(letters from July 6, 2006)

Dear Editor,
How ludicrous is Bob Cross Jr's claim that his wife is the victim of a smear campaign? When I first heard of her new job, which began shortly after he was elected, I called him to ask if it was true. He told me she didn't work for Dean Gitter, but at the "plaza in town"
"What plaza Bob ?" I asked
"You know, the one in Mt.Tremper" he responded
"What plaza is there in Mt. Tremper?" I asked
"Catskill Corners" he responded
"Well, then she does work for Dean Gitter" I said
He got a little testy and said she didn't. Cross then went on to explain that she had to go to work because he took such a big pay cut to become Supervisor. He said "everyone" told him that the job would only take him about 20 hours a week and he was spending 80 hrs doing it so he had no time to be an unlicensed surveyor. ( ok, he didn't say unlicensed). I am glad "everyone" didn't tell him to jump off a bridge. I asked him if he thought it would raise suspicions that the only job she could find was working for Gitter, oh, I mean Catskill Corners (as the Emerson complex was known in one of it's previous lives) and he said that it was paying more than any other place in Shandaken and she didn't have to drive to Kingston either. Several times over the next few years when the question of Mrs. Cross's employment and with it, Bob's conflict of interest, came up, Bob just denied she actually worked for Gitter. At one point, he tried so hard to put distance between her and Gitter that he even made up a name for the place himself, which Dean promptly corrected.
So, for it to be pointed out that his wife has a good paying job, is hardly a "smear" and to imply the jobs at the resort would not be good paying ones well, just look at the EIS, prepared by Crossroad Ventures, it says they will be low paying, because the good paying jobs will go to "experienced people who will come from outside the area".
Secondly, for Bob to claim he has never "stooped to such activities ( smear campaigns) in my public service career and I never will" is such a bold faced lie, I am surprised his pant's don't catch fire.
Gee, Bob don'tcha remember all those ad's put out by your favorite cheerleader, the Citizen for Progress? You denied responsibility, yet never denounced the vile diatribes put out on your behalf, just enjoyed and reaped the benefits. Remember how you ran around town telling people you had the evidence to put a former supervisor in jail? That was a lie and you even implicated the district attorney on that one. Remember all the nasty things you said about me to the guy next to you at the Coalition of Watershed Towns meeting last year? You know,the one I taped? Talk about a smear! I could go on and on and on and on, really but most people in town have already caught on to how you operate.
If you are so worried about Community Character, why did you work so hard keep the report prepared for Shandaken,on The Belleayre Resort's effect on Community Character, out of the DEC's Issues Conference? Because it made your wife's employer look bad? Oh, I mean it made Dean Gitter, the managing partner of Crossroad Ventures, who it also the managing partner of Emerson Place Enterprises, which employs Bob's wife, look bad.
For Mr. Cross to vote on or handle anything that involves Dean Gitter or any of his companies is a clear conflict of interest and sooner or later he will have to answer for that.
Lastly, Bob should stop claiming that he is worried about the example being set for children. The example he has set is It's OK to lie, work for special interest, bad mouth others and basically be all the things people hate about politicians.
Mary Herrmann
Pine Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
The caustic letter from Curt Schoeberl, Assessor, Town of Shawangunk printed in the April 13th, 2006 issue of the Olive Press, covertly accusing reservoir host towns (Olive is one of those) of tax evasion and implied theft of County monies, needs to be answered.
Schoeberl says Senator Larkin (who introduced the Large Parcel Bill) knew from the beginning that the Bill had always included the word "reservoirs" in it's language--thus making reservoir towns the recipients of Large Parcel designation.
Olive Matters has a copy of of Senator Larkin's letter to Richard Smith, Esq.--a lawyer hired by Olive's Town Board in 2004 to oppose the Large Parcel Law. Larkin stated in his letter to Mr. Smith that...."The [Large Parcel] Law was not intended to apply to reservoirs, particularly where the[re] are no wild swings in value from year to year. Mr. Schoeberl is accusing Senator Larkin of lying outright by insisting the word "reservoir" IS in the Bill's language and Larkin knew about it when introducing the Bill.
