Dear Editor,
It seems to me that Bob Cross Jr. has gone over the edge. In his letter he claims that the last budget was mine but in the same issue of the paper, in the article about the budget, one of his secretaries was trying to explain why he had an over 8% raise in taxes. Maybe he needs to check with Patti to see who created the last budget. I've always heard that if you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.
As for this ridiculous story about the computer, my computer was a different type than the others used at the Town Hall. It was a Macintosh. None of the town business, plans, budgets etc. were on my computer. The payroll and budget software could not run on a Mac computer. My computer was used primarily for writing letters so that my one and only hard working secretary/bookkeeper would not have to stop working at her computer while I wrote a letter.
All the letters that I produced on that computer were printed and filed in the two-drawer file cabinet behind my seat. How is it that Bob missed things like the over 30 versions of the Pine Hill Water Company contract or the budget copies that were in that drawer yet managed to find private emails from my home that I never printed or brought to work?
I asked Robert Freeman of the New York State Department of State Committee on Open Government about copies of electronic documents and cleaning off a computer and he sent me Article 57-A, §57.29 of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law ‘Reproduction of Records and Disposition of the Originals’ (attached below) which shows that I did nothing wrong.
After hearing my private email read aloud at a town board meeting by Dean Gitter, I knew my prior decision to protect my private correspondence as much as possible from such intrusions was correct.
I would much prefer to simply debate the very serious issues facing our town – sound fiscal management and how we can decide together what services we would like in our town and what is best for Shandaken’s future.
Pete DiModica
Pine Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
I read your editor’s comments on my letter regarding Mr. Slowinski which appeared in your September 15 issue.
As usual, you got it wrong. I have no complaints about your opinions about anything. I don’t expect you to slavishly use what you call “politically correct” propaganda in the form of press releases – from me or anybody else. Nor do I have any illusions about objectivity which tends to exist in the mind of the beholder. Believe it or not, I welcome dissent as part of the democratic process. It keeps us all on our toes. I have the same respect for free speech that you do.
My argument is that you constantly insinuate your opinions into your news columns rather than put them on an editorial page where they belong. It’s commonly called slanting the news. Also you seem to have great difficulty getting your facts straight.
A recent case in point was your story on the sewer system in which you reported “That leaves another $292,500 to be flushed out of the community to keep the system running regularly.” That is totally wrong. In fact, New York City will pay for all of this.
An equally offending example is a story in your October 13 issue headlined “Pine Hill residents beg Cross to borrow funds to fix its water system now.” No. That’s not even close to the truth. Pete DiModica (Otherwise, Mr.low taxes himself), Mary Herrmann, Kathy Nolan and Marge Lloyd and maybe a couple of others are the only ones doing the begging and they have axes to grind. More important, only 12 user residences were represented in the meeting of August 23 and only 13 attended the meeting of September 29. (In both cases the names came right off the sign-in sheet.) In neither case were the restaurants represented since the meetings were held during their business hours. This is a consensus of a water district with 144 households and businesses? You’ve got to be kidding.
Incidentally, wherever did you get the notion that the job of the press is to serve as a counterweight to “whatever entity is in power?” That sounds pretty political to me. I heard the job was to report the truth without fear or favor to assure an informed electorate and prevent government in secret.
Robert G. Cross, Jr.
Mt. Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
Because I am not enrolled in any political party, I received a letter from Gerald “Gerry” Setchko, Pres. Shandaken Republican Club, asking me to help vote the liberal “elitists,” who cater to liberal zealots, out of office. He wants a town board comprised of five Republicans, preferably conservative Republicans like himself.
That would mean only the 807 registered Republicans and forty members of the Conservative Party would have representation by the town board. The 1,506 registered voters who are not Republican, registered in other parties or not affiliated like myself, would have no representation.
So much for Setchko’s idea of democracy.
Keep in mind that Gerry Setchko sees being councilman as a stepping stone to the supervisor’s position. Shandaken would be in deep trouble with him as supervisor and a Republican majority.
Think before you pull that lever.
