I am supporting Tom Cotton for District 20 county legislature. I’ve worked with Tom on musicals through 90 Miles Off Broadway. (Tom plays a mean bass). I feel that Tom would represent me well in county government. I feel this way based on my experiences working with him.
Tom was often first at our gigs. He came prepared and consistently did a great job. He helped me by making good suggestions in a tactful way. He was fun to work with. He was easy-going with a good sense of humor.
Tom has held positions in local government, so he has experience. When I asked Tom why he wanted to run, he told me this: He has time because he is retired. He wants to spend his time doing something meaningful.
We are fortunate that he has decided to spend his time working for us in county government.
Janet Salt
New Paltz New Palt
Political infringement of American freedoms
Civil rights are a class of rights that protect an individual’s freedom from unwarranted infringement by government, private organizations or individuals. They allow all Americans to participate in the civil and political life of the nation without discrimination, persecution or repression. Civil rights ensure an individual’s integrity and safety. They provide protection from discrimination due to disability, gender, race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. These rights protect freedom of thought and conscience, speech and expression, religion, the press and movement.
Would GOP presidential candidates pledge to guarantee these rights to all Americans? Will they obstruct freedom of religion by failing to absolutely separate church and state; perhaps teaching Creationism in public schools or displaying the Ten Commandments on public lands? Will they protect all Americans’ freedom of sexual orientation or will they subtly or openly discriminate against lesbians and gays based on personal religious interpretation? Will they protect the rights of all Americans regardless of race or national origin?
Americans fought for these freedoms within our borders since the Revolutionary War, literally, and through the court system when our Constitutional rights were breached. Most Americans demand these rights without political manipulations. They are absolute. We the People are equal in the eyes of government and judiciary regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or other characteristic that some seem to despise. I don’t understand their hatred of fellow Americans since we all make this country great. No one should have fewer rights or freedoms than their neighbor.
Jeff Akins
Highland New Palt
If I could, I would vote for Hector Rodriguez
I’ve been in the Green Party since 2006, so I can’t vote in the Democratic primaries. But if I could, I would vote for Hector Samuel Rodriguez for county legislator.
In addition to his experience (this will be his fifth term), Hector advised us on the pesticides ban we have here in the village (The Healthy Turf and Landscape Policy, 2008), was involved with the passage of the Ulster County Neighbor Notification law, and was instrumental/essential in helping us to pass Resolution 199 -- the Ulster County pesticides ban; in fact, he helped write it!
In addition to helping protect the environment, Hector’s kept taxes down for eight years, worked on bringing solar jobs to Ulster County and brought mass transit (bus) to New Paltz.
If you care about things like banning pesticides (we have more work to do!), protecting open space, closing Indian Point (he was out there on the daisy chain on 299 with mothers and others united to shut down Indian Point, and he’ll be out there again doing what needs to be done to close it), please vote for Hector on Sept. 13; I wish I could!
Alice Andrews
New Paltz New Palt
Get involved
I am writing in order to reach out to the people in the community of Ulster County. Because of the economic turmoil that our nation is in right now, it has left many of us wondering how we will ever survive. On a local level, the economic turmoil is going to mean that many cuts in many important places will be happening. I have read in the newspaper and attended local government meetings and it seems that a big concern is tax increases and how not to burden the taxpayers. As a taxpayer and a community member who utilizes mental health services through the Ulster County Department of Mental Health, I would like to be asked what my thoughts are on raising taxes and/or losing the much-needed services and programs that my family utilizes on a weekly basis. I know that in reality, all of the taxpayers in the community cannot be individually involved in this painstaking decision-making process in developing a budget. But, that is why we elect representatives from each district that we live in to represent us and be our voice in the decision making process. As of right now everything is on the table. That means all services, programs and agencies are on the table. Our county executives and representatives are looking at everything and trying to figure out what is imperative to stay and what can be cut as to not raise taxes so much to become a burden to the taxpayers. This is a very hard task that needs to be done and I am sure that the people involved in the budget-making process do not want to be in this situation and cut the things that are important for our community and its resident’s survival.
