Letters to the editor: January, 22 2025 (Clowning around, rainfall, hunger and more)

The views and opinions expressed in our letters section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Hudson Valley One. Submit a letter to the editor at deb@hudsonvalleyone.com.

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Hudson Valley One welcomes letters from its readers. Letters should be fewer than 300 words and submitted by noon on Monday. Our policy is to print as many letters to the editor as possible. As with all print publications, available space is determined by ads sold. If there is insufficient space in a given issue, letters will be approved based on established content standards. Points of View will also run at our discretion.

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Let’s make the Winston Farm project happen

I am writing in response to the letter that Beautiful Saugerties replied to in November of 2024 about my letter. As in the political world, one side wants to tell all others that they are wrong. Beautiful Saugerties needs again to understand, along with the people against the Winston Farm project, that this “historical property” was for sale for a long time. And no one bought it. Now that we finally have some traction to do something great — not only for Saugerties, but Ulster County — these groups are trying to stop it yet again. You say that the sit down with the owners got you nowhere. But it could be that you are demanding that 75% of the property stay natural. No developer would agree to that. And the next company to buy the farm IF these guys get fed up, won’t be as understanding to want your input.

How many more times will someone buy the farm and then move on and do something great elsewhere and we fall father into disappear here in Saugerties? If these groups are not careful, someone will get the governor’s ear and bank account and before you know it, there will be a solar farm or even worse, an AMAZON. Something is and will be built on that site.

I hope that the Saugerties Town Board passes the new zoning law so they can get shovels in the ground. This could be another awesome Silo Ridge like in Amenia or an Eastdale like in Pleasant Valley. Wake up Saugerties, let’s make the Winston Farm project happen before it is too late.

Marty Martin
Saugerties

A clerk who works for you

Dear Ulster County neighbors: My name is Alexandria Wojcik, but friends call me Alex. My pronouns are she/they. I’m writing to enthusiastically announce my decision to run for Ulster County Clerk!

Some believe that the position of county clerk is a routine role without much room for vision, let alone verve. I wholeheartedly disagree and hope the ideas I bring to the table can revolutionize the way we think of government. The office of the clerk is a gateway for constituent interaction and education about government and community services. Imagine if every interaction with the DMV and other parts of the clerk’s office were holistic in its accessibility to all, always resulting in constituents learning exactly what services the county can provide, and public data were instead open data. Immigrants as well as trans+ people face a particularly uncertain future and need a clerk’s office that feels welcoming and is truly safe. I have the policy chops and past experience to get such a utopic office off the ground on day one — and to ensure the positive strides made under my leadership transcend any one person or party.

I’m excited to share more in the coming months about my ideas, and my experiences that make me the best candidate to be the county clerk who works for YOU. Please check out my platform, bio, resume, and other materials related to my candidacy here: linktr.ee/alexandria4clerk.

I invite everyone who’s interested in learning more about the office of the county clerk, and about my candidacy, to join a kick-off event and community resource fair on Sunday, January 26 from 3 to 5:30 p.m., at the Muse located at 1 Madeline Lane in Rosendale.

Alexandria Wojcik, Candidate for Ulster County Clerk
New Paltz

Be the one…

With so much on the plates of so many people, it is essential to maintain an awareness of being the one who listens to another when the world doesn’t. Be alert when someone appears fascinated with death, feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, guilt and like a burden to others. Be sensitive to changes in behavior or mood, isolation from others, loss of interest in one’s health (increased drug or alcohol use), giving away prized possessions, or saying goodbye to friends and family. Be especially alert if someone talks about harming themselves or plans for a suicide attempt. Connect the person immediately with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. For more information, type in: Warning Signs of Suicide. As there is a strong correlation between suicide and suicide by guns, gun owners must remain vigilant to store their guns safely. Kudos to all who do.

