(letters from January 19, 2006)

Dear Editor,
After election I read in the newspaper one of the big goals of our town supervisor was to unite our town of Shandaken. Yet not much more than 30 days later he fired our Superintendent of the Phoenicia Water District and was going to replace him with one from outside the district! Do you realize the harm that could do to the people in the Phoenicia Water District? Rick knows where the water mains are - the shut offs - and what amounts to the operation of the water district. He is available for emergencies - if you want to know when former ones weren't, I will gladly tell you. We should know. We are the second house on the water main. The Phoenicia Water District is not a play-toy to be used in politics.
I hear say that the water district has been poorly managed. That doesn't say much good for the Town of Shandaken town board and especially the Republican Party. The town board has governed and controlled the Phoenicia Water District for approximately 70 years, with the Republican Party in control over 90% of that time.
Everyone in the Phoenicia Water District just received their tax bill. The water tax and county tax account for over 50% of the total general tax bill! And they both will go much higher because of wasteful spending.
One of the big reasons for the higher water tax was the cost overruns on the new filtration plant during the Cross administration. Who was overseeing that construction to make sure there weren't any? I can give you reasons why they happened - we had a plain view of the construction site.
Now we get to the next step in bankrupting the Phoenicia Water District - the wastewater treatment plant. Nobody is against it, it's that we shouldn't have to pay anything towards it. There are also too many unanswered questions, especially if we have to get rid of present septic systems. Would you bet against NYC being forced to put in a filtration system within the next 10 years? They then could turn the keys to the plant over to us and tell us to operate it! What would the cost be then?
Also, instead of the $100 per year charge - now they're talking a surcharge to be added on - to take care of updating the plant, etc. How much do you think NYC just spent updating their present wastewater plants? Unless the surcharge is a sizeable amount, and I mean sizeable, you would have to collect a surcharge for 100 years to update one of these plants. Especially from only about 300 users.
It's about time Ulster County and the Town of Shandaken stop playing politics and listen to the people they are supposed to be representing. In Shandaken, stop listening to the "Pied Piper," the "select few," and the "party heads." Concentrate on needs, not wants. If there was ever any time to start fiscal stability it is now, before we all go broke.
Lonnie Gale
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
The following was sent to the Shandaken Planning Board...
Dear Joan Munster:
I’m greatly surprised that you and your board have chosen to limit public response to Andrew Poncic’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to a truncated “written public response” period, rather than holding the traditional open public hearing. It seems restrictive—especially since an overwhelming number of people (both Woodland Valley residents such as myself, and many other citizens of Shandaken) have so firmly opposed Mr. Poncic’s plan for so very long (the better part of a decade). Public opinion is important for you and your board to weigh and should be a very real element in any decision you make regarding this Special Use Permit. Specifically, I refer to article VII of the Shandaken Zoning Code (Special Permit Uses—section 116-39) which says: “In authorizing any permit use, the Planning Board shall Take into consideration the public health, safety and General welfare, the comfort and convenience of the publicin general and that of the immediate neighborhood in particular.”
Does Mr. Poncic’s plan to transport and sell water from Woodland Valley promote the public’s health, safety, convenience, and comfort? It does not. In fact it does quite the reverse. From reading his Draft Environmental Impact Statement, now before your board for study, he plans to run large tanker trucks—weighing 68,000 pounds when loaded—along the length of Woodland Valley Road twice a day, five days a week. In that the road is little more than a fragile curving streamside country lane with no shoulders to speak of in a number of places, where hikers and families gambol of a summer’s day, such water tankers would present an unreasonable risk to public safety. Then there is the predictable damage to the road itself and its bridges, already stressed by tempestuous floods. One wonders who will fund the bridge replacement when a water tanker collapses one (as Ken Umhay’s gravel- laden truck did to Woodland Valley’s Fawn Hill Bridge some years ago). Will Mr. Poncic cover the expense; will it be the county; or will it be Shandaken?
