1/14/2010

Dear Editor,
It's true sometimes life imitates art.
Like in the movie, suddenly with out warning I was on that bridge right before Christmas and even more unexpectedly, SAVED BY ANGELS!
The unbelievable show of generosity, support, letters, calls, cards, gifts, care packages, kindness, and encouragement from our small town with big hearts has been truly astonishing.
They say "No man is a failure who has friends", thank you so much for my success.
Have a Happy and Wonderful New Year
Lea, Randy, True Maria Fridrich
Pine Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
I was saddened and angered to read the news of staff cutbacks at The Catskill Center in the December 17 on-line edition of the Phoenicia Times. I think the fiscal constraints the organization is now facing have less to do with declining membership due to the "Agreement in Principle" and more to do with fiscal mismanagement over the past year and a half. When I left my position as Assistant Director of The Catskill Center in 2007 (before the departure of former Executive Director Tom Alworth) the organization was in sound financial condition. Having been intimately involved in budgeting and fiscal matters, I know that grants provided a significant source of revenue and the endowment was a healthy $1.8 million dollars. Only about 30% of annual revenues were derived from membership dues and contributions. I don't know what happened since Tom Alworth's departure a year later, but I think the blame for the organization's fiscal woes rests squarely on the shoulders of Lisa Rainwater and the Board of Directors. Dave Turan, Aaron Bennett and Peter Manning have been dedicated employees who care deeply about the organization and the Catskill region. To cast them aside after so many years of loyal service is unbelievable.
Even more disturbing is the announcement that the organization will be shifting its focus to policy-related issues with a renewed insistence on "scientific information " and "scientific-based issues." When I first joined The Catskill Center in 1996 it was organization with a reputation of being an elitist group with no real connection to the people and communities in the region which it served. It was an organization fond of developing "white papers" on regional issues and conducting studies that sat on shelves. For eleven years I worked at The Catskill Center slowly building up a reputation of trust and respect by working on the ground with residents and local officials helping communities with land use, downtown revitalization and other community development issues. Working as a team, we made a difference and built a strong, relevant, meaningful organization. With Tom Alworth's departure in 2008, the organization lost perhaps the strongest leader it has ever had. Although I have never personally met Lisa Rainwater, I can't help but be angered by the notion that in 18 months she and the Board of Directors have succeeded in destroying what it took us over a decade to build. Congratulations.
As the article says, The Catskill Center is now headed back to its beginnings. Go back to your "white papers" and useless studies and policy analysis and see how that affects your bottom line. When the Board of Directors gets together to "refocus" the mission and purpose of the organization, it had better give serious consideration to developing meaningful programs and projects of relevance to the people and communities it serves. If not, I fear the organization is headed for cataclysmic failure.
I wish the best of luck to Dave, Aaron and Peter as they struggle to survive in these difficult economic times. Your loyalty and service do not go unrecognized by those who have come to know you and respect you. To Trudy and the rest of the staff left behind, hang in there and know that you are appreciated. Best of luck to all.
Helen Budrock
Hurleyville, NY

Dear Editor,
I agree with your recent editorial observation (9/24) that the time may have come for those organizations that endorsed former governor Spitzer's brokered Belleayre resort agreement to reconsider their positions. One of the conditions of that agreement was that the state acquire 1200 acres from Crossroads Ventures in what would amount to a multi-million dollar subsidy of the resort. That purchase was to have been completed last fall. When and if this occurs remains a question now that Governor Paterson has raided the Environmental Protection Fund to reduce the state deficit. What's more, other cuts to the Department of Environmental Conservation's operating budget will make it difficult if not impossible to maintain even the current level of operations at Belleayre, let alone partner with Crossroads on a controversial real estate development.
It is time to reevaluate state priorities and invest wisely in the economic and environmental future of the region. The state can begin by ensuring that the ski center maintains its high level of operation - by not cutting staff or skimping on maintenance. Belleayre Mountain's successful operation is unquestionably beneficial to the central Catskills and should not be compromised. Secondly, the state should rededicate itself to protecting the Forest Preserve by guarding against encroachment through the rigorous enforcement of environmental laws and strategic acquisitions.
It is not the role of the governor to be cutting deals with private developers in the region and sidestepping the full regulatory authority of the DEC. At the same time, the DEC and other agencies should be working with local and county governments to promote forms of ecotourism that protect the environmental values that make the area attractive and are appropriate in scale to the region.
Peter Borrelli
Northville, NY
Mr. Borrelli was the founding executive director of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development.

