(letters from May 25, 2006)

Dear Editor,
I’d like to thank everyone who came out from all the towns and voted to put me on the Onteora School Board. I really appreciate it. I look forward to working with the community, the Board, the teachers and administration to insure that Onteora Schools provide a great education for everyone. And, that we prudently manage our budget to achieve this.
On a sad note, though I didn’t know Justine Winters well, nor did I have the privilege of working closely with her, she was a lovely and very impressive person. I found her thoughtful, an intent listener and very skillful in the implementation of her vision. Her leadership at Onteora will be acutely missed.
Thank you.
Maxanne Resnick
Chichester, NY

Dear Editor,
I’d like to share some exciting news from the Phoenicia Library. We are beginning the process of developing a new long-range plan for the library, a “vision for our future.” While we have developed plans in the past, this one is different in that it will begin with a community visioning process and we will be involving the public as much as possible. We are inviting people that represent different stakeholder groups in the community to two Planning Committee meetings and we also will be having an open forum to get the most possible public input. We encourage everyone to participate in this process — speak to board members directly, send us an email through the library website, or drop a note in the suggestion box in the library. The members of our board are: Renwick Dibbell, Declan Feehan, Katrina Klinge, Veronica Rowe (President), Jeanne Schlosser, Judith Singer, Melissa Thongs, Mark Wilsey, and Jane Wolfrom. Our library website is phoenicialibrary@hotmail.com.
For many years the library has been seeking a larger building. I’m sure that any of our patrons can attest to the fact that we have outgrown our current space. We literally have no room for more books, videos, or additional computers. The Phoenicia Library is legally mandated to provide service to everyone in the town of Shandaken, other than the Village of Pine Hill, which has its own library. One of the aspects of our planning process will be exploration of the many possibilities for capital expansion. We welcome input regarding this as well as other issues.
I believe that ours is a community of creative, forward thinking people. I am very excited about our Planning Committee and am confident that together we can develop a vision for the future of our library.
Veronica Rowe, President
Phoenicia Library Board

Dear Editor,
On behalf of the Phriends of Phoenicia and the Pine Hill Garden Club, I would like to invite all to attend the 2006 Phoenicia Area Garden Tour to be held on Sunday, June 25, from 10AM to 4PM, rain or shine. This will be a self-guided tour showcasing 6 private gardens in the Greater Phoenicia and Pine Hill area. See how local gardeners create a diverse tapestry of landscapes in the heart of the Catskill High Peaks! Organic vegetable gardens, perennial beds, herb gardens, container gardens, water gardens, woodland shade gardens, annual flower beds, and even a farmstead or two will offer something interesting for everyone. Our last Phoenicia Garden Tour in 2004 was very well-attended, drawing visitors from all over the Hudson Valley and beyond. Tickets are $20.00, and will be on sale beginning May 20 at Phoenicia Feeds, Phoenicia Wines & Liquors, Phoenicia Belle B&B, Terrace Farm Nursery & Greenhouse, Tender Land, Tender Land Home, Zena Green Nursery, and the Phoenicia Library Plant Sale, as well as on the day of the tour. Please present your ticket to pick-up maps and tour information at Phoenicia Feeds, located 0.25 miles West of Phoenicia on East-bound State Rt. 28 near the intersection with Woodland Valley Road, beginning at 9:30 AM June 25. All proceeds from this Tour go to the Phriends of Phoenicia and the Pine Hill Garden Club, non-profit groups dedicated to Main Street beautification projects, including installing Main Street gardens and planters throughout spring, summer, and autumn.
We hope to see you at the Tour,
Terry Spies
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
I have read, and re-read, those comments from Mr. Brueckner concerning the safety controls and bussing issues facing Onteora School District.
I sympathize with Mr. Brueckner. The horrific events of that afternoon will forever be with Cindy & Brian O'Connor and anyone that was witness that day. It is definitely something no parent should have to go through - and something no amount of money will change.
I'm sure though, that before you wrote your letter, Mr. Brueckner, you checked the facts in this case.
By your words, you are indicating that Tonche Transit did not bid on the new contract because of the new rules and higher safety standards being implemented at Onteora. You indicate, by your words, that they might have been awarded previous bids only because of "the good old boys club" and not because they offered a fair price for a job well done. You did NOT mention that Tonche's safety record and history of safety checks with the STATE DEPARTMENT of TRANSPORTATION far exceeded those of Onteora School District's. And you failed to mention that Kevin O'Connor is not with us today due to Onteora School District owned/operated transportation - NOT ANY of the contracted transportation companies.
