Follow Up on the News
Onteora didn't even open for the day. Power outages were rampant, especially in the West Shokan area. Everywhere, basements were flooded. The Esopus was said to have risen 9 feet over its usual running levels. Over in Sullivan County, the body of a woman who worked in Ulster County was found 10 miles downstream from her car in a reservoir. In Greene County, a man was rescued from the top of his car after defying authorities and trying to drive over a flooded bridge. The woman who died, Nancy Lavalle of Willowemoc, had been commuting on back roads towards Marlborough, in Southern Ulster. The man in Catskill was charged with reckless endangerment. States of emergency were declared in the towns of Shandaken and Hardenburgh, as well as the entirety of Delaware County. It had rained the day before, it was to rain for a few hours more...Total rainfall would end up exceeding 7 inches in most areas in our neck of the woods. Local rainfall totals included 7.72 inches in West Shokan, 5.85 inches in Phoenicia, 5.27 inches in Bearsville, 5.26 inches in Woodstock, 5.17 inches in Ellenville and 4.28 inches in Kingston. Art Snyder, Ulster County's emergency management director, said closed roads included state Route 214, Main Street, High Street, Station Road and Plank Road, all near the Esopus Creek in the Shandaken hamlet of Phoenicia. The Bridge Street bridge in Phoenicia suffered structural damage and also was closed. Capt. Todd Carr of the Shandaken Fire Department said 15 to 20 homes had to be evacuated in Phoenicia and along Riseley Lane in the hamlet of Mount Tremper. Evacuees were taken to the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center in Highmount, he said. In Olive, councilman Peter Friedel later noted, Ratkin Road in Traver Hollow had to be closed. The road over Peekamoose sustained damage and was flooded over. It all crested about 7:00 AM, at least in Phoenicia. The emergency personnel switched from warnings and road clean-up to pumping out basements... everywhere. At The Emerson Spa and Resort, it looked like there would be a cancellation of that evening's massive Woodstock Film Festival double screening and party. Maybe even evacuation of the many VIP guests staying. But by noon on Friday, October 1, the rains had stopped. By sunset, there was some sun peaking through the roiling clouds. By nighttime, the Emerson party was back on schedule and The Princes of Serendip and Open Book were playing Phoenicia Phirst Phriday at The Arts Upstairs. Franz Edlinger, who took our front page photo of the clean up Friday morning, edited together his images from the morning and set them in flipbook fashion as a film on YouTube, that quickly went viral. For music he chose Beethoven's dramatic Fifth Symphony. Life began to get back to normal on Saturday with only parts of Oliverea and Peekamoose roads in the towns of Shandaken and Olive still closed, along with a section of state Route 214 and Bridge Street in Phoenicia and some smaller side roads in the town of Hardenbergh. Things started reopening out in Delaware County, with a few exceptions. In Greene County, a dispatcher from the emergency management center said that all roads that were closed previously were reopened on Saturday with the exception of state Route 42 in the town of Lexington. Central Hudson Gas & Electric Co. reported about two dozen customers without power in its coverage area as of 7 p.m. on Saturday. The American Red Cross noted that the shelter they'd set up at Hunter Mountain to accommodate people evacuated from their homes near Phoenicia and Shandaken was never used. Everyone heaved great sighs of relief as they e-mailed each other images of the messes they had to clean up. "It was pretty hairy there for a while," said Friedel. By Monday, it was raining again... but everyone was on to other town business. Life in these mountains...