We are all members of a global and local community. We all have the responsibility NOT to be quiet if we see something that is not right, not fair, not just. Rather, this is a call to say/do something. We cannot afford to not cause others to take notice. The Honorable John Lewis has called us to conduct ourselves in this manner. In our own ways, will each of us be one who cares and acts? Let no one feel that they are not worthy of being cared for.

Terence Lover
Woodstock

Expand our active tourism appeal

The Camoin Group is a highly respected economic forecasting and consulting firm known for making conservative projections. They did reliable work for both the Walkway Over the Hudson (2008) and the Ashokan Rail Trail (2013). 

Camoin did a 2023 economic research study that estimates total economic impact for the Ashokan Rail Trail at $17.4 million in sales — this is more than double the 2023 economic benefits reported by the CMRR of $7 million.

The Camoin study also projects that with a connection to Kingston (which means linking to the Empire State Trail and other pedestrian/bike trails in Ulster County), the economic contribution of the trail will increase to $24 million.

Around the nation there’s been explosive growth in active tourism — trips built around physical activities or sports like hiking, biking, climbing, etc. Whether you’re from NYC or your flight from elsewhere connects there, where’s the most beautiful scenic landscape, with vibrant, exciting culture and delicious local cuisine? Ulster County!! Active tourism is already a major economic driver in Ulster County, and its growth can explode. Into the future it shows a projected annual growth rate of 16.1% from 2025 – 2030. Kingston and Ulster County are perfectly positioned for this, and we should continue to protect our landscapes and build and enhance our county-wide network of trails to benefit all kinds of businesses throughout the county.

First among these priorities should be connecting the destination Ashokan Rail Trail to the trail network hub in Kingston. The county-owned U&D corridor makes this a no-brainer, an easy and economical boost that will geometrically expand our active tourism appeal.

Ralph Durham
West Hurley

Clowning around

Clowns sleep in groups of three.

Sparrow
Phoenicia

Alexandria Wojcik for Ulster County Clerk

In regards to New Paltz Deputy Mayor Alexandria Wojcik’s campaign for Ulster County Clerk:

Throughout her personal life and professional career, Alexandria Wojcik has consistently been an accessible source for support, information and guidance. In 2017, my dream was to start a small business selling my art, and I presumed vending at a local market would be a practical venue to begin. Knowing that New Paltz did not have a makers market, I reached out to “Alex” to explore the idea of organizing one. She promptly scheduled us a meeting, and we chatted over coffee to work out logistics. Within a week, Alex successfully communicated with the village and orchestrated the inaugural New Paltz Open Air Market on Church Street where I, among many other local makers, sold my product for the first time.

Eight years later, I now own a business with a brick and mortar down the block on North Front Street. To this day, Alex regularly pops into my shop, checking in, excited and ready to provide support. She is present and available, and it is a gift to have such a reliable resource in local government.

My personal story of Alex being an integral part in making ideas become a reality is not an isolated experience. Alex not only has a knack for getting things done, but does it with spirit and vigor, making sure our policies uplift everybody, especially those most marginalized. There is no doubt that Alex has, and always will, advocate for her community. Alexandria Wojcik is the definition of a politician who really is for the people!

Alexa Floresta
Crust and Magic
New Paltz

Rates and rainfall

October 2024 was a historically dry month, as we saw a total of 0.8 inches of precipitation. In comparison, average monthly rainfall for the previous ten Octobers was 5.2 inches. In response, local governments and regulators, including New Paltz, issued burn bans and drought watches. Fortunately, our dry spell broke and we finished the year with over ten inches in November and December combined.

Curiously, 2024 overall was a wetter than average year, receiving 59.4 inches. The wettest for the last eleven years was 2018 (69.2’’) and the driest was 2020 (34.6’’). Our precipitation figures are supplied by the Mohonk Preserve. Collection of data by Mohonk began in 1896.

With the tragic fires unfolding in Los Angeles, we have also been discussing precipitation volume and the risk of dry periods with our fire chief and New Paltz’s local emergency planning committee.