I am asking all of you in the community to come out to local government meetings and county meetings. Talk to the county executive’s office, our local elected officials, as well as our senators and tell them what is important to you and your family. If you utilize services in the county, whether it is mental health services and programs, employment training programs, alcohol and substance abuse programs or care of our elderly, please write letters about your experiences with programs and services you are involved in and what the outcome could be if they were to be lost. Call your local legislators and the county executive’s office. In order to make the decisions that are beneficial to our community they must hear from the community. Education of what our needs are is crucial. Remember, we are all taxpayers and we are entitled to get the best care possible. I have written letters, talked to Michael Hein and talked to representatives in our legislature. They have been more than willing to take the time to listen to me and respond to my concerns and questions. Please help educate our county officials and executives in what our needs are to survive and ensure a safe and healthy future.
Amy Russell
West Hurley New Palt
Thank you Woodcrest
I am writing regarding all the derogatory feedback associated with the articles written by Johann Christoph Arnold, the pastor of Woodcrest Community located in Rifton. I first want to start by thanking everyone at Woodcrest Community for all the wonderful things you have done for our community. Unfortunately, all that I have read over the past few weeks have been negative articles written by local residents about the Bruderhof -- from their views on gay marriage to the fact that they do not pay taxes because of religious beliefs. Nobody has said thank you for all they have given to our community -- one being their extremely generous donation towards the remodeling expenses of Dietz Stadium for all the adults and children to enjoy. Another being the Hospice unit at Benedictine Hospital for all the terminally-ill people and their families in our community. According to our local newspapers, the cost of these two donations cost well above $1 million. These are only two donations out of the many that they have donated in a very unselfish way for the better of the community in which we all live in. So in other words, for those of you who claim the Bruderhof exists on your dime please stop and do the math, and you would find that it would be cheaper for them to pay taxes than to donate out of the kindness of their hearts. Furthermore, the Bruderhof most certainly pays taxes on their business properties and buildings, just like any other business owner.
I also want to take a moment and share with all you fellow readers my personal experience with our neighbors at Woodcrest. My family and I cannot thank them enough for all they have done for us, especially the elders in their time of need. A member of Woodcrest would come over day or night, warm or below zero to help or to be supportive in a time of need. They are by far the kindest, compassionate, giving, helpful, welcoming neighbors anyone could ever ask for. If even a small portion of our society were so gracious, our world would be a better place.
Instead of attacking their position on gay marriages, maybe we should listen to the truth behind what their pastor stated and seriously think about the confusion our children are now faced with.
Kristina Savosh
New Paltz New Palt
Can the present Democratic Party have its cake and eat it too? We participated in the Tuesday Democratic caucus. Earlier, my wife and I had rushed to the city to meet a couple from the Carnic Alps, my homeland -- guests in our city apartment. Foreign policy remained very much on my mind. Clearly, what happens on the federal level will affect New Paltz more so than any local or state condition. For example, the deep US involvement in Libya will have its own New Paltz consequences. Only recently did I realize that Sept. 9, 1945 was the origin of the Korean War of June 1950, the very day I landed with the first troops of the 7th Infantry Division, X Corps, going to Seoul on the 10th to set up the Motorized MPs unit. On Aug. 15, 1946 -- that is three weeks before September 9, 1946 -- I sat in a MP jeep at Seoul’s South Gate as the Koreans celebrated the first anniversary of liberation. The numbers and élan of the opposition People’s Republic surpassed that of the US-sponsored parade. Once the US policy was to suppress, if not a majority at least a large minority, war was inevitable. Any doubters should consult the New York Times article on Cheju-Do, Feb. 24, 2001, here in the SUNY library. Not only mass killing, but bodies were burned to eliminate evidence. A replica of the ‘Killing fields” of Eastern Europe.
Both Toni Hokanson and Susan Zimet are thoughtful women. Will either be able to do well for New Paltz if loyal to the war polices of (now) Obama’s warfare-state? The many candidates for highway supervisor were equally impressive. But can they and the local Democrats I speak to, almost all to the left of Obama, do well for New Paltz while accepting the policies of the national Democratic leadership?
In 1991, five of us ran for county office. One, Lyn Bauer, was elected. I had the least votes. We ran on a reform platform, mine being the reduction of county legislators from 33 to 23. By comparison, the early 1990s were halcyon days. Years passed. Then the legislature reduced their numbers to 23. Can the present Democratic Party have its cake and eat it too? I don’t think so. Beware!
