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Support Anula Courtis for Woodstock town supervisor
I am proud to write this letter of endorsement for my friend, Anula Courtis, who is running for the position of Woodstock town supervisor. I have known Anula for seven years, and in that time, I have witnessed a person of remarkable integrity, commitment and leadership.
Integrity is the foundation of effective public service and Anula exemplifies it in every aspect of her life. Anula consistently demonstrate honesty, accountability and a deep sense of responsibility — qualities that are essential in a role that demands public trust and transparent decision-making.
In addition to Anula’s integrity, she brings a wealth of experience, sound judgment and a genuine dedication to improving our community. Anula is not only a thoughtful leader but also a tireless advocate for fairness, inclusion and progress. Her ability to listen, collaborate and take action sets Anula apart as the kind of leader our town truly needs.
Anula is someone who leads not for recognition, but out of a sincere desire to make a positive difference. I have every confidence that she will serve as town supervisor with the same unwavering integrity and commitment that she has shown throughout her career and personal life.
I strongly encourage you to support Anula Courtis for Woodstock town supervisor. Our town will benefit greatly from her principled leadership and dedication to public service.
Lisa Vianello
Woodstock
… Overlook Mountain … ooznozz
Beneath Overlook’s watchful gaze I stand, a humble soul upon the shifting sand, your silent strength, your ancient breath, whispers of eternity in life and death. I lay my offerings at your rugged feet — In your bounty, I find my place, a steward of stories, a voice in your grace, with pen as compass, heart as guide, I trace your lines, where spirits abide. Your pine’s hush, your leaf’s soft rustle, wild verses grow — connections bustle, a testament to joy, to grief’s deep well, each rock, each path, a story to tell. In my words, your spirit stream softly flows — in verses wild, our connection grows; roots dig deep, and vines intertwine, when my time fades into the silent night, let ashes mingle with fertile earth’s might, on the mountain’s spine.
Roots like stanzas, seeds in rhyme, honoring all that the mountain supplies in real time, articulating ancient stories softly told, seeds of hope in every rhyme you sow, and in your embrace, our spirits grow. Stories and dreams, a sacred gleam, nurturing bonds in a flowing cool-water stream. Honoring all that the mountain gives, in your arms, the earth doesn’t deny, in stones and earth, the past resides; echoes of ages, silent guides, their stories etched in every crack, reminding us to hold life’s track. Oh, mighty mountain, steadfast and true, within your stillness, life renews — while heights touch the sky; in your strength, I learn to fly. We’ll turn new pages, it’s all a relevant quest, your spirit helps us pass the test.
On Overlook’s watchful crest I stand, a humble scribe with an ink-stained hand, thoughts unfold in the mountain’s breath, unseen lives, stories unfurled, honoring the mountain — our sacred world. O Mountain, eternal, in your quiet grace, you teach us to be stewards of this sacred space; in giving and taking, we find our rest — Your spirit within, forever blessed. So here I stand, in your steadfast grace, with pen in hand, and heart in place, for what I create, I cannot deny, it is born of the mountain that reaches high. In the hope my soul absorbs this hallowed embrace, to honor the mountain — I’ve found my place. For one day my body will return to the earth, but my words, like echoes, shall honor her worth, in this sacred dialogue, we do remind — Mountains give life; in life, we find.
Neil Jarmel
West Hurley
Sewer plant study
We recently visited Kingston’s wastewater treatment plant on the Rondout Creek near the
Hudson River Maritime Museum. We came to see the test they were running with a new piece of equipment that their operator was assessing.
This small test program was treating about 4% of the four million to five million gallons their plant handles daily. A mechanical filtration system like this, designed to filter primary sludge to help decrease the workload for the rest of the plant, could be used to replace the two large primary clarifiers we use at our treatment plant on Huguenot Street.
The village is in the midst of studying operations at our treatment plant on Huguenot Street to proactively prepare our community for the next ~50 years. We were awarded a grant for up to $50,000 from the NYS Environmental Facilities Corp (EFC) to perform an engineering study.
Our plant is regulated by the NYS DEC and required to maintain daily flows averaged monthly so the average does not surpass 1.5 million gallons per day, or 45 million gallons per 30-day month. Here are recent averages in gallons per day over 4 month periods, illustrating rainfall and university impacts:
• January through April (2022-25): 1,019,944
• June through September (2022-24): 713,739
We are investigating options for new treatment processes and equipment while simultaneously working with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation regulators. We are anticipating stricter regulations on phosphorus and ammonia levels permitted in the disinfected effluent before it gets discharged into the Wallkill River. Our study will consider an updated New Paltz plant designed for both 1.5 million, or 2 million, gallons per day.
Some of the equipment and processes available use a smaller footprint than what we currently use at our treatment plant in the village. The Kingston plant has a much tighter per gallon footprint than our plants, so we may have more design options. Instead of a filtering system like what Kingston was testing, we have also been considering an “oxidation ditch” process that uses a larger footprint but eliminates the need for primary clarification and anaerobic sludge digestion. This process also produces less sludge. A new approach may allow us to retire much of the 1968 process, such as the trickling filters we use now.
We anticipate having our engineering study complete by the end of 2025.