A race that does not require much thought, a no-brainer, is for the office of Town Justice. On the one ticket there are two people with legal experience and one a former Assistant District Attorney, both lawyers. On the other ticket, I don’t know, are they there because they are owed something? You see how cronyism has undermined the Bush presidency and has been destructive materially and morally to the nation! I would think the Shandaken Republican Party would get smart and not treat its members contemptuously like children.
Robert Jacobson
Mount Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
Many thanks to Doris Bartlett for years of organizing and supervising the team of volunteer dog walkers at the Shandaken Dog Shelter. Doris has given much of her time and energy to make sure the dogs at the shelter are cared for and walked after business hours and on the weekends. Rain, sleet, or snow, the dogs are walked. Doris makes sure of it.
Doris has proven that she takes her commitments to heart. She will make an excellent addition to the Shandaken Town Board. Doris Bartlett gets my vote.
Jo-Anne Rowley
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
My wife Kathy and I are writing to voice our support for Rob Stanley as councilman for the Town of Shandaken. We believe it is imperative the citizens of our town be represented by honest, enthusiastic and open-minded elected officials. Rob Stanley is just such a candidate. He
is active in many positive aspects of our community. He cares deeply for the Town of Shandaken and has chosen to remain here and raise his family. From what we know of Rob, he supports constructive economic growth, which enhances controlled expansion within the town and at the same time being cognizant of the efforts to maintain the town’s unique character and sensitive environment.
We will be proud to vote and work with Rob Stanley as town councilman.
Jack and Kathy Jordan
Pine Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
The Sierra Club is pleased to announce that it endorses Don Gregorius and Brian Shapiro for the County Legislature in District 2 (Woodstock, Shandaken, Hardenburgh, Denning and West Saugerties).
Both Gregorius and Shapiro have a record of wise care for the environment. They both served on the Woodstock Town Board (at different times) where each one was a champion for protecting the natural world on which we all depend.
Ulster County has the Catskill Park and the New York City watershed. Our environment is our destiny. With Gregorius and Shapiro in the County Legislature, we know the County government will always consider our natural heritage when making decisions. On November 8, we encourage every voter in Legislature District 2 to vote for Don Gregorius and Brian Shapiro.
The Sierra Club is non-partisan in making endorsements. Because the County Legislature makes the laws we live by, we look for legislators who know how to take care of the environment. We endorse the best candidates for the natural world, no matter what their party affiliation. In this race, the Club sent the same questionnaire to all four candidates. On the basis of their responses we know that Don Gregorius and Brian Shapiro are the best choice in District 2.
The Mid-Hudson Group of the Sierra Club includes Ulster, Dutchess, Greene and Columbia counties. Our members explore and protect our precious natural heritage for our families and for our future.
Bibi Sandstrom, Chair
Mid-Hudson Group of the Sierra Club
New Paltz, NY

Dear Editor,
It is our extreme pleasure to thank all of the supporters of Don Gregorius for the wildly successful fundraiser held on Sunday night, Oct 16 at New World Home Cooking! From the incredible list of the host committee, to the graciousness of the venue served up by Ric Orlando & Liz Corrado, to the incredibly talented performances of Betty MacDonald, Peggy Stern and Jim Curtin, the trio of vidographers, Diana Bryan, Andrea and Jim Cunliffe, the
donations of exotic flower arrangements from Jarita's and Santiago, the wicked chocolates from Krause's and Chocolate Cheers sitting next to the dessert temptations from Hannaford and Adams Fairacre Farms.
Add to that mixture, the facile wit of Legislator Hector Rodriguez, of New Paltz, who gave us both humor and dignity, as he introduced Maurice Hinchey to the appreciative crowd that jammed the space. We thank Maurice for the informative and supportive speech he gave for Don. Our further thanks to all the legislators and candidates who joined us in support Don. It was an evening to be remembered; remembered by us with gratitude. Thank you, each and everyone!
Lynn Berman
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
The silence is deafening.
Three weeks ago I accused Peter DiModica, while he was in office, of setting up a cabal, a conspiracy, a plot to withhold from the citizens of Shandaken fair, honest and open government.. I accused him of creating a group of co-conspirators, and I named them: Bryan Powers, Cathy Nolan, Judy Wyman, Mary Herman, Paul Van Blarcum, David Channon.
