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.
Letter guidelines:
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.
Although Hudson Valley One does not specifically limit the number of letters a reader can submit per month, the publication of letters written by frequent correspondents may be delayed to make room for less-often-heard voices, but they will all appear on our website at hudsonvalleyone.com. All letters should be signed and include the author’s address and telephone number.
Editor’s note:
Hudson Valley One is experiencing a backlog of letters and as a result, all of this week’s letters are not included in the print edition. However, they are on our website and will appear in the weekly Woodstock Times, New Paltz Times, Saugerties Times and Kingston Times newsletters. We appreciate your feedback, and as space permits, we will once again include all letters in our print edition. In the meantime, letters should be 300 words or less. 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.
Thanks for understanding.
Deb Alexsa, Editor
Premature endorsements in Woodstock
There has been a lot of speculation regarding the extremely premature endorsements of two candidates for the town board by the Woodstock Democratic Committee. And, admittedly, speculation is just that. We don’t have any real answers and none have been forthcoming. In last week’s edition, Ken Panza, in a letter entitled “Marcel Disregarded by Democratic Committee,” attempted an explanation for their uncommon, if not unprecedented action. He refers to the national Democratic establishment and how they have lost touch with the working class, allowing the likes of Trump, who has spent his life screwing over working people, to pose as their champion. Panza postulates that this sort of elitism came into play here in Woodstock, where someone like Marcel, who is deeply rooted in the working class, was basically dismissed as a candidate even worthy of consideration. Maybe some of that is true, but, if we are to speculate, I think the answer lies much closer to home.
We know that Marcel has been vocal about the misinformation and negligence by our town leaders regarding the Shady dump. He has helped alert the public to the health dangers of the PFOS contamination of our drinking water, and how source tracing is needed and not being properly and transparently done. He has spoken up about the heartless decision to close the only warming area and bathroom available to our homeless population during single-digit nights, and pushed for a long-delayed hearing to finally hold the police officer multiply and credibly accused of sexual and racial harassment to account. He represents change. From my vantage point, there has been an interconnected group of people who have run our town and abetted and protected one another for some time. Under their watch, our town has become more contaminated, more undemocratic, more divided and more favorable to the wealthy than ever before. A plain-speaking, working class agent for change is a threat to entrenched power.
It seems unlikely that the leadership of the Democratic Committee didn’t know that Marcel was running. He had no reason to believe that there would be a rush to formally announce it to them so early in the electoral season, no expectation that they would take the suspect step of endorsing their candidates before giving others the opportunity to even address them. So, what exactly was their intention? Until they answer to us, they leave us with nothing but speculation and concerns for our democratic process. As is customary, the Democratic voters, through the petitioning and primary process, should be the ones to decide who represents them.
Alan M. Weber
Woodstock
Does this administration want us dead?
We may not have a flu vaccine this fall, or an effective one. Why was the meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices cancelled? Now is the time to figure out the recipe for next fall’s vaccine.
Does this administration want us sick? Dead?
How does that help its agenda?
As the administration takes down our country and ‘cuts back on spending’, does it want to cut back on the population as well?
Doris Chorny
Wallkill
Please vote for Tim Rogers for New Paltz supervisor
Tim Rogers has shown all of New Paltz his commitment to integrity, equity and fair representation for over a decade and I enthusiastically support him for New Paltz Town Supervisor.
I marched with my daughter in DC in January 2017 and while there I was inspired to run for village board. I asked my daughter her thoughts and she said, “But mama I just don’t want them writing horrible letters about you in the paper.” Which yes, that did happen, but at that time I countered her with, “Tim has created a culture on the village board whereby they actually accomplish good work, and for that reason it is a space that I feel I can really contribute.”
We accomplished a lot pre-pandemic, but in March 2020 everything shut down and we had a thoroughly dedicated team in place with a culture where everyone felt valued and could lean into their strengths to do everything we could for our constituents.
Tim is a critical thinker. He knows how to gather good data and evaluate it in order to inform decision-making. But critical thinking is not just about evidence, as I tell my students. The last step of critical thinking is the hardest: honestly integrating new or unexpected findings into your worldview or position. With truth and progress truly as the goal, I have seen Tim model this throughout his tenure as mayor.
Under Tim’s time as mayor not once has the tax rate increased for village taxpayers and he has done this without degrading or compromising the vital services the village provides. Tim is an incredible communicator who actively and regularly shows his respect for his constituents by providing detailed updates about the village budget and activities.
As a Working Families Party member myself, I was not surprised at all that the party dedicated to improving the lives of working families has endorsed Tim Rogers.
Please vote for Tim Rogers for New Paltz supervisor.
kt tobin
Rock Hill
Promoting fear and stamping on our rights to roam freely
It was so predictable that once The Overlook published a cover article, in their first issue, entitled “Fear on the Preserve” — under the subject area “Public Safety,” just to drive the point home further — the Catskill Center would immediately react by banning dogs from the Thorn Preserve. Starting March 14th, only service dogs will be allowed on the beautiful 60-acre property. I wrote to The Overlook as soon as I read their fear-mongering piece, which in my opinion totally obscured the fact that what happened to Shane Klementis was an isolated incident, while dog-walkers go thousands of times to the Preserve without confrontation or negative incident.
I am one of hundreds who follow the leash rule, pick up after my dog and otherwise respect the fact that I am walking her in a nature preserve. I have made lasting friendships — and so has my dog! — thanks to access to the Preserve and to the mostly friendly and eco-aware “dog people” and dogs we have encountered there. Even in the event that a dog or dogs have been off-leash, I have noticed time and again that the owners will re-leash their pets if they are about to pass another walker or dog-walker on a trail. Rather than punish collectively, why doesn’t the Catskill Center consider a ticketing option, one that can result in select “repeat offenders” who repeatedly refuse to “leash up” being banned from Preserve access? Or why not enlist volunteer “guardians” to remind dog walkers that they must respect the sensible rules of the property, especially if they don’t want to have paid employees doing this, which is understandable in the economic crush we have found ourselves in under the present administration? I would gladly volunteer for this!