Mayor Tim Rogers
New Paltz
Attack on benefits #3
A continuation from a previous letter of mine that appeared in the May 21 issue of HV1:
3. The Trust Act (Time to Rescue United States Trust). This is a bill to address major trust funds, one of which is Social Security. This allows lawmakers with the power to recommend cuts to this program by specifying a bi-partisan rescue committee to meet and present to the Congress, their recommendations to address the long-term solvency of this trust. If this bi-partisan ‘rescue’ committee approved of changes, they would be ‘fast tracked’ in the House and Senate, with no adequate debate among lawmakers. Personally, as long as Trump is in the oval office, any bi-partisan agreement, if it does occur, will pass the Congress with both chambers under GOP control. But as mentioned previously, Social Security is the ‘third rail’ of politics; GOP will tread lightly here.
4. Reach (Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health). According to the NCPSSM, seniors across the country are quietly being enrolled in this program. Here Medicare allocates corporate middlemen a defined portion of each senior’s medical expenses. What is not paid for this senior’s medical expenses, they keep for themselves. This sounds like a built-in profit margin for the middleman?
5. Fix-The-Debt (a non-partisan organization consisting of corporate CEOs studying ways to reduce the debt). According to the AARP and the NCPSSM, if the Social Security cap of salary, from $176,100, say to a salary cap of $770,000, this would address the long-standing debt; also, both organizations state that the POTUSs once in office grant these billion and trillion dollars raises to the wealthy and corporations.
6. Business Roundtable (BRT) — a lobbyist organization in Washington. CEOs of major companies favorable to business interests, lowering corporate taxes. According to the NCPSSM, average retirement for these men is $14.5 million.
7. COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) — recipients drawing Social Security benefits (SS), also those on SSDI (disability) and those drawing SSI (Social Security supplemental). According to the AARP, these cost-of-living adjustments have been around since the early, mid ‘70s, in various monthly amounts according to various factors in the economy, mainly inflation. The quarters of the year reflect the various levels of inflation and payments adjusted accordingly.
8. Rescue America — Senator Rick Scott ‘s eleven-step programs for America. The one drawing the most criticism is his statement that all Americans pay some form of income tax, including those on the lower end of the scale, to help bring down the deficit. His belief is that all Americans should have ‘some skin in the game’. Other steps were having the kids in school say the Pledge of Allegiance, saluting the flag. There are others that this writer can subscribe to, but the one I dislike immensely is the ‘sunset provision’ where our federal benefits are evaluated after five years to determine if they are voted in again! I will talk about the last innovation in my next letter.
Robert LaPolt
New Paltz
Err on the side of caution
The question posed at the recent New Paltz Democratic Committee forum asked if I preferred dissolution or consolidation. Of course I would choose consolidation — it is the only way for all New Paltz residents to be involved in the decision.
This is now the fourth iteration of this discussion put out there by the mayor, and as of yet, no opportunity for input from town residents. I am keeping an open mind to learn what problems can be solved by replacing two sets of oversight with one. At first glance it seems intuitive that there will be benefits to merging the town and village. However, as the village study has gone on, I’ve not yet seen any solid data.
So far what I have heard is that the big problems are: People sometimes phone or even go to the wrong location to get say a marriage license or a handicapped parking tag, both boards separately discuss the same parade, Inter Municipal Agreements (IMAs) are generated for business shared activities.
It would seem issues like these could be handled with the return of joint meetings, planning the co-location of the government offices and just plain better communication and trust between the two boards. It is hard to see how these examples rise to the level of needing to deprive village residents of their own separate set of eyes and ears and minds working specifically on their needs. But I await the final report for the full findings and look forward to public participation.
As for the $1million Citizens Empowerment Tax Credit (CETC), would some set of shared functions and documented achievable cost savings qualify or must it be consolidation/dissolution or nothing? I’m still researching that.
The CETChas been around as an incentive since 2010. There is nothing published on how much has been distributed so far.What is known is that no consolidations have succeeded, but in the last 15 years, 23 villages have dissolved. Presumably, they have each received some portion of the CETC allotment. Even so, the perpetuity claim seems aspirational.
In 2020, this tax credit was actually at risk due to the Covid crisis when the NYS budget saw an $8.2 billion reduction in “aid-to-localities,” including support for local governments. The CETC did survive although the amount allotted has bounced around since then. $6.4 million has been set aside for 2026, but there are once again unprecedented financial challenges looming. With the executive orders enacted by the current occupant of the White House, we are facing cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, Aid to Family Farms, school lunch programs, public education and who knows what else is coming.
Is it realistic to count on the state to allocate money to local consolidation efforts when facing such drastic federal hits to state funding? Perhaps it is wiser to be cautious these days in our expectations for this incentive.
Amanda Gotto, Supervisor
Town of New Paltz
Supporting Tim Rogers for New Paltz town supervisor
As residents of the Town of New Paltz, we fully support Tim Rogers as our next supervisor.
As those of us who have lived for more than half a century in the Town of New Paltz, we follow closely what is happening in the Village of New Paltz. Hardly a day goes by without our visiting locations in the village — from the post office to the library, to the bank, to shops and other locations that bind the town and village together as a community.
As we read Tim’s letters in the newspaper and follow his posts on Facebook, we find his interests and ideas align well with ours and his initiatives have served both the village and town community well.
Tim is an active outdoor person who knows the ridge and valley intimately. He is a great supporter of institutions such as the Mohonk Preserve, Historic Huguenot Street, and, yes even SUNY Paltz as anchor institutions that, contribute much to our quality of life.
Tim has shown himself to be a thoughtful, open and capable administrator, one who is as interested in improving infrastructure that ranges from sidewalks to sewers to the mixture of village, town, county and state roads that thread though our community. His relentless search for grant opportunities has brought millions to improve the aging sewer and water system, among other projects.
