(Letters from May 24, 2007)

Dear Editor,
In the May 10, 2007 issue of the Olive Press editorial you nominated Travis Trim for Sainthood. You outlined his "Rap" sheet which was woefully short according to "Googled" web sites, and you continued on with the usual contemporary "blame" game.
Editorials traditionally reveal the soul of a publication and reflect the philosophy of the community which it serves but this time the Olive Press has misplaced the local, age old code of causes and effects. What was in the water the day you wrote that editoril? It reads as if the NY State Police generated the hostility and as other police joined in the "hunt" "Murphy's" Law kicked in due to [implied] tactical errors. The "errant" tear gas shell was not errant. Just as Mr Trim did not know that his "murder" of a police officer failed; likewise the police did not know that this mutant was dead and so continued whatever action to capture him. If he "killed" a police officer, why not anyone who gets in his way?
I am not educated but I am quite literate. I read this editorial as, having lost a fine, productive citizen [Mr Trim] however misunderstood, whose worth far exceeds the value of a second home and/or the life of a police officer who was doing his duty as assigned. The police manning the road blocks [certainly] were just waiting for some motorist to commit an error which would "provoke an attack from an emotionally charged police force". Emotionally charged? Have you attended a police funeral? The police at the road blocks had shotguns as the weapon of choice simply because one does not give an elusive perpetrator another oppotunity to continue his fantasy. Mr Trim demonstrated his cunning and evil mind set as the first officer was about to confront him with a "minor" traffic infraction. "His"stolen van [was] loaded with guns" [your words] and so he responded with cowardice. He also had much ammo as logistical planning might demand [my thesis]. He was up to no good, so why should we enter into deep and remorseful mourning for him?
Last evening my wife and I attended "Our Town", [a play by Thornton Wilder] at the Olive Library. It was wonderful and I had the opportunity to review your editorial with other "theatre goer" friends. A "hornet's" nest has been disturbed and we collectively wondered, why the link to the upcoming vote on the OSD budget and Board candidates?
By now [publication day] we know that Mr D'Orazio has been replaced and it causes me to pause. I have criticized Mr D'Orazio and take nothing back; but I do salute him for his service. A teacher first, then an attorney with a JD certainly can find a more enjoyable pastime than attending school board meetings complete with confrontation and "back biting". It takes a person with "hutzpah" to lead a group that wanders in separate, different directions. If Mr D'Orazio is still there I would hope that he is selected as President. The OSD Board needs a benevolent dictator to lead orderly deliberations.
By the way; the "minor" traffic incident, the "minor" DUI, the "minor" probation, the "minor" beer purchases for minors, the "minor" pot charge and the arrests at SUNY Canton as a student are not great on a resume.
The family of the Trooper "killed" by friendly fire has been quite magnanamous in their heartfelt concern for the one who may have fired the round. I can tell you that all the officers at the scene were saying, "maybe I fired that shot". I submit that this "normal kid" Travis Trim, fired that "errant" round!
A north Jersey police officer owns the resultant pile of ashes that was his second home in Arkville. Officer Chamberlain cried more for the loss of a brother officer than he did for "one of the region's more expensive homes going up in flames [that] was entirely avertable". Did the State Police really say that the fire was "entirely avertable" or is this some "Monday morning Quarterbacking?
One last irony; Travis Trim and Trooper David Brinkerhoff were buried the same day. Officer Brinkerhoff was celebrated by police reps from Canada, Mexico and all the U.S. cities, towns and hamlets.
Sadly, Travis Trim is still celebrated by a misguided editorial.
Glenn T. Anderson
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
You and your buddies did not fairly announce the school board election (i.e., positive and negative on all the candidates), or report the news fairly. Thankfully, people saw through what you were trying to do to push one person, the person I think was not the best qualified or was he the one with the best interests of Olive in mind.
Jan Baer
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
This is a letter in response to Ms. Maxanne Reznick's letter endorsing a candidate for the recent school board election. In this letter she not only endorsed Mr. D'Orazio, well within her legal and ethical rights to do, of course, BUT, she also urged voters to NOT vote for either of the other two candidates, apparently SOLELY on the principle that they resided in the Town of Olive. She did this knowing full well that at least one of them would be elected [since there were two spots to be filled on the board] and that she would be in a position of then having to work with at least one of them as a fellow board member for the good of the Onteora schools system.
