A write-in candidate for School Board
After serving three years as a member of the Saugerties Board of Education (BOE) I was amazed at how much I did not know about the very school system that I sent my girls to every day. I was thrown into a proverbial ocean of information laws policies rules regulations and personalities. Initially it was all very overwhelming but I have valued my time on the BOE as it has been an incredible learning experience has enriched me both as a member of the community and as a father. I could walk away knowing that I did everything I could to give the students of Saugerties the best education possible with what we had. During my time with the Saugerties Central School District I have met some incredible dedicated teachers who pour their hearts and souls into their work with the kids, librarians (also teachers) who help foster a child’s love of reading and seeking of information in the age of technology, nurses who can create such mental and physical health with no more than a Band-Aid and a few kind words, social workers who have made themselves available to this single father anytime he needed assistance in raising his family. Saugerties is no longer a school district it has become family.
As you might know, after much consideration I elected not to submit a petition this year for a run at another term on the BOE. I really expected that there would be more than enough interest within the community and ample petitions would be submitted to fill all three open seats on the Saugerties School Board. Unfortunately this was not the case, as it turned out only two petitions were submitted by the deadline, one by the current School Board President Mr. George Heidcamp and the other by Ms. Angie Minew. Upon the papers reporting this, I was contacted by several friends within the community expressing their disappointment that I did not intend to run again. In order to avoid a vacancy on the Board of Education, if the voters request it, I will agree to another three-year term… only if the voters of Saugerties so desire it. In order for this to happen the voters would be required to submit my name as a write-in. Despite the troubled economic hurdles and at times elevated emotions, I have enjoyed my past three years as a board member. I believe we have a good running board and the education safety and well being of our students is their number one priority. I would not offer another three years if I believed otherwise. On Election Day you may consider me as a write in candidate.
Robert Davies
Saugerties
Unflattering photo selection
Just a comment on the front page article in the April 25 issue of the Saugerties Times about the cost of preserving the magnificent building known as Clovelea, (aka Dragon Inn).
I thought it was remarkable that the Times used photos that showed the building at its absolute worst….burnt beams….angles that showed the worst view.
Having quite a bit of experience as a photographer, I know you have the ability to make something look like what you are trying to emphasize. The Clovelea is structurally sound according to experts we’ve talked to and is very preservable. Hopefully we can get the majority of the citizens of Saugerties to agree with us and preserve this unique, important piece of Saugerties history for future generations to enjoy.
If you agree please go to Friends of Clovelea on causes.com and sign our petition and become a friend on Facebook.
Mark Smith
Chair, Friends of Clovelea
Saugerties
Community should have no say in private property issues
On the most recent article on Dragon Inn, Christine Dempsey writes on Saugertiesx.com: “I don’t understand why the owner of the property can’t do whatever he wants with it. It is his property! Owners’ rights! Why is there some unassociated historical group trying to infringe on owners rights? Is this America or some communist country where everything belongs to everyone? I do not support restoration of the building, nor do I support designating it an historical site. If the building were demolished and the grounds developed upon, I’m sure it could bring in much greater tax revenue for the town and county than it would as an historic site.
“The owner of the building should be allowed to do what he will with it, regardless of public opinion The public should have no say in private property issues ever!”
Outside the lines
As a parent of a player on the Saugerties Varsity Baseball team, I was appalled by the article authored by Robert Ford in the April 25 Saugerties Times. In his article, Ford stoops to the lowest level of high school sports journalism with the shameless fashion in which he attempts to discredit and embarrass outgoing varsity baseball Coach Steve Below. Ford participates in an underhanded ambush of Coach Below with his unconscionable accounting of numerous harmful statements purportedly made by parents and players. These statements were demeaning, insulting, written with malicious intent and have no place in a small community newspaper.
In his article, Ford states that parents (plural) and players (plural) “met the change with enthusiasm” and that parents commented that “Below was not a disciplinarian and Tiano is” and that “Tiano has given the team direction and a sense of order.” This article is just one more example of the trashy, insensitive, rumor-mill style of journalism that Robert Ford has exhibited in the past.
With all due respect to Coach Tiano, who, by the way, I am very fond of, I was very upset over the decision to remove Coach Below and felt his dismissal was undeserved and a knee-jerk, overboard decision by Saugerties Central School District Administration (as did most of the parents of this team). The tone of Ford’s article was misleading and hurtful and an insult to both parents and players, not to mention Coach Below. Ford cruelly demeans Coach Below in his article and at the same time implies that parents and players lacked the class and decency to quietly move on after the coaching change. Ford paints the picture that parents and players were joyous over the fact that Coach Below was replaced and that they enthusiastically took the opportunity to pile on and bash Coach Below on his way out the door using Ford and his newspaper as their mouthpiece. Nothing could be further from the truth and Ford’s filth borders on outright fabrication.
Mr. Ford, in the future try to muster up some decency and class yourself. Cite the names of the parents (plural) whose opinions you so loosely and callously quote. The victims of your contrived and embellished reporting should at least be given that courtesy. Your acquaintance and subsequent reporting based on the rants of one disgruntled parent doesn’t constitute a consensus of parent opinion as you so recklessly imply…it merely reflects that one person’s bitterness and the axe he has to grind. And another thing, just report the sports. No one appreciates or is interested in the gossip and dirty reporting that you feel you need to create and engage in. Keep in mind, you’re reporting on Saugerties High School varsity sports, (children’s activities) not the New York Yankees.
Karl Lezette
Saugerties
Parents, players misrepresented
I am a parent of a player on the SHS varsity baseball team. I am absolutely appalled at the article I just read in the times regarding the incident with past head Coach Steve Below. I would like to know who the “parents” (plural) are that said Coach Below was removed because of something that went on in a restaurant in Myrtle Beach. The same “parents” and “players” (both plural) allegedly said that the change was met with enthusiasm. “Parents” (plural) commented that coach Below was not a disciplinarian and the new coach has given the team a sense of order.
With all due respect to Mike Tiano, the new coach who I have the utmost respect for, I think Steve is getting hit with another low blow. First of all the incident that was reported to the district was sent in by a gutless and classless unidentified person who wanted to remain anonymous. The district made a knee-jerk reaction to an anonymous claim and the baseball coach is forced to resign. Where is the justice? Now the journalist is making statements that the “parents” and “players” (both plural) were in favor of this decision. You are as guilty as the district for making quick assumptions as what really happened and how the “parents” and “players” really feel. Perhaps it was the same anonymous person that fed you the poisoned information. I know for a fact that I was never approached by you or the seven parents that I was sitting with. I think Steve, the players, and the parents all deserve the courtesy of knowing who is spewing all of the venom. If you can’t provide that keep all of your inaccurate accusations to yourself.
Mike Dittus
Saugerties
Community responsibility
Are we a community, or is each individual man or woman on his/her own? With the support and encouragement of our Saugerties town government the Fawn Rd./Van Vlierden Rd. neighborhood in West Saugerties has been cleaning-up the refuse from its roads for more than ten years. When I went out Saturday to start the pick-up, I found a bag of refuse already collected with a sign: “Picked-from here to Blue. Mt. Road-both sides.” While the note was not signed, our neighbors share a sense of joint responsibility for our streets. The town highway department picks up and disposes of the refuse we collect. Keeping our land and water clean and healthy is the responsibility of all of us.
Lanny Walter
Saugerties
Join the family! 