I am so disappointed in the establishment of this ban by the Center. It follows a number of Preserve closures over the last few years that they have instituted quietly, but that further erode the free use and enjoyment of one of the few remaining free-of-charge jewels in the Woodstock area: the path that led along the stream and paralleled Zena Road for about a quarter-mile is permanently closed off with signage, but with no explanation; the small downward trail that emptied out at the sweet water around and under the John Joy Road bridge is now off-limits, as well.
I have supported the Catskill Center for as long as I have lived in the area, but I think they have surrendered to a one-sided argument here. I am asking Jeff Senterman to reconsider lifting the upcoming ban, in light of the support his organization receives — not only monetarily, but in years of respectful and eco-conscious behavior on the part of the many who take their beloved dogs to the Preserve on a daily basis. Otherwise, yet another natural resource in the area (like the Israel Whitmann Preserve) will be forever off-limits to those who love nature as much, or more, than their pet-free neighbors.
Martin Haber
Woodstock
The logarithmic Quisling
I have rarely felt as ashamed of my country as I did on Friday, February 28, when Donald Trump and J.D. Vance set up Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.
Zelensky, a brilliant leader of a valiant country, had swallowed the ridiculous mineral deal leader Trump magnanimously dangled in front of him. He called the bluff. He accepted Trump’s immoral extortion because his country is fighting for its life. Life above everything — but life with dignity.
In the exchange, Trump said, “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out. And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.” J.D. Vance, that toady, chimed in, “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict … Have you said ‘thank you’ once this entire meeting? No.”
Schoolchildren of my generation grew up learning that Neville Chamberlain, as he sold out Czechoslovakia, walked away from Hitler saying, “There will be peace in our time.” Trump claims he’s striking a “deal” for peace but he advocates surrender. Yes, he’s no Chamberlain, He’s a Quisling, to an exponent of 10. He’s a logarithmic Quisling. He was recruited by the KGB decades ago, propped up as a successful business with Soviet and then Russian money, and promoted until he reached the pinnacle of success: Putin’s puppy.
Why isn’t there more reporting on this? As disclosed in Vanity Fair in 2017, Don Jr. said, “We don’t rely on American banks. We have all the funding we need out of Russia.”
I guess they’re breaking out the Trump Champagne in the Kremlin. Oh, wait, the Presidential Reserve: Inaugural Edition won’t be shipping until March or April. Perhaps they still have the 2016 vintage, with the Russian watermark on the label.
William Weinstein
New Paltz
Make your voices heard
I sent the following to my congressman and senators, along with thanks for their stands so far. Unfortunately, it is impossible to email other representatives, so I encourage people to call. Civil pressure is essential!
1. I favor a military which is free of ideological leadership. Presidents are not supposed to use the military for political purposes and this is my deepest concern. Once he controls the military, how will you protect free speech and freedom of assembly? He is threatening journalists and limiting access for those who resist his orders. Military leaders should be chosen based on qualifications, not childish statements of political support of the president. Are you prepared to stop any efforts to use the military against US citizens?
2. I favor a constitutionally based government where each branch maintains its commitment to its legal role in our Constitutional system of checks and balances. This is not happening on the scale it is needed for this moment. Silent fealty to Trump or resistance lawsuits are not Congressional action. The president should not be controlling funds legally voted by Congress nor recklessly dismantling departments.
3. I favor raising taxes on wealthy individuals and closing tax loopholes. I am a taxpayer, retired and comfortable. My children are doing well. We cannot provide for the needs of our country without adequate taxation, even when efficiencies are accomplished. Wealthy people did not earn their money alone. Those who make money from others’ wage labors and government subsidies need to give back a fair share. Many tax benefits are not available to hard working Americans.
4. I do not favor a government where there are ideological loyalty tests; where there are fear and threats offered up easily to citizens, whether regular working people or governors. This climate of fear is inconsistent with democracy and must be checked.
Susan Goldman
Woodstock
Cold play
The French have the best word for winter: “hiver;” it sounds the way winter feels — and is one letter away from “shiver.”
Sparrow
Phoenicia
He is a Trumper, I am a Democrat
A casual friend effusively voiced much appreciation for my thoughtfulness. I wondered what had I done to deserve this much praise. He is a Trumper, I am a Democrat, so we rarely discussed politics. My hope was that he was seeing the harm Trump is causing and crediting me with getting there first. By eliminating foreign aid, we have undermined our status in the world and left people to starve. American workers with families have been fired without cause. Scientists have been forced to abandon projects which might have produced important results. Educational opportunities have been eliminated. The list goes on and is very long.
Hal Chorny
Gardiner
Continuing on the right path
As we read Donzello Borelli’s extremely accurate representation of corporate media … aka, the lame stream media … and how they bashed Trump and continue to bash Trump while misleading the people with their biased, inaccurate and sometimes untruthful “reporting,” this media behavior will be noticeably ramping up as they want ZERO success for Trump and his administration. Not having learned a single lesson, they amazingly remain puzzled at why their ratings continue to tank as they also wonder why there have been major shakeups at CNN, MSNBC and some of the major non-cable “news” outlets. With a new president on the job for only four weeks, MSNBC has surgically removed their bigoted tumor, Joy Reid, canceling her show. She’ll apparently be going the same route as CNN’s Jim Acosta.
