Dear Editor, The Board of Fire Commissioners of the Phoenicia Fire District would like to take this opportunity to commend the Volunteer Fire Fighters for their dedication, determination, and their compassion during last horrendous flood.
We always think of our fireman as people who protect us from fire, and they really do so much more, as was the case last week. For forty-eight (48) continuous hours these men and women came to the aid of our community by advising residents to leave homes due to pending danger, by rescuing those who had no way out of their homes because of the high flood waters, and for pumping countless flooded basements so families would not loose heat or electric. Enough cannot be said of their heroic actions during this storm.
There were many problems and emergencies to deal with during this storm and all our Emergency Service people were working long and hard to make sure the residents of the Town of Shandaken were safe. One serious problem arouse when residents who were advised to leave their homes immediately due to pending danger, chose not to. When the water got higher and the power went out and the rain was torrential they now wanted to be rescued, not only were their lives in danger, now the lives of the rescue teams were also in danger.
The Board of Fire Commissioners would like to request that when a Firefighter, Police Officer, or Ambulance Member knocks on your door and advises you to evacuate, please do so as quickly as possible. As many found out, creek waters rose quickly and moved rapidly and there was no second chance to be rescued. They are all there to help you in any way that they can, please leave the first time the safe way.
It would be remiss on our part if we did not give credit to: The Shandaken Ambulance Members, The Shandaken Police Dept., The NYS Troopers, and The U.C. Sheriffs Dept. and so many others for all their long hours, dedication, determination and compassion. Excellent team work of all involved, a great job well done.
On a lighter note, the Fire Commissioners have agreed to have Cathy Neal purchase smoke alarms to be distributed to the senior citizens and to those people who cannot afford to buy one for themselves. Cathy through her dedication to the community has I given out 130 alarms. Congratulations Cathy for a wonderful job well done. 130 residents can sleep more peacefully.
Board of Fire Commissioners
Phoenicia Fire District

Dear Editor, On the first Sunday of April, during the recent flood, two Girl Scout troops (Troop 1239 and Troop 1234) from Croton-on-Hudson, NY were struggling to find our way home through the Catskill Region of NY. We had 3 carloads of girls and 4 troop leaders. It was quite a harrowing experience, as we were stopped each time we found a new way to get home by the ever-increasing floodwaters. Just when we thought all hope was lost, and we would be spending the night at a Motel, we met our kind stranger. He heard us ask for directions, and instead of giving us yet another set of directions, which might have brought us to another closed road, he had us follow him, for 1/2 hour, until he found a way onto the Thruway.
We neglected to get his name, and have no way of thanking the man who led 16 girls and 4 women back and around the streets of Kingston NY. What a wonderful lesson of kindness for our girls, this unknown stranger, who spent part of his Sunday afternoon, leading us through the city .We hope, perhaps, he might read this newspaper, and feel our gratitude.
Girl Scout Troops 1239 and 1234
Croton On Hudson, NY

Dear Editor,
We would like to thank our Phoenicia friends and neighbors who gathered on a Friday evening to transport a weighty footbridge from the Esopus bank back to its original location in our yard. The flood had washed the twenty-foot bridge to a spot almost an eighth of a mile away, where it rested, leaning onto the edge of the river, miraculously unharmed. The crew figured out–-through brainstorming, carrying, levering, rolling, dragging, and loading it into the back of a van—how to get it up a nearly vertical slope, over the guardrail, down the road, and back onto its perch straddling the stream behind our house. Several friends who passed by joined in, some of them lending their rope and car. It turned into a festive, problem-solving event in which everyone worked together smoothly and generously and succeeded in restoring the excellent bridge to its proper place. Many, many thanks to Bud Devoti (the bridge’s builder, whose advice on flood recuperation has also helped us tremendously), Chip Gallagher, Fergie, George the firewood man, George and Jen Holz (also Joshua), Jack Morelli, James Kopp, Johnny Asia, Mark Dorrity, Rob Cruickshank and Marguerite, Rachel Weissman (also an excellent realtor), and Tom Fraser.