This latter point, while certainly her legal right, in my opinion, violates her oath to be a representative of ALL of the people of the Onteora school district and is unworthy of a truly principled school board member. It is small minded and devisive and she should apologise publicly in this paper and to the two fine people who she beschmerched [but who were elected anyway] by this statement if she truly wants to resurrect her reputation and serve all of the people of this school district.
Jac Conaway
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
The M-ARK Project has sent the following letter to Governor Eliot Spitzer and we hope you will share it with your readers.
We applaud your efforts, and those of your staff, to try to find common ground on the Belleayre Resort project. As an economic development agency that has served the eastern portion of Delaware County for nearly 30 years, the M-ARK Project must add its voice to those calling for a final settlement of the negotiations. Assuming that developers are able to secure all permits necessary from the variety of agencies with oversight responsibilities, we support the building of a downsized resort as currently proposed by the developers.
The Town of Middletown, as well as Andes and Roxbury, desperately need this economic development initiative and they need it now. We do not believe that environmental responsibility and economic development must be mutually exclusive.
We believe that with a negotiated settlement, the SEQRA process will have worked to arrive at a project size that can be built without undue environmental threat or degradation. We urge all parties to come to an agreement that will allow a project of at least some economic viability to be built.
One need only look at the empty commercial spaces on our Main Streets to see the need for a resort that will attract more people to the area. One need only look at the cost of educating our children to see the need for a major property added to our tax base. We at the M-ARK Project see these needs in a much more intimate way, on a daily basis and it’s not a pretty picture.
The reason we are able to get so many grants for our community is because we are so desperately needy. But living from grant to grant, waiting for the government to dole out aid is not an economic development strategy on which to build a future. In discussing the economic plight of our region, one board member said “it’s great to build low income housing. But unless we get some economic development projects going around here, we’re going to have to build no income housing.”
From day one, most folks have said “we’re in favor of a project but this one’s too big. If only it could be scaled back, it would be good.” We applaud the efforts of elected officials to bring all parties together and to try to reach consensus on the current scaled back version and we look forward to learning the details, and when it will be built.
Lucci Kelly. President
M-ARK Board of Directors
M-ARK Project, Inc.
Margaretville, NY

Dear Editor,
I've been following the Dean Gitter/Belleayre Resort story for several years now. I believe the project to be a disaster in the making, pushed by someone who is more concerned about the money he can make than with the quality of life of the people in the area and the damage he will cause to the environment.
Thomas H. White of Big Indian points out that there were large hotels in the area a century ago. In that, he is correct. However, I beg to differ that the people who built them had 'no idea of what "run off" was'. People a century ago were a lot closer to the land and what affects the environment than people are now; they just didn't have a lot of fancy words to describe what they knew. Yes, there were large hotels, but they were not the kind of gigantic complex that Gitter proposes. They were more like the Mohonk Mountain House, and didn't include multiple golf
courses and tennis courts or condos; they did, however, work in harmony with nature, instead of bulldozing half a mountainside and leaving it open to major erosion. Alexander von Humboldt, writing in the 18th century, said: 'Felling the trees which cover the sides and tops of the mountains provokes in every climate two
disasters for future generations: a want of fuel and a scarcity of water. Trees are surrounded by a permanently cool and moist atmosphere due to the evaporation of water vapor from the leaves and their radiation in a cloudless sky... They shelter the soil from the direct action of the sun and thereby lessen the evaporation of the rain water. When forests are destroyed... the springs are reduced in volume or dry up entirely. The river beds... are transformed into torrents whenever there is a heavy rainfall in the mountains. Turf and moss disappear.... the rainwater rushing down no longer meets with any obstructions. Intead of slowly raising the level of the rivers... it cuts furrows into the ground, carries down the loosened soil and produces those sudden inundations which devastate the country. It follows that the destruction of the forests, the lack of springs, and
the existence of torrents are three closely connected phenomena.' (James Burke, 'The Pinball Effect'; p 173)
This sounds very much like what Gitter has planned, and the result would be very much worse than if he just left everything alone.