Steve Masardo’s biology lesson refers to a microscopic example of an extremely limited sampling of people born with more than one pair of chromosomes. Of course, these people deserve the same respect and dignity afforded to each and every human being. Steve asks which bathroom should they use. When did it become a scandal to simply use the bathroom that matches one’s sexual apparatus? Being caught up in focusing on such an extremely small percentage of people, Steve misses the bigger picture. In recent years there has been so much disrespect, disregard and disdain for women’s sports that it took an executive order to return us to normalcy and sanity. Is it fair, Steve, for a woman with a male chromosome or any male pretending to be a woman to be playing against a woman who has only female chromosomes? Is that a level playing field to you and any daughters or granddaughters you may have? Do we really need to cower to the “athletic demands” of such an extremely minuscule population at the expense of over 4,000,000 female high school and college athletes?
I guess the cat’s got Neil Jarmel’s tongue. I posed basic, legitimate and practical questions about Democrats. These questions so obviously stumped Neil that, having no response, he instead lamely referred to them as “BS.” Then, to no one’s surprise, he very comfortably slid right into one of his typical TDS tirades.
Neil then laments Trump’s pardon of some of the January 6th rioters, most of whom received over reactive and exaggerated prison sentences from an overzealous weaponized FBI/DOJ. Regarding Biden’s last-minute pardons, I suppose Neil characterizes these people as just a slew of innocent little lambs, guardian angels and martyrs.
With DOGE already finding tens of millions of dollars in waste, fraud and abuse in just four weeks and much more very likely to be found, Neil whines about $10 – $16 million for Trump attending a once-per-year event, the Super Bowl. Proportionality and perspective apparently don’t register with Neil. And his TDS greatly overshadows his self-proclaimed diagnosis of DTS … Deranged Trump Syndrome. Yeah, the man saving you and our country billions of dollars is deranged? Rings a bit hollow, Neil.
Jac Conaway missed the big picture, just as Steve Massardo did, that the vast majority of Americans share … biological males don’t belong in women’s sports. Period. End of story!
John N. Butz
Modena
Rights, WUC and respect
Thank you to Alan Weber for raising the need to update human rights policies in Woodstock and the need for the Town of Woodstock to act according to these policies. And, thank you to Woodstockers United for Change for keeping visible many important issues facing the town — Shady dump, source tracing for PFAS contamination of town water, the handling of improprieties within the Woodstock Police Department and the need for better planning and implementation of a functioning warming station in the town. (After all, a warming station has been an issue in town for years!) WUC has communicated clearly with town residents and organized/conducted a town meeting regarding PFAS contamination. This meeting was far more transparent, inclusive and professional than a similar meeting conducted by the town. Change is truly needed to not only have human rights be stated in writing but followed through in actions.
I find it disturbing that a town board member characterized a candidate for supervisor with disparaging labels. In addition to being gross and unfounded assumptions, these comments add to the already tarnished image that the town government has earned, undermines respect for our local governmental representatives and serves to draw into question the viability of another candidate for supervisor rather than give support. This is not a way to foster understanding and respect within our town. This board member also described one-on-one conversations between the supervisor and certain town board members as preceding public town board meetings — no other person in the town is evidently present nor are they aware of the result of these conversations. So, community members are only aware of discussions that take place at public town board meetings. I, for one, am thankful to see that there is dissention and attempts at discussion from some town board members. Perhaps those who currently appear to be “rubber stamps” can explain why they usually vote with the supervisor’s position, despite having reservations about a given proposal. This would help the poor communication that exists between the government and community. May all members of the town board feel that they can express their opinions, in public, without anticipating condescending/angry/recriminating comments from those who may disagree. And, as the weeks and months go by, please carefully analyze political rhetoric through the lens of wise advice: “Self-praise is no recommendation.”
Terence Lover
Woodstock
For Alan M. Weber
In the halls where hopes convene, words weave a tapestry — serene, yet shadows flicker, truth unfolds, in whispered tones, the story holds. Council Knight [Anula Courtis] with a sharpened pen, drafting scripts for weary friends, but when the chorus seeks its song, the melody feels masked, all wrong. Human rights, a creed defined, yet shallow waters leave us blind, a resolution, and flowery, bright, disguised neglect in veiled daylight. Resolutions with heart should reflect our intent, not merely align with what others lament.
Once, a voice rose, bold and proud [Alan M. Weber], with clarity amidst the crowd, it spoke for those who’ve felt the stain of policies that harbor pain. But wheels of power spin too fast [A. Courtis], as votes are cast, intentions masked, and the plight of many left unsaid, while whispers turn to formal dread. Rounding up the lost, the meek, and the ones whose truths we seldom seek, and still, they march with quiet grace, longing for a rightful place. So yes, let the town move, our voices bloom, but not as a whisper, silent under the gloom.
Let us rally with [Weber], let us stand, for every heart and calloused hand, for every dream that dares to soar, to shatter silence, and demand more. In politics, passion must thrive… a flame that fights for all alive, for resolutions, rich and true, “should echo all lives, not just a few.” Stand firm, the voices intertwined, in unity, the strength we find, to forge the path where justice reigns, and human rights break through the chains. So councilperson, hear this plea that I weave, “Politics can shield us, but only if we truly believe.”
Paraphrase: “Unfortunately, the resolution that councilperson Courtis is touting doesn’t say much of anything. Rather, it’s a word salad of whereas, with very little in the way of concreteness, specificity or immediacy. There’s no mention of immigrants, none about trans-people, and no references to the outlawing of programs that promote equality. It claims to be building on our town’s human rights record, while ignoring the board’s poor record in defending the human rights of victims of racial and sexual harassment in the police force and the human right of all of our citizens to have safe drinking water. Immigrants, people of color and the trans-community are living with fear; a denial of their very existence and humanity.” — A.M. Weber
Neil Jarmel
West Hurley
FYI
To the numerous posters who have suggested that Marcel Nagele, owner of Dirtworks Excavating who is running for the town board, run for town supervisor, I believe this is not the right time. Bill McKenna, owner of McKenna Brothers, when he was first elected town supervisor, regarding his workday said, “I usually get in the office about seven in the morning for a couple hours, then I’ll go swing a hammer midday and [am] typically back here in the afternoon.” Marcel would never take on a job where he could not devote all the time required to fulfill the requirements of the position
Howard Harris
Woodstock
Endorsement for Tim Rogers for Town of New Paltz Supervisor
I met Tim Rogers 38 years ago when I moved to New Paltz. It was our junior year of high school and he was one of the first friends I made here. Even then it was easy to see the qualities that set him apart from the rest of us at the time. While we moved from one crazy adventure to the next without a thought or a care as teenagers will do, Tim never made a move without careful deliberation. He didn’t always get it right, none of us did, but the difference was in his approach. He could be counted on to listen first and speak later. His responses were always thoughtful and show that he had not only listened but considered your point of view.
