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Who is the deceiver
About 25 years ago I called the DEP and asked them if they would /could dredge Yankeetown Pond. Their response was that it would eventually turn into a bog, but not in my lifetime. Thanks to Erin Moran it appears that their response may be inaccurate. Erin took it upon herself to hasten the demise of the pond, a place where people kayak , fished, artist came to paint and take pictures especially in the fall or just admired the view. She had a beaver deceiver, a water flow control device, installed to keep the beaver from maintaining a dam that from time to time would cause minor flooding on Pond Road, a condition that could have been eliminated without its installation. The level of the pond has dropped over two feet as of this writing and continues to lose water. The question is; when will the flow stop?
Howard Harris
Woodstock
The “highest and best use of the land:” An alternative vision for Winston Farm
Lately, I’ve been hearing that people who oppose the rezoning of Winston Farm in Saugerties are some kind of tree-hugging idealists who stubbornly refuse to consider any kind of development of the property. Let’s get something straight. No one is seriously proposing that “nothing happen” at Winston Farm. This idea is being weaponized by people who wish to present a false “all or nothing” choice or who may actually be confused. But even if a few forward-thinking citizens like me believe that nature knows best, we don’t dare to dream that Winston Farm could be left to nature in the world we’ve actually created, motivated by profit and growth, both of which are leading us over the cliff of environmental and economic collapse.
In fact, however, there is an alternative vision, one which aligns with “the highest and best use of the land” (if use it we must) and cooperates with nature’s purposes of keeping the air clean and the water abundant, of sequestering carbon, and of increasing biodiversity. It’s called regenerative agriculture, a method which creates and improves topsoil instead of paving it over. Relying on permaculture methods of food production, it would place Winston Farm as a key part of the bioregional food production effort we are going to rely on in the near-enough future, as the economy (including the global supply chain which stocks our supermarkets) continues to collapse and the climate continues to change beyond recognition.
Seriously, everybody, how much longer do you think this American joyride is going to continue? Food security is going to be paramount any day now, and we’re going to have to grow what we need within our bioregion. The vision held by the current owners of Winston Farm is one of a future in which everything looks the same as it does now, only more so. But that’s not the future seen by better-informed people who aren’t captured by the no-longer-tenable myth of perpetual growth or the false promises of Wall Street, corporate America and our own government. We see a planet on which nature needs all the help she can get. What’s proposed for Winston Farm offers only destruction.
Granted, we need workforce-affordable housing here, but little if any of what would be built on Winston Farm would provide that. Besides, there are plenty of places to build new housing in Saugerties. We don’t need Winston Farm for housing. And yes, people need jobs, but there’s already plenty of zoning for commercial development in Saugerties. We don’t need Winston Farm for jobs, either. Tourism at the Woodstock level, which is an aim of the proposed development, is highly undesirable to many if not most of the residents of Saugerties. We already have a conference hotel, we don’t need another one. Etcetera.
The only reason to develop Winston Farm instead of other less sensitive areas for housing, jobs, commerce and tourism is to maximize profits for the current owners. They’ve already been offered $10 million for the property by Open Space Institute, more than double their original investment, but they stand to make multiples of that if they get their way with rezoning, and they’re “betting the farm” that the town board will go along. But investment is a gamble: you can win big, you can break even, or you can lose your shirt. The residents of Saugerties and the town board that represents us are not responsible for the outcome of their high-stakes bet.
So support the alternative vision that supports the future. Andrew Faust, an Ulster County resident with a national reputation for permaculture design and practice, will present this vision at the town board meeting on September 18 (7 p.m., Saugerties Senior Center). Come and hear for yourself what could be possible.
Janet Moss
Saugerties
What can I say?
Woodstock supervisor McKenna has flip-flopped again regarding the “Shady dump” toxic water situation.
From day one, he did not find this situation alarming at all, actually the opposite. If it was McKenna’s personal well water which was affected, it would be a different story. It would have been cleaned-up within weeks!
Recently, McKenna sent a letter to the attorney general’s office and included a court transcript from 2022. We must question McKenna’s intention. He now wants a piece of the millions from the Saugerties court case — he shouldn’t have waited five years!
Why didn’t he handle this years ago? McKenna claims they wouldn’t return his calls. So, he did nothing, except spend taxpayer’s money (illegally?) with no positive results.
The court transcript concludes McKenna thought the situation was minor, as the Town of Woodstock accepted $1,500 as the fine!
The town accepted one count out of 200 counts!!! McKenna’s poor leadership rockets!
Excerpt from court transcript: MR. MCGOVERN: The Town would like to move on to the matter of Town of Woodstock vs. Joseph Karolys, 200 counts of Town Code Section 192-4A and C. The Town has worked out a similar arrangement with Mr. Karolys where he’ll be pleading to a single count of 192-4C and recommend — with a recommended fine of $1,500, which is a negotiated disposition. We would like his testimony as to the events that have been subject matter of today’s proceedings.
The court: All right. Let’s continue our matter then. It’s the court’s understanding that the agreed-upon disposition is a fine of $1,500, is that correct?
Mr. McGovern: That’s correct, just one count of 192-4C.
Figure it out for yourself – Who’s Zoomin’ Who?
Natalie Cyr
Woodstock
Not there yet
My narcissism is incomplete — I still don’t like my knees.
Sparrow
Phoenicia
Open letter to Craig Leonard and Tom Pace
As a former employee of Sylvia, I want to express my gratitude for enabling me to do my job in an atmosphere of respect, which is a rare thing to say let alone experience in “Restaurant Land.”
For me, one of the more positive aspects of Sylvia was the ingredients of imagination: How food was prepared and served … and the service!
I write in the hope that, perhaps, the same imagination could be extended to the Mill Hill property, formerly the gas station.
If I may, I wonder if the property was fully reclaimed as a green space? A place for pollinators and to bring back native plants and allow people who could teach us about such things?