Violet Snow, Sparrow, and Sylvia
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
As Chairman of the Ulster County Legislature, I am reaching out to residents and businesses imploring that we band together in an effort to provide donations to the victims still suffering from the flooding that devastated many areas in our county. Several Ulster County agencies have already taken the necessary steps toward securing state and federal grants that will help provide financial assistance. The time needed to accurately assess the loss of real property under state and federal guidelines is, however, lengthy.
Additionally, many of the victims have experienced a total loss of all personal belongings and are left without the basic necessities of day-to-day life. It is my hope that we can unite during a time of extreme need for many of our neighbors and help provide some basic essentials by donating things such as: bottled water, food, clothing, toiletries and, of course, monetary contributions. If there are people that may have rooms available to rent or would like to donate construction supplies or services, over 270 individuals have been temporarily or permanently displaced and are in immediate need of housing.
Anything that anyone is able to donate is greatly valued and may be sent to the United Way, 450 Albany Ave., Kingston, NY 12401. Please be sure to earmark all donations as "flood relief". I am speaking for all Legislators when I say your thoughts and considerations are very much appreciated.
Richard A. Gerentine, Chairman
Ulster County Legislature

Dear Editor,
Having been code officer in Shandaken I certainly am aware that it can be a difficult job at times. And I sympathize with Mike because being a part time position it can be overwhelming at times.
I prosecuted numerous cases and also got the first ever fine for an illegal logging operation so contrary to your report there have been cases prosecuted and successfully without the aid of an attorney.
Almost all incidences of issuing a summons was done as a last resort and most problems could be solved in the office with the violator and his attorney before going to court.
I am aware that some cases will end up in court when all other dialogue fails but a violation is a violation and most who receive them know that and most attorneys will advise their clients to settle first before going to court.
The code officer is a public servant and his principle responsibility is to the taxpayers of the town and a big part of that responsibility is to minimize any unnecessary expenditure of tax payer dollars.
As an attorney once told me "Litigation Is The Sport Of Kings" !
I certainly hope that calling the town attorney doesn't take precedence over good old home town diplomacy and that a vigorous and diligent effort is made before spending money on an attorney.
Dominick LoGiudice
Pine Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
I recently received a “Dear Constituent” letter from Ulster County Legislator Mike Stock, which made me think about being a “constituent” at various levels of government, and I wonder how many people feel as I do. When I hear from my Congressman or from our U.S. Senators, I certainly can identify with issues concerning war and peace and the national economy. State Senators and Assemblymen also trigger interest on matters ranging from the death penalty to property taxes. And government that’s closest to us, our Town Boards, prompt keen interest in zoning laws they pass which directly affect our properties.
But somehow, when we’re dealing with the County Legislature, my eyes tend to glaze over. Sure, the local papers print large headlines about “hot” issues like the jail and UCDC, but I find it hard to get through those articles and truly understand what’s going on.
That’s why I very much appreciated Mike’s one-pager. He concisely explained what he’s doing to prevent future mismanagement like what happened with cost overruns on the jail construction; initiatives on economic development, and another one to create better direct communication, with people like me so my eyes won’t glaze over when I see something in print concerning the County Legislature.
When you think about it, we pay taxes at every level of government, and I’m happy to have a better idea of where that money goes after we send it to the County Legislature.
Stacey Banks
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
This is from a letter circulated by Michael Stock to his constituents dated 3/31/2005: "I have also suggested an earlier budget review so that we may explore our options and establish priorities on the services that we deliver. "
Quoted from the Daily Freeman 11/7/2004, "...lawmakers say changes must occur early next year to avoid an even worse budget for 2006...The question is, why don't we start making those changes in January instead of starting in late October? said Minority Whip Alan Lomita, D-Rosendale."
Or, take the suggestion he makes in the letter that an oversight committee be formed for all future projects, which begs the question: WHY didn't Michael Stock as Leader of the Majority party or just member of the Legislature, or, just plain businessman, DEMAND when the jail was first contemplated, that there be an oversight committee based on Resolution 298 of Sept 10, 1987? THAT'S RIGHT, 1987!