Recently, Tim and I met randomly and took the opportunity to reminisce about what is now “old” New Paltz and how lucky we were to grow up here. We both returned to New Paltz to raise our families for similar reasons. First, it’s a wondrous and beautiful place. Above all, it is a generally open-minded and welcoming environment with a strong sense of community. It means something to live here and we wanted to share that spirit with our children.
New Paltz has changed quite a bit and will likely change a whole lot more in the near future. It should be our hope to manage that change. I trust Tim to lead that charge.
When I speak with Tim now, it’s clear how little he has changed. He listens intently, rattles off facts and figures to support both sides of any issue, and then listens some more. He cares deeply about how people feel, as well as what they want and need, especially when it comes to our community. Add the level of tenacity and resourcefulness he brought to his time at the village and I think we will be in pretty good hands as we navigate all that the future might throw our way. We would be hard-pressed to find someone who cares as much or is as determined to see us get it right.
Dennis Annastas Jr.
New Paltz
The Man Who Would Be King
The Man Who Would Be King racked up what he likely regards as a royal flush of crowning achievements during his first month back on the throne. And thanks to his poor-cabinetmaking, government-gutting, inflation-inflating, immigrant-cleansing, birthright-denying, Musk-sucking, Putin-pleasing, insurrectionist-pardoning, safety-net-jeopardizing, environment-polluting, education-eradicating, Ukraine-deserting, EU-forsaking, defense-weakening, land-grabbing, U.S.-betraying and too many more nightmarish -ings to mention, America and its inhabitants (U.S.- and foreign-born), along with the rest of the world, are looking at 47 more months of such “achievements.”
The above paragraph reflects my deeply felt sentiments, but of course many people feel otherwise. This is (or was) America, and they have that right. And I have the right to be curious. I’d like to learn if Trumpsters John N. Butz and/or George Civile are having second thoughts — without John’s insulting me; if he must, I can take it, though with a sense of missed opportunity. I’d also be interested in reading what other MAGAites think of Trump and Musk’s recent actions.
America is in trouble. And as a news site I visit warned, “Nobody is coming to save us, so we must all rally together and do it ourselves.” If we’re to weather this storm — no: tornado; on that, at least, we can agree — we need to dialogue, civilly and honestly. Reaching that goal can begin at a kitchen table, at a bar, in a church … anywhere, including here, in Hudson Valley One, a worthy example of the as-yet-still-free press.
Consider this letter your written invitation.
Tom Cherwin
Saugerties
Woodstock needs change
Having read several different candidates’ pieces for the upcoming Woodstock elections in HV1, I couldn’t help but feel joy at the front page and Marcel Nagele’s interview with Nick Henderson. Nick’s interview truly captured the soul of a hard-working, honest person. It has been said that, “If a person is too close to heaven, they are no earthly good and if one is too close to earth, a person is no heavenly good.” In operating an excavation company, Marcel Nagele is rarely far away from earth, and with Marcel’s moral values he is never more than a stone’s throw away from heaven.
Marcel doesn’t beat around the bush when giving his opinion, and most of us know by now that he’s all about change in the way Woodstock has been run of late. The present supervisor and his colleagues have become comfortable in the quagmire that has become the Woodstock Town Board. Whilst the Woodstock supervisor recently gave himself a 20 percent raise in pay and one year later kicked the homeless out of the town’s warming center during sub-zero temperatures, Marcel speaks openly about his desire to help the less well off in our community by turning our community center into a warming center in times of need. Whilst our present supervisor makes promises about cleaning up our toxic dump, Marcel diligently researches the problem and takes action by supporting the very people who have been affected by the dump.
Marcel Nagele is a person I’d want in my corner if I was in a fix. The Town of Woodstock has never been in such a fix as it finds itself right now. We need Marcel on our town board. Vote for Marcel in the upcoming primary election.
Chris Finlay
Woodstock
Another open letter to Pat Ryan (sigh)
I take you first and foremost to be the Congressman from West Point, your alma mater. Have you ever failed to mention it in introducing yourself? Does your weekly newsletter ever miss a chance to tout the place, such as congratulating the young people you nominate for the military academies? At your swearing-in ceremony in January, Senator Schumer fondly recalled nominating you for West Point. To him, to many, I’m sure, you represent the finest that West Point produces for our society. But …
On February 4th, West Point disbanded a dozen cadet groups meant to support Asian Americans, Native Americans, blacks, women and LGBTQ people.
How did you respond? The best I can find on your X-feed is this from February 5th: “Proud to join @MikeLawler, @RepJoshG and more than 50 of my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act.”
On February 10th, Trump fired half the 15 members of West Points’ Board of Visitors, including Chuck Hagel, Obama’s secretary of defense and former army surgeon general, Lt. Gen. Najda West, the first black woman to become a three-star general and the highest-ranking woman yet to graduate from West Point. The reason given? “Woke leftist ideology.”
How did you respond? Damned if I know. And you serve on this board.
On February 21st, Trump fired the chairman of the joint chief of staff to be replaced by his own unqualified hack. Also fired, high ranking leaders at the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. And the military judges who might stand in the way of Trump’s illegal commands.