Leave the structure of the station and convert it into a place of free learning, teaching and performance of the creative arts, dance and music; walking areas, places for people — all people, guests and locals — to talk and have coffee.
And so much more in order to restore a small piece of Woodstock; leaving a legacy of green for all to enjoy.
Thank you for my time with Sylvia.
Thank you for your imagination beyond what is to what could be.
Annie-hannah Mancini
Woodstock
Sky screaming revisited
After Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump in 2016, her supporters were shocked, outraged and disappointed. In an effort to find relief from their anguish over Trump’s unlikely victory, some of them, wordlessly, screamed at the sky. With this in mind, since Mr. Trump’s feared political resurrection has become a reality, I imagine that if VP Kamala Harris fails in her presidential bid, the sky will, once again, be filled with anguished screams. (In fact, because of the content of their weekly letters, I’m certain that the most piercing variety will be coming from Neil Jarmel and Tom Cherwin.) The following song (titled Sky Screamer) was inspired by The Animals smash hit Sky Pilot. Admittedly, the lyrics have a bit of good-natured clownishness to them — bordering on the absurd — but they were fun to write. With this in mind, I can only hope those choosing to sing the lyrics find them not only amusing but also challenging to any views they hold that they suspect are clownishly absurd.
(Chorus)
Sky Screamer…Sky Screamer, how loud can you…scream?
With Trump’s return you’re stuck In a…bad dream
(Stanza)
The year was 2016, Obama’s day was finally done
He’d lost the House and Senate but Barack-time sure was fun
Woke people wanted Bernie but it wasn’t meant to be
The race was fixed for Rodham as any one could see
(Stanza)
The builder took his party on a…wild…crazy ride
He won the nomination; he had the voters on his side
We geared up for the “final” all the pundits…said we’d win
But when the dust was settled Rodham lost and Trump was in
(Chorus)
Sky Screamer…Sky Screamer, how loud can you…scream?
With Trump’s return you’re stuck In a bad…dream
(Stanza)
You don’t like Trump’s tax plan and you don’t…want his wall
You hate his court appointments and hope his poll numbers fall
You don’t like his children and you don’t like his…wife
He’s made you hate your neighbor and he’s made you hate your life
(Chorus)
Sky Screamer…Sky Screamer, how loud can you…scream?
With Trump’s return you’re stuck In a…bad dream
(Stanza)
We scream to gain some comfort, we scream…and…we complain
We shout out to the Un-i-verse for help to ease…our pain
We scream while wearing PJs or in a…suit and tie:
it doesn’t matter what you wear when you’re screaming at the sky
(Chorus)
Sky Screamer…Sky Screamer, how loud can you scream?
With Trump’s return you’re stuck in a…bad dream
(Stanza)
Scream early in the morning; scream late into the night
Scream when people see you and when you’re out of sight
And if they ask you why you scream please don’t tell a lie:
Tell them Trump’s alive and free and that’s the reason why
(Chorus)
Sky Screamer; Sky Screamer, how long will you scream?
“We’ll scream till there’s an end to our…bad dream
Yes, we’ll scream till there’s an end to our…bad dream”
George Civile
Gardiner
The Winston Farm project will endanger the environment of the site
Many citizens of the Village and community of Saugerties are concerned about the proposed development of Winston Farm. I am joining their ranks in print here. I have pondered this issue for a while, and I have come to believe the project as outlined would endanger the environment of the site, and our community beyond, in many ways. I will mention only a few.
The village has been concerned for years about a secondary water supply. It has in recent years worked with the Town of Saugerties and the owners of Winston Farm to secure that supply in Beaver Kill Aquifer that exists beneath the site in the Beaver Kill Valley. The developers plan an additional well-head and water treatment facility to supply their needs. While that is admirable, independent testing has revealed that, although the estimated numbers vary, hundreds of thousands of gallons of water would be needed daily to operate the multi-faceted Winston Farm proposal. Even the lowest water estimates exceed amounts that it would require to function. This would strain the aquifer. Necessary additional testing, itself, would require protection of the area and surrounding areas, which are inhabited by our citizens.
By New York law, water supply for a town is part of eminent domain, as it should be. Therefore, we citizens must stand up and demand that the necessary back-up supply for Saugerties, Beaver Kill Aquifer, be protected on many levels — not only on the volume of its waters, but also on its conservation from contamination. I am rightly afraid that the proposed water park and car-wash, within the sites plans, would gravely impact the ground, valley and aquifer below Winston Farm. Sadly, depleted and contaminated water affects not only our citizens, but animal, insect and plant species as well. We need not be reminded that depletion of these precious resources have rebounding negative environmental affects for us, them and the land itself. Which brings me to the more ephemeral, but perhaps the most powerful impact of the extensive proposal for Winston Farm: its legacy as a place of history, agriculture and natural beauty. That value is beyond measure, because it is the bedrock of the love and pride that townspeople have for their home. In my view, that bedrock would be shaken by additional traffic, as well as crowding and the environmental impacts, above, that affect the quality of life.
My husband and I have owned property in Saugerties since 2006 and have lived here permanently since 2018. I have learned that the owners of Winston Farm are admired, upright community members who have given a lot to our town. They are patiently working with the village and town to address concerns, and they have invested a great deal in outlining what they see as a beneficial proposal for Saugerties. I see that the resulting benefits amount to financial ones, and, indeed, those are important to the community, but so are the ones that concern me and others. Therefore, I question the town’s reasons for considering zoning changes that are contrary to years-long protections and regulations recommended by the late Congressman Hinchey as far back as 1994, and more recently, Catskill Mountainkeeper and HydroQuest, the environmental consulting firm that conducted extensive water and geology tests that, by the way, are rigorous and objective while cautious and sensitive to the benefits of the proposal.