John E. Chiaradia
New Paltz New Palt
A peaceful demonstration
State Senator Saland put the interests of radical lobbyists over those of his constituents and of all residents of New York State when he voted for same gender “marriage.” He was well paid for his lying and betrayal.
Join us in a prayerful and peaceful demonstration on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, at 4 p.m. at Senator Saland’s office in Poughkeepsie at 3 Neptune Road to express your outrage at the senator’s perfidy. You don’t have to be the senator’s constituent to participate in this event, since Senator Saland’s treachery has tragic consequences for all the citizens of our state!
For further information concerning this protest, call 845-795-2610.
Vincent Ferro
Milton New Palt
A response to John HabersbergerÕs letter “The President is out of touch?” I would have to say Mr. Habersberger is dredging up the same tired old complaints that have no basis in fact. Aside from a trivial association with a bus and celebrities, his objections to the president’s attempts to get the economy moving denies the effect the Republican-controlled Congress has had.
It is the Republican opposition in the House that created a non-issue in every past vote (raising the debt ceiling) into a crisis: S&P said it was our government’s inability to come to consensus, not the debt that was the reason for the downgrade.
Republicans have refused to compromise on anything in the budget: The president offered a 10:1 budget cut to revenue increase -- unheard of from a Democrat. Still, obstinate Republican congressmen refused, proving to me that they are the ones out of touch. Even Warren Buffet has asked the congress for a tax increase on the mega-wealthy, a move that would greatly reduce the deficit over ten years (fact) -- but still the Republicans refuse...how out of touch can they be?
Republicans, kowtowing to the equally misinformed fringe Tea Party (‘get your government hands off my medicare!’) seem to prefer the country go into crisis after crisis by refusing to move forward on any issue of importance, with only party rhetoric -- not facts -- to guide them. It is jobs that will get this country moving again, and the
Republicans are dead set against any government move in that direction. Taxes have never been this low for corporations, who are sitting on mountains of cash and doing very little hiring.
But still we are inundated by the same tired old bumper sticker slogans that also have no basis in fact: It was President Clinton who would say “I feel your pain,” and as far as Marie Antoinette, it IS a fact that she never uttered the words “Let them eat cake.” Please, let us all get to work on the serious business of getting this country back on its feet and bury the playground finger pointing once and for all.
Robert Goldwitz
Wallkill New Palt
Support for Hector Rodriguez
I am writing in support of County Legislator Hector Rodriguez for election to the new District 20* in the Sept. 13 Democratic Primary. He has served us ably in the Legislature for nearly eight years, and currently serves as the legislature’s Democratic Whip. I have personally known Hector since he was 19 years old and watched him become one of the best legislators we’ve had.
Since his first election in 2003, Hector has fought for increased transit funding for our town. As chair of the legislature’s transit committee, he, along with town and student representatives, created the New Paltz Loop in January 2009. In addition, the Ulster-Poughkeepsie LINK, providing service from Rosendale/New Paltz to the Poughkeepsie train station also happened under his watch.
Hector is a strong supporter of the Elting Memorial Library and county libraries in general. He has fought to keep funding cuts to a minimum, recognizing their value especially in these difficult budget times.
Hector has also been at the forefront of revamping economic development. Under his watch, the county initiated Ulster Tomorrow -- the first comprehensive economic development plan in Ulster County. Under Hector’s watch, the Ulster County IDA adopted clawback provisions that ensure that businesses that receive benefits have to show the real number of jobs created, not smoke and mirrors. He also worked with Congressman Hinchey in providing funding for The Solar Energy Consortium, a group that has attracted hundreds of jobs in Ulster County’s solar industry.
When you look at his track record, his successes and his values, it’s clear we need to keep Hector Rodriguez as our county legislator. Please join me in voting for him this Sept. 13.
Carol Roper
New Paltz New Palt
*The new District 20 is composed primarily of the village and the Cherry Hill area of the town.
Questionable findings
Although the Sierra Club appreciates Hudson River Valley Resorts’ (HRVR) hosting the Aug. 21 benefit for the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail at Williams Lake, we wish to point out that many problems with this project remain unresolved.