But as Mr. Schoeberl knows, the word "reservoir" NEVER appears in Larkin's "Introducer's Memorandum in Support" where Larkin introduced the L.P. Bill to the Senate. It does not appear in wording of the Bill itself and it does not appear in the wording of the final Large Parcel Law passed in 2002.. Evidently the word "reservoir" was a little SECRET word--shared like a code ring by grown men and put into official use by THE OFFICE OF REAL PROPERTY SERVICES (ORPS) who then designated the majority of RESERVOIR TOWNS as LARGE PARCEL towns). ORPS did this in order to perform a reservoirectomy upon the unsuspecting rural folk of New York's reservoir host towns.
Originally, in '02, the Large Parcel Bill had been misrepresented to the Senate and Assembly saying its primary purpose was to protect townspeople from wild swings in taxes resulting from large, high value properties in their towns. As we in Olive know, the Large Parcel Law did not prevent, but caused wild swings in Olive's taxes. In his letter to Smith, Senator Larkin goes on to say " Furthermore, it was my intention that the use of the alternate equalization formula in the Law would be optional and used only if all affected municipalities opted to use the large parcel equalization process." Of course, Olive never opted to use the large parcel equalization process."
Schoeberl again misleads by stating that "...the non reservoir towns in the County picked up [had to pay] an estimated $1,200,000 in county taxes." What he really is saying is that the BOOTY of $1.2 million anticipated from this well plotted THEFT of reservoir properties from their host towns did NOT occur. This thievery by the way was prevented by the hard work and tenaciousness of the townspeoples of those reservoir towns--not by their State representatives. It is significant that most towns hosting a reservoir are rural, bereft of businesses, short on lawyer money and that a majority of them havc been endlessly doing battle with the City who wishes to keep its reservoir assessments low.
All that is left to Mr. Schoeberl is to once again try to confuse and /or pit town against own in a divide and conquer effort toward the next County Legislator's (and Onteora School Board's) Large Parcel vote.
Best wishes to ALL our towns
Henny Wise
OM Member

Dear Editor,
I found my self reading the letter sent by Maureen O’Sullivan on the June 22 edition of the paper and found my self getting very angry at the most stupid anti local letter ever. This woman moved to our community this past November im sure from the city suddenly is the self proclaimed anti hunting, pro vegetarian, Albert Einstein quoting savior of Shandaken that is going to change all our minds and sit around a vegetarian burger and sing happy happy songs all day. Well please allow me to educate you on a little something miss O’ Sullivan first of all the people of our community that do practice hunting are not blood thirsty maniacs as you seem to imply most of us here that do hunt do so one for yes the meat wish we share amongst friends relatives and also hunting keeps deer population under control. The most blood thirsty unsafe hunters that come to our community for simply the right to brag they shot a deer then place in the trash since they don’t know what to do with it are from the city it self. Second there has been a rise with bear sittings in our community and others for the past several years the main cause in my opinion is due to CITY people leaving trash out for you have no clue on how to live in harmony with nature. You may claim you do but you do not. Most city people that chose to live here love it make changes to the way they live and habits because they love the peace and beauty of our beautiful mountains and all they have to offer and others like your self who come here and first thing try to change the local mind set in order to accommodate you. I found your letter to be very insulting to people of our
community this is not the city nor will the people that have lived all their lives here change in order to accommodate outsiders.
Pat Chagot
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
I would say to Ms. Maureen O'Sullivan re: letter of 22 June that "now" is always the best time to "introduce" yourself to the new community of your choice. I would have done it two days following arrival and it would have been a bit more incendiary.
I [and I am sure others] have raked through the "muck" of criticism you heaped on us "hillbillies", "country bumpkins", "side hill farmers" and "stump jumpers" finding not one virtue unless we interpret your charges as compliments.