Finally, I am concerned about contractors who take plans to levels beyond the owners hands. I am afraid that they will not have the deep connection to our town that the owners have. That said, the owners are willing to hear us, so I hope that they create a less impactful use for Winston Farm. I hope for agrarian use, possibly as a farm education center. It is important that we vigorously express our concerns that, no matter what path the developers of Winston Farm take, they adhere to the safety and protection of our citizens’ water for the entire duration of their tests and plans, and I encourage anyone who reads this to go to hydoquest.com to review HydroQuest’s careful work at the bequest of Catskill Mountainkeeper.
Joanne Pagano Weber
Saugerties
A call for redemption!
We know that there are many men who, for one reason or another, carry a deep hatred for women. There must be some deep psychological reason for this hatred, along with all the mean and cruel behavior that men have targeted women with over the years. But this letter will not try to uncover the root cause of that ongoing problem. No.
But there’s another insidious concern to discuss about the hatred of women. Women who hate other women! That’s right. You would think that women would have some empathy and compassion for what other women go through, and would want to stand up and support women who continue to experience all the cruelty directed toward so many members of the female gender. Wouldn’t you think that would make sense? Yet, there happen to be thousands of women who can’t stand other women. They criticize other women for being too angry, too strong, too manipulative, too competitive, or too nasty. Or they see the weaknesses in other women that make them disgusted. Disgust that is unfortunately all too often targeted on the whole female gender. Believe it or not, there are many women who think that other women deserve the pain and suffering that comes their way. This is what is known as internalized misogyny. The hatred of women, by women.
I’ll never forget in 2016 how shocked I was when I heard that 52% of white women in our country voted for Trump. Yes, it’s true. However, on the other hand, 88% of black women voted for Hillary, having a better sense that Trump was a wolf in sheep’s clothes. Maybe it was Trump’s blatant racism that helped black women see the light, and avoid him like the plague. Who knows?
But that was then, and this is now. Now white women have an opportunity to make amends from their blind and petty decision in 2016. Back then they chose to not vote for Hillary, who would have been the first female president of the United States. Thanks, in part to those 52% of white women voters, we were rewarded with four long and chaotic years with President Trump. Well, how’d that work out?
Now it’s 2024, and once again we have a strong, intelligent and highly capable woman running for president of our United States. Her name is Kamala Harris, and she happens to be running against that same guy who got 52% of the white women to vote for him in 2016. Are you familiar with that old saying, “Fool me once, shame on you. But fool me twice, shame on ME!” Well?
This election is not just a chance to right a wrong. No. It’s much bigger than that. It’s an opportunity to help Kamala Harris become our first female president. It’s a statement that our democracy, in spite of all its challenges, is a way of life that is worth fighting for, and voting for. And on a deeper and more personal level, it’s also a time for soul searching and redemption. A time to help many white women to honestly look in the mirror and make friends right now with the person they see. That you are female, and good through and through. For some, the perception shift might come very quickly, once women cast their vote for Kamala. For other women the shift may take a little longer, but it will come. All I can say is to encourage all of you to vote for Kamala, our next president of the United States. That decision will help you see yourself more clearly than ever. In time you may notice that woman in the mirror is also good through and through, and is pretty special!
Marty Klein
Sarasota, FL
The season is almost over
I’m taking this opportunity to thank everyone at the Mower’s Meadow Saturday Sunday Flea Market for your continued contribution to our community. This market is one of the things which makes Woodstock special. Our community flea market has been in business for almost 50 years.
Every year in April, the flea market vendors open the season when they return to set up their booths and sell their products on the weekends here in Woodstock. This year, it seems the rain has cut our season in half.
So now, there are only a few weekends left before the flea market closes at the end of October. Some of us in this group seek winter and spring pop-ups elsewhere. However, I think most of us spend those months creating or sourcing next season’s summer flea market products.
In the fall, residents and tourists alike enjoy holiday shopping for friends and relatives. They offer an opportunity to give unique and custom-made holiday gifts. This flea market also offers a little-discussed bonus: the location. The park-like setting on the grounds of the Mower Market is exquisitely maintained. It appears that every leaf of every tree is perfect!
If you haven’t visited the market yet this season, drop by soon. The tree leaves are preparing their autumn show! Check out the luscious things offered: jewelry, furniture, clothing, Native American Jewelry, singing bowls, handmade leather goods, wood carvings, vintage and antique items, imported rugs and custom-designed clothing. For a stress break, visit the Reiki table.
Visit Woodstock’s Mower’s Saturday Sunday Market soon! We look forward to seeing you before winter gets here.
Thurman Greco
Woodstock
Proposed Zena/Basin Road gas station, a looming traffic danger
In this week’s letter we shall explore the increased traffic hazard that this project, the 1105 Route 28 LLC Project, would create, should it be approved.
The four-way intersection of Basin Road, Zena Road and Route 28 is already one of the most hazardous in the Hudson Valley. Between January 1, 2016 and May 31, 2021, there were 66 collisions noted by the NYSDOT. This is a 33% higher accident/collision rate than other similar rural four-way intersections.
There are several traffic scenarios in which the addition of the Basin Road, Zena Road, Route 28 gas station/convenience store to the existing traffic mix, would create traffic dangers.
One scenario is when the Route 28 traffic light turns green for the cross traffic on Basin Road and Zena Road. Often, when both the Zena Road traffic will be making left turns on to Route 28 heading east, and Basin Road traffic, making right turns onto to Route 28, also heading east, there will be two cars, from two different directions, heading towards the same eastbound lane.
With the potential addition of the new gas station to the traffic mix, the traffic pattern becomes more confused and chaotic. Within a few hundred feet of the intersection and light, (the location of the new gas station), there would be traffic from the new gas station, both exiting the gas station onto eastbound lanes of Route 28 and simultaneously some cars slowing down on eastbound lanes of Route 28, to enter the new gas station.