First, there is no legally-binding agreement for public access to that portion of the trail which passes through the Williams Lake property, or to any trails within it. Without a formal legal agreement, access will depend on the whims of the homeowners association and resort operator. And no promise whatsoever has been made for access to Williams Lake itself, an amenity that had been enjoyed by local residents for nearly 80 years.
We object to project manager Tim Allred and his associates billing themselves as socially-responsible Sierra Club members, when the only requirement for membership is an annual dues payment of $15 to $39. The social responsibility they claim is not evident in the project’s DEIS, which, despite its extreme length, is widely considered by scientists to be seriously flawed.
One example is the DEIS’ denial of karst on the property, even though its presence on that site has been acknowledged for decades. HRVR continued to deny the presence of karst until a recent visit from the U.S. Geological Survey forced them to acknowledge it.
Karst is a fractured limestone which makes the underlying aquifer vulnerable to contamination through underground conduits. Without very strict maintenance, the project’s wastewater and stormwater systems could contaminate the underlying aquifer, the abandoned mines which serve as hibernacula for endangered bats, and the small intermittent creek and downstream wetlands to which the treated wastewater will be discharged.
It is ironic that Allred and company tout their Sierra Club membership while denying site access to fellow club member and hydrologist Paul Rubin, whose work at Williams Lake has been partially supported by club funding. Even with limited access, by measuring lake outflow and studying its watershed, Rubin has amassed strong evidence that Williams Lake is insufficient to meet the project’s water demands, and that the mining of its water, over time, will degrade the lake’s ecosystems and its adjacent wetlands. This is consistent with the findings of other local hydrologists who have questioned the lake’s capacity to meet the project’s water demands.
For HRVR to cast doubt on Rubin’s objectivity because he reported timber rattlesnake sightings by local residents, is absurd. His scientific observations have been validated in many projects, including some before the DEC. Any reports of timber rattlesnakes merit a thorough investigation, as they are a threatened species whose survival depends on our protection of its habitats.
The project currently proposed by HRVR threatens the fragile ecology of the Williams Lake area and restricts public access to all but the few who can afford to stay at a high-end resort or purchase a home in the average price range of $685,000 (condo) to $1.2 million. It is in conflict with the Rosendale Comprehensive Plan, as well as the legacy of the Sierra Club, which has worked for more than a century to protect significant areas such as Williams Lake. Without the work of Sierra volunteers and other groups, our own Lake Minnewaska would now be a private enclave of upscale condos instead of the centerpiece of a state park which brings in millions of tourism dollars to our region every year. Williams Lake merits no less consideration of its potential to boost the area’s tourism without threatening its ecology or cutting off access to local residents.
Marie Caruso, Chair,
Williams Lake Committee
Joanne Steele, Group Chair
LaGrange
St. Remy
Mid-Hudson Group, Sierra Club New Palt
On the road again
This summer, with my new laptop, I was able to write as my husband Steve and I traveled around the Atlantic Provinces of Canada: the first two installments on the Gaspé and Acadia have already been published. Here, the story continues. As I’ve mentioned to the editor, I usually send my travel notes to a few friends who have been faithful readers over the years, and who have urged me to send it to the newspaper. It’s very satisfying to think, this time, it will be read by others as well.
PEI: A beautiful island
On July 15, another blustery day in the Maritime Provinces, we crossed from New Brunswick onto Prince Edward Island via the Confederation Bridge. It’s an eight-mile span over the Northumberland Strait or, in French, the Détroit de Northumberland (I never knew that was the meaning of Detroit).
PEI is what’s left of an eroded section of the Appalachian chain which, someone told us, is not much more than a very large sandbar. It’s described as roughly crescent-shaped, about 200 miles from tip to tip, with three distinct sections: a central area that is a squat rectangular shape, to which eastern and western “wings” are attached.
Only about 120,000 people live on the island and 40,000 are in and around the main city, Charlottetown. The Micmacs, or Mi’kmags, were the first settlers on PEI, and the Acadians were the first Europeans to settle on the island. Many eluded the deportations in the 1740s by moving toward the points of the island, especially in the western area. But most of the islanders are of Irish or Scottish descent -- and you don’t doubt that for a moment as you drive through small villages where McDonald, McLeod and McNeil Streets follow one after another, and the name of the super market is MacPhee’s.