You even "trashed" our parochial Times for reporting the news in a "light hearted", "cheery toned" manner. Shame on you Phoenicia Times for failing to see and report life in these hills and valleys as it coulda, woulda, shoulda be. Instead the Times celebrated a time honored aboriginal custom and has not repented; probably won't.
You must join us in the Spring Turkey hunt Ms. Sullivan when you will find a few starved or otherwise malnourished deer corpses in the woods. You can combine your observations with a "hike on the trail" as you prefer. Take pictures of those emaciated, pain stricken bodies and submit them to the Times. They will print them; guaranteed.
And yes, Ms. O'Sullivan; hunting is a great early start for serving in the military. My father and grandfather called hunting "early intervention. Keeps a kid out of trouble" We were all "expert" [and safe] on the rifle range or on the beach in WWII, Korea, Nam and other hot spots. Incidentally, your source for numbers of shell shocked, battle fatigued and stressed troops is probably correct but you are quoting a Lt. Col. David [Dave to you] Grossman that teaches at the War College in Rhode Island [which I have attended as a senior enlisted] and he does not say our military should not break things and kill people. He merely points out that war is "hell" which is true and also the mantra throughout the course is that "it's a kill or be killed strategy". No instructor at the War College ever asks "those who have hunted prior to military service, raise your hand" or "who in the class likes to kill"? Dr. Grossman does however inform the attendees that the UCMJ and Geneva Conference will be adhered to [but a surrendering opponent must be observed closely and the "cover" ready to shoot to kill].
You also include "Bush Hater" in the mix but if that strengthens your particular philosophy that's fine. Whatever works. Somehow you inserted abortion clinics on 28, Gay marriages, vegetarians and uncles or fathers who take their sons hunting [preparing them for a life of killing]. Then we are informed that a diet book by John Robbin is the way to go and we do not need meat of any kind. Ms. O'Sullivan, have you ever eaten a Venison Gullion seasoned to taste with braised Rabbit on the side? A glass of burgundy [oh, those poor crushed grapes]. Forget it!
I presume, Ms. O'Sullivan that you have been exposed to the Bible in whatever form. Remember Esau? The hunter? The deer hunter? And his father Isaac loved the stuff. Rebecca encouraged hunting by cooking it. Look it up. Rebecca even committed fraud by dressing younger brother Jacob in one of Esau's deer hides.
Anyway, we all welcome you and whomever to our kinky, "quirky" way of life here in the mountains. We appreciate those who point out our frailties, shortcomings and errors and includes those recommendations and advice for redemption. The "smoke" police, "fat" police and "thought" police are certainly a part of our "sinking" society and you forgot SUV's.
Incidentally, for your edification $3 per pound hamburger is not in the same league as $7-8 per pound fat free venison [market value] (US Dept of Agriculture, Jan. 2006) Oh yes, there are licensed deer farms that provide market venison. And the "Venison Donation" Program hosted by NYSDEC each year is popular.
Glenn T. Anderson
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
Can you believe an entire school year has come and gone? To me it seems like yesterday that I was writing you to ask for your support in my run for the Onteora School Board. Since the first year of my three-year term has ended I want to share with you my experience, accomplishments and frustrations.
It has been an exciting year; and a year that has brought us extreme sadness with Justine Winters resignation and passing. I am very proud to have had Justine Winters lead our district and learned a lot from her as a new board member. Justine taught me a lot about working within an educational institution. We laughed about how hard it was for me to learn the difference between setting policies, a School Board’s number one responsibility, and establishing regulations and procedures. I felt I was not doing my job if I was not involved in the regulation and procedure setting, but learned that was the responsibility of our administrators. I think they all breathed a sigh of relief when I finally understood that concept.
Justine will be missed. My prayers and thoughts go out to her family and friends in the days and months to come.
My experience as a new board member was very positive because I like what I am doing. I learned that working in a democratic system is very slow! Something I am not accustomed to as a small business owner. At first I perceived this as negative but quickly learned to embrace it as a system that makes you think, rethink and think some more. It also amazed me how so many people can look at the same subject, facts and material and view it so differently. That’s what makes the system so slow but it also forces you to think, rethink and think some more. I chose three committees to serve on: the audit committee, the policy committee and the communications committee. I believe that these committees are at the heart of any Board of Education.