It is clear that Tim approaches the tasks before him with clear-headed analysis while searching for cost-effective solutions.
His decade-long leadership of the Village of New Paltz positions him well as supervisor of what is likely to become the consolidated Town of New Paltz.
The tasks before him will be demanding. We have no doubt about his integrity and commitment to public service.
We are pleased to endorse Tim Rogers in the upcoming primary for Town of New Paltz supervisor.
Ron and May Knapp
New Paltz
Graceful aging: Time
There is no doubt that aging plays tricks with time. Or vice-versa. The big change seems to be from the experience of clock-time that measures our lives from our first day in school to the deposit of our last paycheck to the experience of time as having loops, gaps, reversals and surprises. In this time-zone the future has already been foreclosed. Here we wander, seeking meaning, purpose, direction, of course, but the compass wobbles; the maps don’t seem to reach this far.
To move gracefully in that zone, we olders find we must prioritize one thing: to slow down before we are forced to by our haste. For example, the other night hurrying to put dinner on the table, as I tipped the boiling water from the pasta pot into the skink, it splashed against my stomach. Scalding. Why was I hurrying? It’s not that we had some place to get to. In retrospect, I knew I had been spared a serious burn, but I also had enough sense to realize this was a warning.
I have been slowed by age, but I know I need to slow even more. In group today a woman told a vignette from a recent family event where she was repeatedly asked if she was all right. “Just slow,” she said, and in admitting this, she claimed not a space but a pace for her living. We all seem to find, moreover, that the slower we go, the faster the world seems. Never mind multi-tasking; it’s hard enough to do one thing at a time, but as one person in the group said, slow helps him to discover the “Zen of everyday life:” the present of the present.
Slow is the portal to the gift of here and now. Of all the gifts of aging perhaps the one we find ourselves most grateful for is time as measured not by the clock but in the conversation with a long-ago friend, in the drift of recollection as we gaze at the leaves of the birch tree, flickering in the afternoon light. And on the other side of slow is stillness.
“Be still,” says Psalm 46, “and know that I am God.”
Peter Pitzele
New Paltz
Graceful Aging is an open group that meets on the first and third Wednesday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Elting Library. We welcome you.
The time to get active in the resistance is now
Here’s what keeps me up in the middle of the night these days: wondering if the people who still support the MAGA movement understand what they have lost? What we have all lost? That, with the exception of president-for-now Trump and his billionaire cronies, do they understand that we will all be sicker and poorer and less safe with the MAGA attacks on our civil rights, on our legal system, on our educational system, on the laws and regulations that protect our environment?
I also lie awake wondering if Trump’s Big Ugly Budget Bill passes, how Republican senators and congressmen will justify this to their constituents? How, for example, will NY Congressman Mike Lawler explain to struggling families that he didn’t stand up for them because he cares more about giving tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy? That he cares more about impressing a would-be king with unquestioning loyalty, than doing the job he was elected to do? Maybe we will never convince the MAGA loyal that they stand to lose just as much as everyone else. But I hope that those of us who do know what’s at stake, are doing more than lying awake at night. The time to get active in the resistance is now.
Charlotte Adamis
Kingston
I’m voting for David Wallis in Woodstock
During a recent candidate forum on the environment and climate change, many of the candidates for Woodstock’s town board and supervisor echoed David Wallis’ proposal to establish an automated emergency alert system — a long overdue step considering that climate-change-fueled storms like floods and wildfires that increasingly threaten our area. I’m glad to see Woodstock politicians agreeing and not bickering for once. Mr. Wallis seems like the “idea candidate:” his suggestion of hiring a full-time municipal grant writer and expanding a property tax exemption for elderly and disabled residents also make a lot of sense. I believe he’s the right person for the job as Woodstock continues to move forward and deal with today’s issues.
Tim Broun
Mt. Tremper
Stop the Zena Development Project in Woodstock
I am writing regarding the proposed Zena Development project that is going before the Town of Woodstock and the Town of Ulster’s planning boards in the coming weeks.
My understanding is that Ulster’s planning board is seeking to be the lead agency on this development. I believe it is critical for the Woodstock planning board to be the lead agency on this and that all possible be done to block this development. The most significant environmental concerns are in Woodstock, not Ulster, and it is Woodstock’s planning board that will keep the development’s environmental impact in the forefront.
This project involves deforestation, destroying wildlife corridors, invading wetlands and negatively impacting biodiversity in a Critical Environmental Area. We are seeing so much environmental devastation across our country; we need to protect what we can here in Woodstock. Beyond the ruin of this forested area, there is also the weakening of Woodstock’s (and the Catskill’s) profile as a deeply committed environmental community.
I came to Woodstock to live because I love the wildlife and woods that define the area. So have many others. This profile is something I hope the planning board wants to strengthen, not weaken. I urge the planning board to request and work toward lead agency status. I urge the planning board to do all possible to keep us citizens informed so we, together, can block this development.
Anita Barrera
West Hurley
Endorsement of Tim Rogers for New Paltz town supervisor
As someone who knows both current town supervisor Amanda Gotto — whom I appointed to the town planning board — and mayor Tim Rogers, with whom I worked closely on a near-daily basis for eight years during my own time as town supervisor, I am proud to endorse Mayor Rogers in the upcoming June primary for town supervisor.
