10/7/2010

Dear Editor,
Thank you for your coverage of the Route 28 road safety problems, as well as for the request for action on this matter. Thanks also to Rich Feldman for his excellent letter about the matter in the previous issue. Since there were three tragic fatalities in the same spot on Rte. 28 in the month of August, we contacted Kevin Cahill's office to request he put serious pressure on the DOT to deter any further accidents. We stressed to him that deterrents such as decreasing speed limits, relying on police monitoring, widening/repaving the road, and memorial markers are ineffective and clearly not enough for some parts of Rte. 28.
What seems to be missing is the real message. How do we get tourists, truckers, and locals to slow down and pay attention? Route 28 is unique. It is a dangerously designed road further complicated by illegal speeding, and distracted driving (that's texting and cell phones). How do we get an impactful message out there that will make a difference on safety? Maybe strategically located signage - "DANGER: DO NOT CROSS OVER THE CENTER LINE!" or "CAUTION: KEEP ALERT FOR SLOW MOVING AND TURNING VEHICLES".
As your article pointed out, it's been three years since the April 2007 accidents occurred, and nothing effective has been done. We have heard numbers bandied about that $2 - $8 million were allotted to improve Route 28 and yet we still don't have any such signage or serious focus on the this issue. Assemblyman Cahill relayed that he would stress the concern to the DOT, which we appreciate. However, our community who live here and use Route 28 are most directly affected by these tragedies, so if we really want to make a difference, it is we who need to speak up loudly and do it now. Call for forceful signage to go up as soon as possible, and more seriously analyzed and effective solutions to be found and implemented within a deadline.
Our hearts go out to all the families who have lost loved ones on Route 28 recently and over the years. Anyone reading this drives on and has family, friends, and neighbors who drive Rte. 28 daily. Do we want such tragedy to ever happen again? to anyone? Please contact Assemblyman Cahill at 845-338-9610 or http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=101 with your thoughts. And if you would like to make Rte. 28 safe, please join us to create and promote solutions. Email us at makeroute28safe@yahoo.com
Posie Strenz, Mt. Tremper, NY and Christina Himberger, Boiceville, NY
Dear Editor,
THANK YOU for the years of local news! Saying goodbye to our favorite newspaper and all the many many wonderful writers and articles - so sad to see you go! Good luck in your future endeavors!
Love from
Kt & Ralph Legnini
West Shokan, NY
Dear Editor,
The end of an era is upon us. Our local newspaper is shutting down. Brian Powers has contributed immensely to our town. I am going to miss his editorials, every one's columns and the news. Perhaps after he pursues his other dreams, he'll return to publishing one of the most anticipated papers I've read....In the meantime, thank-you, Brian, and everyone else....and good luck.
Yours in the struggle,
Alan Fliegel
Phoenicia, NY
Dear Editor,
Just want you to know,that for me you are the best newspaper around. In fact you are the only paper I read, cant remember the last time I read the Woodstock Times, and I have been here for 34 years.
Why dont you start charging for your paper? I would gladly pay for it.
I am going to really miss it, you did a great job.
Thanks
David Bagoon
Mt. Tremper, NY
Dear Editor,
As we start a new school year, the Onteora Central School District Board of Trustees would like to update you on current and upcoming activities.
Ms. Charlotte Gregory became our Interim Superintendent over the summer and will continue in that role while we embark on our search for a new, full-time Superintendent. Ms. Gregory brings to her position over 34 years of experience as a Superintendent in New York State, and we have all been thrilled by her energy and enthusiasm, and her willingness to take a pro-active stance on issues concerning our students. Please take the opportunity to welcome Charlotte as you see her at school events.
The new Superintendent search is being conducted through BOCES, at no cost to the District, except for advertising fees. Applications are due by October 1, after which the Board will begin the interview process. We will be working with a shared decision making team made up of representatives from all of our district's areas and groups. It is our hope to hire a full-time Superintendent to start work early in the New Year, though that is dependent on our confidence in the right candidate.
At the September 14 board meeting, the Trustees appointed Michael McKeon to fill the seat on the Board left vacant after Donna Flayhan moved out of the District. Mr. McKeon had already been serving on the Audit Committee and will bring considerable expertise to the Board. His appointment lasts until the next election, in May 2011. We would like to thank Dr. Flayhan for all her hard work during her two years of service and wish her and her family the very best in their new school district.
Beginning with our September 28 meeting, the Board will begin discussing the "footprint" of the School District - that is, the potential future configurations for buildings and grades that will best serve our students. Over these next six meetings at the three active elementary schools leading up to the end of the calendar year, we plan to alternate "presentation" meetings with "forum" meetings. The presentations will encompass the conversation and work done thus far, and by this we convey our appreciation for the various groups that have assembled in the past to discuss and study the direction of the District. Your work will not go unrecognized.
The conversation will progress as we receive input and discuss ideas, and we encourage parents, residents, staff and students to attend whenever they can. There will be opportunity for public discussion at each of meetings and we welcome your input. We also plan to create a task force to assess the available information and present recommendations to the Board. We are open to creative new ideas that may not yet have been widely discussed. In the meantime, on the Onteora website (under BOE, Past District Planning Committee Work) you will find relevant past studies and findings.