" ESTABLISHING POLICY FOR FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECTS: SECTION 4: A special Legislative Committee to be comprised of the Chairman, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, the chairman of Ways and Means, the Chairman of Public Works, one member of the Majority and one other minority member will be appointed to oversee ANY major Capital Project and will be responsible for liaison with, and information to, members of committees and the general membership of the Legislature."
Mr. Stock and the Republican Leadership must have known full well that an oversight committee was not only authorized but required. The question over and over again is “why”? Why did they refuse to implement oversight authority? Why is it only now, after the horrendous errors in judgment that are costing Ulster Country residents huge increases in taxes, are they willing to “learn” from their mistakes? Why are they not willing to own up to their mistakes? And most importantly, why are we, the public, permitting it to happen?
Pay attention voters, the Infirmary bonding issue is in the wings. Remember Resolution 298 and the Jail fiasco! Fool us once, shame on them...fool us 298 times, shame on us!
Lynn Berman
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
When I was standing on the bridge watching the flood waters rise, I had an idea for the title of a song: "Why Don't We Do It While It Floods."
(It is possible the word flood has more than one meaning here and this title has not been copywritten.)
Self-observation: when I was a younger man pursuing women I was afraid of being rejected. Now that I am older I'm afraid of being accepted.
Robert Jacobson
Mount Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
I am a homeowner in Phoenicia and am writing to express my concerns about the latest draft of the Comprehensive Plan for Shandaken.
A comprehensive plan should foresee potential problems and lay out a very clear vision; this is the same logic behind our country's constitution -- it provided a plan and a vision that would be able to weather the many changes in government officials, economic tides and so on.
This plan as written leaves way too much out and offers too many grey areas that could be taken advantage of by people without our community's best interests at heart. It does not provide enough of a vision and it does not provide a clear procedure that would help our community avoid projects that could devastate our towns.
I would like to see a plan that offers the chance for growth in the qualities that make our community so unique and so wonderful -- growth in main street-type development, growth of small local businesses, protection of the natural beauty that is so critical to both our local economy and our community happiness, limits on the kind of development that could change our community forever.
All over our country, we see the devastating effects of poor planning -- and indeed, even a short trip south on Route 28 can provide a small model for what happens when short-term greed gets in the way of careful tending of viable towns with beautiful and vibrant business centers. In the towns of Phoenicia and Pine Hill, Andes and Margaretville and Woodstock, on the other hand, we can see the kind of community changes and growth that are good for everyone. It's very easy to provide the means for making a few people rich with quick growth and huge projects (even when those projects, such as gambling, promise to devastate our local people!); and those few rich people need only go and buy more pristine land somewhere else to get away from the effects they have wrought. But a comprehensive plan should not allow for quick and easy changes; it should require careful planning and allow for honest community input; it should take every precaution against allowing for decisions by those who may be thinking more of their own current gain than for our children's ability to live in the same wonderful community we know now. And in a place like Shandaken, with its incredibly rich resources of natural beauty and small town life, it should require that any changes enhance those resources without threatening them in the least.
Let's make a comprehensive plan that will keep our community beautiful for all of us while still allowing for responsible growth that makes the most of what is already so wonderful about our community.
Evelyn Polesny
Woodland Valley, NY

Dear Editor,
I've just read the Phoenicia Times article regarding the hearing for Shandaken's Draft Comprehensive Plan, and once again I am amazed at the degree of arrogance and distortion of which Dean Gitter is capable. Mr. Gitter is quoted as saying "the same small group of people goes on year after year holding up the public's business and throwing roadblocks in the way of progress." Has he forgotten the hundreds at the DEIS public hearing in Boiceville who he provoked into booing him off the stage? I have yet to publicly voice my opinion about the proposed resort, and this is the first letter which I've written. I am but one voice among the silent majority who see through this charlatan's efforts to change the character of our area forever, offering us empty promises of " improving Shandaken's economy and future." What is so obvious about Gitter's response is the fact that this Comprehensive Plan was drafted to be compatible with his proposed project. This is the reason that he is so displeased with the hearing. The fact of the matter is, there were many articulate and insightful analyses of the content of the draft. Rather than offer any factual response, Gitter gave us nothing but more meaningless rhetoric.