Potentially, four cars, at different speeds, with different intentions, converging, often onto the same lane.
The inherent dangers in this situation are magnified by the close proximity of the proposed gas station/store to the intersection itself. The distance of the entry and exit lanes of the new gas station to the intersection and the Basin Road right turn lane is less than 200 feet.
The addition of cars entering and exiting the eastbound Route 28 lanes, only a few hundred feet from the Basin Road turn lane, multiplies the likelihood of accidents and collisions.
NYS SEQRA law makes it clear that if an impact of a potential development project will be to diminish traffic safety and to increase traffic dangers; that impact needs to be considered as an “adverse environmental impact.”
Similarly, Woodstock town zoning law 260-4 calls on the planning board, as it reviews projects, to responsibly “promote and protect public health and safety.”
Mel Sadownick, Research Director
Concerned Citizens of Ulster County
My country is like a bad parent
My country is like a bad parent who never really changes his abusive habits. He sent me off to war in 1967, only to have all the lies come back to haunt him. He killed two-million Vietnamese along with 58,000 US troops, and never even said he was sorry.
In the 1980s, he was training death squads in Central America, and arming them to commit atrocities in Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador. And after all that bloodletting, he never whispered a word of remorse.
The invasion of Iraq was another inexcusable moment for my American family. The invasion was all based on his lies about weapons of mass destruction, and again we murdered millions of innocent people. But our media hid most of the slaughter from us, and neither political party thought to condemn his obvious war crimes.
Now our parent is paying for and perpetuating the worst genocide of the 21st century. True to form, he never bothers to look at the torture, the starvation, the endless bombing of hospitals and schools in Gaza. The charnel house of his wars reminds us once again of how criminal our parent really is. And how dangerous. His wars abroad are based on carnage, and that is what our shameless parent is very good at. He sees some strategic goal in the eradication of the Palestinian people and there is nothing that can stop him. Not even the slaughter of 20,000 children.
Our murderous parent will one day destroy our American family.
Fred Nagel
Rhinebeck
F — The future regarding our present benefit state, #3
It was mentioned in the last paragraph of the previous letter, and I quote, “But one has to be aware that it will not happen overnight. It will be a gradual chipping away until they are eliminated, not only with our benefits but other aspects of this socialistic, liberal government.”
Keep in mind, a worst-case scenario if both chambers of Congress, House and Senate are majority controlled by Republicans, with Trump back into office (Republican) and a Conservative Supreme Court, which seems to be dragging its feet regarding Trump, is when the present administrative system will be deconstructed, dismantled, or eliminated. And it will not be overnight or immediate.
Once Adolph Hitler came into power, it took him a number of years to achieve what he wanted: total control over the Reich. It did not happen overnight. The Weimar Republic, like ours, had years to become entrenched. Once Hitler came into office, he instituted changes, stripping this, stripping that, removing people from office, replacing them loyal to the Der Fuhrer. And so on.
When Trump came into office in 2020, he knew nothing about the government. In fact, he never thought he was going to win. His family, friends, no one thought he was going to win. He had a difficult time. Many good, competent personnel previously assigned to numerous departments, ran head-on in their relations with Trump. Many quit, many stayed on and clandestinely did not do what he wanted, to keep unqualified personnel from getting into those positions. Here was a man totally unfamiliar with the workings of the federal government and he created havoc and fear.
The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 is a blue print, a map, if Donald Trump gets re-elected again. It is a guideline for the transition of the federal governments, a dismantling of the ‘deep state’ we hear such much about. “A dismantling into what?” It’s a dismantling of the present administrative system, the ‘deep state’ of federal employees into what the Far Right, the Alt Right want: an elimination, of this liberal, socialistic form of government to be replaced with staff loyal to Donald Trump and only Donald Trump. Donald Trump is their man — he is the hammer, the wrecking ball. This means men and women will be replaced with those individuals who will do his bidding and will cover all the departments in the government. This is the blueprint, road map, called ‘Schedule F’ of the disembowelment, not only of our benefits, Social Security and Medicare, but the entire federal government. For example: the present Civil Service, which Trump reportedly hates and is protected by law, will be weakened if not outright eliminated. This will be addressed by an executive order, re-classifying civil servants as not part of Trump’s team who could/can not be trusted, not do what he wanted. Trump passed this in his first term but Biden rescinded it, once he was in office.
The philosophy behind this is to eliminate the staff not loyal to him, those who will not do his bidding, those entrenched into the system for years. This is the ‘deep state’ that he rails against. And why the Republicans almost to a man, fall into line with the party bosses. It is their dream after 89 years to realize their unfilled dream of FDRs socialistic, liberal form of government, coming to an end.
Hitler had the same problems when he first came into office. But over a period of time, he achieved what he wanted. More to come.
Robert LaPolt
New Paltz
Take an objective look at the developers’ conceptual plan for Winston Farm
The story told about Winston Farm by the opponents is just not accurate or true. It will not become an asphalt jungle involving hundreds of acres of city-like development. This is sensationalism. Take an objective look at the developers’ conceptual plans. There is significant open space, and it will remain forever wild. They’re not clear-cutting every tree. Saugerties will not run out of water — in fact, Winston Farm will provide its own water and won’t need to tap the municipal supply.
Winston Farm is focusing on improving the quality of life for everyone while maintaining massive open space. They will create new jobs through tourism, entertainment, recreation and commercial/retail space while providing much-needed housing. But the plan is still under review by the town review boards and there is a lot of work to do. The community will have frequent abilities to provide feedback.
The developers are lifelong Saugerties residents, and they will comply with the objective criteria found in the Saugerties comprehensive plan and other town regulations. But the point remains that Winston Farm is a generational opportunity to improve the social and economic wellbeing for the community. Every effort and precaution will be taken to protect the environment and habitat. The project would be erected in phases over many years, enabling careful review, in advance, of each.