During my tenure as Chairman of the policy committee we revised and updated many policies. I want to express my sincere thanks to Robin Sears and the Health Advisory Committee for establishing the best Tobacco Policy in Ulster County, a new Wellness Policy that will be in place before the July 2006 deadline. The committee is now working on an Alcohol and Drug Policy, Military Recruitment, and Student Code of Conduct that we want in place for the start of the new school year.
While finally understanding the difference between setting policy versus regulations and procedure, I believed that, as we revised our policies one by one, our new policy book needed to have the regulations and procedures reviewed by administration. We can have all the policies we want but they are only as good as consistent implementation.
In the 2005/2006 school year, as a member of the audit committee, working with the Audit Committee Chairmen and Board Member Mary Jane Bernholz, we strove to strengthen both the internal and external audit function of the Onteora District. The new state audit requirements have assisted us to do just that. We established an audit committee which is an advisory committee to the Board of Education, responsible for providing recommendations regarding the appointment the external auditor, meet with the external auditor prior to the beginning of the audit, review and discuss with the external auditor any risk management developed as part to the external audit, review the draft audit report and management letter and assist the board in interpreting these documents; and to review every corrective action plan developed by the district.
The hiring of the new internal auditor and the strengthened role of the claims auditor will assist the Board of Education assure that proper internal controls are in place and working.
With the creation of a quarterly newsletter in 2004/2005 school year my role as a Board Member on the communication Committee in the 2005/2006 school year was to continue the communication process with a resolution to create a district wide calendar to be distributed to all district stakeholders so that all may have access to school activities and functions. The calendar will have a district history theme. I found it very interesting that back in 1953 the school district was made up of many one room school houses,” community schools,” they were called, some with only three children attending them. The decision was made to establish a centralized campus in Boiceville and our present day school was built. Talk about history repeating itself. The community and Board of Education were faced with some of the same decisions and problems we are facing today.
This year I tried to develop a School Board Column called “School Board Fact Finder” in the local newspapers to communicate facts on issues facing the board, but was not successful, with the majority of the board and local media not sharing my viewpoint. So I will continue to find a way to increase our communication that we may all agree upon. I strongly believe our board needs to improve our communications.
I also learned a lot about the budgetary process this year by requesting and analyzing monthly budget status reports and comparing the budget against actual expenses for the past three years. This has helped me to analyze the fund balance. I believe that these approaches lead us to keep the budget at a contingent level increase, and it passed! We directed our business official, Victoria, to establish a reserve account, which Onteora never had, for the much-needed repairs that you supported and passed through proposition #4.
Not supported were two transportation issues, Proposition #2, the purchase of two new busses and Proposition #3, approving an additional two-year contract to Hoyt Transportation. The voters told us they did not want to buy new busses, so we will keep what we have and make needed repairs as we go. Proposition #3, did not let us extend the contract to Hoyt Transportation for the additional two years, but on the positive side the bid process allowed us to bring our very old outdated contracts up to date. After our first year we will have the option to extend the contract to Hoyt or go through the bid process again.
Regarding the Districts Transportation Department, this past year the Board passed a resolution directing the implementation of a reorganization plan of the Department to include proper maintenance of all medical certification records, requirements for appointing drivers, driver training education, creation of records documenting all driver training and log books on the use of the buses. The district also directed the transportation department to conduct a New York State Education Department Pupil Transportation Safety Review and identify the areas that need improvement. You can see that we are addressing our outdated contracts and our own internal controls and accountability.
We are now working with the Ulster County Department of Civil Service to raise the criteria for the position of Transportation Supervisor in all school in Ulster County. Something I am very proud of!!!
At present, our most urgent responsibility is hiring a new Superintendent. We are utilizing the professional expertise of consultant, Richard Lehr. Most likely by the time you receive this yearly review, we will have interviewed a number of applicants.