Nick Alba
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
We would like to clarify, again, the now infamous Article 78 petition, signed in 2001 by over 180 local citizens. The point of the petition was NOT to prevent cell phone service in Shandaken, as many have already stated. The petition questions the decision by the Shandaken Zoning Board of Appeals to grant the Umhey/Crown Atlantic Company LLC/ Verizon a zoning variance to build a 192-foot cell tower. The Shandaken Zoning Code had a 70-foot height restriction at that time.
We believe that the ZBA made a hasty decision in granting the variance, considering that the following points were not addressed:
1. The site is necessary to provide safe and adequate service and that there are compelling reasons, economic or otherwise why the variance should be granted at the proposed site.
2. That alternative sites were considered which would not provide adequate service, and
3. That the intrusion of the project into the community will be minimal relative to the community as a whole.
That was the situation in 2001, and the reason we signed the petition.
As to the current situation, it is our understanding that technology has advanced to the point where tall towers are not the only way for Shandaken to get complete cell phone coverage. We feel that the present administration needs to consult with cell phone companies that have technologies that are not limited to very tall cell towers, to insure that highly visual towers are only chosen for our town as a last resort. We also feel that if towers are necessary, the height of the towers should be governed by the technical need to provide coverage to the entire town, not the desire of the tower owners to rent out space on the tower to other communications companies.
In the meantime, Blake, as the editor of the Ulster County Townsman, needs to stop using his newspaper to personally attack individual residents. He should try arguing the issues on their merits, instead of demonizing his opponents. It appears that his arguments are so weak that he is trying to distract his readers from the issues, by attacking one or two people week after week. It certainly doesn’t reflect well on his journalistic skills.
We think that he should stop singling out Judy Wyman as the sole opponent of the unnecessarily high cell phone towers. We, as well as many others, are opposed to these extremely high towers. If Blake still feels the need to attack the signers of the Article 78 petition, he should include our names as well.
Dennis and Diane Ladner
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
We attended the original ZBA public hearing held in Shandaken four years ago at which questions and comments by the general public, including letters and recommendations by the UC Planning Board, would be discussed. Crown Atlantic had requested a 122 ft. variance to build a cell tower and a variance could not be granted without a public hearing. They presented three possible schematics: 90 ft., 140 ft. and 192 ft. and answered questions.
It was ascertained that they wanted to get service “up the Rt. 28 corridor” and would most likely need at least 3 more towers to do so even when one was put up in the proposed location in Shandaken. Through discussion it was also learned that the 140 ft. tower would serve local emergency services just as well as the 192 ft. one but that Crown Atlantic would then have less leasing space. That cell service is necessary was not in question.
The ZBA board itself got in a heated discussion at the end of the hearing when the chairman put the variance up for an immediate vote, in effect dismissing the majority of public input, including that of the UC Planning Board. Why have a public hearing if all concerns, those of the UC Planning Board included, were to be totally ignored and the variance granted in Crown Atlantic’s total best interests?
Many of us gratefully signed onto the Article 78 lawsuit that followed hoping that the public would not be so blatantly ignored in the future and be treated with respect and due consideration. It wasn’t about stopping all cell tower construction but about the way the hearing was conducted.
Sita Anderson
Lindsay R. Hoyt Jr.
Boiceville, NY

Dear Editor,
The long-dead cell tower Article 78 lawsuit, filed on June 18, 2001 has been over for 3 1/2 years. The 2 appeals (which were about the process, not the cell tower variance itself) have been over for more than 2 years. So here is the million dollar question: Why do J. Blake Killin (the editor of the Ulster County Townsman) and his allies, such as Eric Hansen, continue to pound the drum as if the Article 78 were still alive and the reason Shandaken does not have cell service? The truth is that Shandaken could have had cell service years ago.