"The DEC has more than shouldered its fair share in helping the state address its economic challenges. Enough is enough... I seriously question the ability of the agency to conduct its statutory duties to protect our environment, natural resources and public health with such limited resources," wrote former DEC Commissioner Erin Crotty, who served as part of the Republican Pataki administration for years, in a subsequent editorial. "There is not one economic development project, large or small, that does not require review and/or approval by the DEC. With staffing at historic lows, it will take even longer to get through the permitting process. It is in the state's best economic interest that the DEC has robust resources to carry out its mission. Environmental and public health protection are not a luxury; they are the right of every New Yorker." When confronted with this story, folks up and down the Route 28 corridor immediately started looking towards Belleayre Mountain Ski Center, the region's major winter destination and employer, which has been waiting years for the completion of a new Unit Management Plan to guide any future upgrades or even needed repairs. For the last two years, there had been threats of reduced operating hours at the ski resort, a reduced season. There have also been questions about that DEC UMP's ties to final plans for the Belleayre resort plan long proposed for the region... and tied directly to the state-owned mountain ever since former Governor Eliot Spitzer okayed an Agreement in Principle to tie local economic development to the controversial development plan for the building of hundreds of hotel and condominium rooms in the Highmount area. As well as regarding previous threats to close local campgrounds, drop funding for trail maintenance within the Catskill Park, and even nullify the new studies and review processes that would take Climate Change into consideration when planning for the area, where it's become questionable in recent years how much to invest in future ski industry expansions. Specifics being discussed for Department of Environmental Conservation cuts include a workforce reduction of 23 percent since 2008, or another 200 plus bodies over the coming months. That's in addition to cuts to DEC's non-personnel budget by more than 50 percent in the last two fiscal years for everything from gas to the paper for fishing license applications and office supplies. Over the past three years, Paterson has also raided $90 million from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which had been designed to promote energy efficiency programs, capped the amount the state pays in property taxes to rural towns, and shifted $185 million from its Environmental Protection Fund to pay for general state obligations. "These staff cuts couldn't come at a worse time for the fight for clean water," said Paul Gallay, head of Riverkeeper. "These staff cuts must make DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis feel like he alone has got to clean up New York's toxic chemical spills with a toothbrush and a garden hose," added Alison Jenkins of Environmental Advocates of New York. "Under the guise of fiscal responsibility, Governor Paterson is undoing years of progress on environmental protection in New York, which is ironic given that the agency is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year." We asked at the DEC what effects there might be at Belleayre. "We're continuing to work on the Belleayre UMP in house here," said agency spokesperson Maureen Wren this week. "There's just no specific time frame for when it might be finished." As for upgrades, repairs and other such specifics, including Belleayre Superintendent Tony Lanza's recent announcements that the ski center would try to be opening on November 13 this year, Wren said there wasn't much she could say. "It's too early in the budget process," she said, referring to future changes, but inferring no major projects for the season just ahead. "No comment?" Last Spring, when Paterson and the state Legislature finally decided to fund the reopening of a number of state parks and historic sites, including several parks within the Catskills, they did so with funds from the EPF, which is supposed to be a lock box devoted to buying sensitive land, recycling and similar projects. When people, including state Comptroller Arthur DiNapoli , started questioning the $12 million pricetag the Spitzer AIP had worked out to pay Belleayre Resort developer Dean Gitter for 1,200 acres of Big Indian area lands that were part of that deal, it was noted that the monies for use were not in the DEC or any other areas being affected by state cuts. "Empire State Development Corp. (ESDC) was the entity tasked with negotiating for Highmount, not DEC (because the expansion is economic development)," noted DEC Director of Public Information Yancey Ray. "Nothing regarding the potential acquisition of Highmount can go forward until the UMP for the Belleayre Ski Center is completed and approved. There have been no appraisals." Meanwhile, at ESDC, press officer Jola Szubielski noted last Spring that she couldn't find any mention of a Belleayre, Highmount, or even DEC project listed in her agency's files. "These cuts are a direct threat to public health and safety. Not only are they unsustainable, they are unconscionable," said Adirondack Council Executive Director Brian L. Houseal, speaking for many. "DEC's ability to do its job has already been compromised. This will make a bad situation much worse." Also on the chopping block, besides the DEC, are rest areas on some state highways and funding for 64 farmland families who were to sell farmland protection easements, including one in Ulster County. And free skiing for seniors over the age of 70... back at Belleayre. "I would rather have seniors spending money at local restaurants and hotels, then at the State owned ski center. The lifts are going to run no matter what, so the skiing should continue free for seniors," said State Senator John Bonacic of the latter "savings." "It is in the interest of seniors' health that this opportunity to enjoy some time outdoors is continued. When families decide where to go, they price activities as a family. If grandparents can ski for free, that is one more reason why their children and grandchildren will stay and ski in New York, as opposed to going to Vermont." Talk about bad vibrations...