I said their cause was hatred of Dean Gitter, their victims were all of us in Shandaken. $100,000 in legal bills, twenty-two lawsuits, no cell towers, no viable Pine Hill water company, no cell phones even for emergencies, no soccer fields. Their Comprehensive Plan would have deprived us of our freedoms. They changed official documents, destroyed all town records upon leaving office, conspired to seize private property, and chased one of their own, a town official, under threat of bodily harm and forced their Democratic Party leader to resign, repulsed by their unacceptable behavior. One of their continuing hypocrisies is, for years they fought cell towers with lawsuits on the grounds of esthetics. A pencil then tower camouflaged and out of sight is ugly, they said. Yet they ignore the two-hundred and ninety miles of electric, cable and telephone wires (NYSEG estimate) twenty feet over their heads, from here to Kingston. Their position has hurt us all badly for years.
The response from DiModica and his gang? Silence. No denials. No protests. No indignation. No threats of lawsuits for defamation. Just silence. What can they say? They can’t defends themselves because, every word I said about this small irrepressible group was true. They are the foes of Shandaken. They want to beat us back into their image. No growth. No prosperity. No Peace. NO THANKS.
Forget about Parties. This is about people not Party.
Bob Cross is good people. He’s honest. He’s imaginative. He’s hard-working and grown up. Bob is doing a great job for all the people. The DiModica guys are all about the DiModica guys, not us.
Let’s throw the bums out AGAIN once and for all.
Bob Nussbaum
Shandaken, NY
Editor's Note: Accusations do not a story make. We assume that if those accused did not reply, they did not feel the accusations worth replying to. For those unfamil with Mr. Nussbaum, he has told us he is a retired professional political operative whose clientele included former President Richard Nixon and the Republican National Committee.

Dear Editor,
So what? So what Pete DiModica had a working cell tower plan two years ago? So what Cross Jr. killed it? So what we still don't have cell service two years later? So what Cross Jr. increased taxes twice as much as Pete? So what Pete sticks up for the town folks and Cross Jr. goes to bat for Gitter every chance he gets? So what Cross Jr. gave himself a big fat raise at our expense? So what Cross Jr. bangs his hammer and threatens to have folks arrested whenever they say something he doesn't like? So what the Republican county legislature voted for a big fat jail that is crumbling before it's built and our grandchildren will still be paying for it? So what we all suffer high gas prices because oil companies run the country?
So what? I guess there's folks out there who won't admit the're being abused... I hope they get over it. So what? Vote 'Em Out!
Pete DiModica stands for truth, our prosperity, and free speech! Doris Bartlett and Peter Disclafani will win for you, not for Gitter! So what? Vote row B! Prosperity for us, not the developer!
Dave Channon
Shandaken NY

Dear Editor,
Reading the ads of Peter DiModica and his running mates, you’d never know that Mr. DiModica was the Shandaken Supervisor just two short years ago. In a very slick ad campaign, Democrats try to convince us that they are going to bring in new business, get lots of grants, and lower taxes. Hogwash!
If Mr. DiModica can do all this in a new term, why couldn’t he do it two years ago when he was the incumbent? Why didn’t he get Pine Hill’s water problems solved? Why didn’t he bring tons of new businesses to town? Where are all those grants he could have gotten? And why didn’t he lower taxes when he had the chance? If his record was so good then, why isn’t he mentioning that record now?
Here’s why. Mr. DiModica spent more than $100,000 in legal fees during his administration instead of investing in Shandaken’s future. He spent time researching how he could take property by eminent domain when he could have been negotiating a sale and getting the job done. His comprehensive plan committee spent so much time arguing that they couldn’t even spend the grant money they got. And Mr. DiModica didn’t want to rock the boat in other towns by fighting for large parcel legislation that would reduce taxes in Shandaken. Our former supervisor and his cohorts must think that if they don’t mention the Democrats’ record, we’ll forget it. But we won’t.