Then there are the trout. Mr. Poncic would prefer that there weren’t any trout in the brook—in fact in his initial presentation to the 1997 Planning Board, he stated categorically that, save for a few transient stocked fish, there was no native trout population whatsoever. It has subsequently been proven to him that Woodland Brook is a valuable and viable trout fishery. Both native brown and rainbow trout spawn there and live there year round. You will see this confirmed in his DEIS. You will also see that there is a section dealing with stream thermal impacts (section 3.2.4). That is because a trout’s well-being is very much affected by water temperature. Simply stated, in summer the cooler the water, the healthier the fish. When the water gets over 70 degrees or so, trout start dying. Quite frankly, the water temperature figures stated in the DEIS are not only misleading, they don’t actually relate to Woodland Brook at all! Mr. Poncic’s case rests on a single temperature sample taken from Woodland Brook on April 19, 2002. Guess what. It showed that the brook’s water was wonderfully cold—43 degrees F.. Of COURSE IT DID! It’s not unusual for the surrounding mountains, Romer, Panther, etc., even the valley floor, to still have snow cover in April. As best I can determine from reading this section, no other Woodland Brook water temperatures were ever taken. The hydrologist makes note of average monthly water temperatures taken between 1961 and 1990 on Slide Mountain, which show low temperatures. You would expect this of the well-shaded headwaters on Slide. But such is not the case during the long hot summers in Woodland Valley, where drought conditions usually rule and the brook’s temperature is commonly in the high 60’s, even low 70’s. It is just such hot dusty times when every drop of cool water entering the brook, such as the aqua Mr. Poncic proposes to take away and sell, is of the greatest benefit to life. One last point on this subject. Mr. Poncic’s plan is to run a black PVC collection pipe across the brook from his spring. When not being used to fill the water tanker, it is proposed that water in the pipe be released back into the brook. Again, based on temperatures gaged in April of 2002, we are asked to believe the following statement (page 23), “Actually, the collection pipe network will be beneficial to the temperature profile of Woodland Valley Creek.” I think even elementary school science will show that water in a black plastic PVC pipe, on a hot July or August day will heat up. Mr Poncic would not only be taking precious water from the brook, he would be raising the temperature of the brook as well.
For the record, I oppose the issuance of a Special Use Permit for this case, as I hope you and your board will as well. I should like this letter to be included in the SEQRA process.
Mike O’Neill
Woodland Valley, NY

Dear Editor,
Should one person be allowed to determine the property values of hundreds of his neighbors? Should he be allowed to change the entire character of the neighborhood in which his neighbors live and raise their families and make a living?
If your answer is NO, then you should be paying attention to how our Town Planning Board is handling Andrew Poncic’s permit application to start bottling the water of Woodland Valley Creek.
Mr. Poncic is spending his golden years trying to ram this terrible proposal through the too-open door of our town’s Planning Board, and they don’t seem to be listening to the desperate pleas of their neighbors (on BOTH sides of the political fence) to deny this terrible proposal.
If passed, Mr. Poncic would use Woodland Valley as part of a get-richer-quick scheme to bottle water from a spring on a piece of property he owns near the campground. He’d be slurping up something like 12,000 gallons of water a day into a couple of 18-wheelers, each weighing 20,000 pounds. That means over 65,000 pounds of truck roaring up and down our quiet roads which already have signs reading, “Careful, children playing,” or “Careful, deaf dog.”
Can you imagine this in the kind of community who would slow down not only to wave at their neighbors and but to let a dear old deaf dog cross the road?!
And can you imagine how much the value of our homes, let alone the quality of our lives, will decrease if Poncic gets his way with our Town Planning Board?
Those of us who live in the valley, some of us homesteaders, some of us second-homers, some of rental-cabin owners, some of us retired folks, some of us amazing hunters with our own acres of hunting camp in the hills, some of us with babies, some of us with dogs and cats, some of us poor and some of us rich – all of us depend on the Valley. And if you live nearby, I bet you depend on the Valley too – for swim holes and for beautiful hikes and maybe for a few trout dinners a year.
Don’t let one greedy guy ruin all that for all of us. And don’t let the Planning Board say yes – or no -- without public comment. If you don’ let them know that you’re watching what they do, your neighborhood – and your creek --- could be the next one they sell down the river.
Evelyn Polesny
Woodland Valley, NY

Dear Editor,
It's long been my belief, and I know I'm not alone in this, that the root of right wing bias in the media isn't so much ideology as intimidation. The right has done an incredible job of bullying the press over the past few decades, largely through accusations of liberal bias. The end result is the 'he said, she said' back and forth that is too frightened to inject any sort of context into the reporting.