At the September 28 Board of Education meeting at Bennett Elementary, McLaren explained that out of seven school districts, Onteora's true tax rate was $10.48 per $1000 per household. Preferring to stay impartial, McLaren didn't list the school districts by name, but instead numbered the districts for comparison purposes. District five holds the highest tax rate at $19.47 per $1000, nearly double of the Onteora district.
On the other hand, when it comes to local people having to pay school taxes based on property values, the burden is not always equally distributed. Based upon a statement made by an Olive resident at a past board meeting, his school tax increased substantially for the 2010/2011 school year, more than the voter-approved 3.8 percent. This led school board members to ask why.
McLaren explained that tax rates change as the value of a property changes. The towns of Olive, Marbletown and Hurley remained similar in property value compared to 2009, while the towns of Shandaken, Woodstock and Lexington have decreased in value. This shifted the burden of taxes to Olive, Marbletown and Hurley. Taxes collected in 2009-2010 compared to 2010-2011 in the town of Olive increased by 8.7 percent, while Woodstock saw a decrease of 0.7 percent.
In other business, the first hour of the overall abbreviated board meeting was devoted to a forum on future district plans. Interim Superintendent Charlotte Gregory directed the public to past studies that are posted on the district website from KSQ Architects, the Middle School Steering Committee and the Future of the District Commission.
Public commentary included concerns over declining enrollment versus grade configuration; time spent busing children from various corners of the district; proposals for alternative education including the International Baccalaureate program; and the value of local grade schools.
At the board's next meeting on October 12, its members will plan to iron out a directive for the new task force.
"We are looking for people who will be a good representation of the district, who will work on the community task force," said School Board President Laurie Osmond during a later phone conversation. "We are presenting work that's already been done by people before and we really do appreciate it. I know it can be frustrating that people put in all this work and then nothing came of it."
Osmond explained that past studies make a good foundation, but they may not stick with the proposals given.
"As Charlotte (Gregory) said, this is a time for creative, out of the box thinking and solutions, and we should look at other possibilities. We need to be open to as many viable, creative suggestions as possible."
Osmond encourages people to join the task force. District studies can be found by going to Onteora.k12.ny.us. Click "boe" at the top of the page and scroll down to "Past District Planning Comm.Work."
Also, the board discussed the first reading of a new bullying policy including cyber and social network bullying. This includes school related bullying off campus through the social networks.
"There is legal precedent for cyber bully that occurs off campus, proven to contribute to substantial disruption or threats within the school," said Osmond. "Such conduct can be subject to disciplinary action in accordance to the districts code of conduct and possible local law enforcement authorities."
The policy outlines what a safe and productive learning environment entails and how bullying behavior is defined.
Prevention and intervention programs with staff training will be implemented to raise awareness regarding bullying and cyber bullying.
Taxes are set to go up, but by 5.96%. Stanley said that compared to other towns, that is not bad.
"All things considered, these are figures considerably better than neighboring municipalities, which are in the double digits," he said.
There were no complaints, except from Mount Tremper resident Kathy Nolan, who noted that the Highway Department half of the budget, prepared by Highway Superintendent Eric Hofmeister, was a much leaner package that brought no increase in spending but still provided quality services. Nolan said she wished that the general fund portion of the budget had been prepared the same way.
The preliminary budget will be the subject of a hearing set for Wednesday November 3rd at town hall, to start at 6:00 PM. A budget has to be passed during that month.
Then it was on to the next chapter in the continuing Phoenicia sewer saga.
Catskill Watershed Corporation officials visited Shandaken Monday to introduce themselves to the community and ended up getting an earful from Phoenicia residents that fear the agency is acting as an agent for the City of New York.
CWC has been hired by the town to design a plan for the best way to treat wastewater in the Phoenicia hamlet, where some residents and business owners have already turned down at least two previous plans, saying they would prove to be too costly to operate.
CWC Executive Director Alan Rosa, attorney Timothy Cox and engineer Henry Lamont found themselves fielding questions about the non-profit agencies connection to New York City.
Phoenicia resident Carol Shalaew, reminding Rosa that more than half the Phoenicia voters turned down a sewer plan a few years ago, thought it was "interesting" that CWC is funded by the City of New York, the same entity that is putting up about $17 million to build a system in Phoenicia. Shalaew said she felt it was a "done deal" that CWC would recommend a system that would be identical to plans already rejected by Phoenicia because that is what the City wants.