Dear Editor,
The choice by then Catskill Center director Tom Alworth to broker and sign the Agreement in Principle continues to haunt the organization. The agreement put a stop to Crossroads Ventures' threatened development of its Big Indian holdings but the price was too high- intensive development adjacent to Belleayre Mt. Ski Center including 19 houses across the ridge top and 240 lodging units above 2600'. Powerful interests pushed through the flawed agreement but when the details emerged, it became clear that too many concessions had been made to the developer including the dangerous precedent of mountaintop development and tens of millions in taxpayer subsidies. Members of the Catskill Center decried the organization's acquiescence to the developer's sweetheart deal and many left in protest. Two directors later, the main bone of contention between the Catskill Center and its base continues to be its official support for the controversial plan. Turning the region's most valuable resource- its mountain vistas- into a developer's publicity stunt goes against the organization's traditional role of working toward a balance between conservation and development. The Agreement in Principle as written is anathema to sustainable, environmentally-sound development and the Catskill Center's support has become an albatross around the organization's neck.
Matt Frisch
Highmount, NY

Dear Editor,
For the Town of Shandaken, I put in countless hours as a volunteer for two years and I thought I would receive a phone call and a thank you from the supervisor elect with the change of adminstration. A simple thank you. Instead I heard what was going on from my replacement who was sent by Mr. Stanley to do what should have been his job. Of coarse, I fully expected to be replaced. When I uploaded my letter explaining my position, Mr. Stanley called and claimed oversight because of his difficult first meeting. Then he proceeded to say my building a comprehensive website was done just as a courtesy to my husband. I put in countless hours as a volunteer, the site was extensive. A lot of people contributed information for it. I offered Mr. Stanley and the entire board two choices, they could thank me for the work or they could make an offer for the work. Next I heard from the Town attorney, who understood that all I wanted was a simple thank you. I explained that there was still a website and that all the information was compiled was public information. I do not feel that I am responsible for backing up information, I am not the Towns' records keeper. The only information the town would not have is photos that people sent of Shandaken, which they could get simply by asking people to send them in and then thanking them for their submissions or by asking me and thanking me. Mr. Stanley and the board spent money on a lawyer and they may decide to take me to court. I have no animosity toward Mr. Stanley and really don't understand his decision to communicate to me through the town attorney. Just a simple thank you was all that was needed.
Rose Dorn
Mount Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
The Olive Press reported on a recent Town Board meeting in Olive. I'm writing to expand on that coverage, and to put some of the events into their proper perspective.
First, a bit of history: A culvert pipe was installed back in the 1940's to prevent flooding on my property, ice buildup on Route 28 and to preserve the integrity of my property as well as the adjacent property, which is currently owned by David Jones.
This pipe was buried by Pete Estes's construction and excavating company when he rebuilt the roadway on David Jones's property two years ago. That rebuilt roadway and additional property on Jones's land are now being very actively used by Estes to run his bulldozers and construction trucks, to store equipment, gravel, earth, piping, septic tanks, and to provide employee parking. Every day, 15 trucks, more or less, plus employees cars, drive in and out of the property.
Over the past two years I have sent letters to Mr. Jones, and met with him 5 times on his property, where he shook my hand and said he would fix the culvert pipe adjoining our properties, and the pond he created in the rear of my property when his road was built up 8 to 10 inches. He has not kept his word, so I turned to the town of Olive for help.
I discovered that no permits for that heavy use have been requested by Jones or issued to him because, according to the Town, Estes is not really running a business from that site. Mr. Drew Boggess, the head of the Olive Planning Board, actually made the following comment, "If a business doesn't have a land line phone hooked up, he doesn't have a business." Can you believe this point of view in the age of cell phones?
If you're curious as to whether Estes is operating a business from Jones's property, stop by, and look up the driveway directly east of my property, between Scandinavian Grace and the door store. Check the tire tracks entering Route 28 and watch the trucks coming and going.
I followed Zoning Board procedures to make changes on my property, and wonder why Mr. Jones, who is a member of the Olive Planning Board, has dreamt up all sorts of excuses for not complying with Town Ordinances. Why would he do that? Could it be that he wants to avoid being assessed for the improvements he's made to his property that make it possible for Estes to run his business there? People who don't get approvals don't have their taxes go up like the rest of us -- people who do go through legal channels.
People who hide their property improvements and those who run their businesses under the radar, so to speak, place an extra tax burden on those of us who do follow the rules and pay our taxes. It's no wonder that many people resent their elected and appointed officials at all levels of government, and have little respect for their judgments, behavior, and decision making processes. My experiences have certainly been shocking.
Take Berndt Leifeld, the Town Supervisor, one of the highest paid Supervisors in Ulster County, who is serving his 12th term, which means he has been in charge of the Town of Olive for almost 25 years. Mr. Leifeld's rudeness sets the tone in Olive, mistreating some of its citizens, i.e., taxpayers, who pay his salary.