We have always watched rainfall because our municipal water system costs less to run when there is more precipitation. For example, recent rain and snow put us in the optimal position of not buying any DEP water from 12/11/24 through 1/14/25. We sourced all drinking water from our local reservoirs before it goes through our state-of-the-art, multimillion-dollar water filtration plant.

Rain and snow melt that ends up in our surface water reservoirs off Mountain Rest Road allows New Paltz to buy less water from the NYC DEP’s Catskill Aqueduct, and therefore, helps us accelerate debt payments that funded our expensive water infrastructure projects.

The Village of New Paltz borrows money for various capital projects using a combination of short- and long-term notes and bonds. Most recently on 1/15/25, our $800,000 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, who bid on lending us money. Banks tend to hold short-term BANs like ours and broker dealers will offer them to their investing clients.

Four licensed institutions offered to lend us money on January 15th. NBT Bank, headquartered in Central NYS’s Norwich, provided the lowest net rate at 3.7% for us to borrow funds starting 1/30/25, to be paid back by 1/30/26.

Mayor Tim Rogers
New Paltz

“No one should go hungry”

The Daily Bread Soup Kitchen at Christ’s Lutheran Church in Woodstock has been offering meals three days each week for over 30 years! Our motto, “No one should go hungry,” has been our guiding principle. Through the generosity of local restaurants, volunteers and donors, we are able to provide meals to all who come to our door. We would like to especially thank the following restaurants and businesses for joining with us in this community service:

Alba’s Kitchen, 138 Tinker Street, Woodstock, 532-0028; Allison’s Restaurant, 51 Tinker Street, Woodstock, 684-5887; The Bear Cantina, 295 Tinker Street, Bearsville, 684-5581; Bistro to Go, 948 Route 28, Kingston, 340-9800; Bread Alone, 22 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock, 679-2108; Catskill Mountain Pizza, 57 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock, 679-7969; Center For Cause Awareness, (201) 566 1076; Cucina, 109 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock, 679-9800; Garden Cafe, 6 Old Forge Road, Woodstock, 679-3600; Hickory Smokehouse BBQ, 743 Route 28, Kingston, 338-2424; Oriole 9, 17 Tinker Street, Woodstock, OR9-5763; Overlook Bakery, 105 Tinker Street, 684-5898; Pearl Moon, 52 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock, 684-5537; Santa Fe, 1802 Route 28, Woodstock, 657-5555; The Reservoir Inn, 157 Basin Road, West Hurley, 331-6800; Woodstock Meats, 51 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock, 679-7917; Yum Yum, 4 Rock City Road, Woodstock, 679-7992.

Our volunteers are also at the core of this ministry and we are so very grateful for their dedication. Many contribute two hours or more each month to preparing the meals and warmly greeting our guests. New volunteers are very much appreciated and if you are interested, please call the church office at 845-679-2336 and someone will return your call. Many thanks again to our restaurants, our volunteers and our donors.

Eleanor Anderson
Ulster Park

Big trees 

Big trees have always been more than just trees — sentinels, timekeepers and silent storytellers. When we moved to DuBois Road, I was three, too young to grasp permanence but old enough to feel the pull of those trees. Twenty acres of wild green surrounded our bare-bones house with no running water and an outhouse that leaned precariously. The trees, though, were solid — constant. 

One stood out: a massive maple, its six-foot-wide trunk rough and scarred, slowly giving way to rot. Yellow jackets nested in its hollows, teaching me to be cautious with their stings. Still, I climbed it repeatedly, drawn to its quiet lessons in patience. Then there was the pine, sixty feet tall, straight and steady. When the house grew too loud, I’d climb it to breathe, returning sticky with pitch as if the tree offered protection or solace. 