Bob Cross reduced our taxes, got a comprehensive plan passed, got cell tower legislation passed, negotiated his way out of a nasty lawsuit with the state and oh, by the way, during his administration, we even got a new bank in town. So despite our long-standing enrollment as Democrats, we’re voting for Bob Cross in November, and adding Rob Stanley and Gerry Setchko to our list for good measure. We hope others in Shandaken will do the same. One DiModica administration was more than enough.
Joan & Larry Bauer
Big Indian, NY

Dear Editor,
Upon reading a letter in the September 29th edition of the Times written by Steve Stet tine, I wonder how some people can be so hypocritical. First of all, the issue discussed in the article occurred in July, so why is it being addressed in September? Could it be an abject way of enhancing his favorite candidate’s campaign? The timing sure would indicate that. It’s ironic that the article was written after the Conservative Party’s caucus. Was he afraid of any repercussions that might have occurred had it been written beforehand? In other words, he waited for the Conservatives to endorse his party’s candidates before supporting a candidate (not endorsed by his own party) at the expense of someone else. It seems like a well-planned attack to me. And you, Mr .Stettine, preach about strength of character, truthfulness and honesty.
This matter could have been taken care of simply by going to Ken and talking to him face to face, but you, with all of your character, truthfulness and honesty, chose to take the cowardly way out and do it publicly. That also “speaks volumes about a person’s character”. This shouldn’t have to be explained to you of all people, Steve, but the last time Ken was seeking the endorsement of the Republican Party (as a registered Republican), he lost his own party’s endorsement to a Democrat. That’s real character and honesty, isn’t it? In the end, all that Ken was doing was covering his own back so he didn’t get cheated out of his own party’s endorsement again and assuring himself of a fair chance to win this year’s election. Besides, the night that Ken accepted the Republican endorsement, he was a registered Republican. Any changes made now will not occur until after this fall’s election, so he will also be a registered Republican on Election Day.
I have lived in this area all of my life, and I have seen some highly successful politicians use the same tactics to gain support and not get attacked publicly over it like you did to Ken. Ken is my brother, so I have known him all of my life, and I know that he is a very truthful and honest person with a lot of character. So, in conclusion, look who’s talking about strength of character, truthfulness and honesty. I hope that you are happy, Steve, because you have opened up a can of worms that may never be closed again. Alan Berryann Shandaken, NY
Dear Editor,
At the risk of being called hypocritical for looking truth squarely in the eye, I do believe there are a couple of points that need to be addressed. First, I only became aware of Mr. Berryann’ s party affiliation shortly before I wrote about it for publication. Secondly, if anyone thinks it’s a coward’s way to come out publicly concerning a situation where the public was deliberately misled and if the candidate is elected he intends to do what’s good for himself not the people he is supposed to represent, guess again. Opening a “can of worms” is not a pleasant experience. The fact that others may have used Mr. Berryann’ s tactics in the past is no excuse for him to do so. If people in the past have turned a blind eye to the deception it is no excuse for me to do so.
As for Alan Berryann’ s reference to the Conservative Caucus — as head of the caucus I think he should be ashamed to state the caucus would even consider taking punitive action against any candidate because of my opening a fabled “can of worms.” It would appear I have more confidence in them then he does. This being said, back to the drawing board... Kenneth Berryann Sr. works for the Rotron Corp. and has for 14 years — AND WILL CONTINUE TO AFTER THE ELECTION. He has no intention of leaving his present position to take over the town highway dept. He intends to do both AT THE SAME TIME. Do you really want to give the job to someone who won’t be there to see that it is done properly? Since he has no experience maintaining roadways, the question remains-would he know it was done properly even if he were there? Ken Berryann Sr was in the course of one month first a Republican then a Democrat and back again to a Republican. Mr. Berryann’ s ability to switch political parties whenever it suits him, for the sole purpose of gaining that party’s political endorsement, leaves much to be desired. I much prefer to judge a person by their character rather then their appearance. On election day Mr. Berryann will appear on the ballot on all political lines but one. His opponent Mr. Keith Johnson will appear on only one line — the very last one. Keith Johnson’s character is impeccable, he has been doing the type of work necessary to maintain the highway depot. for as long as I have lived here and that’s almost 40 years. He did not latch on to a political party for their support even when it was offered to him and it was offered to him. He is an independent, honest and straightforward individual. For the record he is not “my” candidate. He is the person I honestly believe will be the best person for the job. Who you vote for is in itself a private matter, the facts about both candidates is absolutely a matter of public concern. Do you really want the person in charge of the SHANDAKEN HIGHW AY DEPARTMENT to be a no-show position? The results of an election should show the voters concern with what is best for the town not what is best for the candidate. Steve Stettine Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
As citizens and voters we’re writing to protest some of the mis-information, garbled facts and sleaze being thrown around in the current political campaign. At the very least, we would like to put some things on the public record for the benefit of all.