Finally, a reminder that the great Levon Helm has kindly donated his services for a special concert at the Harry Simon Auditorium on October 22. Monies raised will be divided equally between the five schools for the purposes of Arts in Education. Tickets are available through levonhelm.com.
We will keep you updated as the school year progresses.
Laurie Osmond
President, OSCD Board of Education
Dear Editor,
As supporters of a modern sanitation system for the hamlet of Phoenicia, we were pleased that the Shandaken Town Board has finally voted to enter into an agreement with the Catskill Watershed Corporation to assist us in making an appropriate choice.
We were less than pleased, however, with an attempt by certain Board members to hire a lawyer to become involved at the very beginning of the CWC's activities. There is no reason for the Town Board to consider hiring any outside attorney until the CWC has finished gathering information on the options available to Phoenicia, has evaluated those options, and shared the information with us. At the present time, there is nothing for an attorney to review.
When the CWC makes its recommendations, which should be some time next year, if our regular Town attorney feels the matter is beyond his expertise, then an attorney with specialized experience in these matters could be hired. However, that attorney should be someone who has no prior involvement on either side of the issue, and can therefore be totally unbiased and free of conflicts of interest.
For all of these reasons, we urge the Shandaken Town Board to vote against hiring an outside attorney at the present time.
Patricia L. Ellison, LeRoy (Roy) Winchell, Chris Fischer, Bruce Winchell, and 17 others
Phoenicia, NY
Dear Editor,
WRONG. Braylon Edwards, the Jets wide receiver gets arrested for DWI, .16, and the NFL says "this is a violation of their substance abuse policy". WRONG. It is a crime. Driving While Intoxicated is a crime. An organization that has as much influence on our young people as the NFL should get it straight.
D. Holley Carnright
Ulster County District Attorney
Dear Editor,
Approximately a year ago, Jack Bennett, of the Ulster County Substance Abuse Board attended a meeting with Ulster County Children Services Coordinator, who recognized AWARENESS as a viable program. She asked that we find a way to work together. Jack had already approached the judges to utilize an evidence-based, brief intervention program developed by Dr. Ken Winters and colleagues at the University of Minnesota. The founder of the AWARENESS Teen Program contacted Dr. Winters. The two decided to pilot a program where teens deliver the evidence-based program including a fourth component of the brief intervention only offered to the AWARENESS program.
The program consists of interviews, two with the teen, one with the parent and one with the teen and parent. The teen delivery alleviates the clinical feeling, allowing volunteer participants to let down their defenses. Teens reflect on their relationships with substances. It opens communication for parent and teen to interact
without judging or blame. It is the perfect environment for teens to help themselves change their behavior.
AWARENESS is a not for profit currently filing a 501c3 and has a fiscal sponsor. If anyone would like to donate, the goal is to pay teens to implement and teach teens the program. Many of them volunteer their time but when they get jobs, they have no time to help. Alycia Geiss, who killed a passenger when she drove the day after drinking (not realizing she had alcohol in her system) volunteers in the program. She speaks to teens who are mandated by judges to attend the class held at the Ulster County Law Enforcement Center to learn the dangers of substance use.
Marie Shultis
AWARENESS
Hurley, NY
Dear Editor,
I hear a lot of people who are unsure if investments in infrastructure across the country are effective. They must not drive around Ulster County - bridges are being repaired, roads are being re-paved, and upgrades in power generation are keeping unemployment in check in Ulster County. There are other reasons to things are starting to look up too - solar panel manufacturing jobs are being created and parking lots at Tech City are looking full for the first time since the mid-90's.
Stimulus is not meant to be the end all be all, but spending a dollar in the county generates more than two dollars in economic activity in the local economy. Some think a better solution is to stick "Had Enough?" political signs on the side of the road. Well, we have not "had enough" targeted investments in our national infrastructure, we have "not had enough" focus on the middle class and we have "not had enough" investment in our schools. However, the silent majority has "had enough" of so-called tea party patriots who vow to fight to add $700 billion to our nation's debt in order to give the wealthy a tax cut and want to elect naysayers instead of roll up your sleeves and get to work.
Vic Work
Wallkill, NY
Dear Editor,
I'm writing to express our sadness that your paper has decided to discontinue publishing. I think your paper is an important part of our community, and although it seems to already be the case, I hope its time is not over.
I know it wasn't what part of your plea for assistance, but if it would help, we would be happy to commit to an ongoing advertisement in your paper in way of support. We don't typically look to advertise locally as most of our business comes from outside areas, but we consider it a worthwhile expense to do our part, to support your work. I am sorry that we cannot do more.
Sincerely,
Sara Loughlin, Co-Owner
Phoenicia Lodge
Phoenicia, NY
Dear Editor,
Democrats have given tax cuts to small business owners; tax cuts to clean energy companies and a tax cut to 95 percent of working Americans. Instead of giving tax breaks to corporations to create jobs overseas, Democrats are cutting taxes for companies that put our people to work here at home.