I'm not so sure that ONE contractor is the way to ensure that our very large district is adequately provided with the best service we can give our children. And price is not the issue when it comes to SAFETY.
Cindy Johansen
West Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
I have a good friend who is a physicist named Eric J. Learner who wrote “The Big Bang Never Happened, (See http://www.corewave.com/moves/005.htmlx). He was working under the Clinton Administration on a special grant on fusion, which was cut soon after George W. Bush Jr. became President. Eric is a person with a brilliant mind and a true humanitarian and I admire his ability break things down based on the qualitative facts. He specializes in cutting away the fat and grist and gets right down to the bone. He sent me e-mail recently concerning what he calls is the hidden “oil tax.” Eric is known for his application of the scientific method and there are times he applies this social-economic and political analysis. I would like to share this with all of my fellow citizens.
“Some information concerning the “oil tax” we are paying to the oil companies:
Production and exploration cost of oil are15 cents/gallon, $6.50/ barrels.
Refining, transportation, distribution and retailing costs of gasoline: 29-cents/ gallon.
Total costs of gasoline: 44 cents/gallon
So, at 3/ gallons, we are paying an "oil tax" of $2.56/ gallon. For the average US working person, that is about as much as paying either the Income tax or the social security tax:
The oil tax-- $785 billion /year at $3/gallon prices
The income tax--$873 billion/year Social Security tax--$793 billion/year
Since total wages are $3,880 billion, the oil tax is roughly a 20% tax.[1]
So the next time you listen to George W. Bush Jr. remember that he cut Eric’s program that would have resulted in an almost free and non-environmental intrusive energy. At the same time he has done little or nothing to change hands off the oil companies profits and gains conservative market economy. An economy that is going to sooner or later tank because the strain and greed of one and two people is going make little difference. If Congress and the Legislators within the State of New York do not act affirmatively within the U.S. and reverse this real and present danger of government enhanced price gouging. It is a sweetheart of a deal and just lie he lied about Iraq he is lying now.
Thomas R. Siblo-Landsman
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
Now here's something you may find interesting. The company that will be gathering data from your phone conversations and emails is ChoicePoint. Sound familiar to you? Well, ChoicePoint is the very company that gathered data for the state of Florida, (brother Jeb's State), during the 2000 Presidential election. They were paid $4 million in a no-bid contract, to list felons with the election officials, so that they would be disqualified for voting.
They gathered enough information to disquality an estimated 90,000 blacks and deny them their vote. The only problem was that ChoicePoint was found to be wrong by about 97%. The so-called felons who were mistakenly listed as such, were actually legally qualified citizens, but black and more likely to vote Democratic.
Now, we learn that ChoicePoint is getting about a billion dollar contract for this new "data gathering", or spying on all of us, black or white.
Although the President Select stated that when a communication is monitored, "one end of the communication must be out of the US", that turned out not to be what's been going on.. In case you haven't followed this story, (perhaps you were in a coal mine, or in a submarine this week), the NSA was found to have been receiving records of millions of phone calls from AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth
When they turn over their information, the Government then takes the records they already have from the IRS, Social Security, Medicare, etc. put it all together, and create a nice tight dosier on you.
General Hayden, our future CIA director, was director of the NSA from 1999 to 2005, when this procedure was implemented, which he claims was legal, or more to point, the laws don't apply during a state of war.
Hayden interpretation of the 4th Amendment in the Constitution conveniently ignores the mandate for "Probable Cause.".to justify the use of widespread wiretapping.
In addition, he CIA is not supposed to be under the military, mostly because our government was set up to be a democracy, not a military state. But, here we are.
Some American Citizens are beginning to join the fight for Democracy. Those who are, are hoping and praying that the still tiny demonstrations and voices will grow. If they don't - well, I guess we'll find out what it's like to live under a different form of government. Maybe it will be better. At least there will be less talking on the phone and emailing for me.
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
I have nothing to hide but that doesn’t mean that I can condone Bush and Company illegally spying on me. As a US Air Force Special Security Officer, I was granted Top Secret security clearances and later, working as a civilian for a defense contractor, my access actually increased. Trust me when I tell you that we are now in VERY DANGEROUS territory. Our right of privacy is all but gone. What the current administration is doing under the false shield of “terrorist surveillance” is undeniably ILLEGAL and morally incomprehensible (anyone who ever had security clearances can verify this). This latest example of data mining millions of Americans telephone traffic is a blatant abuse of executive power and yet another
slap in the face to every one of my fellow veterans who have fought, and are still fighting, to protect our constitution and rule of law. Bush is so quick to “Spread Freedom throughout the Middle East” with bombs, but has no qualms whatsoever with eradicating freedom after freedom on our OWN SOIL! The President is supposed to protect the Rule of Law, not break it or abolish it! Enough is enough! Impeachment is the only thing we can do to prevent the inevitability of martial law. Please call your congressional representatives today. How many more freedoms can we really afford to lose?