As a village resident, he is also my mayor, and I have seen firsthand his dedication and effectiveness. Mayor Rogers is smart, capable and results-driven. He has tackled challenges not only at the village level, but also across the town and county. His leadership has led to real progress: expanding housing options, constructing a firehouse that stands out for its innovative green design and energy efficiency and securing millions in grants to improve our water and sewer systems. He has enhanced walkability, invested in green infrastructure, planted trees and improved roadways — making our community safer, more resilient and more livable. Importantly, he has accomplished all of this without raising taxes.
The role of town supervisor is demanding and nonstop. Mayor Rogers has proven he has the experience, vision and commitment to excel in it. We would be fortunate to have him in this role.
Neil Bettez
New Paltz
In support of Anula Courtis for Woodstock town supervisor
I enthusiastically support Anula Courtis for Woodstock town supervisor. Anula has demonstrated unwavering commitment to our community through meaningful action. As co-founder of the Woodstock Women’s March, she united over a thousand residents around shared values. Her leadership in establishing and chairing Woodstock’s first Human Rights Commission for four years has raised the levels of representation, accountability and respect in our community. Anula founded a healthcare technology company focusing on medication affordability, bringing valuable business acumen and compassion to her public service. As a respected member of the town board, she has consistently advocated for affordable housing, environmental protection and balanced development while securing a 10% property tax reduction for our fire and rescue volunteers. What truly distinguishes Anula is her collaborative leadership style. She listens first, seeking to understand diverse viewpoints before proposing solutions. In today’s polarized climate, her commitment to civil discourse and inclusive decision-making is precisely what Woodstock needs.
Anula envisions a Woodstock where environmental preservation, affordable housing, and economic vitality coexist harmoniously. Her proven ability to bring diverse voices together will help heal divisions and guide our town forward. I urge fellow Woodstock residents to vote for Anula Courtis—a leader who honors our past while thoughtfully building our future.
Maria Rosen
Woodstock
Train to nowhere
I am a resident on NY28A, supporting a walking trail only and opposing the expansion of the diesel train. The impact of a train on the quiet residential area along 28A would be disruptive to the peace and quality of life. Long-time local businesses, especially Dreamland Studios, would be greatly affected by the noise pollution, causing their closing from challenges due to vibration and sound interference from passing trains. There would be an environmental impact, too. This area includes very sensitive wetlands, including registered bald eagle habitats across from Dreamland.
I don’t see the benefit for the local community, either. It only benefits a private tourism operator, but offers little to no utility for the community and local residents. A trail offers quiet, environmentally friendly and broadly accessible recreation — a better fit for the surrounding neighborhood and community.
Mike Shaieb
West Hurley
Elevate your commute
The best way to commute to work is by blimp.
Sparrow
Phoenicia
Home and Dry
I simply cannot see
where there is to get to,
content to sit under
the shelter of my back
porch in my octagon
house, watch Overlook
appear and disappear
in the misty billows
of spring rain. Where
is there to go, through
puddles and pooling,
through mud and flood,
in this mid-day when I
can sit, home and dry,
read Emerson, Thoreau,
sip exotic mango tea
imported from some other
wet place, and simply,
dryly write this poem
about rain, quietly
planning the rest of
my day.
Patrick Hammer, Jr.
Saugerties
Transparency
Hopefully, the next town supervisor, unlike Bill McKenna, our current supervisor, will keep the town board members and others informed of what is going on in town. At a recent town board meeting, an attorney representing several taxpayers regarding the town changing our current zoning law, stated that on two occasions he sent emails addressed to McKenna, who as supervisor should have forward them to the town board members. Based upon the reaction of a board member at that meeting, it appears that McKenna never did so.
Howard Harris
Woodstock
Will our silent liberals write?
As the onion continues to be peeled on the Biden mental health issues, more and more incredible facts are surfacing which point to a scandal against democracy that makes Watergate look like a child’s tea party.
Who else, besides Obama, were calling the shots while abusing Biden’s autopen? These shots and phony signatures nearly ruined our country for the past four years. Obviously, Biden’s most inner circle consisted of the most dangerous and incompetent people in ANY past presidential administration. You need proof? Look no further than the border fiasco, fentanyl deaths, sex trafficking, out of control crime, disastrous and deadly Afghanistan withdrawal, arbitrarily created gender nonsense, biological males invading women’s sports and locker rooms, poorer quality of employees in government and corporate America due to discriminatory DEI practices, a violent/phony/fraudulent BLM movement responsible for countless injuries, damages and even death. And, of course, one of the key financial catalysts supporting all these catastrophes was none other than George Soros, the bottomless money pot of the Democratic party.
As mentioned last week, the lame stream media has total complicity in all of this by intentionally NOT reporting on ALL the negative effects of the above disasters. Instead, they largely continued their attacks on Trump even though he wasn’t even in the White House!
If the lame streamers were real journalists, they would have fact-checked the many false Biden administration allegations surrounding the negative aspects of the Biden administration’s decisions, as well as its lack of action on many key disasters. They also would have asked direct hardball questions instead of their impotent softball questions. The reason for Fox News consistently smothering the lame streamers in the ratings is that they have no problem asking all the right questions and probing where needed, arming the people with both sides of all issues enabling them to make more informed decisions which obviously resulted in Trump’s resounding election win last November.
So I ask, or even dare, Neil Jarmel, William Weinstein, Mauriac Cunningham, William Wheeler Murray, Tom Cherwin, Steve Romine, the Chornyes, and all the liberals to share their thoughts on the Biden mental health scandal and the intentional aggressive support of the cover-up by the CNNs, MSNBCs, etc. of our country. Will our liberal writers be able to tear themselves away from their Trump obsessions for even one minute to accept the challenge?