My other concern regarding the Belleayre project is the traffic on the Route 28 corridor. As I write, I am looking at the front page of the 7 April 2007 edition of the 'Daily Freeman'. I know the mangled car in the photograph very well. My friend, Terry O'Neill of Palenville, was the woman killed in that accident, just five miles from my house. It was the third serious accident on that stretch of Route 28 in one week, and that's on a road that has very little traffic compared to some roads I've travelled. People are used to the emptiness and straightness of Route 28, so they drive well over the speed limit, talking on their cell phones, with no thought for the
consequences. If the Belleayre project goes through, traffic will increase a hundred-fold. How many deaths can we expect then? Will it be worth it? I think not.
Patricia G. Gerresheim
West Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
A word to the wise, I find it somewhat ironic that the “new “ restaurant at the Gitter Complex being named The Phoenix, only later to read that the name originated from the mysterious fire at the old Emerson. Here is where it becomes weird. If you remember when the old Emerson was built there was a sign erected with 4 or 5 stars attached to it, guessing that the developer thought it would be considered a 4 or 5 star hotel. It was later revealed that this was not the case and one or two of the stars disappeared. Then we witness this mysterious fire that destroyed the hotel. So we have a hotel that did not exceed its expectations destroyed by a mysterious fire and now we have the “ New Emerson Resort and Spa”. So we go from an overpriced labeled “average hotel” to a Resort and Spa - coincidence? My observation could be wrong however I am sure I am not alone on this.
Mr. Gitter you denied a not for profit youth organization a lease on the fields that was developed at no cost to you except great “PR”. In reality all you did was rip off the efforts of a great many volunteers who were trying to help the towns youth. Perhaps if we were all still on the “pro Gitter band wagon” we would still have a lease on the field. My belief is that as soon as the Republicans took control of the Town Board the “Gitter Camp “ had no use in having to pacify the towns people. It was back to business as usual, and the heck with the youth. The organization that had the lease did not harm the property, they did their best with the resources they had. Perhaps one day you will be able to give everyone an answer on why this all took place - granted you need some time to make it a good story.
You may not care for the sign in my front yard or the context of it however it is the truth and honestly I tried for a 40’semi trailer but I was receiving too much gripe from the ZEO on a 4 x 6 sign and the fact that the trailer wouldn’t fit in my driveway.
There are a few people you may consider in your back pocket and assume that a phone call from you or your camp will get the job done but I sir am not one of them nor am I intimidated by them. Since moving to this town it has been my goal to provide the youth with quality sports programs. I did not realize I would be dealing with so many morons. You see Mr. Gitter it is not all about the almighty dollar and hopefully you will soon realize this. I have witnessed your scams, money now and publish photos later, so it appears you still care.
This year is an election year and although Mr. Cross has created his committees to benefit your desires, you are not home free. I met with Mr. Cross in early March 2007 to discuss the use of the soccer fields this spring. As usual I was promised the world and to this date have received no help from the current town board. Not once have the fields been mowed in 2 1⁄2 months nor do we have portable restrooms. Our club hosts home games from several counties and it is quite embarrassing to have to tell others to go use the woods - thanks for nothing. This town needs to wake up and elect officials that will make the decisions that will benefit all not just those with special interest. Not all town board members are useless or counter productive, Mr. Desclafini you are doing a good job just a little more interest in the youth would be cool.
In closing I can only say that I among many have the youth’s interest at heart and am willing to work with any elected official or private group who share the same desires. It is only in Shandaken we must wait until the elections this fall because our current majority members of the town board have failed to provide a quality program for our youth.
Chris Fischer
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
On May 7th, The Woodstock Democratic Committee hosted a Q&A between the three Democratic candidates for the office of Ulster County District Attorney. Vincent Bradley Jr, Julian Schreibman and Jonathan Sennett patiently answered far ranging questions from both the WDC members and the Woodstockers that attended. The Q&A lasted over 2 hours and the candidates had the opportunity to convey their philosophy, experience and goals. The Woodstock Democratic Committee wishes to thank all three candidates for a lively and enlightening evening. The Democratic Party will be lucky to have any one of these men as our next DA.