After stopping at the tourist information office on the PEI side of the bridge, we headed across the island, skirting the “Green Gables” area, which is very crowded in the summer, with tourists who are interested in anything “Anne.” Almost immediately we were in an idyllic countryside, a patchwork of fields in infinite variations of green; sometimes fields of mustard flowers, shockingly bright, greenish-tinged yellow patches, appeared in their midst. And all under a big Constable sky.
We passed lovely country houses with well-tended lawns, flower beds and widow boxes. We passed rolling hills with embedded spring-houses or root cellars, marshes, ponds, streams and rivers. We were later to learn they were not true rivers since there are no mountains on PEI. They begin in underground springs, becoming estuaries as they approach their exits into the dozens of bays and inlets, or empty into the strait or gulf.
We passed acres and acres of potato fields in neat rows, the flowering plants -- sometimes the flowers were white, other times pink -- sitting on long hillocks of red earth. We would drive past thousands more as, we found out, PEI is a major potato growing area, they’re a huge industry on the island; PEI potatoes are shipped all over the world. One of our last stops in PEI was to visit the Potato Museum, one of those little museums we’ve come across in our travels that are surprisingly informative and interesting. It was in the Town of O’Leary on the North Cape, where we stopped to spend a little time at the annual Potato Blossom Festival. We learned more about potatoes than we ever thought there was to know. And also learned that, apparently, it’s necessary to find every possible use for them. Some are quite unique. For example: chocolate-covered potato chips. They sound awful, I know, but in fact taste really good. They taste like crispy cookies, very slightly salted, dipped in chocolate.
Starting with potatoes, then, a few words about food on this trip: we bought a sack of fresh new potatoes from a roadside stand (unattended, with just a cash box to put the money into). They were moist and sweet, their skins were so thin they rub off when I cleaned them with a vegetable brush. We had the smallest ones with fresh-caught fish one day, just steamed and tossed with a little butter and salt and pepper, and with fresh lamb chops bought from a farm market on another day, this time sprinkled with fresh, fragrant parsley. (I did manage to stop Steve from buying one of the 50-pound bags that are piled high outside of every grocery store -- forcing him to resist the bargain).
I love the challenge of cooking in the camper. The trick to preparing really good meals is, I think, careful planning to bring along the right ingredients, especially seasonings and spices. I do have more kitchen space than most others who travel in a relatively smallish-sized RV like ours since we took out the TV and microwave, which took up two cabinets. And, we had a pantry installed with a handy butcher-block top, where an armchair used to be. But I used to cook pretty much the same way, if not as easily, when we were in our old camper, which was not so well outfitted, and even before that when we were still tenting.
In addition to great fresh fish: trout, halibut, haddock, steelhead -- and seafood: lobster, of course, and fresh-caught steamer clams off the back of a truck -- we’ve also had some wonderful cheeses, some from specialty cheese shops -- and what delicious strawberries we got at MacPhee’s Super Market from McNally’s, a local farm. We decided McNally’s looked best when we had to choose between those from McNally’s, McGinnis’, or MacInnis’ farms.
In the more than four weeks we were on the road in the Atlantic Provinces, we had only a few meals out. When we were on our way to the eastern tip of the island, we had a delicious lunch at a restaurant at the waterside where the churned-up surf was crashing on the beach. It was in a windswept coastal fishing village that claims to be the tuna capital of the world and, they claim, was where the largest Bluefin tuna -- ever -- was hauled in from one of their fishing boats: 1,400 pounds. There, at the town of North Lake, we had what Steve says was the best chowder he’s ever had -- not a hint of thickener -- followed by our first taste of the renowned PEI mussels, which are worthy of their reputation: sweet, not salty or sandy, and which are dipped in an herbed, garlicky, butter dipping sauce. Another meal out was what they call a lobster supper, basically a five-course shore dinner, except that they serve mussels instead of our usual steamers. The mussels are the third course after salad and chowder followed by steamed lobster, and finally, dessert.