We fault Bob Cross for getting sucked in by the ads and postcards taunting him over a big tax increase of 8.31% in 2004. That may be a human failing we all share, but it’s still dumb.
On the ad and postcards, all the years are wrong. It’s true the budget was submitted in 2004 by Bob Cross, but it pertained to the year 2005. Nobody thinks in terms of the year a budget was prepared, Pete, and this kind of thing only creates confusion. As for you, Bob, when the budget was prepared and by whom has nothing to do with the issue which is excessive taxation.
Yes, the 8.31% increase is, indeed, accurate. But it pertains ONLY TO THE TOWN BUDGET. That budget did go up by some $160,000 or 8.31% but more than $30,000 of it was for under-budgeted items that carried over from the previous year. That includes some $13,000 in legal fees so Kathy Nolan and other DiModica advisors could pursue their ideological legal battles at taxpayer expense (none of which they won.)
Now, the sleaze gets really thick. Bob Cross played a highly active role on the large parcel issue which led to a reduction in the school taxes of Shandaken by $676,000 in 2005. As a result, the net effect on our total taxes was a decrease of about 5% not an increase of 8.31% as DiModica clearly implies. Sleazy, Pete. Really sleazy.
I’m a Democrat. But this is just too much. Exaggeration, accusations, name-calling and innuendo may go with campaigning. But this kind of blatantly dishonest nonsense which the DiModica crowd is tossing around is unconscionable!
You just lost our vote.
Arline and Paul Schmiedel
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
Mike Stock voted YES on April 11, 2003 on the notorious back-room Casino Agreement with the Modoc Indians, which would put a big casino in Ellenville for annual payments of $15 million to the “Locally Impacted Entities” (Ulster County, Wawarsing and Ellenville). There was no hearing, no public or town vote.
This year, when the Saugerties Casino came up, Stock and the Republican Majority refused to pass a resolution against casinos in the county. Instead, on June 9, 2005, Stock and the Republican Legislature paved the way for gambling by passing a “home rule” resolution—allowing townships to decide. Don’t be fooled by Stock’s home rule ruse. If Woodstock, Saugerties and Shandaken vote to keep casinos out, but a nearby township allows them, the entire County is affected, especially for more law enforcement, more Social Services, more Medicaid—and a lower Quality of Life.
The casino jobs produced are low-paying, while the social fabric is torn apart by the introduction of all that gambling. The Town of North Stonington reports that since the casino opened, they have closed 2 houses of prostitution, the bankruptcy and embezzlement rate has tripled due to gambling, property values have plummeted on roads leading to the casino, law enforcement, crime and 911 dispatch costs have skyrocketed, and the problems go on and on. Auto traffic increased from 8,800 cars a day to 27,000!
Local economic development is meanwhile a myth. First Selectman Robert Congdon of hard-hit Preston—near Foxwoods—said: “The only development we’ve had in our town since the casinos opened is a Dunkin’ Donuts.” [Preston Impact Report]
These small towns were basically crushed—financially and in their Quality of Life.
If you are opposed to enormous casinos in Ulster County, you must vote Mike Stock out. With a record on casinos like this, Stock can in no way be trusted to keep the Saugerties or other casinos from happening—despite the new home rule policy. As soon as this bothersome thing called an election is over, there is no doubt in my mind that Stock would sell the County’s soul for that $600 million offered for the Saugerties casino, especially now that the County budget has risen 49% in one year.