Meanwhile, all I find in your X-feed and Facebook postings are very selective outrages at small-bore issues like the closing of 20 beds at a VA hospital. As recently as January 31st, you seemed to be more upset about cable channel blackouts of the Knicks, Rangers and Judy Justice in your district than about the slew of executive orders pouring out of the White House.
You hail from an older style of politics. Stick to local matters. Stay out of the headlines. Show a face of heartfelt concern. (You’d make a great school counselor.) Flatter your favorite constituents (veterans, the elderly, people in uniforms). Promise to be above politics. Long for the golden era of bipartisanship. God bless your nostalgia. But our country is burning.
“Ensuring safety for all” is one of the five goals promoted on your website. Congressman, I don’t feel safe with you hiding off in the corner. You should be loud and upfront, speaking out for the integrity of our military. It’s not enough for us, your constituents to call your office and write you letters, burying your poor interns with our fears and complaints. Congressman, please call Senator Chris Murphy at 202-224-4041. He may not have gone to West Point, but he knows how to fight.
Will Nixon
Kingston
Being trampled on
My husband and I were in Prague in April 2022. The invasion of Ukraine had just occurred. In the Lobkowicz Palace there was a display of photographs taken at the time of the invasion. Each picture showed a selfie from before the invasion and a selfie the day of the invasion. The day of the invasion the faces were swollen and red from crying.
One of the photographers, Tanya, wrote, “a week ago, I had an ordinary life, with the usual chores, like everyone else. I was happy that spring would come. Unexpectedly, me and millions of other people’s lives changed. Yesterday I was sitting in a café with friends and today my country is being bombed, the sirens, the bomb shelters, the panic, not understanding what to do next… only tears for my relatives, friends and the whole country.”
Mr. Trump’s assertion that Mr. Zelensky started the war is a horrible lie. I am deeply concerned that the rights of the Ukrainian people to protect their sovereign country are being trampled on. But then the rights of Americans are of little consequence to Mr. Trump. When we speak out in protest against all of these cruel and unlawful actions by Mr. Trump, we are speaking out and protesting for all who have been hurt, demeaned and abandoned by him and therefore by the United States.
Kathryn Adorney
Gardiner
Who does Sarahana Shrestha actually represent?
Sarahana Shrestha, our Assembly representative, has called on NYC Mayor Eric Adams to resign over his decision to allow ICE to remove undocumented immigrants charged with violent crimes from Rikers Island prison and the US. Remember with our loose bail laws you don’t get sent to Rikers for shoplifting, only serious crimes. Why would anyone be defending the rights of violent undocumented immigrants? Who does Sarahana Shrestha actually represent?
Richard J. Lanzarone
Marbletown
A form of flatulence
Although it is true that Israel is surrounded by Arab terrorists, funded largely by Iran but, unfortunately, in the case of Hamas, also funded by PM NetanYahoo, committed to the destruction of Israel, it is a situation begun in 1947-8 when Arab militias and local Arab countries started a war which they lost. This was followed by the expulsion of 700,000 Jewish Arabs from these local Arab countries like Egypt, Iraq and others.
A mistake was made when Israel, under Ben Gurion, created refugee camps instead of integrating the local Arabs, we now call Palestinians, into Israel, this out of fear and desire for a Jewish state. Perhaps they were right, we’ll never know.
Now, we have the war in Gaza and the current war in the West Bank, led by NetanYahoo and his murderous coalition with Smotrich and Ben Gvir, the latter an Iraqi Arab Jew whose family was expelled from Iraq. NetanYahoo, himself, is vengeful because of the murder of his brother in the Entebbe crisis.
There are no simple explanations for this horrible situation. Nor are there simple solutions. Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houtis of Yemen, supported by Iran, are not entities that can be reasoned with. Nor is the current Israeli government. The debate in these pages are for me a form of flatulence. Fortunately, this is not literally, HV1 doesn’t smell bad but the exchanges I see are the equivalent.
We can count on Trump, Musk and the oligarchs in charge of our country, to solve these, and all our other current problems. Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East representative, seems the most sensible of the group. No doubt he’ll be soon fired.
Meyer Rothberg
Saugerties
Take care of the Saugerties Library
In 2011, the Saugerties Library completed its new addition, which was built in part, to include an elevator so that the library would be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Many patrons regularly depend upon the elevator to use the library.
On January 28th of this year, four youths misused the elevator and broke it. The youth became stuck in the elevator, and emergency services and the fire department were called. The elevator company made an emergency visit to remove the youth from the wedged carriage and repair the damage. The costs of this damage came to $11,300. The parents and guardians of the youths have been contacted about their behavior, and they have been banned from the library for six months, with further expectations placed upon them should they opt to return after that time.
The board of trustees wanted to make the community is aware of what transpired because many saw emergency services here that day, and we wanted to inform the community on what transpired. The elevator is meant for those who cannot climb or descend stairs and for staff transporting heavy equipment within the building. Those who can use the stairs, please do. Additionally, the automatic doors at the entrance are meant for those who cannot physically open the front doors. Those who can open the doors, please do. We all share the fantastic resource that is the public library and we all need to take good care of it.
Jennifer D Russell
Saugerties
New Paltz taxpayers are being overtaxed for no defensible reason
Local governments should maintain fund balances (financial reserves) for unanticipated “rainy days” like unknown, unbudgeted, or unpredictable events; such as a catastrophic road failure. A fund balance may also be useful to help with cash flow management. See: https://www.gfoa.org for fund balance guidelines.
For years in the Village of New Paltz, we have maintained a prudent unassigned/unappropriated fund balance of approximately 20% to 24% of the expenses in our general fund. For fiscal year (FY) 25-26, we have publicly issued our tentative budget and set a public hearing for the budget on March 26, 2025. We are planning for this budget to be our tenth year in a row without a property tax rate increase.
For another point of comparison, see §1318 of the Real Property Tax Law that states the unappropriated fund balance should be limited to 4% of the upcoming year’s budget for school districts.