Because there has been misinformation and misrepresentation to the point that few have any idea what the Article 78 was about, I am including the abridged version of a letter I sent on 2/25/03 to both the Townsman and the Phoenicia Times. Understand that this letter is over 2 years old and some things, such as Zoning Board of Appeals members, have changed.
Letter to the Townsman, 2/25/03
I would like to set the record straight about the cell tower Article 78.
1. The Article 78 was not about stopping cell towers. We wanted a common sense approach to the planning and placement of cell towers with current and future needs taken into consideration. Stopping cell towers would have been impossible because federal law allows them, although local law can determine height, features, site requirements and locations.
2. The Article 78 was about the height of the tower which was 122 feet higher than our zoning law allows. It was also much higher than was necessary to serve the needs of the town. Our zoning code allows for towers up to 70 feet high. Nearly everyone in attendance at the cell tower public hearing felt the tower should be as low as possible for multiple reasons including, but not limited to, safety and aesthetics. The majority of the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) ignored the public and gave a variance to allow a 192-foot tower.
3. At the information meetings leading up to the decision, the company proposing the cell tower, Crown Atlantic, provided maps showing the amount of coverage that towers of various heights would have. There was no visible difference in coverage between a 140-foot tower and a 192-foot tower. In fact, there was not much difference in coverage between a 90 foot tower and a 192 foot tower because of the lay of the land. Crown Atlantic wanted it higher so they could sell space on the tower to several different cell phone companies.
4. Attorney Paul Frieary, the attorney for the Article 78, sent a letter to the town very shortly after the Article 78 was filed. The letter stated that we would be willing to drop the Article 78 if the town was willing to come to the table with the cell tower applicant and negotiate a solution to the current and future cell tower situation. Mr. Frieary offered his legal services to the town FREE OF CHARGE and expressed his willingness to work with a town-appointed committee to write a cell tower law that would both guarantee service and protect the environment. Our former Town Board refused this most reasonable offer. [For the record: Since then there was an excellent draft cell tower law written under the DiModica administration which passed muster with both the Town Attorney and the Ulster County Planning Board, requiring only minor changes. The current administration chose to scrap that law and start over.]
As a resident or visitor to Shandaken, wouldn’t you prefer cell service to be planned rather than haphazardly done? Wouldn’t you prefer to have continual rather than sporadic coverage along our main corridors? Wouldn’t you rather have cell towers that blend with rather than dominate the landscape? We certainly would.
The actual case was never heard by the courts for reasons I will discuss later in this letter. The list of areas in which the ZBA did not follow local law was never taken into consideration by the courts. There are very specific criteria which guide a ZBA in the granting of a variance and our ZBA did not follow the criteria in a least 5 areas which are too long to detail in this letter. (They are detailed in the article 78 which is on file in the town offices along with Mr. Frieary‘s letter and all other related materials. Please check them out.)
The case was dismissed on the issue of “standing” which means that in the opinion of the single judge involved, Judge Michael Kavannaugh, the members of the community who filed the Article 78 did not meet the requirements which would give us the “right to sue”. In other words, we were denied access to the courts because in the judge’s opinion we did not “suffer harm different from the public at large”.
There was no need for the town to remain involved in litigation after the original Article 78. Once the original case was dismissed, the issue at hand was with the legal system beyond the town so there was no need for the town to spend money defending what it had no control over. We believe the Town Attorney gave questionable advice in that area. The town would only need to be re-involved if an appeal had been successful. At that point, the original Article 78 would return to the courts to finally be heard.
It has been a long process. How different it would be in town if our local papers told complete stories backed up with facts rather than choosing to sensationalize, polarize and politicize. If people really understood what has been going on, they might find it very interesting. It has not been just about cell towers. It has been about the complexities of the application or non-application of law by local boards, citizens rights, access to the courts and democracy. All of this affects all of us.
By the way, contrary to what has been written in the Townsman, we DO want cell service provided for our town. We just want it approached with planning, common sense and an eye to the future. That’s all we ever wanted. [End of 2/25/03 letter.]