During the recent Town Board meeting, Leifeld didn't like what I said about the Town's blatant lack of enforcing the zoning regulations. So he condescendingly mimicked my speech patterns and hand movements. I was embarrassed, not for myself, but for the Town of Olive to have a supervisor who rules and acts inappropriately, and with impunity.
Over a year ago, at an hour-long private meeting, Leifeld permitted me to tape record our conversation about Mr. Jones' property. We also discussed my neighbor to the west, Leroy Lane, who doesn't have approval to operate the firewood, milling, and logging business he runs from his property. Mr. Leifeld agreed that many of the Town's procedures were not being followed and said he would personally read Olive's Zoning Ordinances. (I gave him a copy.)
He also promised to pursue these matters and see that the Planning Board and the Zoning Officer followed the already existing Zoning Codes of the Town of Olive. Yet he continues to allow his Planning Board head and his Zoning Officer to look the other way when it comes to their friends, lunch buddies, and the "good old boy" network. (If you're wondering about the other Board members, I've been told that all of the correspondence I sent to the Supervisor these last two years was never shared with them.)
I've sent all of my correspondence, with photos, to John Ingram, the Zoning Enforcement Officer. Yet in the local papers, I saw John Ingram quoted as saying, "We will take care of Alan. We don't want to upset Jonesy." Is this a proper response from a Zoning Enforcement Officer to legitimate complaints from a town taxpayer? In that same interview, Mr. Ingram was reported as saying that they've been working on Mr. Jones site plan application for the last two years. So where is it?
I also sent complete correspondence and photos to Mr. Drew Boggess, the head of the Planning Board. When I asked Mr. Boggess, at a Planning Board meeting, why he didn't answer, he said he didn't answer my correspondence "because I spelled his name incorrectly." Is this the caliber of people we want running the Planning Board? Now the Planning Board, backed up by the Town Board, seems to be saying that Mr. Jones does not need a site plan.
It's outrageous, in a small town, with Zoning Codes in effect, that some people are more equal than others when it comes to enforcement. I guess because David Jones is on the Planning Board, he is exempt from the rules he was appointed to enforce. I guess my neighbor, Mr. Leroy Lane is also exempt from the rules. There's no completed site plan for his logging, saw mill, and firewood business, and no public hearing was ever held. According to Mr. Lane, "John Ingram gave me verbal permission to run my businesses here."
Instead of doing the right thing - seeing that Olive's Zoning Ordinances are being fairly followed by all - Leifeld recently told me to hire an attorney to fight the Town's alleged illegal actions. He wants me to spend my money, and Olive to spend its money (some of which is mine), to fight the Town's persistent refusal to enforce its own regulations. Doesn't it make more sense to have the appointed enforcement officers and planning board members follow the regulations that are in place for all of us, equally, including public site plan reviews and the issuance of permits?
If you've had similar difficulties, or felt that you've been unfairly treated by the people listed below, please contact me at justalanmagic@verizon.net, or call me at 845-657-9903:
Alan Eisenson, DBA Just Alan
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
One of my neighbors took some offense at my recent characterization of Democrats as thieves in the pages of the Olive Press. My neighbor is not a thief, and that is probably true of a majority of the 36% of Americans who are registered Democrats. Nevertheless, I stand by my letter. For there are two kinds of Democrats: (a) thieves and (b) those fooled by (a). Category (b) Democrats might blame 2,500 years of propaganda. In Open Society and Its Enemies Karl Popper argues that Plato was the first to propagandize for collectivism by identifying collectivism with altruism. But collectivism has almost always helped the rich at the expense of the poor, not the reverse. Thus, "limousine liberals" advocate a class- and self-interested view.
The (a) category goes back to the days of Boss Tweed and "Plunkitt of Tamany Hall". In 1932 Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) extended the federal edifice that the Progressive Republicans led by Theodore Roosevelt (TR) had established. The crux of the New Deal was FDR's abolition of the gold standard, which permitted the Federal Reserve Bank unlimited power to create ("print") money. The chief function of the Federal Reserve Bank has been and still is to expand the money supply by printing new reserves and then depositing them in money center banks who have the power to print a multiple of the money, as much as six times, of which they lend a disproportionate share to Wall Street. If you doubt that a disproportionate share goes to Wall Street, check out Roger Lowenstein's When Genius Failed about Long Term Capital Management (LTCM). The banking system had lent this early hedge fund 100 billion dollars when it collapsed. One hundred billion that time was more than one percent of the entire economy but LTCM employed only about 200 people. This kind of thing has accelerated during the Bush-Obama administration, with Obama donating untold trillions to his supervisors on Wall Street.