If local governments have excessive fund balances, they should not, and do not need to, increase property tax rates.
• The town’s A fund had an unassigned fund balance of only $1.7 million for year end 2019, before increasing to $5.8 million for year end 2023. (A fund is for townwide services like police.)
• The town’s B fund had an unassigned fund balance of only $364,384 for year end 2019, before increasing to $689,910 for year end 2023. (B fund is for town outside the village services like the town building department.)
• The town’s DB fund had an unassigned fund balance of only $219,704 for year end 2019, before increasing to $1,115,783 for year end 2023. (DB fund is for highway expenses outside of village.)
• 2019 A fund’s fund balance as a percentage of expenses was 20%. However, for 2023 it rose to 60%.
• 2019 B fund’s fund balance as a percentage of expenses was 95%. However, for 2023 it rose to 169%.
• 2019 DB fund’s fund balance as a percentage of expenses was 13%. However, for 2023 it rose to 55%.
Why is the town holding so much of our money AND still raising taxes? Returning to a 20% target instead of holding onto an unassigned fund balance of $5.8 million in the A fund would essentially involve “returning” $3.8 million to townwide New Paltz taxpayers.
The Town of New Paltz tax rate has increased 78% during the last nine years. This includes the most recent annual increase, another 6.4% for FY 2025. The FY 2025 budget increased taxes again and only calls for using $300,000 from A fund unassigned fund balance, while it is flush with extra millions.
The Town of New Paltz should commit to STOP raising its tax rate while it maintains an excessive amount of fund balance. Or town officials should ask for an opinion from the NYS Comptroller’s Office to explain why they have retained such a large amount of taxpayer money.
Mayor Tim Rogers
New Paltz
Woodstock’s private meetings
New York’s Open Meetings Law states, “The public has the right to attend meetings of public bodies, listen to debate and watch the decision-making process.” Town council member Laura Ricci wrote convincingly that this is not how the Woodstock Town Board works. Ricci says the one-on-one private meetings she has with the supervisor establish the town board’s agenda. Town board meetings serve only to approve what has already been decided.
Ricci accused David Wallis, a candidate for supervisor, of being sexist and misogynist for objecting to these private meetings. But how can anyone understand if a councilperson has well-formed thoughts and ideas, speaks her mind, and votes based on what she believes if this behavior is not visible? At the Democratic Committee meeting, Wallis spoke strongly against doing the public’s business in private, asserting that the public’s business should be done in open meetings. It’s not clear what the other candidates believe. Will they continue doing the public’s business behind closed doors?
Ken Panza
Woodstock
The best defense
Everyone is familiar with the meaning of the term “the best defense is a good offense.” A classic example of this adage is Donald Trump’s use of psychological manipulation whenever he is asked to defend his repulsive behavior and derogatory language. We, as a nation, are witnessing a textbook example of one man’s divisive manipulation of anyone or group who challenges his authority. “Give him an inch and he thinks he’s a ruler” is an appropriate truism. Gaslighting is his effective tool to causes confusion and self-doubt in others. Blame-shifting serves him well in redirecting fault onto someone else. His failure to accept responsibility is an obvious character flaw.
The purpose of Trump’s abusive attacks is to reduce his intended victims to the role of an oppressed enablers without revealing that he is an empty shell. The Donald Trump sycophants who fear his tirades and criticism live in fear of losing their rank and status within the nation’s governance. Their reward for loyalty to his agenda is an accelerated path to achieving their personal and professional ambitions, ignoring any financial and emotional hardships suffered by the deceived voters who sent them to Washington. These handpicked men and women who feel obliged to break our spirit, dictate our behavior and condemn our way of life don’t deserve to roam the hallowed halls of congress. They disgrace those who honor their oath of office and insult our intelligence by expecting us to believe that they will ever change.
We can make America decent again by challenging this administration’s attempts to silence our voices and deprive us of our personal freedoms. It is our time to go on offense by compelling our district representatives to stand up, tell the truth and hear our demands for inclusion.
Paul K. Maloney
West Shokan
The VFW “Buddy” Poppy Program and National Home
The VFW auxiliary to the Brannen van-den Berg Post 8645, New Paltz supports the VFW National Home. The VFW auxiliary works to honor and make a difference in the lives of veterans, service members and their families. Two ways we do this are through the VFW “Buddy” Poppy Program and the VFW National Home. The funds from Buddy Poppy Drives help us to support the National Home.
The VFW National Home assists military veterans and their families with children by creating a foundation of services and resources to achieve their personal and family goals in order to move forward in a positive, safe and healthy environment.
It was born from the belief that America needs to care for the children and families of men and women who sacrificed for our country. It was founded in 1925 as a place where the families left behind by war could remain together, keeping the family circle intact even when their service member didn’t come home.
Today’s families face different challenges — reintegration, post-traumatic stress and high unemployment.
Over the decades, they have adapted their programs and services to provide the essential support these families need to grow and thrive.
The National Home offers families of veterans, active-duty military and members of the VFW and its auxiliary opportunities for growth and development in a nurturing community. All 42 beautiful homes are located in Eaton Rapids, Michigan.
For additional information, visit www.vfwnationalhome.org. At any time, you can reach out to the helpline by calling 800-313-4200. To donate, call 866-483-9642.
Cindy Dates, Secretary
VFW Auxiliary
New Paltz
USPS under attack
The new federal administration has announced plans to possibly take over or privatize the postal service. First, without Congressional approval, this would be illegal. Second, the post office does not run on taxpayer dollars. We run on money we generate selling stamps and other products. Third, we are a service to the American public — not a business. We don’t make a profit, we break even. People in all areas-rural, city, urban-get the same service for the same cost. Fourth, Wells Fargo circulated a document on February 27, 2025 stating postal privatization could be a huge money maker for investors. It goes on to say USPS parcel prices would need to increase 30-140% to be in line with UPS and Fed Ex.