Let’s give the process time to unfold and not be swayed by inaccuracies and allegations. Let sound reasoning and common sense prevail not emotional reactions. Saugerties residents deserve nothing less.
Tony Marmo, Ulster Strong
Ulster Park
The facts
Donald Trump’s loss in November can be attributed to an unpleasant but necessary fact of life: Sometimes you have to flush twice.
John Scurti
Woodstock
The anti-Trump echo chamber
I guess with Neil Jarrmel, Tom Cherwin and several other “Trump fans,” the unbalanced and out-of-control Trump hatred will go on ad nauseam which, I’m sure, will be put on steroids should Trump get into the White House, again. And, of course, their lack of awareness will be completely engendered and fueled by their cellar dwelling “news” outlets at CNN and MSNBC.
In Neil’s “The dysfunction of the rethuglican campaign,” he carries out his usual “eloquent” bashing of Trump, yet totally forgets to point out the same or worse vast dysfunction in the Harris/Walz and Democratic deceit. With some added humor, Neil says “now, as Kamala Harris rises, Trump falls.” Harris rises? Based upon what, Neil? Her non-existent specific policies? I guess “open-mindedness” is not a term with which you are familiar. Deep one-sided bias does not become you, Neil.
Due to Neil’s close-minded myopic views, he doesn’t even realize that well over half of his criticisms of Trump also describe Harris/Walz and the Democrats to a tee! And, since Neil’s myopic views and slant have no room for objectivity, fact and truth, he doesn’t even recognize he’s conveying these sad hypocrisies.
In Tom Cherwin’s “Trump and character,” he says “a Trumper (me) accused Democrats of outright lies” adding that this was a “rich” comment. However, as Tom says, even Harris/Walz are without flaws, he still seems to strongly infer that Harris/Walz have never lied to us Americans, at all. Tom says that “Trump’s reelection would certainly bode ill for America’s destiny.” Oh, but the deceit and total lack of transparency of the Harris/Walz secrecy would not bode well for America’s destiny?” Harris’s ocean of vote-pandering flip flops will build and bolster confidence and trust from all Americans? And the fact that Harris is suddenly going to “fix” everything we’ve all been suffering through and which SHE was an integral part of creating during the past nearly four years, shows her total insincerity, lack of experience and lack of knowledge. Speaking of “rich,” Tom, this is the epitome of “rich!”
One thing that continues to amaze me is the total silence from Neil and all his followers when it comes to pointing out any of the many failures of the Biden/Harris Democratic sham show and how they have negatively and severely impacted themselves, all their family members, and friends, which unquestionably involves many Democrats.
John N. Butz
Modena
America’s gatekeepers
I was reading about
The latest school shooting
When it hit me like a bullet:
What “GOP” stands for
Is “Guns Over People.”
*
For today’s Republican Party,
The Second Amendment
Is more sacred than the Bible.
After all, Jesus was really nothing more
Than one of Trump’s losers and suckers
Who sacrificed his life for a “cause”
While gaining nothing for himself,
Whereas the Second Amendment
Asks its disciples to sacrifice nothing—
Except, if things go awry, others’ lives—
For a big gain: the Right to Bear Arms.
*
Which is their divine right,
And maybe even their divine duty,
Because, hey, it’s Gomorrah out there:
Deviant youth with fluid sex organs
Crouching in unisex bathroom stalls,
Plotting to violate normal young bodies
And to corrupt healthy young minds
With obscene, subversive library books;
A gestating coven of careless whores
Demanding control over their bodies;
Kamala’s Communists, Sanders’ socialists,
Scheming to divvy up the American dream;
Climate fanatics driving Chinese-made EVs,
Cutting into the fast lane of Big Oil profits;
Psychotic convicts of brown or black skin
Pouring in from their shithole countries,
Jabbering in their vermin vocabularies,
Stealing the job of your average Joe
When they’re not busy raping or murdering.
*
Yes, the barbarians are at the gate
With the foul wind of upheaval at their back,
And Republicans are America’s Gatekeepers.
So they’ll continue to pray in the NRA pews,
And to say amen to the Second Amendment,
And to sidestep the flow of AR-15 bloodbaths,
And to deny that more are coming—
Coming to a school or a market,
Coming to a packed arena
Coming to a house of worship,
Or, one day, when it’s their turn,
Coming to a theater near them.
Tom Cherwin
Saugerties
Everything old is new again in Winston Farms (over) development plan DGEIS
The revised Winston Farm’s Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) has landed – harkening the heaping landfill proposed all those years ago. Side-stepping previous open-space victories, it looks like our loss. As a history lover, the DGEIS also brought me back to an earworm of my childhood.
Back before locavores or gastro-tours were hot Hudson Valley trends, John Hall led a youth chorus in the “Saugerties Song.” In it, community voices come together over late-80’s light jazz synth to sing:
“Will Saugerties grow gracefully?
Ten years from now, will it still be friendly?
Saugerties, it’s up to you and me.”
Not long after its release, Winston Farm was the muddy home of Woodstock ’94 — where some 350,000 attendees sang, slang mud and slid down the site’s infamous hill. Freshly past the milestone 30th anniversary of that event, developers have presented a plan to desecrate history along with hundreds of acres of hardwood forest, meadows and wetlands.
While this version eliminated an ironic aquifer-draining waterpark — it was replaced with even more hotel space. As in, more surfaces to prevent rain from replenishing the water table. Tough loss for already endangered wildlife and town residents who rely on this backup water source — but water-thrill-seekers can take heart that hundreds of acres of personal lawns may yet house slip’n’slides. Phew.
To face our children, the town must represent our needs — through regulation, oversight and soliciting community input. The town board cannot passively “hold onto [their] seats” as was joked — but must take the driver’s seat to steer us to a more sustainable future.