Terrie Rosenblum, Chair
Woodstock Democratic Committee
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
There have been celebrations of Israeli Independence Day which are appropriate: the one in NYC had many important politicians respectfully present. However, with the establishment of the Israeli state, there was an enormous cost for the Palestinians which I want to acknowledge. More than 500 Palestinian villages were destroyed and 750,000 Palestinians became refugees in 1948 to make way for the state of Israel. The Zionist belief was that Palestine of 1948 was ‘a land without people for a people without a land’ but there were almost one million Palestinians living in the area that became Israel. They did not leave voluntarily but left to avoid massacres and war. Their loss is acknowledged and honored on Nakba Day (“Nakba” is Arabic for catastrophe). This Friday, May 18 is Nakba Day. Like many Israelis who work for peace in Israel, I wish to acknowledge the Nakba and its ongoing injustice because I believe this is essential to achieving peace in the holy land. Please join me for a vigil on Friday, May 18, at 5pm on the Woodstock Village Green.
Elaine Hencke
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
When SUNY New Paltz, President Steven Poskanzer visited the Freeman Editorial Board on April 23, it was great that he could discuss how funding increases allowed for the hiring of 38 full time faculty members. It was too bad that President Poskanzer didn't also discuss the discontinuance of the Sociology Department's Dual Degree Program in Sociology and Social Welfare. If only the voices of the many residents of Ulster County to whom this program gave a helping hand could be heard, maybe this program would not have been eliminated. This program was responsible for placing Graduate level Social Work interns into many Ulster County human service agencies. This resource allowed these agencies to provide more service at little extra cost. Furthermore, it brought the knowledge base of the College into the community and stirred many a conversation on Social Work theory and technique. Many area Social Work supervisors received the benefit of being trained at SUNY New Paltz as field instructors. Such training served as a seminar in human service provider supervision, a stress management support and networking group, and a vital source of helping technology transfer. This is the last year that Ulster County will have this resource.
SUNY New Paltz just doesn't care about the disadvantaged and disenfranchised of Ulster County the way this institution used to. After May 2007, it looks like this noble program will be history. If only the voices of the many Social Work professionals who graduated from this program and went on to find employment in beautiful Ulster County could be heard, maybe this program would be revived. SUNY New Paltz used to offer an economical route to a professional Social Work degree. With Social Work being one of the lowest paid of the professions, economy of tuition is a vital consideration for many who want to be able to afford Ulster County's high housing costs, while paying off graduate school loans. Many, many professional social workers have been able to do just that. If only they could meet as a body with President Poskanzer to hear his explanation as to why he could not find a way to refund this program, with or without the aid of SUNY Albany (a partner in this program - shame, shame on my alma mater).
Unfortunately, over-worked social work supervisors, social work graduates, human service workers for whom this program supported their upward mobility and the troubled citizens for whom this program was a Godsend, weren't consulted before this program slipped through the fingers of SUNY New Paltz administrators. President Poskanzer, why was this program cut and what can you do to bring this program back? Many hurting Ulster County citizens would like to know.
David S. Shaw
Boiceville, NY

Dear Editor,
Kingston and Benedictine hospitals have finally announced public forums on a proposed "realignment." In the last several months, many decisions have been made behind closed doors. A number of questions haven't been answered to my satisfaction.
Why is Kingston Hospital moving away from its mission by agreeing to move reproductive services out of the hospital?
What about security concerns? If tubal ligations, abortions, and vasectomies are moved into the Medical Arts Building, those who oppose these services could easily be disruptive.
If other occupants of the building experience harassment and decide to move out, what guarantee is there that the center would stay open?
What about counseling for HIV/AIDS? Catholic hospitals are not allowed to discuss contraception. How can people at risk protect their health and the health of others?
They said the hospital doesn't interfere with the doctor-patient relationship, but doctors at Catholic hospitals must sign an agreement to follow the Religious Directives. Which is it?
If you, too, want answers, attend a meeting sponsored by the hospitals. The next is May 24 at Onteora High School, Boiceville.