The Obama administration has been investing in growth industries like clean energy and manufacturing, because solar panels wind turbines and electric cars will be "Made in America." There are no better workers than American workers,
and when the naysayers said our government should just let the American auto industry vanish and take hundreds of thousands of jobs down with it, congressional Democrats voted to stand by them, but required, that they make the tough choices necessary to compete once again. America's auto industry is on the way back.
Furthermore, congressional Democrats have made sound and long overdue investments to upgrade our outdated and inefficient national infrastructure.
The Obama administration is not just talking new about new roads, bridges, dams
and levees; but also a smart electric grid and the broadband internet and high-speed rail lines required to compete in the 21st century economy.
Those kinds of investments are for America's future, but they're creating hundreds of thousands of private sector jobs today. It was because of these investments, and the tens of thousands of projects like them all over this country, that our recovering construction sector actually grew last month for the first time in a very long time. Nevertheless, nearly one in five construction workers are unemployed. It doesn't do anybody any good to have so many American construction workers idled for months, even years, at a
time when there is so much of America's infrastructure that needs to be rebuilt.
Jim O'Leary
Delhi, NY
Dear Editor,
Eighteen months ago a seed of an idea was germinated in our local Ashokan-Pepacton Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited about some kind of community art project celebrating our world-famous Esopus Creek trout population. That seed was nurtured and fertilized by a large group of community-minded people. Today, the fruits of our harvest can be viewed in a gallery show at the Arts Upstairs, on Main Street, Phoenicia. Twenty-seven original works of art depicting, interpreting, and reimagining our Catskill trout are on display until Sunday, October 10, when the
artworks will be auctioned to benefit Trout Unlimited. The public is invited to join us for this unique live auction event, beginning at 5PM. The art collection can also be viewed at www.theleapingtrout.com, where you can place an auction bid online until the day of the auction.
The Phoenicia Times and Olive Free Press have chronicled the Leaping Trout Art Project since its inception. The PT and OFP have been a supporter and
enabler of not only the Leaping Trout Project, but all the conservation efforts of the APWC-TU, as well. When these newspapers are gone, they will be leaving behind a big hole in our mountain community. A heart-felt thanks from Trout Unlimited to Brian Powers, Paul Smart, their families, and staff for their tireless efforts to inform and enrich our mountain community. Your voice will be missed.
Mark Loete, Chair
The Leaping Trout Art Project
Chichester, NY
Dear Editor,
To start with, we need to determine who runs the government? If you say the voters and all the politicians we elected, you are wrong. Big Business runs Washington. Big Business, 12,000 companies and associations, employs 2,500 lobbying firms, using 22,000 lobbyists to influence 100 senators, 435 members of congress and their 7,000 staffers.
We have heard so much about lost jobs. They were not lost - Big Business exported those jobs to China, India and other "less developed countries." The reasons are very simple; increased profits through near slave labor.
The first wave of exports was in the textile industry, the mills and the cut and sew operations. Business chased low cost labor and we could not compete. Next major industry to go was the steel industry. We needed to clean up the air in Gary, Cleveland and other steel producing cities. Oh yes, let us not forget increased profits. Now the ore is mined in Australia, shipped to China, where the Mongolian and Chinese coal is used to make steel for buildings in America, including the new World Trade Center.
Now the part that I am most familiar with is the Electronics Industry. I was the CFO of Admiral Corporation, at one time the largest manufacturer of Television Sets in America. As imports increased, we required help. Admiral Corporation was taken over by Rockwell International and they found they did not have the answers and shuttered the TV plants at a great loss. Closing plants was also the fate of Zenith, Motorola, Sylvania, GE, and Westinghouse.
Now, today, Flat Screen TV's, Computers, iPods, Cell Phones and a host of other electronic products are not only produced with cheap labor, $166 a month, but with skilled labor and new high tech machines from Germany. These companies do the complete process from design to boxed-for-delivery throughout the world. One electronics manufacturer, Foxconn, a Chinese company has 25 plants employing 920,000 workers. Revenue last year was $62 billion. We know this is only one of the many exporters.
There is a new class of self loading container ships, with a crew of only 13, carrying 10,000 twenty foot containers at speeds not dreamed of a few years ago.
Now that we have identified the elephant in the room, what do we do? If you think the stimulus program will turn the tide, think again. This did not happen in the last few years. It is, and has been, a creeping cancer on the American work force.
We must get out of all agreements that prevent us from running our own economy. Let's start with a 25 percent duty on luxury imports that could be manufactured in the USA, and ten percent on the rest. To settle a trade dispute, President Johnson imposed a 25 percent duty on light trucks. The duty, called the "chicken tax" is in effect today and forces foreign companies to build their light trucks here.
Big Business does not want to change the status quo. Exxon Mobil, H-P, Intel, Coca-Cola and McDonald's all have over 60 per-cent of their revenue from overseas expanding markets such as China and Brazil.
When the politicians talk about bringing jobs to our area, ask them what their positions are on import duties to level the playing field.
A few words on personal income taxes. We had a coalition of both political parties with common interests from 1942 to 1963 when the marginal tax rate was generally ninety-one percent on taxable income over $400,000. Those were the good years.