David Turan
Stamford, NY

Dear Editor,
If we give amnesty to illegal aliens from Mexico, who are literally invading our country, then in order not to be racist, which we should not be, we must offer amnesty to millions of the poor in India, China, Bangladesh, other countries in south east Asia, and Africa, who manage to make it to our shores, or pass over our boarders, whether it be by skill, stealth, luck, or lack of boarder control..Either we enforce the LAW and be fair to those who apply for LEGAL citizenship, or we submit to an unarmed (so far) invasion of Mexicans, many of whom claim that they are retaking territory which once belonged to them.
We MUST secure our borders and ENFORCE immigration law or, in addition to other even more serious results, we will be known as the suckers and chumps of the world!
Phil Sullivan
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
All day [May 15] I have patiently listened to the interpretations of the anticipated speech to be delivered at 8 PM this evening. It is now 9:26 PM and we have been spoon fed the medicine that cures "immigrantus undocumentus" but the Doctor [GW Bush] sold us "snake oil".
The most outstanding point in meeting the challenge of what to do with so many people invading the United States over, around [or under] the southern boarder was his cavalier dismissal of the current immigration laws while at the same time reminding us that we are a nation of laws. This is role modeling at its worst for the young [and old] of the nation. But then what should we expect from a person who is less than truthful and full of himself.
When I hear that the National Guard personnel will be in "shadow" [and rumor has it they will be unarmed] they will be doing nothing more than the "Minutemen". In fact I believe the Minutemen will be removed by the Guard which will facilitate more illegal entry.
I would remind Emperor Bush that immigration law already provides for "Guest workers". It's called a Work Visa which means there is a sponsoring employer who will pay appropriate wages and benefits with the guest paying taxes and other obligations.
Then there is the specter of family and friends who will overwhelm medical facilities, schools, social services, police, fire, sanitation and court systemswhen they too arrive. There are approximately 11-14 million uninvited guests now and will grow to a total of 36 million assuming each one has a wife and child coming here; a daunting prospect indeed.
I am convinced that a change in DC is in order. We need to elect Democrats to Congress in '06 with the expectation that funding for the Iraq debacle will end, effectively ending that adventure. I think the Dems can alleviate the "illegal" problem with a comprehensive plan with order at its core. Existing immigration law does just that if it is enforced.
Glenn T. Anderson
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
In only a few months, legislator Don Gregorius has established himself as a colossal flip-flopper who'll do anything to protect his seat and the benefits that go with it.
During the campaign, Gregorius said he was for open government. Now, he voted to keep information about the law enforcement center project away from the public.
During the campaign, he received the Ulster County Board of Realtors endorsement by pledging to oppose the mortgage tax. On May 10, Gregorius flip-flopped and voted in favor of the mortgage tax.
During the campaign, Gregorius said he was for smaller government. Now, he opposes reducing the size of the legislature from 33 to 23 to protect his seat. Gregorius also voted against eliminating health insurance for part-time legislators (which he receives), which would save $250,000 annually. In a time when Democratic leaders are threatening to cut 200 county jobs, Gregorius voted to create a new position to reward a political crony.
Although he represents the Arts Colony, Gregorius voted to cut funding to the arts. He voted to give the Woodstock Film Festival, which generates thousands of dollars of much-needed sales tax revenue, only $250.
Lastly, in addition to his flip-flopping and self-serving voting record, Gregorius's personal behavior has tarnished the legislature and the voters in District 2. Earlier this year, Gregorius took a swing at fellow legislator Brian Shapiro (thankfully, he missed). There is no room for this type of outrageous behavior from elected officials.
If there were a Lemon Law for legislators, I'm sure many Woodstock voters would be lining up to send Don Gregorius back to his antique business, full-time.
Michael Stock
Lake Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
I find a recent letter to the editor from Mike Stock, the former Majority Leader of the Ulster County Legislature, which attacked Don Gregorius, legislator from Woodstock, as disingenuous at best.
To set the record straight, it was under Mike Stock’s watch in the majority, the county citizens paid for cigars and high priced motel rooms for legislators and consultants while the County's largest capital project, the mega jail, was ignored as it skyrocketed to 15 million dollars over budget. We are still working to repair that mess. According to workers at the site, more has been done to finish the project in the past 4 months then what was accomplished in the two years before. Under Mike’s watch the county had significant property tax increase after property tax increase, topped off with last year’s delivery of a flawed budget that brought a 39% property tax increase, the highest in all New York Counties.