Since there is little doubt Brian Shapiro will be re-elected, it comes down to Stock vs. Gregorius for the remaining seat in District 2—and Gregorius is firmly opposed to casinos in Ulster County.
Vote the Republicans out November 8th—Lock, Mike Stock and Barrel.
Michael Schacker
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
Where are our leaders of today?
Where are the Democratic leaders in Congress when the crimes against the nation, condoning of rampant corruption and cronyism, unprecedented other high crimes and misdemeanors, and dedicated incompetence by the current administration, so convinced of their own unchallenged power, are out there for all the world to see? Where are the Democratic leaders’ voices in the midst of the most partisan, sleazy, dishonest, profiteering White House in memory, underscored by an arrogance that’s brought this nation to its knees and nearly, it could be argued, to the brink of collapse?
Where is the Democratic Leadership’s and the party’s opposition to Bush’s day by day threatening of our national security, the shredding of the Bill of Rights, our civil liberties, and the Constitution? Where is the necessary forthright courage, the consistency, the backbone and spine, the integrity, amongst all the moral laziness and fear, and the political cowardice and wedge-issue pandering of our Washington Democrats?
Where are our leaders of today as the Bush Administration increasingly bankrupts the nation, peddles its death and destruction at home and abroad, strips us of our freedom of speech and right to assemble, and reduces our American Constitutional Democracy to a treacherous and insidious superficiality? What has become of our moral compass? Our historical and political intelligence? Our credibility as a great and honorable and compassionate Republic? When will our leaders stop enabling and facilitating this president’s disastrous policies and political ideology?
Where are our leaders of principle, who will not fail us in even the minimal duty of opposition? Who will not be silent and thereby actively (at the least, tacitly) complicit like our intimidated and fearful national media, who does little more than parrot the party line? When will our leaders and citizenry stop being afraid of criticism, stop censoring themselves, and not feel intimidated or constrained by either the media’s or the Administration’s conventional political labels applied to anyone who dares to battle back the spin?
When will the Democratic Party leadership find its voice? Refuse to “get on message” when Karl Rove sends out his message points of the day? Refuse to allow Rove to define the Party and the political debate, and instead define him, Bush & Co., and the public discourse first? Throw off its timidity and the yoke of its aptly named “Democratic wing of the Republican Party” label, level with the American people, stop doing business as usual on the Hill, refuse to retreat or cave in, and demand what up until now has been a complete lack of accountability by this ill-fated regime?
When will our Democratic leaders find the political will and tenacity to step into the ring, put up their dukes, and go on the offensive, unrelentingly, without apologizing, and fight to take back the White House and defend the interests of the United States of America and its citizens? What are our Democratic leaders waiting for? With Bush far down in the polls, GOP scandal after scandal, vulnerability after vulnerability, deception after deception, and betrayal of the nation after betrayal of the nation being exposed every day—and the best strategy our leaders can come up with is to simply and passively sit back, wait around, and hope to magically benefit from the Republican’s quagmire? That’s neither a fighting nor a winning strategy. When will the Democratic Leadership of our country be able again to command, deservingly, the loyalty of its constituency and the American electorate?
When will the Democratic Leadership muster the passion to turn themselves into the worthy, formidable, and unstoppable force such as their Republican adversaries are? Sell outs and insignificant back benchers, devoid of the simplest political instincts of all: opportunism and grandstanding—outdone and marginalized by the right wing’s conviction, determination, discipline, and commitment (however misguided and destructive) —cannot lead this country, let alone constitute a viable, legitimate, and relevant “opposition” party. The most it can do is continue sitting in the shadows.
Both major parties have become politically bankrupt; and while it used to be said that casting a vote for a third-party candidate was throwing away your vote, the Democratic Party, the purported opposition party, no longer exists (again, where’s the opposition, other than a few laughable gestures?), and, so, it seems, these days voting for a Democrat would be throwing away a vote.
Dems: To borrow from the words of Rummy and Dubya: “It’s time to take off the gloves” and utter the battle cry to “Bring ‘em on!” Otherwise the moniker “Democratic Leadership” will continue to be the oxymoron it’s become since giving away the White House in 2000 and yet again in 2004.
Barbara Ellis
Boiceville, NY