Much to their credit, Knight Ridder has pushed back on the Republicans' media intimidation tactics. In December, Knight Ridder put out a story that discussed Samuel Alito's history of working "to weave a conservative legal agenda into the fabric of the nation's laws." As would be expected, the GOP immediately lashed out in a coordinated attack, with various elected officials and talking heads disputing the piece, claiming liberal bias.
More than a few media outlets would have responded with a timid "correction," or more likely, stories more friendly to and less probing of the subject, Judge Alito. But not in this case.
This hysteria over a carefully researched article that documents the obvious - that Samuel Alito is a judicial conservative - is the latest example of a disturbing trend of attacking the messenger instead of debating difficult issues.
Fact-based reporting is the lifeblood of a democracy. It gives people shared information on which to make political choices. But as people in new democracies risk their lives to gather such information, in this country fact-based reporting is under more relentless assault than at any time in my more than 40 years in Washington.
The GOP would like to think that it's possible to intimidate the press from reporting any and all facts that may portray them in an unflattering light. Their recent history of dealing with the traditional media gives them good reason to think that. So it's refreshing to see an organization like Knight Ridder stand up and loudly proclaim that they stand behind their reporting and that the GOP is full of crap.
Scott Shields
Montclair, NJ

Dear Editor,
I want to congratulate the Otsego County Board of Representatives for joining the growing list of New York counties and towns that have passed resolutions urging passage of the Clean Money Clean Elections bill pending in the New York State Legislature.
It is no secret that corporate lobbyists and big campaign donors wield enormous influence with elected officials while our cries for affordable healthcare, a clean environment, good schools, etc. fall on deaf ears. But the winds of change are growing ever stronger as more and more states follow the lead of Maine and Arizona, where Clean Elections laws have been extremely successful over three election cycles. Maine now has a universal healthcare program, the strongest environmental laws in the country, and numerous other public benefits that were mostly ignored before the state passed Clean Elections. Arizona has similar successes. So far five other states have joined Maine and Arizona, bringing the total to seven. They include Connecticut, North Carolina, New Mexico, Vermont, and New Jersey. Passing Clean Elections means candidates no longer have to be rich or raise money to win. They run on their ideas, ability, and integrity. Those elected are free to work for voters instead of big donors because their campaigns are fully publicly funded. How much would that cost each of us? About $5 per election cycle.
In Albany, a Clean Elections bill has been introduced in both the Senate and Assembly over several sessions. Despite sponsorship by many legislators, it remains bottled up by entrenched leaders whose interests are served by the status quo. That is likely to continue without massive demand from New Yorkers who are fed up with the status quo.
Fortunately, there is a strong statewide movement afoot to help all New Yorkers join in the fray, spearheaded by Citizen Action of New York, New York Citizens for Clean Elections, and numerous other groups. Check it out at www.nycce.org.
Irene Miller
Palenville, NY

Dear Editor,
On the anniversary of the Tsunami, I would once again like to express my gratitude on behalf of Auroville Tsunami Relief to Jo and Arthur Schwartz who placed the cans throughout the town and all the generous contributors who helped the victims with their donations.
Staff from Benedictine Hospital and children from the Mountain Laurel School all helped with contributions. I especially honor Jo Shuman, who went to South India on her own funds and vacation time to lend her nursing skills to those in need.
A designer in Auroville created a small doll, Tsunamika, as a handicraft item to train women in sewing. They are a free gift available at our shop (Pondicherry on the Village Green) to anyone who stops by or sends an email to info@pondi.biz.
Detailed information about our work is available online at www.auroville.org. You can see photos and order the dolls directly from www.tsunamika.com.
Visualizing a peaceful humanity on a peaceful planet...
Julian and Wendy Lines
Mt. Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
While some argue that Bush using the NSA to spy inside the U.S. is valid, they are missing a concern inherent in his methods. That concern being a lack of checks and balances against who is targeted and why, particularly when independent action of the executive branch could be perverted for political gain.
Homeland protection is not the issue. Second nature answers the question of if we want our leaders and government to protect Americans against aggressors. Postulating an argument that those disfavoring Bush's wiretapping disfavor protection of our homeland is absurd. The process by which protection is afforded and potential bastardization of unchecked authority is the concern. When a politician might unfairly target someone, plausible when the process is tightly controlled away from any check and balance, then unjust outcomes are possible. Using government surveillance for political gain has occurred in the recent past so oversight against abuse is exceptionally necessary.