Seventy-six years later, I still talk to trees. Driving down Route 32, I nod at the old oak standing like a sentinel at South Putt. It’s been there as long as I can remember, and I wave like greeting an old friend. There’s a sycamore on Old New Paltz Road I never tire of pointing out to my wife. “There it is,” I say every time, a secret only I can truly appreciate. She humors me, knowing trees aren’t just trees to me — they’re stories, memory keepers, landmarks in the shifting landscape of life. 

Craig McKinney, a local newspaper legend, used to ask me about big trees. “Seen any good ones lately?” he’d say, and we’d trade sightings like treasures. Trees, we agreed, are living reminders of time’s depth, their roots going far beyond what we can see. 

When I think of the trees I’ve known — those I grew up with and those I’ve only passed by — I feel profound gratitude. They stand steady, holding the world up quietly as everything around them shifts and crumbles. They’ll outlast us, waving their limbs in the wind like they’re saying goodbye — or maybe hello. 

Larry Winters
New Paltz

McKenna’s boy 

Gordon Wemp, the chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), said, “nobody on the ZBA believed the Woodstock Land Conservancy [the applicant] made a compelling enough argument” regarding a determination made by Woodstock’s zoning enforcement officer. Yet, he had the ZBA have two decisions ready at its December 12 meeting — one denying the appeal and the other granting it, an approach he perceived as “novel.” The cost to taxpayers for this application in attorney fees was $5,354.

Howard Harris
Woodstock

To Dems: It wasn’t the price of eggs, but a deficit of compassion

As Democratic analysts try to explain the reasons for the unexpected Trump victories in the last election, we hear, over and over, that it was the high cost of inflation, the cost of eggs in the grocery store or the price of gas at the pump, that was determinative for these voters and their votes for Trump.

However, these same voters must have seen, and heard, and really could not have missed, the ugly, hate filled, cruel, speech of Trump and his MAGA allies during the campaign. Those statements and images were featured prominently on ALL of our media, mainstream media, as well as right and left wing media. 

Trump loudly and repeatedly claimed that migrants were “trash,” “criminals and rapists,” “the worst of the worst,” having been sent from the jails and mental institutions of third world (s… hole) countries. Using Adolf Hitler’s hate filled anti-semitic, racist, phrase, Trump described migrants as “poisoning the blood of our country.”

Trump’s call for “mass deportations” was echoed by the ugly spectacle of thousands of his followers at the Republican National Convention, and elsewhere, holding up signs saying “MASS DEPORTATION NOW.”

The cruelty and hate Trump evinced was openly on display for all to see and to feel. Sadly, we must conclude that once inside the privacy of the voting booth, many of these Trump voters, rather than being offended by the cruelty and hate, in the end, pulled the lever and voted for it.

Dems can stop castigating themselves for the presence of inflation in the grocery aisles of America during the Biden regime. Promises of lower grocery prices will not sway these voters. 

Dems would do better to gently remind voters, particularly those on the right, of the voices of some of their own chosen political and spiritual heroes.

Ronald Reagan’s Voice and Vision on Immigration: “Divine Providence placed this land, this land of freedom, America, as a refuge for ALL those people in the world who yearn to be free”.

 Reagan’s saw America as the “Shining City on a Hill that was to be a beacon of light to the whole world.”

Reagan endorsed the words on the Statue of Liberty of America as the providential place for “the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to be free.”

Jesus Christ on Immigration — Jesus Christ, from Matthew 25:31-40: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” 

“Truly, I say to you, as you do to one of the least of these, you do to me.”

Jesus specifically says of immigrants “Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”

 Yes Dems, let us do what we can to make America, and its grocery aisles, more affordable, but also, we would do well to remind all Americans that they too have higher selves and hearts capable of love and compassion.

Mel Sadownick
West Hurley

Our new felon and chief

In shadows where the steadfast truths reside, a bible stands open, yet the words collide — an oath, a promise, ever so profaned, the sacred whispered, drowned in loud disdain. With head held high, the blind now lead the blind, empires of ignorance, a force unkind. The echoes of deceit twist and churn, while facts, like leaves in autumn, fade and burn. 