John N. Butz
Modena
Whiplash
A few weeks ago, I learned, in this paper, that mayor Tim Rogers had decided to reverse course on dissolution and return to the more inclusive process of consolidation.
Today, in the spirit of keeping up to date on village issues, I found that the village has posted a 123-page May, 2025 Village Of New Paltz draft proposed dissolution plan.
Which is it?
Dissolution?
Consolidation?
I’m getting whiplash from the daily course corrections!
Please, folks, vote for Amanda Gotto for supervisor in June. We need a steady hand at the helm!
Kitty Brown, Deputy Supervisor
New Paltz
Gold
Olympic champions are rare as I find myself living in a country with a proud record for gold-medal winners in all types of sports. And once again, the USA have topped the charts and surpassed all expectations. But this time they’ve teamed up with “Team Israel” in Gaza where it seems killing people and starving babies to death is the main sport. Can’t you just see it now as Netanyahu and Trump stand proudly hand in hand on the Olympic podium while The Stars and Stripes combined with the Flag of Israel get raised and the booming sound of “The Hope” mixed with “The Star Spangled Banner” can be heard in the background.
The master of ceremonies announces “And the gold medal goes to team Israel and team USA for achieving the world record for killing journalists in any conflict throughout the history of war”. “And the gold medal goes to Israel and the USA for holding the world record for killing the highest percentage of children in any war to date. And the gold medal goes to Israel and the USA for killing the most human rights organization members in the history of war. And the gold medal goes to Israel and the USA for their proud achievement in obtaining the world record throughout the history of war for killing the most medical staff in the history of war. Ain’t it just great to be an American?
Chris Finlay
Woodstock
Nice/not nice
During the week of May 24-31, global efforts to care for and nourish our common home (Earth) are intensified in recognition of the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si. This document outlines the connection of our daily activities with all beings (human and non-human) and to all of nature. The responsibility for a healthy future falls on each of us and demands that every person set an example for and engage with the youth of our local and broader society. This can sometimes seem to be a dauntingly huge task, but we must recharge our batteries from time to time and begin each day anew. Nuclear threats, injustices, gun violence, etc. all await their remedy.
Recently, the Trump administration settled an action by the National Association for Gun Rights to allow the sale and possession of forced reset triggers (FRTs) — a device that can turn semi-automatic rifles into machine guns. This purchase can be done anonymously and without a background check. This “deal” undermines decades of sensible gun safety policy. In 2022, the ATF classified the devices as illegal, but now the federal government is indefinitely prevented from enforcing this ban. Hopefully, the multitude of responsible gun owners will join with others to urge our representatives (Pat Ryan, Charles Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand) to speak out against this decision by the DOJ — the Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121. The risks to the safety of individuals and communities cannot be overstated.
The strength of respect and caring for one another provides a firm base upon which to move into a peaceful and hopeful future. Do you think that it is about time to live in a manner that will turn the world around?
Terence Lover
Woodstock
Vote for Lindsey Grossman for Ulster County Legislature on June 24
Manna Jo Greene, our incumbent county legislator for District 19, has my full admiration and respect for her many and varied accomplishments during her 12 years of service. And in this year of change, the work can and must continue. The challenges we, and our planet, face are multigenerational. Let’s usher in the next generation, with equally talented and capable candidates, to lead us forward. Lindsey Grossman of High Falls is the right candidate for our times. I recently met Lindsey when she came to my door while canvassing. We discussed a variety of my concerns. I was more than impressed with her attentiveness and specific knowledge of the issues I raised. (She followed up days later with additional info that she’d promised to send me about a certain issue.)
I can clearly see why Lindsey was endorsed by a supermajority by the Ulster County Democratic Party. She earned a candidate rating of 100% by Planned Parenthood of Greater New York. She is endorsed by Eleanor’s Legacy and Run for Something. And I endorse her, too. This June 24, on primary day, vote for Lindsey Grossman for Ulster County Legislator for District 19!
Liz Wassell
Tillson
Erin Moran is not qualified for the position of Woodstock town supervisor
I attended the second Woodstock Democratic candidates’ forum on Thursday. It was well attended and effectively run, and, for the most part, the candidates were prepared, knowledgeable and articulate. Except, there were three responses by Erin Moran, candidate for town supervisor, that should demonstrate her inappropriateness for this important position.
The first was a rather bizarre response to a question about cleaning up the PFAS that are contaminating our drinking water. Her observation about source testing, a necessary prerequisite according to all experts, because how else can we know where the toxic chemicals are in fact coming from, was that, “after several years you’re left with not much more information than when you started.” According to whom?
The second problematic perspective regarded Woodstock hiring a grant writer. This is essential to secure funding to address the various problems we face. To my recollection, all of the other candidates stressed this and called for an independent professional who had the specialized experience and expertise to navigate networks of possible sources. Ms. Moran recommended a college student.
Third, the moderator asked, “What specific plan would you put in place in case of climate related disasters … ?” I suggest you watch the video, available on the Woodstock Democratic Committee webpage, and compare the complete lack of preparedness and specificity in her response to this most critical question with the answers of the other candidates.
Beyond this forum, candidate Moran has been quoted in an interview as saying that those who have called attention to the rise in these carcinogenic contaminants, that are so uniquely dangerous that they are the only chemicals for which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set ZERO as the safe ingestible amount, are “exaggerating” the problem.