The new year will start in July with a reorganization meeting welcoming and congratulating our new Board Member Maxanne Resnick and the re-election of Herb Rosenfeld, which will give the board well rounded representation from all townships that some believed was missing.
In summary I have enjoyed my first year of “boardmanship” and will continue to work diligently to make the best decisions I can for the entire district. I hope you all have a nice summer.
Cindy O’Connor
Onteora School Trustee

Dear Editor,
To team sponsors: Woodstock Fire Co. #1, KOSCO, Stewarts Shops, Miller/Howard Investments, Onteora Teachers Association, Sunflower Natural Foods, Big Indian Fire Dept., The Woodstock Chimes Fund, Hurley Ridge Market, Pine Hill Fire Co. #1 and Robert Backus; and Raffle Sponsors: Mid-Hudson Athletic Club, Michael Haggerty, Black Bear Restaurant, Woodstock Candy & Fudge, Get The Scoop, Catskill Mountain Forest & Sports, Boiceville Inn, Jaritas Florist, FS Tube & Raft Rental and Dicks Sports Subway - On behalf of the entire Onteora Babe Ruth Baseball League, I wish to thank you sincerely for the support you have shown us in this, our eighteenth year. We are truly grateful for every donation, however great or small, in the spirit of supporting youth baseball in Onteora. It is because of your kind generosity that we can honestly say we had a very successful baseball season.
We bought and paid for our NEW Snack Shack through contributions made by our can shake and by our raffle, toward which many of you donated memberships, Major League Baseball Tickets, and gift certificates as raffle prizes. We purchased fine new uniforms through the continued support of our dedicated sponsors. For this we want to give thanks and praise to all of you. It is because of people and businesses like you and yours that we at Onteora Babe Ruth Baseball can carry on year after year.
You mean the world to us, and we continue to encourage all our players and parents alike to support you and your business by shopping, supporting, and referring you throughout the Onteora school district and beyond. Thanks again for all your help!
Francesca Ortolano, Commissioner
Onteora Babe Ruth Baseball League
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
This Monday, I stopped at a vegetable stand on the way home from Catskill, where I went to visit a friend. When I left the stand, I had lost my bearings and asked an elderly woman if she could point me towards 32 South. She told me which direction she thought it was, and then asked me if I knew what was happening to my country. I took my chances and let her know of my left leanings. She then revealed that she was from the Netherlands and that being here at this time, was exactly as it was in Europe in the late 30's. She didn't look that old to me, mostly because her passion was that of a much younger person. She told me that Americans were in a deep denial, and that Europeans would never stand for such things as the blatant corporate and government takeover that we have allowed to take place. She didn't know what it would take to wake us up to the fact that we no longer live in a democracy. All the while, I had thought that it was the Europeans that had slept before World War II. Perhaps I need to revisit the history of that time. When I left her, I had to make 2 u-turns before finding my way onto 32 South. Soon after, I heard the thunderstorms rolling in. With Al Gore warning of catastrophic changes directly in front of us, with North Korea threatening us with missiles, and Iran holding firm against us, and with the increasing numbers of enemies that we've acquired since our occupation in Iraq, I wondered where the next lightening bolt will strike. I guess the rantings of people such as Gore, Harry Reid, Murtha just aren't enough. They need We, the People to back them up. Meanwhile, I hurried home to unplug my computer and remembered what the Native American elders told me about warnings from Mother Nature. OK. I'm getting the messages. The answers? I'm still looking.
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
Our future depends on the higher education of our youth, the retraining of those recently displaced by outsourcing, and the ongoing training of our work force in general. The U.S. is losing its global competitive edge whenever there are federal cuts.
On Saturday, July 1st students and parents across the nation were hit by a spike in interest rates on college loans.
Congress has simply stood by and allowed student loan interest rates to rise dramatically, while making parent loans even more expensive, and ignoring the Miller-Durbin bill that would slash interest rates in half on new loans.
By ignoring the growing need for affordable higher education, students and parents everywhere are going further and further into debt, creating a burden that is very often unsustainable.
