Competing for two seats on Woodstock’s town board are three candidates: Lily Korolkoff, Marcel Nagele and Laurie Osmond. Here are their replies to a recent questionnaire. Serena Da Conceicáo’s name will also appear on the ballot as a candidate for Woodstock Town Board. She dropped out of the race awhile ago, but it was too late to get removed from the ballot.
Lily Korolkoff
Q: How do you plan to tackle the ongoing issues with contamination of our water system and provide updates and transparency for the residents?
A: I would look at in investing in a granular activated charcoal (GAC) filtration system for the town’s water. Issues of contamination are only growing in frequency, and even with education on and implementation of more responsible practices both on the town level and the private level the issue of PFAS and other materials leaching into our water supply is not going anywhere any time soon. Being able to confidently prove to people their water is safe is absolutely necessary, and is worth the investment.
Q: What is the long-term solution for the Shady dump?
A: I think it’s unclear. In a perfect world, the long-term solution would really be removing all the material that is tainted, but in not knowing the literal depth of the impact, the legal feasibilities and timeline and the monetary cost of such a project, I think it’s a hard promise to make. Continued monitoring of the situation, including regular soil and water testing at the site and its surrounding areas, would be wise in order to develop a better understanding of changes at that site and its relation to our water’s health, and potentially could strengthen the case for full removal if such correlations existed.
Q: Do you think the proposed zoning as part of a multi-pronged approach is a viable answer to our housing crisis?
A: I think it would certainly help. Currently our zoning code doesn’t incentivize the building of affordable housing, and makes it difficult to build multi-family housing. When one of the main issues we’re seeing is a lack of inventory, we are realistically going to have to add some physical structures in order to house people.
Better enforcement of STR violations would also help. But the overall attitude and stigma around affordable housing also has to change, as people often either don’t recognize the everyday struggle that people are facing or don’t want it in their back yard.
Q: What are your thoughts on the proposed noise ordinance? Is it a good compromise, or does it go too far?
A: It is so close to being a good compromise, but I would suggest adding specifics regarding zoning districts, the permitting process, enforcement standards using ANSI-approved decibel readers, not cell phones, as per the EPA’s advice on prosecuting noise violations, and giving a little more flexibility with hours and times, especially from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
It’s important that it reflect the qualities of Woodstock and protects citizens, and needs to be better constructed, not only to be more enforceable, but also to make it agreeable to both sides and bring people together again.
Q: What makes you qualified for the job?
A: I love working with and listening to people, and often hear both sides of an issue from a very human viewpoint. I have experience in managing crews both as a stagehand and a business owner, and I love challenging work.
In terms of issues the town is facing, my family has been directly affected by many of them, and I very clearly recognize the urgency for change. My biggest desire is to preserve Woodstock for my son and for generations to come, and I believe that our town and its people deserve progressive thinking to tackle some really difficult problems.
About Korolkoff
I grew up primarily in Manhattan, but my parents have had a house in Halcott Center since before I was born, so Woodstock was always a big part of my life. In my twenties I was a union stagehand, touring all over the world with various institutions. I finally moved here in 2015 with my husband Ben and our then-four-month-old son Theo. We opened Station Bar & Curio in 2016. I love being surrounded by nature, art and music. I’m a voracious reader, love to garden and hike, and when I’m not working on a million things I’m happy on the couch with our dog Rufus and our cats Gal and Zuzu.
Marcel Nagele
Q: How do you plan to tackle the ongoing issues with contamination of our water system
and provide updates and transparency for the residents?
A: If elected, I’ll offer a resolution for the hiring of an independent hydrologist/environmental professional to study the matter, and to immediately study if it’s possible to shut down one of two municipal well fields/pumphouses which has consistently had the detections of PFAS contaminants since it was first detected in 2022. Provided that flow rates from the other municipal well field/pumphouse are adequate and will meet water requirements, this may allow water usage solely from the well field which to date has had no detection of PFAS contaminants.
I will also offer a resolution for the town to undertake source tracing to locate and investigate potential sources of contamination. The Church Road site should be included in such source tracing effort. The information from the DWSP2 should also be utilized in identifying potential contaminated sites and provide protection for our aquifer.
Updates and transparency to the citizens is relatively easy if someone wants to provide it. I’ll continue providing information contained in test reports and all other available information to the people via town-board meetings and will ask for adequate postings to the town website. Social media and news articles should also be utilized in effort of transparency.
Q: What is the long-term solution for the Shady dump?
A: Considering extensive communications from five environmental professionals including soil test results indicating exceedances of various contaminants on-site, combined with communications from the NYS DEC that there are in fact exceedances of contaminants, I believe the required solution for the matter in Shady is full remediation. The town has a requirement to enforce its own stricter than NYS laws, especially considering the Shandaken court handed down convictions for illegal dumping.
The town also has the requirement to protect the health and safety of the community and should utilize all legal avenues possible to secure a court order to achieve a proper remediation of the site paid for by the property owner.
Q: Do you think the proposed zoning, as part of a multi-pronged approach, is a viable answer to our housing crisis?
A: I do not believe the proposed zoning law will solve the affordable housing crisis. Any amendments to the zoning law under the guise of creating such must contain necessary
safeguards that assure it is achieved. We must assure we don’t open our town to developers’ dreams which leads to overdevelopment, environmental harm, and many other issues which detract from our quality of life.
Q: What are your thoughts on the proposed noise ordinance? Is it a good compromise, or does it go too far?
A: We are a Colony of the Arts, and music is a significant part of this. We also are a community of neighbors, which requires compromise and respect. It’s important to understand the Joyous Lake, Pinecrest, Tinker Street, Bearsville Complex, Harmony, and Levon Helm Studio were all indoor music venues previously.