The ‘Saugerties Song’ may be an artifact, but ought to be an enduring anthem of our collective responsibility. That kiddie chorus admonishes us to consider: who is responsible for stewarding this place, and for whom?
Jackie Lieske
Kingston
Hostages
Patriotic American’s generally took the summer off from demonstrating. An adventure trip to Chicago for a replay of the 1968 riots was a wasteful carbon footprint. All the crazies got was a lesson in cop professional! “move along. Nothing to see, folks.”
“Release the hostages” is a tragic call for “take more hostages”! One guy with a fake bomb can get on a bus and command 40 new hostages any time, any place: Tel Aviv, Kingston or Moscow. Kids, tourists or seniors. Our humanitarian reflex makes them valuable.
Back in my day, lots of planes were diverted to Cuba. Then Castro started to lock up the terrorists and it stopped. The first rule of hostages is fight back. Throw things at their faces. Kick, bite and use your pepper spray like your life depends on it!
Gang up!
The second rule is do not trade anything to get the hostages released. If you do, you are assuring that many more hostages will be taken.
We live in a strained world, with massive misinformation. Hamas is not Palestine. Hamas is a hateful army. Hamas leaders get filthy rich pocketing the generous donations made to help the poor. The poor people of Palestine are victims.
War is hell. Everyone knows that our campus kids just want attention. I say give it to them. Arrest them, try them, and if found guilty, give them jail time (with a good library).
Paul Raymond
New Paltz
A heartening tradition, a sweet moment
A few weeks ago on the third Saturday in August, a wonderful community building event took place in our town. The 20th annual volunteers day — “A Day of Gratitude” was held to thank all the volunteers in our surrounding area for their kindness, generosity, bravery and community spirit.
Hundreds of people came out to enjoy the day and over 300 volunteers were treated to a day held in their honor. Neighbors broke bread with neighbors, set aside their differences and celebrated what is good about our community. There was wonderful music, a delicious buffet and a dedication led by Jen Metzger, our wonderful Ulster County executive, which declared that all volunteers were the guests of honor. On this special day, all volunteers were appreciated with food donated by 29 local restaurants, great music and a unique raffle, one in which only the volunteers could win the prizes, 82 prizes in all from most of our local businesses and most of our not-for-profits.
As in years past, another impressive photograph was taken en masse. The 20th annual volunteers day was a heartening day, and a successful moment for all the people in our community. Woodstock is the only town in America that has an event like this. It is a unique tradition which happens only here in the Hudson Valley.
At this time, we want to thank all the members of the Woodstock Appreciates its Volunteers (WAiV) board of directors who helped in so many ways.
Thank you to president Cathy Magarelli, vice president Helene Aptekar, Susan Laporte, Nina Doyle, Britt St. John, Kate Mack, Steve Grenadir, Ron Vanwarmer, Peggy Fusco and Alan Gottesman. As you can see, this special volunteer recognition event, volunteers day “A Day of Gratitude,” is made possible by support from the community. If you would like to help with, donate to next year’s event and/or help with our scholarship program, please visit volunteersdays.org or email info@volunteersday.org.
Sam Magarelli,
Member of the Board of Directors of WAiV
Woodstock
Proposal for Winston Farm
I agree with Meyer Rothberg’s letter last week in HV1. It doesn’t matter one whit that the current owners of Winston Farm are locals. If they were thinking about making Saugerties a better place to live, they would not propose such a startling, aggressive plan.
If you add up the number of single family houses, condos/apartments and townhouses, it means over a thousand cars traveling through our town in one day. Many of those residents will even have two cars. And then additionally there will be campers (157 cabins and RVs), 450 hotel rooms, and a large retail space. When the weekend comes around (or maybe several times a week) 5,000 people may descend on the property to attend a concert. That is a nightmare — a traffic nightmare!
As someone else stated in a letter to the editor a few weeks ago, Winston Farm forests today soak up carbon, but the current proposal to turn the property into a mega “neighborhood” (HA!) releases tons of carbon into our little town.
On September 12, from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. at the Orpheum (Theater 1), there is a public informational forum regarding the proposed Winston Farm development with town supervisor Fred Costello and Adriana Beltrani, senior environmental planner, who will give a brief history of the Winston Farm development plans, including the way we arrived at the current situation, zoning and environmental review.
Susan Fraser
Saugerties
Tree hugger
I applaud your article on the value of trees. My wife wrote a paper on the environmental impact of trees which is substantial. So why did the town decide to carry out the massacre of the trees on Henry W DuBois Drive? It is not a heavily travelled road and the intermittent bike lane they put in seemed quite sufficient.
Many of the residents, frightened of what would happen to their wonderful trees, put up many signs including “The Lorax speaks for the trees.” But I guess the town thought otherwise and started to murder these long standing trees and making a total mess of the road.
It used to be a shortcut for me to avoid the 299 traffic, but now it takes longer and there doesn’t seem to be any hope of the mess ending soon. I live on five acres of trees and I cherish them. The provide beauty and a wonderful connection to nature. They take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. Maybe that’s why I am so happy. They also communicate through their root systems. Like Tolkien I believe in Ents, trees with personalities. One of my favorite lines is “Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves, the dreams of trees unfold”
John Rosett
Highland
Woodstock/Zena zoning determination must be upheld
Woodstock’s zoning officer’s determination that the access road built in Woodstock to serve the Zena residential development in the Town of Ulster is permitted must be upheld.
This determination is being challenged by the Woodstock Land Conservancy (WLC).
At the August 22 ZBA public hearing, WLC’s attorneys presented a case. Matter of BBJ Assoc. vs. Town of Kent ZBA, where the court ruled that an access road in one zoning district that provides access to a use in an adjoining zoning district to a use is that is prohibited in the zoning district in which the road would be built, is not permitted.