There is an established and functional process affording rapid response for in-country wire-tapping, namely the FISA court, so that process should be used. Bush argues that using the FISA court would not afford rapid enough response and yet FISA warrants can be attained 72 hours after any wiretapping has begun so Bush's justification is moot. Court review of a surveillance target is the check and balance against abuse of power so when the court is side-stepped, potential abuse is the issue. Bush's aversion for gaining consensus only heightens this abuse.
Jeff Akins
Highland , NY

Dear Editor,
Yesterday, January 12, 2006 was the last day that we would hear from 3rd. District Court of Appeals Judge Samuel Alito as regards his confirmation [or lack of it] to be voted on by the full Senate for the position and title of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
As is recognized by most citizens of this great nation that successful nominees to a court are to be scrupulously clear of any politics regardless of political ties to a party, church, institution or profession following installment. The Senate Judicial Committee "interview" with Samuel Alito was more than political; it was a circus. It was amusing [in its process] but sad in what may result.
The participants representing my party, the party of Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy acted the role of fools. It took them two full days to realize that damage was being done to the Democrat party for their future ['08]. When Senator Kennedy called for an executive session to acquire the "CAP" papers from the Library of Congress and got into a feisty spat with Arlen Specter, the committee chairman, that did not come across well. It turned out that those papers re: Alito's membership contained no photos, no activity or demonstrations, no statements and no reflection on his so called discrimination of race and/or gender. He offered that he joined because CAP favored continuing ROTC [Reserve Officer Training Corps] on campus and Princeton wished to expel the unit. There were other charges that were repeated so often that Mark Shields on PBS was moved to observe that, "everything that can be said has been said by each committee member".
Then we have the "never done that before" event whereby the ABA [American Bar Association] had three representatives [one an African-American] testify on behalf of Samuel Alito. Likewise for a group of Judges [Alito's peers including one African-American] who showed up to vouch for Alito's integrity and judicial temperament . Then came a string of lawyers, the people we all love to hate to stand with Sam Alito. It was noted by more than one media host or commentator that the attitude of the democrat committee members suddenly had changed realizing the imminent "slam dunk". One columnist observed that the sullen faces of the democrats now "have a radiance about them". Those of us that followed this performance also observed the change of expression, body language and personal behavior in Senators Kennedy, Schumer, Durbin, Leahy and others. Dejected would describe them best. Even Mrs. Alito was effective whether real or imagined. It affected us in various ways, but we saw it. The media made sure of that. One cameraman focused in on Sen. Dick Durban holding his head in his hands as in, "oh woe is us". Even the "dead horse" analogy was uttered a couple times after it became clear that Alito is on his way to the Supreme Court. The very same thing occurred at uniformed Nam war hero Lt. Col. Oliver North's "contra" hearing in 1987. When things were falling apart for the democrats there with "Ollie's" wife ["my best friend"] sitting behind him and telegrams of support piling up the whole scenario/atmosphere changed and each hostile senator became as the benevolent Grinch upon his heart transformation.
Now I have added a second question that I will continue to ask; the first being, "why are we there" [re: Iraq]? The second question is; when are the democrats going to act like democrats and conversely stop acting as fools?
When are they going to erase the abortion issue from the political "playbook" and give it back to the people, the medical folks, the churches and anywhere but the government(s) including the court(s).? When will they stay out of people's life-styles and let folks determine for themselves in which direction they wish to go. I am pro life and not interested in any alternative life style. I am not about enforcing my philosophy on anyone and no one else affects my life or lively hood as long as no crime against me, other persons or property is being committed.
The National Democrat Party better take a few hints from our latest local democrat victory here where the county legislature endured an enjoyable cleansing. There were no vicious attacks on the candidates prior to or following the election. The dems "telegraphed" their intentions if they won and so far they are on track. Our local team stayed focused on issues that were/are important to us; they listened and now they are acting.
One more point; who wants to be a U.S. Supreme Court Justice if one has to first endure the "political obstacle course" and then the "senate torture chamber" with it's attendant insults, character assassination and "off the wall" charges? The nominee must state his ruling before it is heard even as the case is as unique as the people who come before him. This, by the way happens on both sides of the aisle with all nominees. Judge Alito acquitted himself well if only, "the president of the United States is not above the law". Fair question; fair response. Amen?