Last November Mike Stock was soundly defeated by new comer Don Gregorius. Rather than taking the opportunity to go out with dignity like a statesman, Mike Stock used his last months in office as the the lame duck Majority Leader to punish the incoming Democrats. He seemed to show no concern for the tax payers when he looked at me with a smirk and delivered a short vote of all his 17 republican members to pass a budget he knew was flawed on both the revenue and spending side. We have been forced to scramble to repair the damage this and the jail has created since being sworn in on January 5th..
For Mike Stock to attack Don Gregorious for having to make tough decisions to help repair the mess Mike’s leadership brought is nothing short of self serving. Mike might be able to get away with rewriting this chapter of history ten years from now, but he can’t get away with it in May of 2006. The people of Ulster County will not buy it.
I can say without reservation, that District 2 (Woodstock, Denning, Hardenburg Shandaken and part of Saugerties) is extremely well represented by both Don Gregorious and Brian Shapiro. I go to them for help on a regular basis. They work as a team, cut through the politics and look for real solutions to the mess we inherited while presenting progressive ideas to bring Ulster County into the future.
As Chairman of the Legislature, I want to take this opportunity to thank the voters of District 2 for their choice in representation to the Ulster County Legislature. They make a tough job easier.
David B. Donaldson, Chairman
Ulster County Legislature

Dear Editor,
Hello Ulster County! I report from the front lines in Shandaken where Supervisor Cross has as lower popularity rating than George W. Bush. There are even calls for his impeachment- for bungling the Phoenicia sewer project negotiations with NYC. His out of control spending has put town taxes through the roof. His poor leadership delayed cell service by four years and will get us many 180 foot tall "Awful Eiffel Towers" instead of stealthy, tree-like antennas. He is in the process of bungling the revaluation of large parcels, and there are fears of the botch job he would do on a town wide reval.
But Bob Cross has a dream - A "Town Hall Mall" on 28, complete with fancy offices, a disaster shelter, community center, even the library, which would have to leave the hamlet. Everybody I talk to wants the Phoenicia library to stay on Main Street... and who is going to pay for this Town Hall Taj Mahal? I think we are at "Cross Purposes" here. His path leads to a strip mall on 28, drawing the economic and cultural energy away from Main Street. We could call it Gitterville. It could even include a strip joint in Phoenicia Plaza. No wonder he tries to whip up anger at New York City! It's a desperate attempt to deflect well deserved fury against him. I personally think the City does us a great service- hundreds of millions in economic aid and environmental protection from crazy development schemes.
How convenient that angry public comments and the call for Cross’ impeachment were cut from the public access cablecast of the May town board meeting.
Dave Channon
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
At the May 10 meeting of the Ulster County Legislature, Majority Democrats failed to support a Republican amendment to eliminate health insurance benefits for part-time Legislators. If adopted, taxpayers would have saved about $130,000 this year and over $260,000 in 2007. Why wasn't the vote mentioned in the pages of the Daily Freeman?
Democrats are cutting funding to important programs at the same time they're feathering the nests of their political cronies. Democrats cut the School to Work program so they can create a new job for Vie Work, a long-time partisan Democrat and the husband of Judge Mary Work. Why wasn't this reported in the Freeman?
Earlier this year, Democrats promised $3 million in budget cuts, but could only deliver less than $1 million (excluding job attrition duplication). If the Republicans were still the Majority, the Freeman would have run double-bold headlines announcing the failure. Why isn't the new Democratic Majority held to the same standard?
In 2004, Democrats said they would not support an increase of the-mortgage tax (they also said they could cut $10 million from the budget!). But, at the May 10 session, many of these same Legislators, including Dave Donaldson, Jeanette Provenzano, Hector Rodriguez and Alan Lomita, voted for the mortgage tax. Why wasn't this flip-flop reported in the Freeman?
It's time for the Freeman's honeymoon with the new Democratic Majority to end. It's time for the paper to hold Democrats to the same standards they held Republicans to over the years. If the Freeman continues to abdicate it's responsibility to fairly report the news, Republicans will have no choice to bring the truth directly to the people.
Glenn Noonan,Minority Leader
Ulster County Legislature

Dear Editor,
I applaud the New York State Senate and Assembly for agreeing on a bill to cap the state gasoline tax. The agreement will cap the state sales tax on gasoline at $2 per gallon (the maximum tax will be eight-cents per gallon) and will allow counties to opt in and match the state cap locally. The cap would be lowered proportionally if gas prices fall below $2.