Mildred M. Meyer
High Falls, NY

Dear Editor,
By this time, most readers have heard of the rulings of the Berger Commission affecting hospitals and nursing homes located in New York state. Ostensibly, designed to reform them and lower their costs of operation, its premise is so harmful to our already failing health care system, that it must be altered by the state legislature lest it result in ever greater expenses for New York state residents. In the Hudson Valley Area this Commission has ordered Kingston and Benedictine hospitals to merge their operations by the end of ’07 or one of them will have to close. This was based on information dating back to 2003 and is no longer valid. According to a recent article in the Daily Freeman, Kingston Hospital has reported profits from $500,000 to $2 million for the past three years. But at public information meetings sponsored by the two hospitals this information was not forthcoming. The problem of duplication of services at the above mentioned hospitals can be settled by a simple agreement between them without the complicated and costly merger process, which will create another layer of bureaucracy without any gain to the health care of the patients.
They are planning to build another ambulatory surgery in a nearby building to provide reproductive services because of the religious mandates of Benedictine Hospital. These services are already provided at Kingston Hospital. Does it make sense to spend the extra millions of dollars it will cost to buy and equip another site?
We need to provide health care for all regardless of age or income in a non-profit system Health care is a service, not an industry. This should be our focus now.
Assemblyman Cahill, Senators Larkin and Bonacic and Gov. Spitzer must act immediately to reverse the actions of the Berger Commission and lift the death penalty on one of our much needed hospitals. They have been derelict in their duty to safeguard the interests of the people. Call or write them now and demand their intervention.
Esther Nason
Kingston, NY

Dear Editor,
Ulster County legislative leaders (Chairman David Donaldson and Minority Leader Glenn Noonan) are opening the door to a casino in Ellenville (Town of Wawarsing). In a recent ediution of the Saugerties Times, Donaldson cites the nearby proposed casino in Monticello (Sullivan County) as a favorable factor. "A casino in Sullivan may very well affect that (Ellenville) area without getting any benefit, you would have the negatives of gambling with none of the money which comes with it."
Thus do our weak-kneed leaders justify what has been termed "the race to the bottom." As each casino spreads its negative affect in an outward radius of some 50 miles - sucking the money from the surrounding area, and creating crime, traffic, social problems - politicians in these areas say, "If we're going to get the negatives anyway, let's try and get in on the action and have our own casino." Then, in turn, more casinos are created as everywhere communities get in on the action and the radius of damage is extended until everywhere the net negatives of casinos prevail. Tomorrow Ellenville, the day after tomorrow politicians following their craven logic will target Saugerties again.
Legislator Brian Shapiro has the right idea. The Ulster County Legislature should take a stand against casino construction in the county.
Arnold Lieber
Saugerties, NY

Dear Editor,
In March, area Catholics demonstrated in Poughkeepsie and Newburgh. They demanded that Cardinal Egan publicly declare that Representative John Hall be refused Holy Communion in any Archdiocesan church because of his openly pro-abortion stance. As expected, Cardinal Egan did nothing. However, these pro-life efforts yielded successful results in a different way. As a consequence of the pressure generated by these protests, Mr. Hall deleted his Catholic affiliation from his new Website on April 5.
With this victory in mind, pro-life Catholics will again rally at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, in front of Sacred Heart Church in Newburgh (the church of Cardinal Egan's co-Vicar in Orange County). Participants will demand that Cardinal Egan impose mandatory canonical sanctions upon Congressman Maurice Hinchey owing to Mr. Hinchey's strongly pro-abortion positions.
It is to be hoped that this worthy cause will not be greeted by indifference and moral cowardice on the part of those who claim to be pro-life Catholics in Orange County and elsewhere. Protecting the Holy Eucharist from sacrilege requires no less than wholehearted support.