James A. Goese
Sarasota, FL
Dear Editor,
On behalf of the Olive Free Library Board of Trustees I would like to take this
opportunity to encourage all the residents of the Town of Olive to vote YES on the upcoming 414 Resolution on the ballot on Election Day. The Library Board has studied the issue of funding for the library for quite sometime and we believe the 414 Resolution will provide a secure funding source the library. Our library is a vital resource for the town. It provides a large selection of books, magazines, CDs, DVDs and programs to our patrons. Our computers are in constant demand and we also have free wireless for those who bring their laptops. Our community rooms are a great center for many activities and
organizations. During this economic downturn, the library has been especially
busy helping people searching for jobs and providing materials and resources for training for new employment. It is also a great place for FREE entertainment for the family. (DVDs, games & programs.) We would love to continue to provide these services and much more but we can not do it without your support. Please Vote Yes on Election Day, Tuesday, November 2. "Our Community, Our Library."
Mary Ann Shepard, President
Olive Free Library Board of Trustees
Dear Editor,
First off I would like to express my dismay at hearing that this will be our last edition of The Olive Press and Phoenicia Times. Although, at times, we have been on different sides on issues, I have always felt that having a newspaper that is about our wonderful community was an asset to all of us. By providing a relatively inexpensive advertising venue for the many varied activities in both Phoenicia and Olive your paper made getting the word out easier and will be sorely missed. As president of the Shandaken Theatrical Society we relied on the Phoenicia Times and Olive Press to let people know what shows we were doing and how to contact us. The other advertising entities available to us are much more expensive and stretch our limited advertising budget to the limits. We could, also, always count on your paper to put a photo or an article in print for us to let the community know what was happening at STS.
As an Olive resident I always counted on Carol LaMonda's column, A Jar of Olives, to let me know what was happening in Olive. Whether I agree with everything written or not I would read the paper and become more informed on something, and isn't that the purpose of a newspaper, to inform its readers? Unfortunately we have no other newspaper that is willing to cover the events that take place in our communities... I guess we are just not big enough to merit such coverage... and your leaving will leave a large gap in keeping us all informed about our wonderful towns!
It is with deep regret that I write this letter,
Linda Burkhardt
Olivebridge, NY
Dear Editor,
I read with interest a letter from Mr. Mitchell Langbert, Town of Olive Republican Committee who received financial information from a local government official. I would be interested in looking at the same information. The school's latest information comes from the State Education Department in a District Report Card format from the 2007-08 data given to taxpayers at annual budget time. The state reports $12,929 per student for the general education program, for 1,818 students and $34,231 per student for 339 special education students. Instructional expenditures for general education for classroom instruction (excluding Special Education) plus a proration of building level administrative and instructional support expenditures show $12,929 per student. These expenditures include amounts for instruction of students with disabilities in a general educational setting. District expenditures such as transportation, debt service and district-wide administration are not included. Instructional expenditures for Special Education are K-12 expenditures, plus K-12 pupils for students with disabilities (including summer special school expenditures), plus a proration of expenses for building level and administration and instructional support services. Again district expenditures for transportation, debt service and district-wide administration are not included. These exclusions allow for a comparable expenditure with schools of similar size and all public schools across the state. Other states may report expenditure data in a different manner as I have discovered from previous comparison studies. It would be difficult to see such a difference in cost comparison as noted in the previous letter unless one took the total expenditures and divided by the number of students to judge how that number compares with other area schools. That would be comparing data on an "apples to oranges" basis.
Since districts in the state have some expenditures which are not easily compared district by district in that some districts have a central building site for education K-12 which can be less costly to operate, and others have multiple sites which duplicate costs. Some districts have new construction costs or long term debt; and some districts have inordinate transportation costs because they transport students over large geographic areas to school. Onteora has one of the largest geographic areas in the state, transporting over 1500 students to four different sites and a number of other educational settings over 315 square miles. The sparcity factor for Onteora is 6 students per square mile as compared with some other rural areas of 10-25 students per square mile. Such factors become major considerations for educating costs per student. One can only hope that comparison studies take into consideration the diversity of educational costs and compare data on an "apples to apples" basis.
Many other factors also come into consideration on the revenue side of the expenditure picture. As I reviewed the information that I have seen in the district, I do see that Onteora has the lowest true value tax rate in the area. I found that district's $10.48 true value rate was dwarfed by local districts which range from $15.61 per thousand to $19.47, giving credence that the Onteora District has the lowest rate in the region and has been careful with expenditures and revenues in the taxpayers' best interest.
I mention these points in fairness to a district that is making an effort to keep the costs of education in line while still striving to provide the best educational program within the taxpayers' ability to pay. It has been very difficult for all of us in New York State to cope with the financial burdens, and no more difficult than for school districts which not only did not get an increase in state aid, but have given back several billions of dollars over the last several years.
Charlotte Gregory
Interim Superintendent
Onteora Central School
Boiceville, NY
Dear Editor,
It's unfortunate that the first mainstream expression of the truth about 9/11 was presented by a contentious representative of a repressive regime - Ahmadinejad. However, the evidence supporting his claim - that 9/11 could only have been engineered by elements inside the U.S. Government - is compelling and substantive.