Back to the present. Many very wise Shandakenites no longer read the Townsman, and haven’t for a long time. Those who see beyond Killin’s jaded version of things are appalled at the Townsman’s ’witch hunt’ tone and malicious divisiveness. After having the Townsman pointed out to them as the “official” town newspaper, many new residents have asked with sincere apprehension, “Is this what the people around here are like?” Fortunately, I do not believe it represents the attitude of most local people.
I am joining the ranks of the Shandakenites who refuse to waste their time reading the Ulster County Townsman, a newspaper that seems to take pleasure in misrepresenting both facts and people and pitting them against each other. For the record, in the 5 1/2 years Blake Killin has been misquoting and misrepresenting my actions and my motives, never once has he called me to get my side of the story.
Judith Wyman
Chichester, NY

Dear Editor,
I imagine when you say that the town public record doesn’t indicate that legal fees have been wasted that you are speaking of the hard drive that had every sector on it over written at the end of Peter DiModica’ s tenure as supervisor. This act prevented any scrutiny of what was actually done during his administration. His 24/7 preoccupation with stopping Crossroads left many of the town’s problems to go unattended. Perhaps you don’t recall paying thousands of Pine Hill residents’ money to attorney Robert Feller to write a law to wrest ownership from the legal owner of the Pine Hill water system. This waste of money was never proffered because it would have been challenged and more than likely found to be illegal.
Perhaps you don’t remember the thousands paid to town attorney Jeff Baker to write a law to make Crossroads pay large sums of money for the site plan review. This law was also not proffered because it would have made every project (even as small as putting in a driveway) cost prohibitive. While wasting money on attorneys, he didn’t spend the proper money needed for the infiltration gallery called for in the design and thereby left the town water supply in jeopardy.
You state that the Democrats did not fight either the Higley farm stand or the Phoenicia Plaza. Well I beg to differ. This is documented on the tapes of the meetings. When someone is developing dilapidated buildings and then supplying a service and providing employment I would think that the town would bend over backwards to accommodate them, not do exactly the opposite. I don’t imagine that there was any animosity because Jimmy McGrath ran against the Democrats in the previous election for supervisor. Just watch the tapes and come to your own conclusion. The important thing is that they are up and running.
Concerning snowmobiles and golf: I never received the town survey and I’ve spoken to many other people who never received one either. Did you send my survey form to my landlady in New Amsterdam?
Now to speak of the issue I really want to focus on and that is cell phone coverage. Judith you mention in your last response that you would hope that ~ least some of the board members would do their jobs. Why would you hope only some of them do it? When they do do it, as in the case of the Z.B.A. granting the variance for the cell tower four years ago, you act like a spoiled child who has been told no for the first time. Then you duped a lot of people into thinking that they were signing a petition for cell phones. A lot of the signatories had to file a grievance to have their names removed from the petition when they found out that they in fact signed a petition that would initiate an Article 78 that would in effect eliminate cell phone coverage. Here is another waste of money for legal fees. Thousands were spent on an attorney to defend the Z.B.A.’s right to allow the variance. The court ruled in favor of the town. Then thousands more were spent to defend the town from your appeal. The town was vindicated again but by delaying for so long the carrier provider gave up on this town and left and that is how you stopped cell phone coverage in this area. You were arguing over aesthetics. I’m sure the experts told you that every time you wanted it smaller that coverage would be lessened but of course you as a lay person knew more then the experts.