On the local level, the corruption of the Democrats never disappeared, even with the diminution of Tammany Hall in the 1930s under the Mayor Fiorello Laguardia (R-NY). Today, government employees, school teachers, and businesses who receive contracts, that is, category (a) Democrats, unabashedly steal from their neighbors. Category (b) Democrats, confusing collectivism with altruism, confuse the schoolteachers', government employees' and contractors' greed with altruism.
At the level of federal government operations, the edifice that TR and FDR created opened the door to special interest politics. No one knows how much of the federal government's operations budget actually performs any valid "service". Newspapers avoid questions like this, preferring to cheer for the bailout and Obama. My guess is less than 20% goes to any public interest purpose. 80% of your federal taxes are squandered.
Today we are facing a health reform bill, that category (b) Democrats have been told will help the poor. It will not. If you compare the performance of health industry stocks over the past two years with the stock market in general, the fall in the health stocks has been two thirds smaller than in the stock market generally, 8% versus 23%, since January 2008. The stock market thinks that the health reform bill will be a boon to the health industry. This will not be the case for the general economy. New regulations will increase costs; health benefits will be reduced; and the uncovered poor will be forced to buy coverage. It makes category (a) liberals happy to know that people making $50,000 per year will have to pay $6,000 for coverage. For these will be forced to sell their homes and live in city projects while category (a) limousine liberals can buy their houses as investments as they congratulate themselves about their liberal consciences.
Mitchell Langbert
West Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
It is imperative that our local governments take the lead in banning shale gas drilling in the Catskill Park and New York City watershed. The announcement that Chesapeake Energy will not drill in the watershed is an empty promise, especially in light of the recent purchase by Exxon of a leading shale gas company (New York Times, December 16). Big Oil will steamroll a New York State government hungry for revenue - at any cost to the environment.
Let's insist that a resolution to ban shale gas drilling be on the agenda of every local city, town and county government this new year!
Don Pollock
Big Indian, NY

Dear Editor,
This letter was originally addressed to NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
I am writing from a small town called Andes in the Catskill Mountains, a place I call home and you and your constituents call your watershed. My wife and I are landowners here having purchased 370 acres, some of it 24 years ago, and are planning to keep it as open space maintaining fields and forest. What I am writing to you about are two things, natural gas drilling and fairness.
I must preface what I am about to say with the fact that I am a dedicated conservationist and land steward and have been all my life. You may say after reading this that I want to have my cake and eat it to, well I wish I could, as I wish we all could but, I know better. Natural gas drilling in the watershed is potentially a threat to the water that hydrates your constituency, some nine million people, myself and neighbors inhabiting the area. There have been many loud voices, including your own, the NY Times, and a myriad of others asking that gas drilling be prohibited by law. Never is there a word about fairness to the private landowners whose land ownership includes the mineral rights existing below that land. These rights were deeded upon purchase of the land with hard earned dollars and also, maintained continuously by the payment of very high town and school taxes even though the open land which includes trees, streams and springs (which supply our water) need no infrastructure or schooling. Although unfair, I don’t mind paying these taxes as I understand the societal need.
New York City’s nearly nine million inhabitants (your constituency) benefit from me and my neighbors keeping our lands open and undeveloped. Our land along with state and city land is the primary source of their clean unfiltered drinking water. I often wonder how many of these nine million people recognize this fact? This is where the issue of fairness comes in to play. Let me say first that I am not asking for fairness, as I recognize that we live in a majoritarian democracy, and as one of our forebears said, “In a democracy the minority lives under the tyranny of the majority”. All I am asking for is a SMIDGEN of fairness and recognition by NYC and its inhabitants as to what private landowners in the watershed are doing: protecting their water supply by not developing, not bottling our precious water and selling it, both of which could be quite lucrative, and paying very high land taxes. If this recognition of the need for fairness were to prevail which is what I am asking you to do, it could be expressed by NYC paying at least 50% of our onerous land taxes. A very small amount added to the water usage fees would pay for this and help get users to realize the value of this commodity and in turn do more to conserve it.
I am fully aware of the DEP Land Acquisition Program that purchases private land in fee and conservation easements on those lands in perpetuity. This program, to alleviate the pressure by the Federal EPA to build a filtration plant saves NYC billions of dollars. I am also aware of the funding of the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Watershed Agricultural Council by NYC which in effect saves the City billions and protects against the loss of the Filtration Avoidance Determination by EPA. Conservation
Easements with the City of NY looking over the shoulder of the landowner in perpetuity are not for everybody including myself.