Sadly, it is not a one-time occurrence -- the Republican leadership continually refuses help make college affordable. The maximum Pell Grant has been frozen for four years and the conservative controlled Congress has failed to extend the college tuition tax deduction, instead opting for tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations.
We need to reverse these skewed priorities of Congress. The failure of the current administration to make college affordable for all qualified students not only impacts the hundreds of thousands of individuals priced out of a college education annually, but it also weakens our economic competitiveness.
Average tuition and fees at four-year public colleges have risen 40% since 2001 (when adjusted for inflation).
A majority of Americans are finding paying for college more difficult than they did ten years ago.
The typical student borrower takes on $17,500 in loan debt.
It is vitally important that all concerned citizens take the necessary steps to defeat the conservative Republican Congress and restore some sanity to our federal government, which is placing our democratic system of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness at risk.
Thomas R. Siblo-Landsman
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor;
Shandaken Eagle Day Celebration is rapidly approaching. The sale of eagle t-shirts and hats has begun; We will be in front of the Phoenicia Films Video store on Main Street from 11:00AM to 4:00 PM every Saturday and Sunday until August 26. Stop by and check out our new colors or just stop by and say hello!
Proceeds from the sale will be put into a fund for the upkeep of our eagle statue. The eagle is our national emblem and we are proud to have the statue in our town.
The popular Shandaken Eagle Day Celebration will be on August 26. Mark your calendar for a day of great fun! For more information regarding the celebration please call Gene Gormley at 688-2249. For more information regarding the t-shirt sale call Helen Cordo at 688-5725.
Helen Cordo
Phoenicia

Dear Editor,
My name is Tom Hickey and I am writing on behalf of my son, Ryan Hickey, who will be graduating the 6th grade at Phoenicia Elementary School on June 20th. He has been nominated to represent his school and our community at the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington DC this coming fall.
The purpose of the Conference is to honor and inspire exceptional middle-school students in our nation, distinguished by academic excellence, leadership potential and maturity, and to reinforce the virtues of leadership, citizenship and democracy using Washington, D.C. as their classroom.
I have enclosed a copy of the proposed itinerary and curriculum summary and as you can see, this will be a powerful experience for everyone involved, enabling him to interact with our nations leaders and to visit national landmarks.
Attending this Conference will help him to develop his leadership skills and help him to achieve whatever career goals he may set for himself in the future.
Imagine if you had been given an opportunity such as this and could not attend due to a lack of funds. This is why I am writing to you today.
His participation in the Conference depends on whether we can raise $1999.00 in sponsorships. The tuition is 1799.00 and the travel costs to the Conference and back will cost about $200.00
We are hoping that you can help us with all or part of these costs. We have contacted other local organizations with similar fundraising requests.
His tuition must be paid no later than August 9th 2006.
Your support of his sponsorship request is would be greatly appreciated.
If you have any questions regarding the conference, please feel free to contact the Junior National Young Leaders Conference at 703-584-9533, or contact me at 845-688-1090 or email us at thickey@hvc.rr.com
Tom Hickey
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
Al Gore's book, An Inconvenient Truth, can be bought at any bookstore or found through our local libraries. The movie by the same name is also being shown locally.
As most of us know, the book and movie concern the warming of the planet caused by over-use of coal and oil. We have, according to Gore (and most scientists who study global warming) a very short time to change our ways.
The needed changes are enormous, and most of them must be made by governmental agencies. Everyone who reads the book or sees the movie should concentrate on advising our representatives -- local, state, and federal -- to make the needed changes. Whatever your political stance, if you believe global warming threatens the future of our planet and the eventual lives of your children and grandchildren, your voice is needed.
However, there are smaller, local events. If, for instance, it is found that any area near you might be a good place for electricity-producing windmills, welcome them. Don't run to the planning board and complain that they might spoil your vision of a perfect landscape. Make peace with the windmills.
Turn off your lights when you leave a room. Don't go in for needless automobile trips. If you need to shop in Kingston, see if there's someone you can take along. Use the bus. Plan buying your next car very very carefully. .