Lamont, the Engineer in charge of the project for CWC, disagreed. He said that they have been contracted to review those plans and others and only recommend a preferred plan.
Shalaew said there was a level of distrust in the community about the matter and pointed to a request before the town board that same evening to hire an attorney to act as an advisor to Phoenicia residents during the process CWC was about to begin.
That request, which states that "residents of the proposed wastewater project area in the Hamlet of Phoenicia have concerns over the ability of the Town Board to disseminate information from the CWC," was tabled after long debate. Board members Doris Bartlett and Jack Jordan joined Supervisor Robert Stanley voting to table while Councilmen Vince Bernstein and Tim Malloy wanted to proceed and hire an attorney.
Explaining his vote, Jordan said "We don't even know what we would want an attorney to do, or even if we need one."
Mike Riccardella, a Phoenicia Businessman who has led the fight against a city sewer deal, tried to explain why he thought a watchdog would be a good deal. He noted that even though the City appears committed to paying most of the cost of running the system, perhaps as much as 90% according to CWC, his own review of the proposed contract between the City and Phoenicia contained "loopholes" that could allow the City to change that amount.
Ricciardella said that even if the City decides to shave off $50,000 of its portion, it could cripple the handful of businesses in the hamlet because they would be the ones to pick up that slack.
"But I'm not a lawyer," he added.
At which no one laughed.
The demise of the two papers, both owned and operated by publisher Brian Powers, will leave the rural Catskills towns of Shandaken (pop. 3,235) and Olive (pop. 4,579) without a hometown newspaper. This week's issues of the Phoenicia Times and Olive Press, slated for publication on Thursday, October 7, will be the last. These are bleak times for newspapers both large and small. Powers, who's been the papers' sole owner and financial backer since the beginning, tells an all-too-familiar story. "The reality is we, like every newspaper, have been having a very difficult couple of years," he says. "Newspapers are the first ones to feel the problems in the local economy. The last two years in Ulster County and the Catskills have been very difficult." In the context of the industry-wide meltdown that has seized the news business over the last few years, the Phoenicia Times is going out with dignity. That is, it's not going spectacularly bankrupt, selling for a dollar, or being put up on the auction block. "We have no debts," Powers says. "We'll continue operating as we wind down the paper's business." In the summer of 2001, Powers tapped Paul Smart, a veteran of the local news scene, to edit the Phoenicia Times, which he launched as a free bi-weekly. Two years later, Powers and Smart launched the Olive Press, another free paper running twice a month. Together, the two papers had a combined run of about 10,000 copies, about half of which were mailed for free to households in their coverage area. More than most local newspapers in the region, the Phoenicia Times has a big personality, charming and colorful and a little rough around the edges - much like the town itself. It's packed with oddments like the "Municipal I Ching," a vocabulary column (in the September 23 issue, we learned the words "zoosemiotics" and "rusticate"), and a pastiche of overheard tidbits from around town called "Heard By A Bird." The newspapers' lefty reputation belies a more unpredictable tendency to seek out interesting voices. Recently, Smart says, he earned the gratitude of a newly-formed local Tea Party chapter for a sympathetic profile he ran of their fledgling organization. In the August 26 issues, Powers reached out to readers in a letter, in the hopes that investors might come forward to help the papers get by. "I had many responses to that public appeal, but none that would have made it possible for us to continue," he says. Powers says he hasn't entirely lost faith that the papers could rise again. "I am not in any way ruling out the possibility of coming back at the beginning of next year with a slightly reconceptualized version of what we're doing," he says. The paper is planning to hold a big Halloween farewell dance party on October 29, with local music writer Tony Fletcher as DJ... to be held at the Emerson Spa and Resort, of all places. Hopefully some of the other newspapers in the region - the Woodstock Times, the Catskill Mountain News, the Kingston Daily Freeman - will pick up some of the slack in the Shandaken/Olive news department. (We'll do what we can here at the Watershed Post to keep a steady stream of news flowing in Shandaken and Olive.) But there's no question that the loss of the Phoenicia Times and Olive Press will leave a hole.