If the Governor signs the proposed bill into law, I will join with my Republican colleagues in the Ulster County Legislature to introduce legislation to cap the local gasoline tax. Local motorists with a 20-gallon tank will save approximately $1.65 per fill up if the state and county caps are adopted.
It is my hope that Republicans and Democrats can join together to act quickly to provide local residents with much-needed relief at the gas pump.
Joe Roberti, UC Legislator
Saugerties, NY

Dear Editor,
I was hopeful when the Democrats won a majority of the Ulster County Legislature - but the reality of responsibility seems to be overwhelming them. Petty infighting and the inability to put their "money where their mouth is" not only results in an embarrassing lack of leadership but is destroying years of worth programming. Taxpayers and our most needy citizens will suffer for this lack of foresight.
David Donaldson seems more interested in taking revenge on anything Republican than serving the needs of Ulster County. He is more intent in tearing down brass plaques than building rapport. Richard Parete, who once claimed that there was a cover-up at the jail while holding secret meetings at Democratic Headquarters with State Auditors, now refuses to release the million-dollar jail study?
Where are the 200 job cuts we saw in headlines a few months ago? Where are the five percent across the board cuts? Can't pull it off, can you?
Democrats were literally screaming that Republicans were overestimating sales tax revenues in the budget process yet now we see their estimates were not only reasonable they were low! But Democrats are proposing adding new "hidden" taxes on motor vehicles and increasing the tax levy on mortgage taxes. Why would do this? The Republicans left over $12 million in reserve. Repeat after me "tax and spend."
Not only are they replacing seasoned county department heads with their inexperienced Democratic cronies, they are suggesting the creation of new "no-show" positions for people like Victor Work (spouse of Judge Mary Work) and claiming that it is strictly business? Yeah, monkey business!
The Democrats are out of control and the media ignores it like an indulgent parent of a spoiled child. I am ashamed I bought into their hype. This is why I don't belong to any political party.
David Austin, Jr.
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
Roman Catholics should boycott The Da Vinci Code and let the world know it offends and defames the Church. The calculated errors in Dan Brown's best-selling book and the film based on it are attacks on Catholicism which would provoke a world-wide uprising had they been written about "the Quran or the Shoah (the holocaust)."
Archibishop Angelo Amato, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, spoke about The Da Vinci Code during a speech at the Vatican in Rome where he said, "Christians should be more sensitive to rejecting lies and gratuitous defamation," and that the Church had to face the fact that many of its own members lack a basic understanding of their faith.
The Da Vinci Code has sold 40 million copies world-wide in three years and still sits atop the New York Times best-seller list, a testament of New Clear America media power to spread fabrication and lies designed to destroy Catholic faith. The film version starring Tom Hanks is a good example of NCA corporate instruction to America, where people get their "education" fed to them while sitting in $10 movie seats, and then leave the theater assured what they've just seen is totally accurate.
The NCA film industry has dumbed-down America to a point where maniacs like George Bush can be elected "director," and garbage like The Da Vinci Code can be seriously presented as gospel truth; two good reasons to boycott the film, impeach the President, and avoid further pollution of your mind.
Michael Walsh
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
I am a 14-year-o1d baseball player on a local travel team called the Hudson Valley Heat. Our team is collecting new or used baseball equipment and apparel for "Roberto's Kids", which is an organization named for Roberto Clemente that sends baseball equipment to disadvantaged children. The items we collect will be sent to children in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and the US Gulf Coast states that were affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Two of my teammates from the Onteora school district, Kofi Boundy and Justin McLoughlin, and I, will be collecting baseball equipment throughout the month of May. You can contribute by calling my family at 657-8492 or emailing nantucket90@hvc.rr.com to arrange collection. Items can also be dropped off at the Onteora High School baseball field during our Babe Ruth games on weekends.
It's a great time to clean out your attics and basements and donate to a great cause. We want all kids to be able to experience the fun of baseball. Please pass the word on to your friends and thank you for your support!
Adam Greenlese
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
The Phoenicia Library will be holding its annual Plant Sale at the Library Fair on Saturday, June10. We are asking our gardeners in the Town of Shandaken to help us out. Now is a good time to start dividing perennials and potting up groundcovers, shrubs, houseplants, and herbs for the sale. Label the plants with their names, and we will help them find a happy new home. You can bring your plants to the library on Friday, June 9. Or, if you need to have them picked up, we can arrange that.
For help with digging and potting, or transporting your plants to the library, please call Veronica Rowe at 688-5477.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the Library Fair. It’s always a lot of fun and a great opportunity to pick up some new plants. It’s all for a wonderful cause: the Phoenicia Library.
Veronica Rowe, President
Phoenicia Library Board