It is the American Public who will be victimized with higher prices and loss of service if this happens. Please contact your Senators and Congressman letting them know you want the postal service to stay a public service!
Diana Smedman Cline
Retired postal employee and current president APWU Mid Hudson #3722
Hurley
421P, 421P*2
I can only speak for myself. I live in the Town of Esopus. My next door neighbor, the City of Kingston is where I spend most of my time on community efforts. Last year, I sat in City Hall and witnessed the City of Kingston Common Council be the first taxing jurisdiction in the state to opt into Real Property Tax Law 421P and 421P*2 tax exemptions. Financial assistance to those looking to fix our housing crisis. Assistance for new construction of over ten units on vacant, predominantly vacant or underutilized land, or on land improved with a non-conforming use or on land containing one or more substandard or structurally unsound dwellings (421P). That’s for developers. Assistance for families that look more like mine look like 421P*2. Out of the six members of my immediate family, my 34-year-old brother and I have bedrooms in a part of the house with a bathroom, water outlets and separate heat sources. 421P*2 is savings for families that make capital improvements on a single dwelling that creates a second. This way three generations can take three incomes to fairly represent two or three of every different kind of bill a family has to pay each month. But most importantly, both 421P and 421P*2 is permanent assistance for those alleviating the abhorrent cost on an entire population of citizens, our homeless.
On my school district’s 23-24 NYSED report card, 4% of our students were reported homeless. That’s about 255, very difficult conditions to get an education, to have a childhood, to experience the constitutionally promised American Dream. One of our elementary schools total enrollment for that year was 205 students. My town, my school district and my county have all yet to opt into these housing tools yet, but I hope one day they join the mayor and common council of the City Kingston. I often sit in to witness the legislative proceedings of bodies that I do not belong to and am not a citizen or constituent of, simply because I am fascinated by bureaucracy. I cheer for not only the rules but the knowledge of them more than most ideas behind them. It is always my favorite to bear witness to the legislative wins. The ones that are the real impactful changes to a sensible great society. Where obviously horrific problems like contextual arbitrary speed limits were once under the thumb of what was and is replaced with a full throated endorsement of what will now be. Thanks to an update to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the City of Kingston made it illegal to go over 25 mph without costly studies focused on the 85th percentile speed. I also witnessed the city pass a Vision Zero/Safe Systems approach to be implemented by 2030. Regardless of all the appreciation of the systems between the street and the federal government, policy and law are meaningless unless they’re upheld by peoples faithful to their oaths to the constitution. Otherwise, they’re merely recorded words. I am putting every hope in seeing what my state will deliver in the legislative wins over the next several years. I don’t expect I will be celebrating victory if the MUTCD is updated. I hope Ulster County, the Kingston City School District and the Town of Esopus begin to see the tools the state has provided to address the housing crisis are worth reaching for.
Anthony Fitzpatrick
Esopus
King Bee
People are social animals — we build, share and depend on one another. Without that, we wouldn’t have cities, art, medicine, language, or even the roads beneath our feet. Every job, every role, is a thread in the fabric of our world. The farmer’s hands in the soil, the engineer’s calculations, the teacher shaping young minds — each one necessary, each one holding up the whole. A beehive works because every bee knows its purpose, and no single bee tries to control it all. The queen lays eggs, but she doesn’t rule. The hive thrives because it understands balance — survival depends on the many, not the one.
Humans, though, have our “King Bee,” who wants to own and bend the hive to his will. But power without balance is a weight that crushes rather than sustains. When a single figure hoards control, the natural order fractures. Instead of cooperation, we get domination. Instead of abundance, we get scarcity. Instead of peace, we call war.
And yet, we let it happen. Maybe because we’re distracted because we’re afraid. It could be because we’ve forgotten that a hive isn’t built by a single ruler but by the thousands who work in unison. Power alone creates nothing — it only takes. And when all that’s left is one bee sitting on a throne of wax, the hive collapses.
The question is — do we remember how to be the many before it’s too late?
Larry Winters
New Paltz
Spring ahead!
The good news is that communities in Ulster County are lowering their carbon emissions, protecting open space and even saving money through environmentally sustainable projects. They are installing solar arrays at municipal buildings, replacing energy-draining light fixtures with LEDs, reclaiming parkland, planting trees and building energy-efficient facilities. Last Tuesday evening, local government officials presented their sustainability success stories at Spring Ahead, an annual event, at St. Joseph’s Church in New Paltz. Energy coaches and experts from New Yorkers For Clean Power and the Cornell Cooperative Extension were on hand to advise attendees on how to improve their home’s energy efficiency or purchase an electric vehicle. Some seriously delicious food and beverages, provided by volunteers, added to the upbeat mood.
We’d like to thank our community leaders, Amanda Gotto, supervisor of the Town of New Paltz, Tim Rogers, mayor of the Village of New Paltz, and Franco Carucci, town board member from Gardiner, for their presentations.
Raffle prizes were donated by Beck’s Home Hardware of New Paltz, Fox and Hound Wine & Spirits, Powered by Plants and Lynne Cherry.
A special thanks to St. Joseph’s Church and its pastor, Fr. Salvatore Cordaro, for providing us with such a warm and welcoming venue.
We live in uncertain times. The current climate story is not a happy one. There is so much hard work to do. Perhaps spending two hours celebrating successful sustainability projects will inspire us to continue to confront climate challenges now and in the foreseeable future.
Mark Varian
New Paltz Climate Action Coalition
Trump behaving like a bully
The gross mistreatment of President Zelensky by POTUS and the VP is purely a reflection, under the guise of putting America first, of Trump behaving like a bully.
Zelensky had the right to defend his country’s rights. The fact is that he could have burst out, with angry justification and said, “What the F*** is wrong with you — calling me a dictator and saying that we should have elections and, worse, that Ukraine started the war!?!”