Vincent Ferro
Milton, NY

Dear Editor,
The Emerson Resort and Spa reflects an investment of millions of dollars and countless staff hours towards the growth of the economy in Ulster County and the Catskill region. As the architects of the new Emerson Resort and Spa, Alfandre Architecture extends a huge note of gratitude to the people who came together to design and build the new Resort. Our firm, together with Steve Molmed, Mechanical Engineer of Boiceville, and Joe Lenskold Structural engineer of Kingston, worked with Dean Gitter and his staff to design the new building while linking it to the existing Marketplace. Many people, too numerous to mention, were responsible for its construction. Alfandre Architecture is pleased to have worked with the Emerson Place team on the development of the Marketplace, the Lodge, the original Emerson Inn and now the New Emerson Resort and Spa. We are inspired by Mr. Gitter's commitment to our region. This extraordinary facility is truly a jewel in the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Rick Alfandre, AIA, LEED AP
David Ekroth, AIA
Alfandre Architecture, PC
New Paltz, NY

Dear Editor,
Yee-haw! On Friday, May 11, 2007, the Phoenicia Elementary PTA hosted a Square Dance at the school with live music by the Earl Pardini Band, a chili contest, games, raffle, photo booth, cake walk, and more. The turn out by families, teachers, and community members was phenomenal. Over $1500 was raised for future assemblies, after school extra-curricular activities, and equipment that will better the classroom experience.
I’d like to extend a huge thanks to all who contributed. It’s volunteers who make events like these successful. We have such an artistic, creative community and it deeply warms my heart to see those talents benefiting our children. I was also overwhelmed by the graciousness of our local businesses that donated food/raffle/silent auction items. I want to publicly thank each donor, encouraging everyone to support those businesses in the same manner they support our school. (I’d also like to say kudos to our chili contest winners: Peekamoose and Brooke Tinney tied for the title of Phoenicia Chili Champ!).
Many thanks again to all... Al’s Restaurant, Alyce and Roger’s Fruit Stand, Author/Gene Autry biographer Holly George-Warren, Boiceville Market, Brio’s,
Catskill Mountain Pizzeria, The Emerson, Hanover Farms, Home, Hong Kong restaurant, Ice Cream Station, Le France d’Amerique. Miss Kitty’s Salon, The Nest Egg, Peekamoose Restaurant, The Phoenicia Delicatessen, Phoenicia Feeds & Pet Supply, Phoenicia Pharmacy, Phoenicia Supermarket, Russ’ Country Kitchen, Sweet Sue’s, The Wren’s Nest
Rebecca Ffrench, Vice-President Phoenicia Elementary PTA

Dear Editor,
Do you want to catch some 'local color' and increase your sense of community? You are invited to join the volunteers at the Phoenicia Library Plant and Book Sales. Mark your calendar for June 2nd from 10:00 to 2:00. Anique Taylor will do face painting (for 1 1/2 - 2 hours) and Uncle Rock will start entertaining at 11:00am. We'll be selling baked goods, books (in the book store & quality used
books), there will be a silent auction and applications to join the Friends of the Phoenicia Library.
Did you know that the Library circulation for April -07 was 2481 which includes fiction and nonfiction, adult and juvenile and other media? That is fantastic!! Come help us increase our numbers. Our friendly staff is here to serve you M-W-&F from 1pm to 6pm, and Tues. & Thurs from 10am to 4pm.
We have had an adult discussion Book Club for the past year. Would you like to join us? Hosted by Library Board President Melissa Thongs, the current book available at the Library is The Devil and Miss Pyrm by Paulo Coelho. Pick up a copy and join the Book Club on Saturday June 9th at 12 noon at the Library for some refreshments and great discussion.
Watch for information on Flick Ford's book signing event at the Library on June 16th in conjunction with his prints at the Art Upstairs Gallery on Main St. Phoenicia.
We appreciate the time and talents of our staff and volunteers. Come check us out at the Phoenicia Library!
Mark Wilsey
Phoenicia Library Trustee

Dear Editor,
I don't know about you.
I'm talking to the inhabitants of the entire Boiceville and surrounding areas. When I come home from work (in Ulster Park, yes it's a ride) but I'm glad to have all that "Boom Town" crap behind me.
I'm happy driving towards my home. My quiet little "Suburbia in the woods", Hi Arthur, I'll be in later to pick up my video. Hello Mario. Hey Joe and Paula. Hi Hoppy...love those new bears. And I like the new little nursery. Yes, I like it this way. And anyway, how much is enough?
Remember that line about Vampires? "If you don't 'welcome' them, they can't come in.
Gail Trammell
Boiceville, NY