What folly reigns in halls once bright with light, where reason dims, consumed by endless night. The mind, once sharp, now dulled to sound effect, the laughter of the world — [as they] coldly reflect. Is wisdom lost in chatter, noise, and scorn? A mockery of honor, truth, all torn. In every lie, a promise twisted, spun — ignorance, a tether, binding everyone. 

Buckle up, ignorance will rule for the next four years. Such a shame. Definition of stupid: “Knowing the truth, seeing evidence of the truth, but still believing the lies.” Facts can be willfully bypassed, rejected and ignored, but they cannot be ceased into non-existence. A lying felon and adjudicated sexual abuser of a woman, yes this frighteningly real moral degenerate swore an oath on a Bible this past Monday, January 20th, and you wonder why the world is laughing at us? It is disappointing to watch. 

What has happened to people’s brains? So dangerous and unaccountable. He’s simply a pathetic fucking embarrassment. You know exactly who I’m talking about. It’s even worse when it’s willful ignorance. I believe it takes an inflated ego to be as willfully ignorant as the “morons are governing America” supporters.

Yes, I know, a horrible generalization. They aren’t all like that — but there are plenty who are. They certainly feel no moral duty to protect others from their bad choices. I do know, the MAGAt fascists don’t believe in the greater good unless it serves them first. If one rejects facts, rejection does not prove one’s wisdom but less knowledge. “Logic” is a fearsome and frightening thing to those who prefer indoctrination. You could say, he’s “back by popular demand,” but 49.6% is NOT really that popular.

If this doesn’t give you “THE HEEBEEGEEBEES”, well watch and listen as “truth” slips out of their fingers and runs off into the dark night.

Neil Jarmel
West Hurley

A moving ceremony

The Saugerties VFW would like to thank all who donated and participated in the Wreaths Across America on December 14 at Saratoga National Cemetery. For the ninth year in a row, all of the veteran graves (almost 17,000), received a remembrance wreath. It is a very moving ceremony.

If you have the opportunity to take a drive up to Saratoga, the wreaths will remain until the first week of March. A special thank you to the Ulster County corrections officers for providing the transportation.

Bob Howe
Saugerties VFW

Democratically run food co-ops

The board of directors of the High Falls Food Co-op support the efforts of the Kingston Food Co-op. They are a great community asset. While it isn’t always easy and it may take time, a food co-op is an important tool for healthy community engagement and growth.

For proof: we are small (2,400 square feet), in a very rural outpost of Rondout School Valley District (111.4 people per square mile). We have attracted 848 equity members, roughly 12% of our service area. More than a grocery store, we are a vital thread in our local economy. Unlike corporate grocery giants we are owned by our members. Our policy returns any profits we make to these members. We keep profits completely local and directly benefit our members.

In 2024, our co-op spent nearly a third of its purchases on local and regional producers. Studies show that every dollar spent at a local food co-op impacts the local economy and community by more than 160% to every dollar. With our buy-local policies we expand this metric to 240% to every dollar.

We give consumers a voice in our evolution. Conversely, the recent closure of Ellenville’s ShopRite due to “poor sales performance” was made by a large corporate entity outside of its service area. It negatively impacted the community. Our members give input on our performance. They have a real say in operations.

Our model allows us to adapt and be a reliable partner in times of crisis; like during the pandemic when we pivoted to a food pick-up system ensuring families continued access to healthy and safe groceries. We are bursting at the seams and need to expand. Maybe it’s because our store is accessible to all or made affordable to those in need. We seek angels to assist us with answers for a much-needed expansion we are energized. This energy makes us hopeful for the Kingston Food Co-op. It fills a real need in the community. We thus stand in solidarity with, and strongly support, the ongoing efforts of the Kingston Food Co-op.

Virginia Redgate
on behalf of The High Falls Food Co-op Board of Directors

Milk & Bread

What is worse:

the long wait

for an impending

snowstorm that

promises to be

‘The Worst’

    or

the storm itself

with nonsensical

windchills when we

could be inside,

with ridiculous inches

piling up when we

could be inside.