Glenn T. Anderson
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
More and more we find the man who claims to be president of this country is, at best, a disgrace to all upon which this nation was built. Ever since his brother and cronies rigged the elections of 2000 and 2004, there has been nothing but doom and disaster during this "administration."
That 9/11 came along, and the way it was executed, there is little doubt these people knew about it beforehand and allowed it to happen, even abetted it.
While US citizens were jumping from fiery windows at the World Trade Center, our strong leader showed his 'take charge' approach by reading a story about a pet goat to a roomful of children. When he finished that, he showed more courage and bravery by flying around the country, away from it all, until it was 'safe' to return to DC, three-thousand lost lives later.
Next came the Patriot Act, which gives these traitors the power to do as they please, when they please, how they please, and to whomever they please, be they US citizens or just anybody who looks like a 'terrorist.'
With the energy maven vice president firmly in control of all things, the next step was to get to that oil in Iraq, the same oil, daddy bush failed to grab a decade earlier, and for which he was never forgiven by the energy goons. All it took was to cook up some 'intelligence' with lies that 'proved' Iraq was in on 9/11. Hell, that was easy, now that the 'president' had the people behind him, and simpletons in Congress to back it up.
Never have we known such coincidence, convenience, and circumstance that just happened to boost popular opinion toward those who benefit and profit most.
Since then, we've shown our greatness by invading and destroying a nation and its people that had nothing to do with 9/11, and in the process, we continue to lose precious lives of American troops. There are the continuing losses of life, too, for the civilian Iraqis, that, of course is okay, because it can't be helped. It's just simple collateral damage...too bad.
Torture prisons are fun, too. The 'commander in chief' likes them, and to hell with what anyone thinks. Remember, this was the guy who sent a record number of evildoers to their deaths while he governed Texas. What a man. He even joked about one of them, giggling as he told a reporter about how her high-pitched voice sounded when she asked him, "Please don't kill me." Hitler and Stalin are smiling from below. A true American hero, this guy.
Now he's tapping our phones and e-mails because he knows Al Quaida is calling us every day to plot against the government. Don't worry that our hero is spreading what we talk about to just the NSA folk, it's going to other agencies as well...no doubt the IRS, the FBI, the CIA, who knows, even our local police who just may have to keep an eye on us. We won't dare to believe these 'protectors' are checking up on their political rivals, eh? Of course not.
Constitution? What Constitution? Who needs that when we have the world leader taking care of everything. Forget about Congress, too, and the Supreme Court. We have just the solution to everything evil and un-American, the disgraceful, disgusting, despicable traitor known as Body Bags Bush.
I nearly forgot about all the other aspects that come from this governance: just as the majority in congress is republican, so is the corruption, unlike any we've ever seen.
Please, prove me wrong. Please.
Brendan O'Maidian
Margaretville, NY

Dear Editor,
Ulster County has joined several other counties in New York State in providing a book to help ex-prisoners make a successful reentry into the community. "Coming Back to Ulster County," a guide and resource list for those returning from prison or jail, is being distributed free to area agencies, libraries and community groups and will be made available to newly released prisoners. It is published by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Catskills (UUCC) under a grant from the New York State Convention of Universalists.
The Congregation’s Restorative Justice Group undertook preparation of the book after they hosted a conference dealing with problems of reentry. Chair and Editor Wanda Goldstein said the former prisoners in attendance raised the question of a resource list.
“Attendees told us that such a document would have been a vital help to them when they returned home," explained Goldstein. "We found that there were a few places in New York that offered a guide for ex-prisoners, but Ulster County did not have one. Our area has excellent resources and we were eager to design a book to make them available to this population.”
The Ulster book is believed to be the fifth such publication in the state. Others have been published in New York City (by The New York Public Library), Albany (Center for Law and Justice), Westchester (Westchester Council on Crime and Delinquency) and Rochester/Monroe County (Monroe County Library System). There are also booklets available on special subjects, such as the NYS Department of Labor publication for job-seeking ex-prisoners and pamphlets on legal questions by the Legal Action Center.
The NYS Department of Correctional Services is making the Ulster publication available in prison pre-release programs and prison libraries to help inmates plan their reentry while still incarcerated, and it will also be in use at the Ulster County Jail. It is available online at two sites: the UUCC's website at _www.uucckingston.org/comingback.html_ (http://www.uucckingston.org/comingback.html)
and the website _www.reentry.net/NewYork/ProviderSearch_ (http://www.reentry.net/NewYork/ProviderSearch), a nationwide site for reentry information.