But I think the most widespread opposition to her candidacy is less about issues and more about behavior. Candidate Moran’s communication with neighbors and over email has been marked by ugly characterizations and obscenities. The most famous of these was on Yankeetown Pond, which she claims to own for the price of a dollar and subsequently denied access to her neighbors who have enjoyed using the pond for years. A video of her flipping off a child while kayaking alongside her companion, Supervisor McKenna, can be found on various Woodstock-related Facebook pages. Is this the way we will restore the civility to Woodstock that so many are clamoring for?
Alan M. Weber
Woodstock
Amanda Gotto is the best choice for town supervisor in New Paltz
Amanda Gotto is my choice for Town Supervisor. She has done an excellent job since taking office and I was very impressed with her thoughtful positions at the forum held at Denizen Theatre. She has earned another term as town supervisor reflected in her hard work and mastery of the issues at hand.
Several years ago, I was at a gathering that included Amanda. The subject of wetlands came up and I described what turned out to be an inaccurate description of wetland on my property. With patience and clarity, Amanda corrected my error and delivered a thorough, patient description of how a wetland works. I have never forgotten this exchange and know Amanda will bring her precise thinking and patience to her work.
I have witnessed a number of town supervisors in my over 30 years living in New Paltz. Amanda Gotto has been one of the best.
Renee Hack
New Paltz
What’s the deal?
Perhaps the two most absurd development proposals I’ve heard recently have come from Canoe Hill Road LLC/Unity 5 LTD and Whitestone Development Partners. Canoe Hill Road LLC offered the Village of Saugerties land for a brand spanking new salt shed. In exchange, the village would give up over two-and-a-quarter acres for more unaffordable housing to be built. Meanwhile, in the Town of Ulster, Whitestone Development thinks it has the right to create a major disruption to Adams Fairacre Farms business and the lives of its employees. This too, is so more unaffordable housing can be built.
Even a kindergartener could tell you these deals are no good. Whoever came up with these offers ought to be fired from their respective firms.
Tim Scott, Jr.
Saugerties
The channel I can’t change
I don’t know when I stopped watching the war — maybe the moment it began to look too much like my own. Or perhaps it was never a conscious choice. Just a slow turning away. Like closing your eyes halfway through a horror film and pretending that counts as mercy.
Ukraine, they call it. Some say it’s not our war, but the tremble in my gut suggests otherwise.
It’s strange, watching war from your living room. Clean. Curated. Commercials in between. A drone strike, followed by a toothpaste ad. “Back to you in the studio,” says the anchor, smiling like they didn’t just announce that a city lost its name.
I used to fight in one. 1969 to 1970, give or take a few souls. Vietnam. I believed then that I was protecting civilians — American civilians — who, as it turns out, were too busy spinning in circles of free love to notice the blood soaking the edges of my boots. Maybe that’s bitterness talking. Or perhaps just the part of me that can’t unsee what I saw.
Now it’s different. The distractions are slicker — Facebook, YouTube and on-demand oblivion. You don’t even have to flinch. You just scroll past the dead.
Someone once said, “The opposite of love isn’t hate — it’s indifference.” War makes that easy now. We don’t have to smell it. Or taste the metal in the air. Or watch the way a body jerks when it’s no longer a person. We just … change the channel.
And that — God help me — is what makes this worse than before.
The civilians here? They’re watching white dots on screens, just like the generals. The only difference is that the generals know those dots are people. Maybe.
“Why don’t you turn it off?” someone asked me, not long ago, when I flinched at a news clip showing a missile hitting a housing complex.
I said, “Because when I do, I still see it. And when I don’t, I remember what it’s like to be forgotten.”
They blinked. Said nothing. Took a sip of coffee and changed the subject to sports.
Here’s the thing: No frontline soldier starts a war. We end them, if we live long enough. Or we carry them. In our joints. In our sleep. In our children’s eyes when they ask why we never talk about it.
Politicians start wars. They decide who the enemy is, then hire voices to sell the hate like it’s on clearance. And when they’re ready, they click keys and give commands and never hear the cries.
Just white dots on a screen. Just blips. Just not their kids.
And still, we fund it.
Ukraine isn’t some distant conflict. It’s a factory, and we’re the ones supplying the metal. The heat. The firepower that keeps our economy humming like a hungry machine.
We don’t send bodies this time — we send bullets and bombs. But the blood still buys us something.
“Every gun that is made, every warship launched … is a theft from those who hunger.” Dwight D. Eisenhower read that once, in a VA waiting room. The irony was thick.
I don’t know what’s worse — killing with your hands, or funding it with your silence.
We learned how to make wars easier to ignore. But not easier to end.
We learned how to dodge the truth by calling it complicated.
We learned how to click a button instead of bearing witness.
And we learned to legislate bodies again — women’s bodies, children’s futures — as if control was some holy mandate, passed down by gods with gavels.
There’s no small grief in that. We keep what we can’t forgive.
And maybe, if we still had tar and feathers and believed in consequence over comfort, we’d see fewer wars. Or more honesty.
But instead, we sterilize the carnage, fund it with taxes, and wash our hands with entertainment.
I stopped watching the war.
But the war kept watching me.
Larry Winters
New Paltz
A great magician does a disappearing act
Richard “Dick” Del Bourgo, 83, died on April 3 in New Paltz, New York. He was born to Maurice Del Bourgo and Fanya Geltman at 5:57 p.m. on April 22, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York. Life partner to Sarah Verone Lawton who died in 2022 and father of Anita who died in 2024.