Mayor Bloomberg, if you want to get your way with arbitrarily taking the inherent and paid for right of landowners to drill for natural gas for the protection of clean water for your nine million constituents I believe you should consider a smidgen of fairness by having them pay, what would be a very small fee, to the Catskill private landowners for what we are doing for them. Thank you for your attention
Jack McShane
Andes, NY

Dear Editor,
Following are quotes from an article by the former US Ambassador to Morocco - Marc Ginsberg:
"In 2007, then Vice President Dick Cheney personally authorized the release of 11 Saudis from Guantanamo Bay, who then passed through a leaky Saudi halfway house terrorist rehabilitation program to rejoin Al Qaeda. Two of the 11 former detainees took the express jihadi underground railroad to rejoin Al Qaeda in Yemen."
"Based on a comprehensive review by the Defense Intelligence Agency 14% of the 530 Gitmo detainees released through Cheney's direct approval (74 to be exact) have either been identified as re-engaging in terrorism or suspected of doing so."
"So, - Cheney authorized the release of unrepentant hardened terrorists to his Saudi friends. Having cut their shackles from the Saudis, these escapees are now training and recruiting the likes of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab and threatening to attack the U.S. embassy in Yemen, and Cheney has the chutzpah to accuse Democrats of being soft on terrorism!"
"However, in view of Cheney's willfully inaccurate partisan attacks he deserves to now be held accountable for the Yemeni Al Qaeda terror sanctuary he helped man through his own micromanagement of Gitmo detainees and misguided deference to his Halliburton buddies in Saudi Arabia. As a result, America is a whole lot less safe because of Mr. Cheney's own decisions."
Following are excerpts from CBS News:
"The CIA was keeping tabs on a man they called "The Nigerian" who was meeting with "terrorist elements" in August, months before his father contacted the U.S. embassy, concerned (that) his son was getting mixed up with Islamic radicals," CBS News reports. "The Nigerian" was Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the man who attempted to blow up Northwest Flight 253 on Christmas Day, but the connection was not made among U.S. intelligence authorities until Abdulmutallab's post-flight arrest at Detroit's airport. The CIA did not dispute the CBS News report. President Obama criticized on Tuesday the "systemic failure" of the nation's security apparatus."
Now: Do you remember this story? Published by the NY Times on 7/1/09:
"The Central Intelligence Agency withheld information about a secret counter-terrorism program, from Congress for eight years on direct orders from former Vice President Dick Cheney; the agency's director, Leon E. Panetta, has told the Senate and House intelligence committees, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said Saturday."
With the above information, I look forward to hearing from the present administration today (Tuesday) about what they plan to do, in order to take control of the very expensive national security organizations that we pay for out of our taxes. If they are to simply go into the pockets of private firms, then why don't we just defend ourselves, as the people on the Christmas flight did. Apparently, they were more efficient than the companies that we are paying now. Just for the record: I still don't blame my President, since he inherited this snake pit, and I support him. But, if he doesn't oust the criminals that are in place, I do suggest that we tell him what we want. As you know, only the tea party groups are audible.
We, the progressives are simply whispering amongst ourselves, with no engagement and no solutions - only complaints. In my opinion, it is all up to us. Let's be like the brave men and women that are vocal and yet supportive. Let's tell our President what we want, and aid him, instead of knocking him down. Just think of the options..... Liz Cheney, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh.... How's that for inspiration?
Once again: DEMOCRACY IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT.
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
This letter was originally addressed to NY Governor David Paterson
It always seems that when a city or state is in dire straits, as it is now, the first action of our leaders is to put fear in the so-called middle or low class working people. The poor, sick, the senior citizens, police, fireman, teachers, transit workers, and so on. Our leaders threaten to cut hours or reduce manpower, shut down education programs, close clinics and fire stations, stop after school programs, etc. But fortunately you never seem to threaten the upper crust. I say fortunately because these are the people who have the know how to beat the system, such as the tycoons of Wall Street, the CEO's of large companies who make millions of dollars and most likely have offshore accounts and rarely pay their fair share of taxes, as we do.
Governor Paterson, Wall Street, Banks, Real Estate and Credit Card companies nearly ruined America due to greed, yet they begged for help which we, the working class citizens came to their aid, and for which as you will see the same situation will happen again. If you haven't noticed, the credit card interest rates have risen up to ten percent higher than last year and all companies have lifted the transaction cap from 3% minimum to no top cap which means they can charge you anything they want and get away with it with no penalty.