Slow motion replays of the collapse of the Twin Towers show explosions occurring on the corners and mid-sections of the buildings, just below the collapsing floors. Dust samples taken from nearby apartment buildings reveal substantial amounts of a new, high-tech explosive which is known to cause temperatures far hotter than jet fuel, hot enough to quickly melt, and even evaporate steel.
The fall of WTC#7 (housing CIA, NSA, World Bank, NYC Emergency Command Center) occurs in classic demolition form, collapsing into its own footprint at free fall speed, impossible to occur from the relatively minor fire damage it suffered. In fact, the only three steel frame buildings in history ever to collapse from fire were WTC 1, 2 and 7.
Little or no wreckage, and no bodies were ever recovered from the site of the jetliner supposedly downed in a Pennsylvania field. Same for the plane that supposedly struck the Pentagon - no airplane parts, no bodies. The evidence goes on and on.
Beyond bringing to justice the real architects and perpetrators of 9/11, these facts should serve to awaken the American people to the tragic truth of who is controlling their country. Awakening is the first step. After overcoming the shock and dismay, we must set about taking our country back from the covert plutocracy which has so successfully and thoroughly hijacked our once beloved nation. Google "Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup" and fasten your seat belts.
Liam Watt
Saugerties, NY
Dear Editor,
This is in response to your September 9 article about the Planning Board. As usual, you can only print the negative side of an observation.
The Shandaken Planning Board cancelled their September meeting because of lack of business, this is true. But I say this sits very well with all of us on the board, because you failed to write that the planning board has met this year for 9 workshops, 8 Regular meetings, and at least 3-4 meetings with the Town Board on the Farm Stand issue. Yes, we found many things to discuss. We also met a few times for special meetings in regard to other topics.
How about writing some words of praise for the effort we have put in. Or that we have met at least 20-24 times THIS YEAR ALONE and it is only September. I think this is a well deserved break for us. You must have been waiting all year for us to take a meeting off so that you could write about it. Because I have not seen a thing all year in your paper about any of our meetings. The meetings you DO NOT have the courtesy to attend. But of course, you wouldn't write something positive, would you.
On your other topic, Beth Waterman was not STRIPPED of anything. We as a board nominate a new chairman every year. This is so everyone gets a chance to be Chairman.And she was not REMOVED from the Planning Board by the Town Board or Rob Stanley, her term was up and she was simply not re-appointed. She was on the board for at least 10 years. She was put on the board in 2000 to finish out Tim Molloy's appointment and then was reappointed for her own term of 7 years. You would almost think this was a campaign ad, set out by you to re-appoint her, and portraying her as if a terrible injustice was done, when there was no such thing.
In the future, please try to report ALL sides of an issue before you engage your mouth or your pen. There is enough drama in Shandaken without you dreaming up some.
Joanne Kalb, Vice Chairman
Shandaken Planning Board
Big Indian, NY
Dear Editor,
One day we"ll be silent from all that we say.The people with power will take that away.The"ll pick at our freedoms,one day at a time.You wont see it comming,you"ll think its just fine.And one day you'll wake up and be told what to do.from what car to drive to what brand of shoe.So dont you just sit there,STAND UP AND FIGHT!In novembers election,we can make things alright.
I'll miss your paper...
Anthony Scampoli
Olivebridge NY
Dear Editor,
I am really upset and disappointed that my very favorite local newspaper is closing down the presses. Do you realize how important you have been for the past 7 years? Your newspaper gives its readers a well balanced, clever, exciting, interesting, focused views of how things are, not just in the high Catskills but world wide. We will all be greatly diminished without that sweet little newspaper which you have lovingly produced for us each couple of weeks.
There is nothing out there quite like your progressive voice. It should not be silenced. We need you.
Lee Parker
Arkville, NY
Dear Editor,
Recently, there have been increasing calls to rein in New York State's Medicaid budget. Both the Republican gubernatorial candidate and New York's Lieutenant Governor have pointed to the need for reform as the Medicaid budget continues to skyrocket.
Through my work with the Resource Center for Accessible Living, a Kingston-based non-profit organization that assists people with disabilities to live more independent lives. I have seen areas where reform is warranted.
In my opinion, there should be a "look-back" period for people who receive Medicaid funded community care. At present, people can transfer assets one day and qualify for Medicaid the next. Although there is a transfer penalty for Medicaid coverage of institutional-level nursing home care, there is no transfer penalty for community Medicaid - coverage of regular medical services and most home care programs. As a taxpayer, I think that's pretty outrageous! Secondly, people on Medicaid who are employed should be obligated to take their employer health plan, if offered, as primary insurance. Medicaid can often pay for the employee's share of the employer health plan so that the employer plan becomes primary and Medicaid secondary. To me, that's good public policy.
Finally, at first glance, it would appear that spousal impoverishment is something that should be eliminated. However, if spousal impoverishment didn't exist, the "well" spouse would be driven below poverty so that the ill spouse could get needed care through Medicaid. That's not humane - provisions for spousal impoverishment should remain intact.