The Unitarian Univeralist Congregation of the Catskills, led by minister Rev. Linda Anderson, is located on Sawkill Road, Kingston, NY 12401. It holds Sunday services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and has an active religious education program.
Paula Silbey
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
Regarding rock whispering...
Has everyone read Violet Snow’s latest column (Natural Wonders, Jan. 5, 2006, p.22)?
It is beautifully written and is awash with wonders! Who would think to talk to a rock, or to listen to one—or at least to describe one accurately? How inspiring, Violet’s choice of colors!
This should be taught in schools:
“Children, today let’s paint a rock piebald with lichens. Let’s mix the paints. This group will create a frilly pale green. This group will come up with dirty gray. You two make the lightest rose. You two, a robust orange. Who is left? Raimi, why don’t you play with stringy dark green and Valerie, how about barely-there olive ?”
In my native country, France, I know a painter who is proud to own, and to use daily, an immense collection of pastel sticks. Green alone has 365 different shades— one for each day of the year!
Violet, you warm our heart and broaden our minds each time you stop to observe and share with us what so many of us, busy with our so-called lives, fail to notice. Bravo et merci.
Philippe Petit
High Wire Artist, Writer
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "We must be the change we want to see in the world," and these words seem most fitting as we pause to reflect on the holiday season that has passed and the New Year that is upon us. It is with deepest gratitude that the Department of Social Services, Children and Adult Services Holiday Committee would like to thank all of the individuals and businesses in our community that so generously donated to the holiday drive and the "Adopt-a Star" drive for needy children and seniors in our community. Each and every year, we on the holiday committee, anxiously wonder if there will be sufficient donations to provide for all the needy children, families and senior citizens we serve. This year, especially, we were concerned that given all the recent natural disasters around the world, that there would perhaps be less donations available locally.
However, our community came forward in generosity that extended beyond previous years. Whether it was a call from someone in the community that wanted to buy a gift for a child or a senior, or whether it was a business that sent a monetary donation, or two waitresses that gave up their tips on a Saturday to buy toys for needy children, or an elderly person that dropped off a grocery store gift certificate for a family to buy food, all of these and countless more gestures of kindness and generosity we feel fortunate to have been on the receiving end of this holiday season.
Thanks to your overwhelming generosity, we were able to provide food, gifts and clothing for over 560 children and Senior citizens this year.
Each solitary act of giving has made an enormous difference and it is in this continued spirit of giving and concern for others, that we, as a community and as a nation, can move towards a peaceful world and "be the change we want to see in the world."
Laura Boodakian, Rachel Hunter
Holiday Committee
Dept. of Social Services
Children & Adult Services
Kingston, NY

Dear Editor,
I think it is very, very sad what the Buddhists are doing to the mountain in Woodstock. There is a parallel here to what Gitter wants to do to the mountain in Shandaken and he had "Buddha's eyes" painted high on the silo in Mount Pleasant.
This is not Tibet and these are not the Himalayas.
Rabindranath Tagore (remember him, Buddhists? Indian poet and mystic, 1861-1941) quotes from the Upanishads, "...those who have attained the goal of human life as 'peaceful' (Pracantah), and as 'at one with God (Yuktamanah), meaning that they are in perfect harmony with man and nature, and therefore in undisturbed union with God."
What the Buddhists are doing to the top of Overlook Mountain is the antithesis to this statement from the Upanishads.
Robert Jacobson
Mount Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
The Governors press release on medicaid releif stated that Ulster County will save $4.8 Million in Medicaid cost this year. Its a savings that only the State can refer to as a savings. They will be charging Ulster County only 3.5% increase over last year instead of the 10% increases they have been charging. It is not a reduction to the budget because it was figured in during our budget process. We are getting no new money. In reality even the numbers given out are not true numbers because the state has yet to figure out what our medicaid base costs is. From that they will then assess the 3.5% increase that they refer to as a savings. We will probably not know the base until July. This is savings state style.
David Donaldson
Chairman, Ulster County Legislature

DearEditor,
Is the planning board appointment of Joanne Kalb, sponsor of recent political attack ads that offended half this community, part of Supervisor Cross’s strategy to bring the town together?
Sincerely,
Dave Pillard
Shandaken, NY