    And

what is worse

than waiting on or

dealing with snow

when not a flake falls

and we went out

to buy up all

the milk and bread.

Patrick Hammer
Saugerties

Dishonest, outrageous, unprincipled

Marcus Arthur’s letter (1/08/25) about the illegitimate use of the Saugerties Climate Smart Task Force logo by the shameless promoters of the latest scheme to “ develop” Winston Farm by the Saugerties Farm LLC is a model of decorum. And so it should be, given his position of responsibility on the Conservation Advisory Committee.

I, however, am free to use less circumspect language to describe this action, and I describe it as dishonest, outrageous and unprincipled. It is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public into supposing that the LLC has the approval of the committee tasked with advising the town board on environment and climate issues, when it most assuredly does not.

This is only one more example of the misrepresentations made by the Saugerties Farm LLC to rezone Winston Farm to make possible huge profits at the expense of both the environment and the quality of life of the Town of Saugerties. They should publicly apologize for the misuse of the Climate Smart logo and stop the entire disinformation campaign without delay.

Residents of Saugerties interested in learning and exposing the truth about the environmental destruction that would result from the published proposal for development should join up with others who don’t want to see the ecological integrity (or the beauty) of the Winston Farm property destroyed. Citizens for a Beautiful Saugerties is the only public-facing group focused entirely on preserving Winston Farm from overdevelopment. If you care, don’t leave the fate of the property to wishful thinking or chance.

Janet Moss
Saugerties

TDS is still alive and well

Tom Cherwin states his clear perception of what’s to come, in his letter entitled “I was crushed by the election results.” But, will Tom still be “crushed” should Trump have several significant successes that stop the bleeding from a Biden/Harris four-year flop, while satisfying the Republican, Independent AND Democratic voters by showing that someone finally listened to their serious and legitimate concerns and actually did something to noticeably improve their lot in life?

Tom, William Weinstein and others think that climate change was largely responsible for the horrific California wildfire disasters. However, they fail to point out the REAL major contributors — Governor Gavin Newsom, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, Department of California Water Resource’s Karla Nemeth and other incompetent California politicians who, for quite some time, have failed to proactively prepare for such known potential disasters. The need for deforestation and the Santa Ana winds are not phenomena that just showed up three weeks ago. The brilliance of these people was magnified by the absurd and significant budget/personnel cuts in the fire department along with extremely poor water management. And, how about that empty reservoir allegedly awaiting repairs? And, of course, let’s not forget the role played by the mentally ill arsonists in these disasters. A quick Google of the Santa Ana winds show that they are at their worst in the winter months, especially December and January. So, that leaves ten other months to repair and fill the reservoir. I think our grade-school children and grandchildren could have figured that one out.

Switching gears, I’d like to address Biden’s empty, worthless and fear mongering “farewell address” and its incredible hypocrisy. Biden and Tom Cherwin express a fear for our country’s future and loss of democracy due to an anticipated “oligarchy” and its wealth, power and influence “running the show.” Of course, they’re referring to billionaires Elon Musk and many others whose REAL values dwarf the “values” of Biden/Harris and many of their Democratic partners in crime and grime — not necessarily illegal crime but, potentially worse, moral crime. But, did anyone notice or will they comment on how Biden and Tom clearly failed to mention Biden’s oligarchical billionaires, Reid Hoffman, Michael Bloomberg, Howard Schultz, Michael Moritz and the worst and most dangerous George Soros, and how they’ve been pulling the strings of Biden/Harris and their administration for four years? Of course not.  That’s how Democrats always address just one side of any equation.