Two Saturdays ago Shandaken was inundated. The command center, police, rescue, ambulance, town employees, and regular people exhibited a tremendous professional effort. A special debt of gratitude is owed to the ALL VOLUNTEER FIREMEN of Mt. Tremper, Phoenicia and Allaben. It was not just that night either. The siren has been wailing all the time since then. They are burnt and deservedly so. If you see one give them a hearty pat on the back and a big time thank you. Many people risked their lives that night to help others. They will be cheered loudly at this summers’ parade. I would also hope the Kenny Umhey will be leading that parade with his backhoe loader. It was mentioned to the many times that night that cell phones were badly needed in that emergency. My phone at home did not work. In Ellenville a car was turned over in the flood waters and a mother died but her daughter got out of the car and was stranded, clinging for life on bushes in the raging water. Being able to use a cell phone saved her. Last week my teenage son was hit by a car on 28. He grew up on that road and even though I’ve told him a million times to be careful when walking there he still stepped out without fully checking both ways. He didn’t see the car until it was too late. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital and found to only have a bruised hip. The reason I bring this up is due to the fact that the driver and passenger in the car had to frantically run up to houses which are few and far between there to find someone home so they could call for an ambulance. This is now personal to me. Last week I called up a friend who lives in Edmonds Washington and asked him if the Olympics and the Cascades had cell phone coverage. He assured me that all the access roads had cell phone
coverage and on the news all the time is a story of a rock climber having an accident and getting injured and then using his or her cell phone for help. Then I called up the National Park Service in Yellowstone. The operator assured me that the park was covered with cell phone usage except for some small dead zones. I then called up the N .P .S. in the Grand Teton National Park and was assured that the entire park was covered for cell phone usage except for the very remote north face. He even told me what peak the main cell tower was on as if I was going to hike up there and see it. I then called Lake Placid and asked the same question and was assured that they were covered except for some small dead spots. Judith, do you think that these areas don’t “depend on their natural beauty as an integral part of their sense of place, quality of life, and economy” or is it over for them because they have cell towers? Like I said, cell towers are not permanent. This community has a lot of firsts. We had the first ski slope in N. Y.S on Romer Mt. We had the ‘first official N. Y.S. campsite in Woodland Valley. We had the first cable television service in N.Y.S.. How are we doing on the list (and I’ll let you answer this one) for cell phone coverage? If another lawsuit is filed against the town everyone will be looking at you.
Eric Hansen
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
Eric Hansen’s continued attacks on Judith Wyman for allegedly depriving Shandaken of cellular service are so misleading that I’m left to wonder where he could get such consistently erroneous information. It’s unfortunate that people in our community would choose to attack others without even having the good sense and decency to check the facts of the issue at question. If the people of Shandaken are to make intelligent, informed decisions regarding the future of our town, a commitment is required from each one of us. Only by attending public meetings, by really listening to the people on both sides of contentious issues, and by critically weighing the available news coverage can we begin to feel we’re really informed. That news coverage must tell a story honestly and in its entirety.
I cannot say whether J. Blake Killin (editor of the Ulster County Townsman) has failed to grasp the facts around the history of Shandaken’s current lack of cellular service, or is simply unwilling to disclose them in a truthful and complete manner. I do firmly believe that he has an obligation, as a journalist, to do just that however. Mr. Killin has repeatedly misled his readers regarding the Article 78 lawsuit which, filed in June 2001, temporarily stopped a proposed 192 foot tall cell tower from being erected on the prominent ridge directly across Rt28 from the hamlet of Phoenicia. The truth is that the Article 78 and legal appeals that followed have been over and done with for almost 2 1⁄2 years. I repeat, OVER AND DONE WITH FOR ALMOST 2 1⁄2 YEARS!
The Article 78 was NOT filed to stop cell towers. It was filed because the proposed tower, at 192 feet, was higher than many, including several experts, believed was necessary to serve the purpose. The legal case that we brought to the courts was never actually heard (and therefore, never ruled on) since a technicality referred to as “standing” prevented that. ‘Standing’, or ‘right to sue’, means that in the judge’s opinion the persons filing were not affected differently than the public-at-large. The 2 appeals were about the ‘standing’ determination, not the cell tower per se.
In the meantime, the DiModica administration drafted a law that would have encouraged visually low-impact cellular service by making it extremely easy for cell companies to utilize existing structures to place their equipment. And it would have allowed for the more traditional towers, favoring those that did not protrude so far above surrounding trees. Taller towers would still be allowed but would be required to pass greater permitting/regulatory scrutiny before being accepted. Unfortunately there was not quite enough time to finish the process before the administration changed.