WLC contends that this prohibition applies to the extension of Eastwood Drive in Woodstock to provide access to the proposed single family development in the Town of Ulster.
The argument is a red herring. The fact is that the court was simply upholding the Town of Kent Zoning law, which in Article 77-6 (d) which states in part: “No driveway shall provide access … or street or road which exclusively serves or supports a lot located in another district, which lot is used for any use prohibited in which the street or road is located, shall be used to provide access to said lot”
WLC’s problem is that there is no corresponding, similar law or prohibition in the Woodstock zoning code. So, the WLC wants the Woodstock ZBA to enforce the Town of Kent zoning code in the Town of Woodstock!
But even if, magically , the Kent town law could be enforced in Woodstock, this road would still be permitted. The Kent law prohibits a road when the adjoining uses do not match, but, in this case the “use,” single family homes, are permitted as of right uses in both the Woodstock and adjoining Ulster zoning district. The BBJ Assoc. matter presented by WLC’s attorneys in Kent involved a single-family zone abutting a multi-family zone, differing uses. The case is not relevant.
WJC’s attorneys’ assertion that the court in the Kent case considered differing “densities” in its decision is not factual. The word density appears nowhere in the court’s decision; It only discusses “uses” a zoning technical term.
Therefore, the WLC challenge is without merit and must be rejected. The zoning officer’s determination that the extension of Eastwood Drive is permitted must be upheld by the Woodstock ZBA.
Richard Lanzarone, Executive Director
Hudson Valley Property Owners Association
Village cost to borrow aligned with expected rate cut
In July, we borrowed $3.60 million for one year at 4.09% and just borrowed $3.855 million for one year at 3.42%, starting 9/12/24.
Many anticipate that Fed policymakers will lower the target rate at their September 17-18 meeting. Right now, the rate is 5.25% to 5.50%. It was last raised in July 2023 by 0.25%. Recent macroeconomic reports indicate inflation is moderating towards the central bank’s 2% goal and demand for labor is softening. The Fed cuts or raises rates to control inflation and stimulate economic growth.
The jury is out whether the Fed will cut by 0.50% in September, or take a more measured approach and cut by 0.25% followed by subsequent cuts. The Fed’s committee may meet as needed but eight meetings are scheduled annually to discuss monetary policy, including interest rates.
The Village of New Paltz borrows money for various capital projects and equipment, and finances our purchases over several years using a combination of short- and long-term notes and bonds. The village enjoyed borrowing money inexpensively, but starting in 2022, Federal Reserve officials emphasized that we should expect to see ongoing restrictive monetary policy to slow demand and tame inflation.
On 8/29/24, our $3.855 million bond anticipation note (BAN) was listed on S&P Global’s Ipreo Parity auction system. Only licensed banks and broker dealers may use the system. They bid on lending the Village of New Paltz money for one year. Banks tend to hold short-term BANs like ours and broker dealers will offer them to their investing clients.
Of the four licensed institutions who offered to lend us money, Piper Sandler provided the lowest net rate at 3.42% for us to borrow funds starting 9/12/24 and pay them back by 9/12/25.
Our net rates for BANs: 1.16% Oppenheimer — September 2016; 1.27% Oppenheimer – September 2017; 1.91% Jefferies – March 2018; 2.15% Jefferies – September 2018; 1.40% BNY Mellon – September 2019; 1.39% Piper Jaffray – November 2019; 0.59% Green County Commercial – October 2020; 0.23% Oppenheimer – September 2021; 0.56% Green County Commercial – February 2022; 2.96% Fidelity Capital Markets – September 2022; 3.36% Jefferies – February 2023; 3.86% TD Securities – September 2023; 3.93% BNY Mellon – February 2024; 4.09% BNY Mellon – July 2024; 3.42% Piper Sandler – September 2024.
Mayor Tim Rogers
New Paltz
Remembering September 11th, 2001
On September 11th, 2001, 3,000 innocent victims perished horrifically in two building collapses and 110,000 first responders were made permanently sick, 4,343 of which perished from their illnesses (https://www.uclahealth.org/ news/article/health-firstresponders-9-11). It is with all these innocent victims in mind, some of which were my good friends, that I write this letter.
Twenty-three years have passed and still the real 9/11 criminals have evaded justice. The official 911 narrative is clearly a bold-face lie, easily proven to be false. Structural steel-framed buildings have never ever collapsed in the history of the world from uncontrolled office fires as the 911Commission would have us all believe, even those ignited with jet fuel, nor have any since 9/11/01. Yet, the 110-story World Trade Center (WTC) towers 1 & 2 collapsed in 12 seconds after burning for only one hour and limited to a few floors. Port Authority construction manager Frank Di Martini, who was in charge of building the WTC, declared that towers 1 & 2 “could sustain multiple impacts from jet liners” and not collapse (https:// www.youtube.com/watch? v=z_ETVHLF_p8). That was because they were designed knowing that in 1945 a B25 US Army bomber carrying a large supply of gasoline and oxygen tanks, crashed into the 102-story Empire State Building setting off a roaring inferno, which did not collapse (https://www.archives.nyc/blog/ 2019/10/18/the-empire-state-planecrash-july-28-1945). In 2004, the Parque Central high-rise building in Venezuela was completely engulfed in a roaring inferno for 17 hours and did not collapse. In 1991, the One Meridian Plaza high-rise building in Philadelphia was also completely engulfed in a roaring inferno that lasted for 18 hours and did not collapse. Those buildings are still in use today. There were 550 high-rise building fires just between 2005 to 2009, and yet none collapsed. Meanwhile, on 9/11, three steel-framed WTC high-rise office buildings (#1,2,7), that were the strongest buildings at that time, collapsed in one day allegedly due to fires.