John N. Butz
Modena

Supervisor McKenna is the fountain of misinformation

In his first-ever press conference of January 10, Woodstock Supervisor Bill McKenna provided his updated narrative on the detection of PFOS in the town water supply, while alleging misinformation on social media. In our opinion, Supervisor McKenna is himself the fountain of this misinformation. He has claimed that the illegally permitted “Plan E” in Shady properly remediated the known-to-be toxic dumpsite, and has floated theories that distract from that dumpsite being a likely source of the PFOS contamination of Woodstock’s drinking water. One pet theory was that a solvent used years ago on one well could have been the source, which would defy explanation of why another well would also show contamination. He has claimed that the town’s testing of individual wells amounts to source tracing, but all it does is confirm the current level of contamination at that location, not where it’s coming from, which requires independent, professional, multi-site testing. His continued unprofessional speculations about where the contamination might be coming from has only wasted time, and put the health of his constituents in further jeopardy.

The citizen’s group Woodstockers United for Change (WUC) has been conducting its own investigations, in concert with experts and professional reports, of the contamination and of the town board’s handling of it. McKenna has tried to dismiss the strong possibility that the Shady dump is a significant potential culprit of the contamination of the aquifer by saying that since it’s upstream and the wells closest to the stream, where one would expect to find levels of contamination, have gotten non-detects. However, the group has discovered that in July 2022, well before McKenna has claimed the first indications of PFOS contamination appeared, levels at Pumphouses #1 and #2 showed identical readings of .86 ppt. The fact that they were reported at such precisely identical numbers is itself suspicious and requires further investigation. WUC members have, in fact, caught several reporting mistakes in the professional lab reports that required amendments. It should also be noted that the new library site on Dixon Avenue is also suspected of dangerous contamination, and that needs to be independently investigated as well.

The group has also noted contradictions in the responses of board members McKenna and Courtis. While, on the one hand, McKenna claimed the town cleaned up the Shady dump and has diverted attention from its possible role in the PFOS contamination, to the point of not advancing two resolutions for a real clean up, he has now admitted in communication with the attorney general that the material from the dump came from Karolys operated facilities that were known to have PFOS and other contaminants, and that it does continue to potentially pose a danger to our water supply. Courtis also voted against the resolution, and actually censored any mention of Shady dump at her “water town hall,” but also signed on to the appeal to the attorney general for help in cleaning up Shady. Additional communications to the attorney general written solely by Courtis further confirm this contamination element. Both have ignored the fact that the state has said that Woodstock has the authority to enforce its own, stricter laws, something McKenna has confirmed in a recent Facebook posting. It could have been cleaned up years ago.

“One of the frustrations, I think for all supervisors,” McKenna said, “is Facebook and Nextdoor, and it’s a quandary (sic) of information and misinformation.” However, had it not been for the disclosing of vital information that our group and others have made on such platforms, given that we are otherwise restricted in making our case to two or three minute, generally ignored “public be heard” statements at board meetings, the misinformation that the supervisor has been spreading for years would have gone unchallenged.

Marcel Nagele
on behalf of Woodstockers United for Change

Many thanks to the Woodstock Library!

I had the honor of attending the Woodstock Library forum event, a book talk and book signing of Ghosts of A Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited The Arab-Israeli Conflict, by Yardina Schwartz. The event was a full house, with people representing pro-Israel/pro-Zionism , as well as pro-Palestinian/anti-Zionism points of view; I applaud our host for keeping the Q & A session civil and respectful, putting a stop on people calling out, or making statements that would not allow the author to explain herself. Ms. Schwartz did do a great job — in a quiet and mostly non-judgemental way — and she also presented her book’s premise in a lively and informative way. I think that forums like this one — where the fractious sides of the Israel/Palestine issue can be thrashed out in a dialogue that does not censor or curtail the viewpoint it disagrees with — are essential to getting past unyielding opinions about the savagery of what has happened — and hopefully, is coming to an even temporary stop — in the Middle East. 