When the Cross administration took over in January 2004 the draft law was discarded and the process was begun all over again with a new committee which is generally perceived to be far less concerned with visual impacts to the area. The new draft law allows cell towers of 180 feet and, if the current Town Board passes it, presumably such towers will soon follow. And if such a tower is built on that ridge across from Phoenicia many in Shandaken will understand what so many of us have strived to avoid.
Loren Quinby
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
We write in support of a member of our community, Judy Wyman. That
malicious lies are spread about Judy is quite ironic because she is a gentle, kind person who is always inclined to help a friend, a neighbor or the community at large. Judy is willing to step up to the plate and do what she can to protect what is left of our wilderness. She’s steadfast in her readiness to speak up for what she believes and absolutely heroic in
forgiving the abuse that she’s endured.
Judy, your efforts are greatly appreciated. We thank you and we ask that
those who distort Judy’s words and actions to advance their own agendas to just stop, and consider that this moment is an opportunity to be generous to ALL the people of our community.
Most sincerely,
Richard Schaedle, Sylvia Persons, Ralph Persons, Helene Ford, Susan
Robertson, Edna Hoyt, Rachel X. Weissman, Ruth Graham, Rusty Graham, Holly George Warren, Robert Warren, Pete DiSclafani, Rose-Marie Dorn, Jen Dragon, Doris Bartlett, Marcy Meiller, Paul Van Blarcum, Guy Ruck, Jackie Persons,
Bea Blacksberg, Richard Blacksberg, Otia Lee, Chandra Lencina, MJ Reiss, Howie McGowan, Chris Hutson, Dave Pillard, Michelle Spark, Dennis Ladner, Diane Ladner, Jane Warrick, Roger Wall, Jerry J. Siegel, Susan Penick, Mary Herrmann
Ian laughlin’ Nancy Panuccio
Sheryl Stephen Jan Jaffe, George
Pignatello, Lynn Davidson, John Conlon, Dave Channon, Karen Charman, Anique Taylor, Loren Quimby, Elena Brasen, Kristin Schroder, Dean Riddle, Bill Forbes, Sita C. Anderson, Lindsay “Jody” R. Hoyt, David Congdon, Nancy Golloday, Linda Rodgers, Michelle Persons-Wooton, Nita Friedman, Pauline Vos, Liz Potter
Dear Editor,
People often ask me why I moved here from Colorado. Something about the tone of this question suggests that I moved from a magnificent land to an area of less beauty, less splendor. What a misguided notion! I am daily more amazed at the beauty and diversity of these soft, green Catskill Mountains and feel privileged and gifted to live here.
In an effort to help keep my beautiful mountains and waters clean, I am working with the Catskill Heritage Alliance to do much needed clean-up work at the Ashokan Reservoir, on two mornings, May 1st and May 21st. The spring rains and flooding have left a mess! Please help us pick up the trash and debris. We’re meeting at 8:45AM both mornings at the Frying Pan area of the reservoir and will work for two hours. All you need to bring are a pair of work gloves. Everything else, including permits to be on city land, will be provided. Call me for specific details. And please, please, try to make this date. I can be reached at #688-2038.
Jo-Anne Rowley
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
On behalf of the Shandaken Democratic Committee, I want to express our dismay at the terrible fire that destroyed The Emerson Inn and Spa this morning. Like my neighbors, I woke up to the sound of 2 fire alarms, and was distressed to learn, shortly afterward, that the fire was at the Inn, and that the best efforts of our volunteer firemen had not been able to save the building.
The Emerson was a beautiful facility, and its loss is a tragedy for its owners and creators, the people who worked there, its guests, and our community as a whole. We all benefited, directly or indirectly, from its presence, which brought visitors to the Town of Shandaken who might otherwise never have ventured into this region of the Catskills.
We hope this loss can be overcome, and if we pull together as a community, perhaps it will be.
Patricia L. Ellison
Shandaken Democratic Committee