Furthermore, no one, including the questionable 911 Commission, has explained how steel from the collapsed WTC buildings stayed molten under a million gallons of firefighters water for three months (https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=GPsK0sDEjro). The only way that can happen is with a nuclear device causing a “China Syndrome” effect, or using U.S. classified high-tech nano-thermite. FYI, ignited and un-ignited residues of the latter was found to be in all the dust at ground zero by multiple teams of scientists whose findings were published in an unchallenged 2009 peer-reviewed study. (https://www.benthamopen.com/ contents/pdf/TOCPJ/TOCPJ-2-7.pdf).
Major General Albert Stubblebine says it well when he exposes the official 911 narrative as a massive deception to protect the guilty who hide in high places. (https://rumble.com/v5216f0-unitedstates-major-general-stubblebineexposes-911.html).
Steve Romine
Woodstock
Ways and means
Ask your congress person
the meaning of life. Ask
about death, about war,
it’s more serious than
asking favorites like vanilla.
What would they legislate
or just settle on? Ask them
if they love sky, forest, sea
or could live with pollution.
Ask about guns, ask about
kids, ask about mental health.
Ask how they cope with
night terrors and screams.
Ask your representative
if they will really represent you.
They have the ways and means.
Will they be part of the answer
or lead us into more hate again?
Patrick Hammer, Jr.
Saugerties
No I don’t know where the no’s have gone, Part 1
The word “no” has become a ghost, fading like the last light of day slipping below the horizon. It drifts through conversations, unnoticed, unheeded, a relic of a time when boundaries meant something when a line drawn in the sand held firm against the tide of expectation. Today, “no” is dismissed as a hindrance to progress, an obstacle to creativity and a mere inconvenience to those who would rather hear the reassuring echo of “yes” bouncing back from every corner of their lives. I’ve wielded “no” like a shield, a verbal suit of armor to protect myself from the relentless onslaught of advertisements that prey on insecurity, from politicians who wield words like weapons, and from newscasters who twist the truth until it resembles a serpent devouring its tail. But what happens when we strip “no” from our vocabulary, tossing it aside like the refuse of our most basic biological functions? Do we, in turn, discard the idea of taking only what we need, living within our means, respecting the natural limits imposed by the world around us? Perhaps “no” has become too entwined with the notion of responsibility. It is the word that sets boundaries, closes doors and denies access. In a world where we crave endless possibilities, “yes” is the word that opens those doors, offering a tempting array of choices. But here lies the paradox: with every “yes,” there comes a hidden “no,” a narrowing of focus, a silent constriction of options. The all-encompassing “yes” is a mirage, vanishing when we reach for it, leaving us stranded in the desert of our own making. In this tangled web of “yes” and “no,” I find myself increasingly disoriented. The political landscape is a minefield of these words; each step forward is met with an explosion of ambiguity. I turned to my wife for clarity, hoping her perspective might untangle the knots in my thoughts. Her response was as sharp as the edge of a blade: “The Republicans say ‘no’ all the time. No to abortions, no to voting without hurdles, no to anything that doesn’t serve the wealthy.” She wasn’t wrong. The “no” of the Republican Party is a hammer, smashing down on anything that threatens the status quo. But the Democrats are no saints of affirmation either. Their expansive “yes” is a smokescreen, concealing a multitude of invisible “no’s” buried deep within the fine print of their legislation, obscured by the fog of rhetoric.
Larry Winters
New Paltz
Pretty much nails it…
A new study/poll from Trump University shows that the former president is leading in all 74 states. Today’s Republican Party: Rich people using religious people to convince poor, white people that compassionate people are out to get them. Yep, the Republicans have been trying to kill Social Security since before it was born.
Never forget: Not one Republican office holder who objected to Biden’s victory over Trump has ever objected to their own wins on the same day, on the same ballots, using the same election systems. The fact that this went over the heads of tens of millions of Americans makes me scared to be around other people. Yes, it was another Orange Nazi scam that they tried to pass off as reality. There better be federal oversight of the new scam to disenfranchise voters, which is against the constitution. I would like to see rapid arrests.
And finally, he’s starting to panic. Never in my life have I been as satisfied to see another human being fail. The felon has been up all freakin night posting too many unhinged posts from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. His brain is fried. Just can’t lie fast enough.
Mission accomplished! A bitter old man, alone with his phone, having tantrums, mocking others, lying about the size of his crowds and making up cruel nicknames for his “enemies” is just weird. Really weird. Then again, I’ll go with pathetic, or perhaps infantile. He’s blithering when campaigning! How will we be able to tell when he “loses it?” Poor, weird, deranged Donald. Vote Blue!
Neil Jarmel
West Hurley
Town technology needs public discussion
The recent announcement of the proposed agreement for “internet for the town” is a Trojan Horse we should all be wary of. Do we really want to sell our names, our friends’ contacts and our private mail to this unvetted company?
In the past there was a technology committee which would assess this sort of proposal and give advice to the town board and the supervisor and hold public hearings to assess. The public has been eliminated from current technology decisions. Woodstock is giving a private company access to not only our virtual pathways, but are we even giving them physical space in our precious town hall and on the town green? These kinds of deals should not be just the domain of the supervisor. Other municipalities take communication seriously and bind any private use of our “rights of way” and our infrastructure with careful obligations for the public interest. As more and more companies are offering private programming streams, the telephone poles along our public streets are bending from the weight of heavy cables. Traffic is snarled as repairs are needed. Woodstock has been very lax in our negotiations with tech corporations. Many municipalities are weighing the possibility of negotiating the use of the rights of way for all information services, not just cable. Even Spectrum should provide much better public service — for our cable studio and should be obligated to provide free internet for our town offices and education and library buildings. Many towns have included those provisions in their franchise negotiations. Town technology agreements should be done carefully and with participation by delegated committees and participatory public hearings — not by handshakes and personal deal-making.
DeeDee Halleck
Willow
Join the family! 