Lapdog Vance started yapping about wanting peace and diplomacy, to which Zelensky’s natural and understandable reaction was to remind them that diplomacy doesn’t and has never worked with Putin! All Zelensky did was to cite Putin’s history of violating signed agreements and he rightly called Putin what he is — a murderer!
Trump calls that disrespecting the U.S. and his office!!? He ironically and ridiculously criticizes Zelensky for “calling names” — that’s really amazing coming from the school-yard bully name caller!
Here are some observations:
Winston Churchill wasn’t a dictator and there were no elections during WW2.
Biden was right not to call Putin — and right to call him a thug and a murderer (as most of the fawning Republicans did!).
FDR would never have called Hitler in 1940!
Putin had his opposition murdered and poisoned. Alexie Navalny is just one clear vivid example. CLEAR EXAMPLE!!
Trump never acknowledged or condemned the murder of Navalny nor any of the multiple murders, jailings and poisonings of Russian opposition leaders by Putin. (Instead Trump said something like — “All countries kill people.”)
This is not a goodhearted search for peace, but obviously a mob-like intimidation and money grab to acquire land/resources from a war-torn vulnerable country.
Trump has used this “Art of the Deal” crap to intimidate and force contractors to accept less payment for agreed upon services — keep ’em in court till they settle because he had all the cards (lawyers)!
This is the Art of the Steal — to bully contractors and, in this case, similarly, bully a genuine hero to give up his resources and Ukraine’s future without security guarantees!
Europe is paying its fair share — as much and more than the United States (look it up!) — again like Goebells said, “repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth!”
We are and are supposed to be an example to the world and a leader against tyranny.
Ron Stonitsch
New Paltz
Give iPark87 to the people
The average cost benefit for healthcare for every single Ulster County public employee is over $30,000 per employee. That’s in addition to salary and employee paid healthcare cost. The public employees have the best cheapest health care plan available. And the taxpayers pay for it. We are now filling iPark87 with those employees — all taxpayer funded. Ulster County does not want business. It wants government control and reliance on government funding. The people took iPark 87 for non-payment of taxes. The most expensive part of business is rent. How about giving it back to the people. We’ll continue talking about it. We need business start ups around here, not taxpayer-funded fluff. Enough. Empower the people with less government control and welfare.
On another note …
The HealthAlliance data breach settlement check for $22.61 is not acceptable. Don’t cash the check. HealthAlliance has not learned anything, nor protected anyone’s data, but took more taxpayer money and smiled. Greed still pays.
Ryan Van Kleeck
Town of Ulster
Taking Stock
All imperative for survival
of the day, like hand cream,
lip balm, in the pockets of
my red flannel jacket. Scrap
paper there too if an idea
or whole poem comes, three
pens from a local bank
because they never last,
a plastic baggie because
you never know, credit card,
store cards, paper money—
all held together with a rubber
band. Coins too in a coral blue
change purse from Bermuda,
two keys hanging along with
my library card fob on a ring
attached to a white rabbit’s
foot. One is to a new house;
the other still a mystery. I keep
it because you never know.
Patrick Hammer, Jr.
Saugerties
What happened to peace, love and caring?
Imagine that the temperature is in the single digits or even below zero and you have no home. You literally have to expose your body to the elements in order to relieve yourself. It’s cruel and it forces people to break the law.
But what is the alternative?
You might think the solution is simple: to have a single municipal bathroom available throughout the day and, more importantly, the night. In fact, up until a few weeks ago that was the reality. But the Woodstock Town Board majority decided, on one of the coldest days of the year no less, to close the hallway of the town hall and its bathroom, a poor excuse for a “warming center” to begin with, so that unhoused people could no longer protect themselves from the elements, nor safely and legally take care of their personal needs. The closure was said to have been based on someone having left the bathroom “messy,” although the only photos we were shown were of an overflowing, uncollected garbage pail and some cracks in ceiling tiles whose derivation is unknown. Be that as it may, closing the only available bathroom to the most vulnerable of our townspeople seems to be an extreme overreaction, and, simply, heartless. Their new policy elevates not wanting to provide for cleaning over the lives and safety of human beings.
We can debate whether we have the need or the resources for a shelter versus a warming/cooling center available for the homeless, for those who are having trouble paying for utilities, and for those who have heating/cooling emergencies. Our group, Woodstockers United for Change, is consulting with experts about the ways the needs of the most unfortunate among us could be most responsibly addressed. Maybe little more can be done than the admirable services that Family Woodstock is already providing. But there is no excuse for closing the one bathroom that was available to those with nowhere else to go, especially during this especially brutal winter.
The name “Woodstock” was once synonymous with peace, love and caring for each other. But what the town board majority did or allowed was inhumane. We need to do better. Please email the Woodstock Town Board and ask them to, at very least, reopen 24-hour access to the bathroom in the hallway of the town hall building. What an easy way to show that Woodstock can still be a place where we value human needs and lives.
Stephanie Kaplan
for Woodstockers United for Change
Bad neighbors
A few years ago I wrote HV1 about my being distressed that road signs leading into New Paltz were encouraging bike riders to “share the road” with cars and trucks. Another reader schooled me on the legality of his right to ride his bike, Yada-Yada, and I wrote that my point was not what was legal, but what was SAFE.
Larry Winters is a regular letter writer who is now the second person speaking up about how lousy it is to have a successful restaurant (that does not have on-premise parking) as his neighbor. My biking letter actually elicited a phone call from another Main Course neighbor with the same parking issues as Mr. Winters.
It is unfair to be a nuisance neighbor, whether you are a thriving business or, really, anything else.
The Village of New Paltz needs to be fairer to homeowners while still helping our local businesses thrive. Parking seems to be our Achilles heel. Our metered parking is pricey, and I personally find it harder to crawl under my car seats for all those quarters.
Aging, and neighbors and ticks. Oh my!
Paul Raymond
New Paltz
Join the family! 