Fran Wishnick, Resource Center for Accessible Living
Kingston, NY
Dear Editor,
I'm going to DC on Saturday to stand with hopefully tens of thousands of trade unionists and anti-war activists at the 10/02/10 One Nation rally to say that good jobs with good benefits are possible if we realign our priorities and refuse to be baited into blaming each other or giving up on our dreams of a better world. I'll be carrying a two-sided sign- 'When did teachers get so powerful that we are responsible for everything that's wrong with the schools? When the right wing decided that good public schools and well paid teachers stand in the way of their plans to pauperize America' on one side and 'They wanted to privatize social security. Imagine if they had succeeded! Now they want to privatize the schools. They must be stopped again! on the other. All right, it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue but I'm out of practice.
Your paper has kept us well informed and provided a forum for all different voices but has always reserved a special place for voices of dissent such as mine that are often kept out of mainstream media. You will be greatly missed! I hope your staff is able to hang around and continue to enrich our community.
Matt Frisch
Highmount, NY
Dear Editor,
A member of the Olive Day organization, Linda Burkhardt ,suggested I contact you if possible to post the following letter of gratitude in the Olive Press.
Olive Day has been an event that I looked forward to every year. It has been similar to a family reunion. It's a time to gather and see the originals of Town of Olive year after year. What was a small event has now grown into a huge event. From the originals we now have extensions of families,friends and neighbors. We all share our memories of the past, moments of the present and thoughts of the future. Even though Olive Day is a fund raiser for Democrats, politics are put aside on Olive Day, and it is about the people within the town and those coming to Olive. It's about a community helping each other while at the same time having a fabulous time. Olive day is about the children having the frog jumping contest.The Boy Scouts demonstrating their loyalty,obedience and kindness.
This year through the kindness of the organizers of the 'Olive Day' and the Perry family, an announcement was made just a few weeks before Olive Day, that some of the proceeds from the Kent Reeves Memorial Run would be donated to my son, Jason Jones, who is undergoing Stage 4 Cancer surgery and treatments. The Perry family organized the walk/run and in addition donated all of the proceeds from their Nascar simulator. The energy created and generosity from these acts of kindness is priceless. The out flowing of support that can truly lift ones spirit is incredible.
I want to thank each and everyone that participated in the walk/run and to those that took a ride in 'The Marine'. Thank you to those giving individual donations. Special thanks to Patrick Burkhardt (the new Windham Warrior) his wife Jeannine Burkhardt ..thank you to your sponsors.. my gratitude for all your tremendous efforts in contacting the Onteora Runners and Eric Houghtaling. Additional special thanks to Andrew Burkhardt and Chelsey Brooks and their sponsors. Thank you to Olivia Fitzpatrick and the Onteora Color Guard. Heart warming thank you my parents Ed & Donna Burkhardt for all your endless love and support. Loving thank you to Fred & Linda Burkhardt,Chris & Kathy Schoonmaker, Stephen Burkhardt, Eddie Burkhardt. Thank you for your support Bridgett and Mike Driscoll, and Amanda Burkhardt. Thank you to Tracy and Damien Magarelli. Thank you to Jenn Valle, Sydney and Mackenzie Skinner for your artistic talents. Thank you to Don, Liz, Catherine and Nick Jones. A gracious thank you to 'The Kingston Dialysis team' and thank you to employees of the Kingston Health Alliance for all your donated time. A savior thank you to Kai Hillman. Lastly, thank you to my son Jason for your strength, courage, and determination.
Thank you to the Olive Press..... you will be missed ... shall you print again.
Respectfully,
Margaretha Jones
Olive, NY
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank all the wonderful people who made Olive Day 2010 such a great success! Olive Day happens because a lot of people work very hard to make it happen and I want to thank all my fellow members of The Olive Democrats for all the hard work that went into a successful Olive Day! The Olive Fire Dept, The Olive First Aid Unit,The Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts,The Food Bank at the Olive Bridge Methodist Church, The Killian Foundation, The benefit for Joe that Ed Kahill ran , the benefit for Jason Jones, the little girl who collected blankets and towels for dogs in shelters were all present at Olive Day. There was a record crowd and everyone seemed to be having fun! Olive Day has always been a day for laughing, meeting people you may not see all year, dancing, eating good food and just plain having fun!
Boy Scout troupe 163 had a beautiful ceremony at the beginning of the day commemorating the 9/11 attacks on our country and I am not ashamed to say that It brought tears to my eyes and ,I am sure most everyone else who watched the ceremony.
Did everyone see the rope bridge that Boy Scout Troupe 63 constructed? There was also a wonderful section for a scout camp and a dunking booth, I hear they were lined up to dunk Bruce LaMonda, and a Jumping House. Olive has very active Boy Scout Troupes and it was great to see the efforts of the young people in our community appreciated!
The Olive First Aid Unit was there offering information, Blood Pressure checks and also selling Ice Cream as a fund raiser, I have not gotten back to them yet, but It looked like it was a success! Olive Day is a time when many local people are able to sell things they make, like Buddy Eckerts maple syrup, or Louise Schryver's hand knitted garments, or even Alex's marshmallow guns! Other organizations use Olive Day as a fund raiser, like The Bushkill Rod and Gun Club, with their chicken dinners and the much talked about chicken liver, bacon and onion sandwiches, I heard a rumor that they had to go out and get more chicken livers!