The coastal topography is, of course, very different from the farmlands we’d passed as we crossed the island, inland. On the coast there are an infinite number of inlets and bays; each one, it seems, has a beautiful fishing village or harbor town where the rivers join the strait or the gulf. We were told that this is the reason PEI has so many mussel farms -- they’re located where the brackish water of the estuaries meets the salt water. The mussels are grown in tubular-shaped nets that are kept above the sand. Each “farm” is marked by what looks like giant crayons bobbing in the water; within their boundaries are thousands of buoys. The mussels’ only natural enemies, during their three-year growth to edible size, are starfish, but on the island they’ve learned to control the predators without harm to either animal.
Even after almost 40-years of traveling and camping, it still amazes us that there are always so many interesting things to learn about, to explore, and to do, even in small towns and villages. We usually set out for the day without much of a plan, but for the barest idea of a general direction. And because we’re traveling in our own little mobile home, carrying along everything we need, not having to pack or unpack, we can easily change our minds even about that, and often do. We may see an ad for something about to happen that looks interesting, that might give us some insight into the life of the people: a fair; a church supper; an auction; a museum exhibit; a dance, show or concert; a boat ride.
More on this to come.
Carole Ford
New Palt
We will never know
The recent New Paltz Times story on the reed bed glossed over the real issues surrounding this project. The facts are that this project was inadequately researched, poorly planned and badly executed. The reed bed is operating at 75% -- 80% less than the promised loading level and will never be able to function at anywhere near its promised performance. Village records show that the reed beds can only take 4% to 8% of the village’s sludge output, not the 33% that Mayor West repeatedly claimed in the past. At one point during his first term, the reed beds were loaded with 30% percent of the sludge. The result was that the reeds died.
The structure where the reed bed is located is commonly -- and incorrectly -- referred to as a “greenhouse.” It is actually a sludge-drying shed, a building that was designed to quickly and efficiently remove and dispose of the water in the sludge, resulting in a dry environment that is hostile to the reeds, which need a constantly moist environment to survive. In order to compensate for this mistake, the village has been watering the reed bed, using regular, processed drinking water from our water plant. But this water is unmetered, so there is no accounting for the cost of the thousands of cubic feet of water that have been necessary to keep the reed bed alive. Our reed bed is not ‘sustainable,’ without the constant support effort of the sewer plant staff, the reeds would die.
The $12,000 cost cited in the story is incorrect. This represents only the initial outlay and does not include any of the ongoing expenses necessary to keep the reeds alive. We will likely never know the true cost because records have not been kept. Additionally, we don’t know what the disposal cost will be when the reed bed reaches capacity. We don’t know how effectively the reeds are composting the sludge. What is the residual e coli content? What is the heavy metal content? How much will it cost for the municipal workers the get in there and shovel it all out? How much will it cost to screen the old sludge to remove the reed root stock? Where will we ultimately be able to dispose of it and what will be that cost?
Until someone responsible is willing to engage in an honest and frank discussion, we will never know how much this project is costing us, and whether, like the Town of Lloyd, we should cut our losses and move on.
Terry Dungan
New Palt
One crutch at a time
Thank you to all the people that donated crutches in the Crutches4Kids 2011 Crutch Drive! We collected close to 200 crutches and wouldn’t have done it without everyone’s help. We did not have many drop-off locations, so everyone made a difference. A special thanks to The Bakery, ShopRite, The Gardiner Library, The Village Market and Bakery, Gardiner Reformed Church and Ulster Savings in Gardiner and New Paltz for being a part of the drive.
This group of crutches is heading to children and adults in Sierra Leone, which has around 20% of the world’s amputees and an extreme amount of Polio victims. The crutches collected will help them interact with the community and engage in activity that they could not do without mobility. Thank you all so much for helping us make this world a better place, one crutch at a time.
Ruby Zatz
Gardiner
Truth or consequences
Brad Gill, executive director of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York, is quoted in a June 6th article in the Hudson Valley Business Journal about hydro-fracking the Marcellus Shale in New York. “The state must not continue to squander this once-in-a-generation opportunity by pandering to those who twist the facts, exaggerate the problems and scare the public into thinking that natural gas exploration is new or unsafe.”