I want to send out an appreciation to the Woodstocker who first contacted the library to see if there would be interest in Ms. Schwartz making her presentation (sorry, I don’t know her name!), and also to Ivy Gocker, the Woodstock library director and her marvelous staff, for being willing to act as host for such a controversial topic. The woman who initiated it said that there would be the possibility of a presentation from the Palestinian side of the conflict, or maybe from a critic of Zionism; I look forward to that, especially after myself facilitating/presenting a reading group on “Muslim Journeys” at the library this past fall. People, we need to talk, and to read and to listen — we need to engage, if we’re ever going to get “passed the Past!” 

Martin Haber
Woodstock

A tri-ku: “Inauguration Day”

Due to foul weather
The event was held inside,
And there was relief;
But once Trump went on
The foulness felt worse inside
Than it did outdoors;
For to Trump, some saw,
We’re just another cash cow—
One he’ll milk to death.

Tom Cherwin
Saugerties

Immigration 

Aida Bustamante and myself, John Rosett, met on Silver Singles on September 5, 2021. We hit it off right away and communicated on almost a daily basis. Finally, she came to visit me on October 16 at my home in Highland. It was a very magical day. First, we went to the Walkway Over the Hudson where I am a volunteer ambassador and then hiked Franny Reese Park.

Next, we went to Stone Mountain Farm where one of my closest friends, Robin Larsen, was celebrating her 80th birthday. Aida got to meet about 50 of my friends and was received very warmly, especially by my friend Diana who is a Spanish teacher.

I remember when we said goodbye, I told her that I like her a lot and we kissed.

Even though Aida has been in this country for a long time, in Elizabeth they speak mostly Spanish. So I would help her with her English (which already was pretty good) and she would help with my Spanish, which is fairly adequate after five years of courses and many lengthy trips to Mexico. I must admit though that her English is much better than my Spanish, but I’m working on it.

After that, we would see each other almost every weekend. Either she would drive up here or I would go down to New Jersey. It is only an hour-and-a-half drive so we really didn’t mind it because it meant we could see each other and we were truly in love.

Between visits, we would communicate daily either by phone calls or messaging. This tradition has continued for three years to the present day. One memorable visit was Halloween when I brought her a Mr. pumpkin head. She was a witch and I was a gorilla. We had a blast.

We have much in common. We are both Gemini’s. I was born on June 15th and she was born on June 18th. So every year we take that week off and spend time together on a staycation.  We always have a lot of fun since there is so much to do in my area, as well as hers. Also, we are both left handed and are very much into the spiritual world. We share political and religious views. She attends my Quaker services with me. We are definitely kindred spirits and are both easy going, so we have never had a serious argument. Also, we both have two cats who we love dearly.

On October 7, 2022 we got a marriage certificate from city hall and then were married at a local wedding chapel. Both her children were in attendance with their respective partners, as well as one of her tenants, Raymond. Then we went to a restaurant and had a special area were we had the reception. We had a really good time even though we all ate too much, as there were a lot of courses.

My wife passed away in 2012 and I never thought I would find another true love, but Aida has fulfilled that dream. For the past three years, she has added much joy to my life. I am prone to depression, but when I am with her, I am always in a good mood. She is very sensitive to my needs and sometimes realizes that I need some alone time.

She takes very good care of me, cleaning my house (which I am not very good at) and cooking for me besides making me very happy. We love to go hiking and swimming together. She has attended many local events with me and all my friends have taken a liking to her.

Also, we spend the holidays with her family and I have become very close to both her daughter and her son and their partners and they have a bond with me, so we are a family. They have been to my house several times for long weekends.

After a few months together we became intimate and that only served to augment our love.

We miss each other a lot so we still communicate daily and send cards often.

Unfortunately, she signed a lease with her landlord to manage the building and stands to lose $6000 if she breaks it which the landlord is not willing to do. But in November, she will be moving in with me permanently, something we have both been looking forward to.  She already has a lot of her belongings at my house. Fortunately, I have a big house so there will be plenty of room for her and her possessions.

I am very excited that she will be living with me and look forward to spending the rest of my days with my beloved.

John Rosett
Highland