Olive Day is also a time for getting information out to everyone, the Ulster County Health Dept was there with a table full of information as well as the Ulster County Area Transportation with bus schedules. Cornell Co-operative with their stream management display and The Ashokan Center with their displays were all busy . Trout Unlimited, Rocky Mt. Elk Foundation were there to explain what they are all about and maybe to raise funds to help with their causes.On a personal note, my nephew Jason Jones, was so very touched by the outpouring of love and support he received in his ongoing battle with cancer. Knowing that so many people care about him is a very potent medicine and will help in his recovery every bit as much as the chemo he will undergo. I want to say Thank you to all that contributed and stopped by to wish Jason well I know he was overwhelmed with the love he received.
If you were there you would have seen a lot of people enjoying a beautiful day in the Catskill's and the company,music,food,and booths of their friends and neighbors! I was in charge of the vendors for this event and after it was over I spoke with a lot of them and what they told me made so proud to be a part of our community! They said that they love doing Olive Day...not because they make a boat load of money, but because the people who come to Olive Day are so wonderful!
So Thank You wonderful people of Olive for making this years Olive Day the success it was for without you there could not be an Olive Day!
Linda Burkhardt
Olivebridge, NY
Dear Editor,
Good bye Olive Press.
One of the most important elements in the making of a community is local paper. For ten years the Town of Olive has has grown as a community because of our local paper. I have counted on the Olive Press to keep me connected to the goings on specific to my town, socially, culturally and politically. We will surly become less with the loss of this paper.
Thank you Brian Powers for your courage and vision. Keeping them honest and us informed. Thank you Paul Smart for your attention to the arts, music, theatre being presented by our neighbors here in our town.
I will miss reading the columns from Jen Holz, Aaron Bennett, Cally Mansfield and all the others. I will miss the Olive Calendar and the oh yes the letters, I think I will miss these the most. The Olive Press was such a presents to my live here is Olive its hard to believe it's ending.
Good bye and thank you all for this wonderful gift.
Ron Aja
West Shokan, NY
Dear Editor,
I read the current isssue of your wonderful paper last evening with a tear in my eye. We all know that the use of the internet has changed the way people want to get their news. Older folks, like myself, used to need to see it in print to believe it, but the world is changing and we either change with it, or become extinct.
I am over 50 and have looked forward to reading your newspaper every 2 weeks, since I moved to Olivebridge 4 years ago. From the proper translation of Abenimenijad's speech to the U.S. a couple of years ago to the back page "people on the street" questions, your paper has been informative and enjoyable. THANK YOU.
But before I say goodbye, I have an idea. Start the "Olive Press Blog". Let us all know about it in the last issue and on the local radio stations. I'm sure you will create a following. There are legitimate ways to make income from such a venture. Google "Ken McCarthy". He's a tech-saavy guy right here in our own Hudson Valley who conducts seminars on writing and making money on the internet. Your staff already knows how to write. All you need is the marketing team to gather info. Google "Making money on blogs", and see where that leads you.
I have dial-up service where I live, and an enjoyable low-paying job. I have never tried making money off the internet, but I do know people who have.
Just a suggestion, folks.
Katherine DeLaRosa
Olive, NY
Dear Editor,
Most Shandaken residents know that a lawsuit remains pending between the town and 29 families of the Shandaken Landowners Association. Since few people I think, really know what it's about, and since everyone in town is paying - year after year- to defend the town's actions, I think it's time people actually thought about what what's being defended and why.
Shandaken has not had an official tax reevaluation since 1978. The result is that since then some families have paid high taxes while others paid lower ones in the form of 1978 property values. A few people, in other words, have been carrying the tax burden for the many. In recent years this has been changing, as the current assessors appear to be trying to apply our laws somewhat more fairly. But that's our current situation; not the one our 29 families were compelled to file suit over, five and a half years ago.
Our 29 family own properties larger than 20 acres; in 2005, Shandaken's assessors illegally raised our assessments, forcing us to pay up to 50% more than what New York State or New York City were assessed at for their undeveloped forest landholdings. It was a clear violation of the state's State Real Property Law and of our federally protected civil rights under the Equal Protection clause of the United States Constitution. Before they did this, they asked the state if they could raise just the taxes on privately owned properties larger than 20 acres. They state said they couldn't. They did it anyway. Then after we filed suit, the next year, 2006, they went to the state and the city and said look: the private landowners are paying our new rate, now you have to pay that amount too. And the state and the city, said: "OK, sure." Why, we don't know.
Over the past 15 years we have seen a rash of illegal and one sided assessment practices in Shandaken. There are laws to protect residents from improper or unfair practices but if the laws are ignored then the tax assessor has a free hand to tax who they want and for whatever amount. Here's an example: When you buy a home, its market assessment is what you inherit. A tax assessor cannot just show up and raise your taxes because you just moved in. There is even a name for this illegal practice, it is called the "Welcome Newcomer law" and it's long been standard operating procedure in Shandaken. Many people buy a vacation home or are part time residents; there is no way they can contest this illegal act and the town knows it. They are not even allowed to vote in this town even though they pay taxes here. So the practice goes on.