Richard spent the last few years of his life taking care of Verone and watching pretty girls pass by his porch on Church Street. He loved a good smoke, any coffee he could get and a good cookie. He was a consummate storyteller and would not hesitate to spin yarns from the more eventful times in his life. Like the time he was traveling cross country with some sideshow, company and they used a giant snake from one of his acts to scare a cop.
Richard began as “Richard the Great,” a magician who worked at Hubert’s Museum in 1959. Hubert’s was a fascinating, unique and quirky venue located in Times Square, New York City. It showcased everything from sword swallowers and snake charmers to an actual flea circus. Hubert’s was a haven for performers who thrived on the unusual and the extraordinary. It attracted a diverse audience from curious tourists to locals seeking unconventional entertainment. It also attracted friend-of-the-freaks photographer, Diane Arbus, who captured its performers in her iconic work. He used to lament the rumor that she slept with all her photo subjects except him. The original of one of her photos which featured “Richard the Great” along with four other performers is selling for $80,000! Richard was part of the vibrant and eclectic community of performers that made Hubert’s legendary — he added his own personal touch to its rich history.
Richard no doubt inherited some of his artistry from his father, Maurice Del Bourgo, a talented comic book artist who contributed significantly to the American industry during the 1940’s and 50’s. He worked with various publishers including DC Comics, Marvel and others, creating crime, western and romance titles. Born in Kobe, Japan, he later moved to the United States, met Fanya and the rest is history.
Richard and Verone made silver jewelry, traipsing all over the country to sell at festivals and jewelry shows. With repeated participation in the local craft fair, they fell in love with New Paltz and finally settled down and made it their home. He was proud of selling at Mower’s Market in Woodstock for 25 years; however he was more proud that he knew how to find a bargain. Up until a few months ago, he had two storage units full of “bargains.”
Richard spoke lovingly of his time in Thailand. He traveled there a multitude of times on shopping trips and often spoke of moving there. That is also where he fell in love with elephants. He told a story of sitting outside in Bangkok and eating a banana when an elephant walked up and stole it right out of his hand. A donation has been made in his name to an elephant sanctuary.
He began performing professionally in 1959. He’s appeared in 1000’s of shows from coast to coast — including nightclubs, schools and theaters. In 1963 he produced and operated a full-scale traveling illusion show called, “The Palace of 1000 Wonders.”
He also presented magic shows through “Comeback, Inc.,” a program designed to bring entertainment to institutions for the aged. Other community service included work for the American Guild of Variety Artists Youth Forum where he taught elements of show business to underprivileged teenagers. He was also the past president of the Houdini Club, a guest on radio and television shows and appeared in several magazines.
Richard often boasted that he was one of the best “talkers” ever. In the context of carnivals or selling things a good “talker” has exceptional persuasive skills and a way with words — able to charm, convince or manipulate others through conversation. A “talker” can spin stories, adapt them to different situations and make people feel at ease or compelled to trust them, even if the intentions aren’t entirely honest. He could use his gift of gab to navigate situations and influence outcomes in his favor.
Yes, I think those who knew him can say, “Richard, you were certainly one of the best!” You will be missed by many.
Myra French and Katrina Klinge
New Paltz
Starving children, endless rubble, a new “Trail of Tears?”
The visual images emanating from Gaza grow increasingly heartbreaking.
We had watched day after day, month after month, whole populations of villages and towns, including the very young and the very old, the well and the lame, making their way through the streets of Gaza. They had been warned to leave, to evacuate, because their homes had been scheduled for likely military bombing.
We watched as these folks walked, carrying all their worldly possessions in their arms, or on their heads, to start life in a new home. We saw the younger men and women carrying babies and toddlers, and older, grandmas and grandpas, walking with canes or even crutches, through the rubble of the many, mostly bombed-out homes.
As the months passed, the few possessions being carried became even more sparse. The once vibrant colors of clothing and rugs for a future life in a future home, had become more ragged, more drab.
The one feature of all of this that did increase as the months passed, and in fact, became omnipresent, was the rubble. Rubble, rubble, everywhere!
Initially, we witnessed that there were some, still standing structures, amid the rubble. Finally what we saw was mostly rubble, with the few still standing buildings becoming a rare sight.
Recently, most of the visuals emanating from Gaza have changed. We are now warned by the broadcasters that these newer images may, in fact, be too painful for us to watch. We are told that we may want to look away.
Had we steeled ourselves to look, we initially would have seen a few children, carrying empty pots and empty water jugs, hoping to find food or water.
Those images have intensified. Now we see large crowds of children desperately holding out their empty pots and empty water jugs, vying for notice, in the hopes that they might be given a bit of food or water to bring back home to help sustain their, no doubt, hungry, perhaps close to starving, moms, dads and siblings.
The children in these videos appear thinner than those seen a month or two ago. They are mostly skin and bones. When there are close-up photos and video shots, we see haunted, desperate, eyes. It is, indeed, heartbreaking!
Can it become even more heartbreaking, more horrific ? Apparently, yes. There are reports of a plan in which the entire population of Gaza will be forced to move to, and to live in, a small section of Gaza, in the south, near Raffah.
What will that be like, what will that look like? Will we be seeing the emaciated residents of Gaza once again on the move, once again traveling through the rubble, once again part of an evacuation; but this time a forced evacuation, under the watchful eye of an armed and armored military guard, with perhaps, little patience for stragglers, or resistors?
We are immediately reminded of the infamous “Trail of Tears.” This is a term which refers to the forced transfer of some western indigenous US tribes in the 1800’s. This forced transfer was so abhorrent that the US government is still paying reparations for its actions.