Sir, I have a suggestion which I hope you will consider. The New York Senate politicians who went on a thirty day strike ( or sit down, or what ever they want to call it) should be fined at least two days pay for every day they came and read the local papers. They should not be above the law. Every politician making over 75 thousand dollars a year should be forced to give 10 percent of their salary to help defray the budget, and there should be an across the board freeze of their salaries which would also help to lower the budget for the future. All leased cars and their drivers should be taken away from all politicians. Let them use their own cars and pay for their own gas from their own pockets, not from ours, or better yet let them use public transportation and pay for it. See what New Yorkers have to endure, especially students who travel back and forth to school. All credit cards issued by the State or Government for trips to other states should be returned and the Politician forced to pay his own way. Of course if it's a true business trip a voucher will be prepared and a reimbursement check issued, of course less the golf outing and lavish parties. All trips to other states or countries should be scrutinized by a non political party and if it's found to be given by a lobbyist, it should be cancelled. There is no logical reason that a Politician should accept a lavish trip to, lets say England or France etc, to study their Railway system or Correction Department or Police procedures when we have just about the best systems in the world.
Sir, I could probably go on for another page or two but I think I better come to an end so as not to anger you too much. In closing, Sir, let me say that lobbyist and politics don't mix. It smacks of payback, lucrative bids, overrun jobs, nepotism. Politicians have too much freedom and when caught doing something wrong such as non-payment of taxes, bribes, or trips paid for by lobbyists, there's always an excuse that they didn't know. Cindy McCain failed to pay her taxes on a condo in La Jola Calif. for almost five years. Was she penalized? No. In fact she paid less than owed. Should this happen to one of the middle class homeowners in NY, I bet they would not have a home after three months. Wall Street says they have to pay their CEO's the lucrative salaries and stock options along with year end bonuses of millions because they will not get the top notch people they want. I say nonsense. With today's unemployment I bet my home they would find hundreds of top notch businessmen willing to take on the same position at a lower salary and most likely would do better.
Thank you for your time and patience
Peter G. Polis
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
In today's world, we have limited natural resources. Some scientists believe we will run out of fossil fuels in the near future. Nuclear energy needs to be considered as a potential source of energy.
Nuclear energy produces massive amounts of energy, but if you do not use it correctly, it has the potential to cause a lot of dangerous accidents. Related to the function E=MC2, we split an atom to produce energy. No one can promise it will be safe even if we use it very carefully and do everything right, because it's very dangerous. There have been lots of nuclear accidents since we began using nuclear radiation to produce energy. One such accident is called nuclear meltdown.
Why is nuclear meltdown bad? Because it contaminates everything! Like soil, animals and even us! There are alpha-ray, beta-ray and gamma-ray radiation produced by nuclear meltdown. Alpha-ray and beta-ray cannot enter the body, so they won't cause negative health effects, but gamma-ray radiation is really bad for your health. This is because gamma rays enter into you body and cause mutations, such as cancer.
Nuclear energy should only be utilized under strict regulation of the government. If we want to use nuclear energy, we need to be careful, due to its high potential for harm.
Yukun Liu
Kingston, NY

Dear Editor,
We, as a community of patrons to Sweet Sues Restaurant, were disheartened and upset to hear of Lea's exit from the waitressing staff. For more than a decade many of us have started our day with the sweet smile, impeccable service and warm heart of Lea. She has become family and an intricate and irreplaceable part of our lives. Lea took care of us, knowing our orders, our likes and dislikes, our problems and joys, and our idiosyncrasies. She always performed her duties with a positive and amiable demeanor, and showed great patience with all of her often demanding customers.
Lea served as an anchor for much of the community and was an essential asset, integral to Sweet Sue's thriving business. We looked forward to joking with her, sharing our lives and receiving reliable friendly service all at the same time. More than just a waitress, she was a friend, confidant and surrogate sister, mother and daughter (depending on the day). We knew she cared about us and her generous spirit made many of us feel we had a home away from home. Thanks to Lea, Sweet Sue's was not just a place to eat. It became a comfortable, welcoming gathering spot and haven. Lea is greatly loved and will be sorely missed. We wish Lea all the success in her future endeavors and are happy to extend a helping hand in any we can on her new journey.
Marc Rubin, Art Chrystie, Marietta H, Ina Kozel, Lea Kwiecinski, Lynda Dunn, Craig Thompson, Elizabeth Kern, Greg De Sanna, Jim Kwiec-inski, Marisela La Grave, Deborah Spivack, Bethany Saltman, Bluejay Skardis, Rochelle Cooper, Shea Settimi, Molly Kilb, Dor Bucher, Big John Kilb, Elizabeth Potter, Mark Friedman, Kathleen McNarry, Allan Fernando, Jen Holz, Holly George Warren, Josh Holz, Robert Warren, David Brought, Peter Cortes, June Brought, Mighty Xee, Sandy Molnar, John Byer, Michael Esterson, Linda Byer, Chip Gallagher, Sara Schwabacher, S B Woods, Mary Savage, Julie Price, Elene Mostow, Ray Stang, June Eisland, Lisa Their, John Boudreau, Charles Morelli, Lee Wecker, Bruno Blunk, Marvela Casale

Dear Editor,
This letter is in response to the letter from Lea Kwiecinski, posted in the Dec. 17th edition.