Let’s simplify this. Mr. Gill is a fracker who believes that horizontal hydraulic fracturing (HHF) can be done safely with regulations and oversight. I am an anti-fracker who believes because HHF cannot be done safely even with regulations and oversight, it should be banned in New York State. We each have our own truth. We can each accuse the other of twisting the facts, exaggerating the problems and scaring the public.
Here is a perfect example. By a 47–42 percent margin, New York State voters like the economic benefits of drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale more than they fear possible environmental concerns, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Aug. 11. The frackers would be happy with these results which correspond to their truth. I am not happy and must ask why those polled do not understand the economic benefits being overrated and the environmental concerns being understated? Did they only hear the lies and half-truths of the frackers?
What does each side gain from having a version of the truth? The bottom line for the frackers representing the corporations is the profit for their shareholders. Regardless of the reality of the current correlations between HHF and water contamination (leading to illnesses of people, pets and farm animals), having regulations and oversight is enough to justify their moving forward to frack the Marcellus Shale.
The main concern of the anti-frackers is the risks to people, the environment and global warming. Long-time problems associated with HHF such as major spills including from pipelines or what to do with radioactive and toxic waste water from a fracked well have not been rectified. Regulations and oversight are not the answer. A ban on HHF would be the best deterrent for the disasters that accompany this form of drilling. There are overinflated expectations of jobs which are usually short-term, low paying and part-time. Most communities experience a “boom and bust” cycle. There are no benefits to drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale.
There is not enough space here to further explore the lies and half-truths of the frackers or the truth of the anti-frackers. Do your own research and look at both sides. Please note who sponsors a web site or paid for the research when there is scientific data to back up the information you find.
We are in a dangerous quandary. Two sets of facts. Unless the true facts as expressed by the anti-frackers take hold the consequences for the future of our environment, communities and public health will be catastrophic.
Rosalyn Cherry
New Paltz
Sights on the Town Board
The New Paltz Community Center is a nice building on the surface. It’s poorly constructed with closet doors dragging on the floor, loose floor tiles, seamed gutters (seams are over the doors and ice forms which leaks onto the sidewalk (someone’s lottery ticket) and loose siding under windows (no undersill). This building represents the fabric of the supervisor’s three terms. What appears to be sturdy is not very well constructed. The Buildings and Grounds Department is mowing and weed whacking fields that the Recreation Department had budgeted part-time workers for. The Buildings and Grounds Department is maintaining more than time allows. With last-minute sloppy budget cuts last November, many departments suffered. Morale is low and things are getting worse.
The police facility -- location, location, location. It’s too far from the action. The current facility went over budget on all aspects of construction. The infrastructure of the town is behind. Smaller towns with smaller budgets and less people have more infrastructure. They’re not protecting so much. Once a secret, but I hope everyone knows this, the fire department needs a new facility. The fire department owns the land on the corner by Freihofer’s. The rent for the police department is $7,000 per month. Not a new concept, but build a building that can house the fire department and the police with substations in the old facility on Plattekill Avenue. If the fire department formed a district, more grant money could be obtained from the State. Money collected statewide would be used for our communities enhancement. The seat requirement for being an elected fire commissioner could be two town residents, two village residents and one fireman from either, for three years.
Town hall could use a little revamping. Filing cabinets overwhelm all of the offices. There are enough talented computer people in town to volunteer to bring the town’s system up-to-date. If town hall needs more space, extend the northeast corner’s walls and roof line down to square off the back.
The Field of Dreams has many residents from Gardiner using the facility. Could this facility be a joint effort of Gardiner and New Paltz? I think it could. Get our supervisor to approach the Gardiner supervisor. Maybe Gardiner residents in the New Paltz School District could initiate this.
What’s going on in our town? Give your e-mail address to the town clerk. Once a month you’ll receive a schedule. Maybe a mobile sign similar to the police could inform residents, but not check your speed.
I am running for New Paltz Town Board so I can gain the experience and confidence necessary to be your town supervisor. At the Republican caucus I hope to gain support and be endorsed by the Republican Party. After that I need the support of all of New Paltz. Take down the for-sale signs, put up the Lunati signs and make our town affordable to live in -- raising enthusiasm and volunteering, not taxes. Honesty, integrity, respect, communication, teamwork, collaboration, adaptability, conflict resolution and problem solving is what I will offer the taxpayers of our town.