And string a couple of clotheslines in your back yard and hang out your wash. Mondays used to be washdays and neighbors met while pinning up their sheets and towels. Who knows what neighborliness was lost when the dryer appeared. Now the hung-out wash is frowned on. In fact, in many places, illegal. I don't think it has yet reached that point in our area, and I hang out my wash from April to November. I'm sure I have neighbors who would prefer I didn't, but hey, I'm an old lady and they don't yell at me. I love the smell that comes from the great outdoors. But Al Gore's inconvenient truth gives a better reason.
The point I want to make is this: that we need to lean on our legislatures but there are many small things we can do, and if we really believe in global warming, we should make these changes. Not next year, but today.
Elaine Mueller
Pine Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
The November elections are 5 months away and I'm already sick and tired of being asked for political donations. So I hosted a $5 fundraiser for Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson who are running for Governor and Lt. Governor of New York. Why just $5? Because when we pass Clean Money Clean Elections that is all that candidates would have to raise from voters to qualify for enough public funding to run and win. When that happens we can all say goodbye and good riddance to fundraising!
During the $5 fundraiser, nearly 1000 people in 35 house parties all around the state were thrilled to hear Spitzer and Paterson pledge their support for Clean Money, Clean Elections via conference call. This system of full public financing has been very successful in Maine and Arizona for quite a few years and Connecticut passed it into law last year.
New York's legislature has done nothing to reform our ridiculous campaign finance system. So candidates have $1000 a plate dinners and the like, schmoozing with the wealthiest New Yorkers instead of talking to voters about our needs and the issues we care about.
We need candidates who will fight for a system that will give non-wealthy voters the political clout needed to solve our healthcare crisis, improve our schools, clean up our environment, save our jobs, and do the things that will make New York as great as it can be. Lets all thank Spitzer and Paterson for their support for Clean Money Clean Elections and vote into office only candidates who seriously want to get money out of politics by making Clean Money Clean Elections the law.
Irene Miller
Palenville, NY

Dear Editor,
It must be true that it takes a village to put on a successful library fair! This year’s Phoenicia Library Fair, held on June 10, was our most successful to date and we had even more community involvement than usual. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you on behalf of the library board and staff to all who lent their support. The fair comes together every year through the efforts of the library board and staff and their families as well as our friends and neighbors. The Shandaken Fire Department also helps us out every year by loaning us tables. So many people lend a hand with baking and sharing plants from their gardens. Without a doubt, our baked goods get more delicious every year! This year’s donations of plants came from Nightshade, Terrace Farm, Trestle Farm, and our local gardeners.
Our fair had some new and wonderful additions this year. Our younger patrons were delighted to hear local author Bob Morris read his whimsical children’s book, Crispin the Terrible and play his ukulele as he sang songs about his feline friends. The smiles continued as the children moved on to the talented Anique Taylor to have their faces painted with stars, flowers or an animal of their choice.
This year was our first silent auction, thanks to our newly formed Friends of the Library group. There were fabulous gifts donated by Al’s Restaurant, Black Bear Hollow, Sweet Sue’s, Baby Toes, The Country Store, Tender Land, Tender Land Home, Phoenicia Delicatessen, Phoenicia Market, Nest Egg, Gateway to Tibet, Phoenicia Wines and Liquors, Phoenicia Pharmacy, Lucky Chocolates, Pathwork Center, Zen Mountain Monastery, Ulster Savings Bank, Margaret Owen, Christie Scheele, Holly George Warren, Bonnie Amatrano, and Helen Cordo. We are so appreciative of everyone’s generosity!
Last, but far from least, I want to give a big thank you to our library patrons and visitors who turned out to support our fair. Besides the obvious benefit to the library, the fair always provides a great opportunity to enjoy a delicious snack, find that special book or plant, converse with friends, old and new, and simply savor the ambiance that makes Phoenicia the special community that it is.
Veronica Rowe, President
Phoenicia Library Board