When I first purchased my land in 1997, I fell victim to this when the tax assessor decided to jack up my taxes over 300% on lands that were not improved or changed but simply purchased by myself. When we went to town hall on Grievance Day we were told, "if you can't afford it maybe you should leave". This good old boy approach to taxation in Shandaken is a dark and dishonorable way to do business. In fact, experts hired by the Shandaken Landowners have researched the tax rolls and have found no uniform or coherent taxation practice. Some people are given a tax hike just because they bought a home and others just because they painted theirs. In other cases things seem more personal. Maybe the tax assessor did not liked them or maybe they did, this is not how taxation should work. I would also like to correct Paul Smart numbers on the price increase of the disputed land values. It was not $600 per acre but was changed from $600 per assessed acre to $2,400 market value per acre. Either way, any increase obtained illegally from a citizen is criminal regardless of the assessors reasoning.
The families of the Shandaken Landowners Association are Republicans, Democrats and every shade of non-enrolled and non-aligned. We filed suit because in 2005 the town knowingly and intentionally violated our civil rights by singling us out for illegal taxation practices. We believe they committed another crime by falsely certifying the town's 2005 tax roll. They did both those things so that the following year, they could leverage the two illegal actions to get the state and city to pay more in taxes. When you violate one family's civil rights you violate everybody's civil rights. Today you nail the people with red houses, so that tomorrow you can nail the people with blue houses. This is not how the laws are written and this has to stop, and we are trying to stop it here, forever.
The SLA has repeatedly attempted to work with the town board in resolving these issues and bringing fair taxation to the town. We have been met each time with a deaf ear and their response has been to litigate this in court costing the town of Shandaken many hundred of thousands of dollars. Recently the SLA won again an appeal where the township to have our case dismissed. The judge who presided over this appeal found that in fact the SLA has grounds for this suit and denied the town's request. I personally wrote the town supervisor asking him if he would like to sit down and resolve this. His answer again was no-response to my letter but a refilling of the appeal. This will continue to cost the town and the SLA but let it be known the SLA is not going away and we will win in the end. I do not know about you but I want to live in a town where the town itself follows the letter of the law and fair practice. Shandaken needs to own up to what it actually did during the years when Rosalie Boland ran the Assessor's office. It needs to make things right with its citizens that were victimized. Our town board has managed to keep our experts and testimony out of open court for over 5 years, but we will get our day there and we will prevail. Fair taxation must be the prime agenda of all town board members and citizens.
Peter Vinci, President
Shandaken Landowners Association
Pine Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
On the suspension of publication of The Phoenicia Times, for me, loss does not describe it. I see it as creating a very bleak vacuum. A while back I started to think of a town as having a consciousness and helping it to grow and mature. I was thinking and feeling this in relation to Woodstock that I moved to 53 years ago as an artist, only I was disturbed by the narrowness of the vision there. It was not in touch with the depth and richness of Woodstock. The consciousness of the town was being controlled and directed too narrowly. The editor had been Town Supervisor.
The Phoenicia Times has the potential to express the richness of Shandaken and let its growth be more open and organic. Editors of small town newspapers can become self-important and controlling because it's a one-man operation. I felt The Phoenicia Times was avoiding that. Without this paper how will the Town of Shandaken know what it is or what it is becoming? This is a serious loss. The paper has been published with a concerned and caring intelligence that will be hard to replace. I will certainly miss this avenue of communication.
Bob Jacobson
Mt Tremper, NY
Dear Editor,
It is hard to fathom that there will be no more Phoenicia Times after this issue and what it will be like without this big/little newspaper that has become such an integral part of our community. We thank you for all these years of hard work, dedication, wit, creativity, local color, perspective..... We thank you for covering the big and little things in our town and for your attention to the details that make us who we are. We thank you for making the Phoenicia Times and Olive Press a focal point for information about local issues of critical importance so that we could remain engaged and informed.
A special thanks to Brian Powers whose inspiration it was to begin the Phoenicia Times, who carried it on his shoulders, who stayed up late and got up early for it, all in service to our community. We wish you a great next project, whatever that may be. We are sure it will be awesome!
To all who made the Phoenicia Times and Olive Press possible, we all thank you,
Judith Wyman, Loren Quinby
Marcy Meiller, Pete DiModica and Chandra Lencina, Jack Morelli and Christie Scheele, Glenna Herz, Rich and Bonnie Schaedle, Anique and Nesha Taylor, Ian and Nanci Laughin, Doris Bartlett, Kathryn Haber,Jean Druffner, Mary Macy, Susan Robertson , Calandra Cruickshank,
The Ladner Family, Ricarda O'Connor and Michael Ottavi, Aaron Bennett, Mary Herrmann, Rick, Jen and Joey Dragon, Stephanie Blackman and Mark Loete, Michele Wooten, Dave Pillard, Dara Heinlein, Susanna Margolis, Maureen Nagy, Deborah Spivack, Nita Friedman, Nick Alba,
Jim Nevin, Freddi Dunleavy and Goline Doremus, Sharon Umhey, Holly George Warren and the Phoenicia Library Board,
And many more who were not able to respond by press time...