Although we can sympathize with Lea K's upset over Lea's (Sweet Sue's waitress) job loss, we must say we're quite amazed at the ill informed and in fact incorrect belief that the dismissal was for "no legitimate reason."
Sweet Sue's is a business, just like any other. We don't know the reasons for job losses in other places at times, nor should we. It's not really any of our business. Suffice to say, however, that since Lea did work for Sue for over eleven years, and the customers for the most part did love her, there must have been a pretty good reason, for what has been viewed as an unpopular decision, to let her go. Do Sue's customers really believe she would make such an unpopular decision without just cause? This was not easy for her, and it was thought long and hard about. The end decision (Sue's and Sue's alone) was that letting Lea go was in the best interest of the restaurant and those that still work there. Lea was not the only one who was let go at that time, customers are not usually privy to (nor should they be) the inner workings of their favorite spots.
There are two sides to every story. You will not find Sue out in the street chatting everyone up to try and defend and/or justify her business decision. In the end it is her restaurant and her business. She has done what she feels will be best for all in the long run. Lea (waitress) is very good at what she does and we're sure she will do well wherever she goes. This is our belief and our hope for her.
Whitney Coomes,Lisa
O'Donnell, Tracy Lanes
Sweet Sue's staff

Dear Editor;
There were 79 words in my letter and 145 in Joseph Guglielmetti's response. I began with a quote from a 1953 diary of Witold Gombrowicz about where the authority comes from that enables a person to kill and torture. I then asked how many people the American military killed since the Second World War and I observed that in the Far East to the Middle East they have all been Non-Caucasian. I questioned whether "perpetual war" has made the world a better place and are we more secure as a nation.
Mr. G did not refute my statements or answer any of my questions. Instead he attributed things to me I did not say, such as: I berated America and its presidents; I did not, he did. But I will now; I condemn presidents who lie to escalate wars, like Johnson with the Gulf of Tonkin incident and Bush with his lies about Al Qaeda and non-existent weapons of mass destruction. Check out the first amendment Mr.G. and what America is about. "Americans are the bad guys?" ; his words, not mine: But yes, how about the GI that raped a fourteen year old Iraqi girl and murdered her and her family? Would he have done that if she had been white? He used the words American adventurism. If there is such a thing, let's see how it is supported, even encouraged.
Officially the U.S. has 190,000 troops and 115,000 civilian employees stationed in about 900 military facilities in 46 countries and territories - and the actual numbers are far greater. U.S. military spending at more than $600 billion a year, "adds up to about what the entire rest of the world combined spends on defense" in the words of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Since 2001 the United States has 19 new bases in Afghanistan and neighboring countries.
Mr. G. states "that our incursions into foreign lands has for the most part been due to direct aggression to America's people and our way of life." Amazing! and he says I'm "devoid of historical recall." Al Queda or weapons of mass destruction were not in Iraq but the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan was in the planning stage long before 9/11 by the Project for the New American Century, (PNAC), a neo-conservative think tank formed by Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Richard Perle and others. It was stated, what was needed was another Pearl Harbor. Mr. G, remind Rumsfeld about people leaping to their death from the Twin Towers. During the TV interview with Jim Lehrer on the second anniversary of the attacks, he called 9/11 - "a blessing in disguise."
Mr. G refers to me as a "wayward American" and presumes to educate me about Pearl Harbor and WW Two. I did not refer to either but have tried to understand them as different from our other foreign military activities since 1945, but he is at least consistent in his dishonest or sloppy reading of my letter. Dec. 7, 1941, I was 8 1/2 and spent that Sunday afternoon working a trap for people shooting clay pigeons at a hunt club. Walking home after work, someone came running yelling the Japs had bombed Pearl Harbor. My older brother quit high school and was a tail gunner on a B-29, my second brother, 17, became a paratrooper and served for 29 years, I volunteered for the draft and served during the Korean conflict. Yes, we were all wayward Americans.
Gombrowicz, the Polish author died in 1969. It is more advantageous for Joseph Guglielmetti's agenda to kill the messengers. My last letter was stunning and disturbing? Maybe this letter will be merely breathtaking.
Robert Jacobson
Mt. Tremper,NY

Dear Editor,
In the last nine years more than one million New Yorkers have made the resolution to stop smoking. Supporting those resolutions has been the NYS Smokers' Quitline. Evidence shows that people quit smoking all the time, and New York is one of the national leaders in helping those who are ready to stop smoking, succeed.