This town’s potential for greatness is knocking on the door. Let’s answer it!
Ray Lunati
New Paltz
Vote for Tom Cotton on Sept. 13
On Tuesday, Sept. 13, a primary will be held in New Paltz to select the candidate who will represent the Democratic Party in the November election for county legislature in the newly created District 20, which includes the Village of New Paltz and that part of the town between the village border and the Thruway.
Running in the primary is Tom Cotton. I would urge people living in the District to give him their support. He is an ideal candidate for the county legislature -- a truly decent person -- honest, thoughtful, open-minded and forthright. In addition, he has deep roots in our community as a graduate of the New Paltz High School and SUNY New Paltz who has lived in New Paltz for over 50 years and who is a homeowner in the village.
Now retired, he held a responsible position as an IBM employee in Kingston and later as a computer expert for the local BOCES in New Paltz. He also has legislative experience as a former New Paltz village trustee. Tom Cotton offers Democrats in District 20 the choice of a candidate of integrity who knows and cares about his community. I am pleased that a person of his caliber is prepared to step forward.
Again, the primary for District 8 will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 13 and will take place at Deyo Hall, the middle school and on the college campus.
Tom Nyquist
New Paltz
An open letter to Toni Hokanson
I am writing this letter in support of the observations/suggestions made by Jim Littlefoot in his letter of Aug. 2 and his comments, and those of Michael Nielson, superintendent of highways, before the Town Board as reported in the New Paltz Times of Aug. 25. In the five years we have lived on Shivertown Road we have witnessed a marked increase in both the amount of heavy truck traffic, despite signs limiting such traffic (legitimate of not), as well as traffic of all kinds routinely ignoring the 35 mph speed limit. Please let me briefly address each issue.
Shivertown Road is a residential street. The absence of stop signs or the lack of curves does NOT change the essential character of the neighborhood. Myself and the other residents living on the north side of the street cross daily to collect our mail. Many of us, myself and my wife included, walk or run daily as well. The school bus traffic attests to the family nature of the residents. Finally, the road is extremely narrow, in most cases with culverts or heavy vegetation up against the pavement. Thus, there is no place to walk or ride bicycles safely. The recent painting of white lines on the sides of the street amply demonstrates the total lack of “shoulders” on either side of the traffic lanes. The lines are right up against the sides of the pavement.
In light of these factors, the truck traffic is totally inappropriate for the street. The noise is extremely, and I do mean extremely, disturbing. It often feels like we are living next to the Thruway. In addition, there is NO place to walk, which is not in the path of these large vehicles. Finally, as the highway superintendent points out, this is a street never intended for this type of heavy traffic.
The enforcement, or rather the lack of enforcement of the speed limit for all vehicles, including cars, has created a significant safety hazard. Routinely, cars travel far in excess of the 35 mph limit. Quite frequently when traveling the road, several vehicles will closely tailgate me when I am traveling at the speed limit, obviously upset at my moving at the legal limit. On occasion, they have even attempted to pass me despite the evident danger in doing so. As indicated above, there is NO safe place to walk, run or ride a bicycle on the side of the road to avoid those illegally exceeding the speed limit. The road may be fairly straight, but the hills significantly limit sight lines.
Finally, when we purchased our house, being new to New Paltz, we assumed we could “trust” the highway signs, to all appearances installed and enforced by the town, to mean what they said, “no through trucking.” Such has apparently not turned out to be the case. The reality that Shivertown Road is now a truck route in our front yard is, to say the least, extremely disturbing and does affect our ability to enjoy our home.
I would suggest the following:
• Enact, clearly post and enforce the weight limit that was formally posted.
• Post more frequent speed limit signs.
• Consider the use of those signs which post the actual speed of a vehicle as a “reminder” to drivers that they are exceeding the legal speed limit. We give our permission to use our property for such a device.
• Periodic posting of police to enforce the speed limit. Only once have I seen such a presence and that was a State Police car which, in a short period of time, stopped several speeding cars.
Lawrence Faulkner
New Paltz
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