of New York State Human Rights Law.
Disability rights advocates from all over New York State are asking citizens to call up Gov. Pataki at (518) 474-8390 and tell him to sign into law these two important pieces of legislation.
Thomas R. Siblo-Landsman
Systems advocate
RCAL Inc
Kingston

Dear Editor,
Have you noticed the pervasive and continuing graft and corruption that has become the norm in the Bush administration for the past six plus years?
I am not sure just where it began until Halliburton came along with it's 63 million dollar fraud in the "Mess Hall" debacle. Then it was Brown, Root a subsidiary of Halliburton with it's Fuel scheme in which gasoline for our military mission in Iraq was purchased for roughly 38 cents per gallon in Kuwait, transported to Iraq where the US military paid in excess of $3.00 per gallon delivered [ABC, CBS & NBC]. Another source is a Kuwaiti with whom I converse many mornings on "Paltalk", a computer voice connection not unlike Amateur Radio of old. She informs me that gasoline at the pump in Kuwait is 32 cents [US] per standard gallon [not per litre].
Halliburton's "no bid" contract was terminated while DoD collected the 63 million [no penalty]. Halliburton is back at the same "stand" doing the people's [and Bush's] business as I write [PBS].
Then we have the theft of millions of dollars for unfulfilled service in the "security" game in Iraq. "Blackwater" was fired but the Bush administration gave them a gift and in turn Blackwater quit while they were ahead. Other pseudo security "start-ups" also bailed out after receiving "earnest " money, government equipment and surplus military hardware [CBS, 60 Min].
Even the poorest of the poor; the US Coast Guard is being ripped off with the benevolent blessing of the DHS [Dept. of Homeland Security] via Lockheed Martin. My source is "The Navy Times" dated August 21, 2006 in which appears a report of a "whistle blower" who was a software engineer for Lockheed Martin. He was concerned that in his capacity he had found surveillance and communications systems being installed in the new 123 foot patrol boats are not meeting the CG's specs and i would add that the contract is not being fulfilled as stated.
It seems that the vessel's command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems are being compromised all for the sake of a few paltry dollars. For the above equipment to function properly and as designed, shielded cable must be used as opposed to ordinary "lamp" cord. As a current licensed HAM [Tech class] WB2INK and holder of a 1st class Commercial Radio License I know how important it is to include shielded cable [as used for the delivery of faithful signals via cable to your TV].
Apparently some exterior cameras have been eliminated leaving blind spots and the vessel vulnerable. The boat's data and voice transmittal system has been touted as "cutting edge" technology designed for secure communications but is compromised due to the absence of "shielded" cable.
Wait! There's more but I would advise Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld to quit micro managing and leave a few things for the experts. After all, Mr. Bush is a former bar room "dancer", Cheney is a manipulator and "Rummy" listens to none of our Flag Officers [or senior Enlisted].
Lockheed Martin claims all the above is being investigated by them and the DHS IG. What's so difficult in establishing the fact that some 180[?] miles of RG-59 [or whatever type] shielded cable has not been installed in each of what will be 49 123 foot "Deepwater" patrol boats costing 24 billion dollars total. That's a lot of money in light of the fact that these 123 foot vessels are being "stretched from current 110 foot craft.
Makes one wonder a bit about body armor and casualties, Amen?
Glenn T. Anderson
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the generous hosts who opened their gardens for this year's Phoenicia Area Garden Tour on June 25. Despite the torrential rains that threatened all morning and finally descended upon the area in the afternoon, we had a good turnout of tour-goers who appreciated the variety of gardens and dedication of the gardeners. We are grateful to Marvella Casale for her charming flower-packed Phoenicia village garden, Sylvia Wolf and Leonard Levitain for their breathtaking Pantherkill retreat, Trudy Stroh for her wild secret garden full of surprises at each turn, Patty Rudge and her team of 4-H-ers for their informative discussions on sustainable farming at any scale, shown by their dedication to their well-tended animals and abundant organic vegetable gardens, Micheal Boyer for his gardens full of unusual varieties hidden in the heart of Pine Hill village, and Ralph Persons for his terraces, garden sculptures, cabins, and watercolor studio all cascading artfully down his forested hillside.
In addition to contributing to the Pine Hill Garden Club, this year's Garden Tour was a fund-raising effort for Phriends of Phoenicia, a volunteer group dedicated to Main Street beautification projects in town. We plant and maintain the gardens at the Bridge Street entrance to town on Rt. 28, the garden by the Post Office, and the gardens in Simpson Park. We are very active picking up litter in town, and we encourage all residents to help in the litter clean-up effort. To donate money to support our efforts, or if you are interested in joining our group, contact Elizabeth Holland Kern at 688-7314, or send a check to Phriends of Phoenicia, PO Box 278, Phoenicia, NY 12464.
Sincerely,
Terry Spies
Elizabeth Holland Kern
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
The Big Indian-Oliverea Fire Department and Ladies Auxiliary wish to express our sincerest appreciation and thanks to all our friends and neighbors who came to our 45th annual Chicken & Ribs Bar-B - Q on August 5, 2006.
Your support and kindness have made all our fund raising efforts so successful. We look forward to continuing our service to all of you and to seeing you next year at our 46th Bar-B-Q.
Sincerely,
Members of the
BIOFD & Ladies Auxiliary