The Quitline provides free, proven assistance to New Yorkers who are ready to try and stop smoking. Based at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, the Quitline easily helps people all over New York State. Locally, Cessation Centers work with physicians to optimize use of the Quitline and provide office "Quit-kits" among other tools.
Making a resolution to stop smoking is the best thing you can do for your health, and is the gift that will keep on giving. Within days of a quit attempt, the body's health begins to improve.
If you are ready to make a resolution to end tobacco addiction, give the New York State Smokers' Quitline a call. You'll be glad you did!
Theresa Miller, Director
Robert Hoffmann, Assistant Director
JoAnn Bell, Assistant Coordinator
The Tri-County Cessation Center


Dear Editor,
This letter came in addressed to “Phantom Santa.”
Thank you so very much for the wonderful assortment of delicious cookies. You have kept this loving & thoughtful tradition for over 30 years. My sons looked forward to the cookies every year as they were growing up. I can't put into words how grateful I am for your kindness. I have to tell you when I get up on Christmas morning my first action is to look outside to see if the cookies are there, and Lo & Behold as it has been for many years, a beautifully decorated tin is on my porch. I have no idea what time at night Santa comes.
Whoever you are, you are very special and kind. My sons and I are very blessed to have our very own Santa Claus. Even though we have moved over the years, you always knew where we were. My sons and I wish you a Healthy & Happy Life. Love,
Helen Cordo & Sons
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
On October 30th, I was driving down Route 209 when I developed severe chest pain. I pulled into the Wawarsing Post Office and called 911 on my cell phone. At about 8:30PM, Arnold Ortiz, EMT with Ellenville Rescue Squad, was on his way to dinner with his wife when he heard the call. Within seconds of the call, Arnold had pulled into the Post Office and applied oxygen to me. State Trooper Gleason arrived right after Arnold.
Heather Hampel, a Paramedic with Ellenville Rescue Squad, arrived a few minutes later, followed by driver Bob Hunt and EMTs John Gavaris and Christine Alexander.
They put me on their EKG machine and it showed that my heart was hardly beating and that I was having a heart attack. Heather gave me aspirin, nitroglycerin and started an IV. At ten minutes to nine, they transported me to Ellenville Regional Hospital where Miguel Castillo, RN took care of me with Adrienne Perry, ER Tech. They connected me to their heart monitor. Gene Epstein, Nurse Practitoner determined that my heart attack was so severe, it was necessary to give me the clotbuster medication TNKase.
About 1⁄2 hour after receiving the medication, my heart rate returned to a more normal rate. Gene Epstein, NP had Alicia Perry, ER Unit Clerk make arrangements for my transport by ambulance to Vassar Bros.Hospital, where I had two cardiac stents placed. At one point, I overheard someone say that in another 30 minutes, I would have been dead!
I am now home, recovering and wanted everyone to know how grateful I am for the Ellenville Rescue Squad and your Hospital. I would not be here today if not for your excellent care.
Harlan Noles
Samsonville, NY

Dear Editor,
Words cannot express the tremendous gratitude I feel toward the members of the Town of Olive community and beyond who have done so much for us after the senseless car crash in Shokan on November 10th which killed my children's father, Robert Rauschendorfer, and injured my son Ben.
My children Sara and Ben are going through something that no child should ever have to experience: They have lost their dad - a loving, dedicated father who loved his children so much that he would have given his life for them. Sara's and Ben's lives are changed forever, and I am heartbroken for them. Perhaps we should all be more mindful when we get behind the wheel of a car.
The outpouring of love, caring, and support extended to us during this very sad and difficult time has been phenomenal and has brought us so much comfort. Lately many have heard me say "God is amazing." This may seem like an unusual thing to be saying after experiencing such a profound loss, yet to me there is no other way to explain the depth of help that we have received.
I would like to thank all the first responders, the many law enforcement agencies - especially the New York State Police, and the many Fire Department, EMS, and First Aid members from the Town of Olive and elsewhere. I especially appreciate the numerous community members who helped and comforted Ben at the accident scene. Additionally, I am very grateful to the following who have been so supportive of us: The incredible staff, faculty, PTA's, and community of the Onteora Central School District, the Onteora Jr Flag Football League, Olive Cub Scouts Pack 63, as well as the many friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors, and strangers who have been there for us. We have been helped in so many ways: calls, visits, emails, cards, flowers, food, prayers, hugs, words of encouragement, shoulders to cry on, manual labor, moral support, and time.
Thank you everyone for all that you have for us. You have carried and sustained us during this dark time, and without you all we would not be getting through this. It has been said that "it takes a village to raise a child". I am proud to live and to be raising Sara and Ben in this "village."
Darlene Higley, Mother of
Sara and Ben Rauschendorfer
Boiceville, NY