Can we, the citizens of the world in 2025, allow for an even more horrific, modern day “Trail of Tears” to take place in war torn Gaza?
The responsible world community must ask itself the following question:
Can we affirm, and act upon, the noble sentiment which emerged in the aftermath of the Holocaust, the sentiment that vowed, “never again?”
Mel Sadownick
West Hurley
Pay attention to a big beautiful bill
Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” (aka “the Largest-Ever Tax Giveaway to the Super-Wealthy”) that the Republicans recently rammed through Congress has gotten a lot of attention and been widely condemned for the deprivations it will cause to the many, especially the very poorest, to benefit the few — i.e., the very richest. It puts us another step closer to the oligarchy Trump and his GOP enforcers are creating, day by dismaying day.
It has been the judiciary, even at times when the right-leaning Supreme Court has been slowing down this seemingly relentless race toward dictatorship. But nearly lost in the shuffle is an ugly provision in this “Big, Beautiful Bill” that would speed things along even faster by severely undermining the judiciary’s power. It reads: “No court of the United States may use appropriated funds to enforce a contempt citation for failure to comply with an injunction or temporary restraining order if no security was given when the injunction or order was issued.”
Federal courts rarely require “security” — a bond — to be posted by those who are restraining unconstitutional federal, state, or local government actions, since those seeking such orders do not have the resources to post a bond. Insisting on it would protect unconstitutional government conduct from judicial review. In addition, it would render unenforceable court orders issued before the law takes effect.
Once again, Trump is seeking presidential immunity, which the Supreme Court in its alarmingly finite wisdom went a long way toward granting him in 2024. Let’s hope the members of the Senate don’t pass his “Big, Beautiful Bill” when it slithers its oily way to them, and that if against all decency they do, this provision, at least, has been removed from it.
Tom Cherwin
Saugerties
To the memory of the loved and lost
A memorial to all who have served and died for the love of freedom, liberty and equality on this day. Bend to a sacrifice you haven’t made. Bow to the bravery in the face of death, for your homeland, before you have experienced adulthood.
In my town, generations of farm boys, lumberjacks and quarry men fought and died for my serenity.
I hold on to this with all my might, risking violent objections to my UnAlienable right to object.
My young aviator father was one of them, 8000 miles from home. The rumor of his Pacific war would devastate me, if true. Was he really one of the dozen planes delivering the A-bomb? I may never know. The weight of its reality makes me wish for ignorance. Like so many, his experience colored the rest of his days. The experience came out in obsession with war documentaries, alcohol, guns and violent outbursts. Crazy stories ranted in the middle of the night. The war went on and on for him, as for so many.
I begin to understand how powerful Pearl Harbor was to my entire family: it was my mother’s 20th birthday.
The conflict I now find myself in is not straightforward. It has been an assault on the psyche. The broadcast of daily lies, a diet if you will. The endgame: beat the public into submission through poverty, unemployment, uncertainty and threats. Take away social assistance, generations of research, halt new understanding and reduce biodiversity to a random singularity.
I won’t agree to this! I won’t deny all the 20th-century accomplishments in my 73 years.
As the Boss said “This is the America I’ve sung about for 50 years and it’s real.”
Melanie Demitri Chletcos
Hurley
Woodstock’s plight-unresponsive government
Most problem we face, including the possible closure of Woodstock Elementary School, stem from our sagging local economy. By attacking Woodstock’s “brand,” Supervisor McKenna is undermining job growth by destroying local small business and gentrifying out young working families who send their children to our school. If we want to save our schools, we need to save our economy.
McKenna and councilperson Ricci both claim credit for Woodstock’s 2018 Comprehensive Development Plan, which directs them to invigorate, not destroy, Woodstock’s Artist Colony. How can either of them ignore that document, destroy our job base, when they both know tourism dollars tied to our entertainment trade, are what support most working families here.
Their proposed anti-music law limits venues to two outdoor shows per week (each three hours only) and only on Friday or Saturday. The weather alone makes that untenable. Does it help Woodstock’s sagging economy if all venues are competing for the same dollars at the same time? And what about the other five days? This is a tourism economy. Visitors are coming here and asking why the town is dead, then going up to Saugerties to spend their money. We need to ramp up, not reign in the rich assortment of outdoor music that has existed anywhere along the main drag in our commercial zone on any day during our town’s season, weather permitting, by limiting Woodstock’s main draw to two prescribed days a week. This is totally unprecedented in Woodstock’s history. Support outdoor music in Woodstock as that is what supports our economy!
Michael Mulvey
Woodstock
Reelect Amanda Gotto for New Paltz town supervisor
I was both surprised and encouraged at the recent candidate forum in New Paltz when mayor Tim Rogers announced his decision to abandon the dissolution process and return to a process I can participate in. Consolidation is voted on by both members of the village, as well as the town, making it a fairer process for town residents since the decision will affect both.
Now that we are back on a collaborative path, the Village of New Paltz should take several important steps to ensure a transparent and community-driven process, such as opening steering committee meetings to the press and the public.
While consolidation was something I initially thought was a good idea, I am beginning to see that the issues are more nuanced and deserve full consideration.
One thing is clear: voters will get the best of both worlds by reelecting Amanda Gotto as town supervisor. With Tim Rogers continuing as village mayor, we have a chance to foster genuine collaboration across the entire New Paltz community.
Early voting for town supervisor begins June 14. Please join me in casting your vote for Amanda Gotto.
Janelle Peotter
New Paltz
Join the family! 