We must also recognize all indoor music can continue as it did previously, and therefore the proposed sound law adds additional opportunity via amplified music outdoors if in compliance with the proposed law, which also has a provision allowing busking. I am for outdoor music provided the town passes a reasonable and enforceable sound ordinance. I do believe the task force worked diligently to provide a reasonable compromise.
Q. What makes you qualified for the job?
A: It’s no secret that I’ve been a vocal advocate for the proper remediation of the site in Shady, safe drinking water, proper and professional government, and those most vulnerable in our town. While I have challenged authority where needed, I have done so responsibly, and have never failed to support my positions through extensive research and a wealth of documentation.
I consider myself a problem-solver, and intend to bring to our town board integrity, transparency, civility, empathy, forward thinking, and attention to the common bonds that tie us together.
About Nagele
I grew up in West Hurley in a working-class family with five children. I began working in Woodstock part-time as a pre-teen. Beginning at the age of 18 I devoted over 20 years to what is now known as the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild. I’ve owned and operated a number of businesses through the years, providing property management as well as tree and snow-plowing services. I currently operate a trucking, excavation and grading company known as Woodstock Dirtworks.
I’ve learned the lessons of hard work, personal integrity, and service to the community. I’ve built long-lasting relationships with many people of all backgrounds and social status, and can personally relate to the struggles ordinary people are going through in these difficult times.
Laurie Osmond
Q: How do you plan to tackle the ongoing issues with contamination of our water system and provide updates and transparency for the residents?
A: We need to continue monitoring and testing the town wells and posting timely updates for all to see. Source testing, monitoring, sampling and public education are being spearheaded by DWSP, and Woodstock needs to wholeheartedly embrace and promote their work, including joining in the public education effort.
In addition to making every effort to determine the source of the PFAS that has been appearing in the town water supply, we need to educate and advocate for reduced usage of products that contain PFAS. Water filtration, whether through carbon activation or reverse osmosis needs to happen, and we should also be mindful of what is coming out of our wastewater as well.
It’s not just the issue of the Shady dump, it’s looking at what’s in road salt, fertilizers and what we flush down our home systems. The town board needs to provide updates at every meeting, and create a transparent campaign of public awareness.
Q: What is the long-term solution for the Shady dump?
A: The materials dumped in Shady need to be removed, full stop. We need to exhaust every possibility of getting New York State assistance in getting rid of the landfill, and if those possibilities don’t pan out, unfortunately the homeowner needs to be held responsible. They cannot be allowed to remain in place.
Q: Do you think the proposed zoning, as part of a multi-pronged approach, is a viable answer to our housing crisis?
A: I think that the proposed zoning changes, with some tweaks to them, can help with our shortage of affordable housing. However, we need to strike a careful balance, maintaining the rural character of our town within the “forever wild” Catskills while exploring public/private partnerships to create more affordable housing.
Any new developments need to be tightly controlled in number and scope — with the planning board and town board working in tandem where applicable. A limited number of developments, with green space included, should be the model. We need to creatively partner with non-profits like Habitat for Humanity or RUPCO.
Co-housing communities, like a small group of clustered cottages sharing a common space, should be considered.
Anything over two stories should not be allowed, nor should anything that resembles apartment buildings. The proposed zoning includes language that specifies that dwellings resemble single-family homes in appearance, is a good thing.
I also believe that we need to re-examine our STR regulations, tightening them when it comes to non-resident owners and also taking into account the full-time residents who rely on the additional income to get by.
We need to look at tax incentives for property owners who convert their STRs to long-term rentals.
Q: What are your thoughts on the proposed noise ordinance? Is it a good compromise, or does it go too far?
A: I prefer to call it a sound ordinance. Music is not “noise” and since the existing ordinance has been used primarily against live music, I think that is more appropriate. As in all things, there should be a balance. Woodstock is synonymous with music, and our economy also depends on it, for businesses and artists alike. The task force has come up with recommendations which I mostly agree with, though feel they need some modification in regards to days and times, especially during the summer.
There should be measurable limits, but the methodology needs to be specified in the ordinance, as well as realistic decibel levels read at specified locations. A decibel level at a commercial property line that is the equivalent of outdoor dining conversation is not workable.
Q: What makes you qualified for the job?
A: I’ve lived in Woodstock for 20 years, and served on the Onteora Board of Education for 14 of those years. I was board president and vice-president several times, and was part of budget discussions, personnel matters, organizational debates, future planning and spent many years on the policy committee, reviewing and crafting policy for the district.
I also briefly served as Woodstock deputy town supervisor.
I raised my daughter here and as such have been a part on the many concentric circles that make up our town. One of my superpowers is that I am a connector of people. I’m a good listener, I strive for balance, and also am passionate about Woodstock, a unique, quirky and beautiful place that I am lucky to call home.
About Osmond
I grew up on eastern Long Island and attended Brown University and San Francisco State University, and have a B.A. in broadcast communications.
After college, I headed west to California and spend many years as a writer/producer in film and TV marketing and promotions. I moved to Woodstock in 2004 to raise my only daughter and am proud to be known around town as “Fenner’s mom.” I’m currently a real-estate agent, which gives me a real window into the challenges that the current housing market presents.
I love to hike, bike and garden, and constantly remind myself how lucky I am to live here.
Early voting
Remember early voting. It begins on Saturday, June 14 at three locations — the Midtown Neighborhood Center, 467 Broadway in Kingston; the New Paltz Community Center, 3 Veterans Drive in New Paltz; and the Mescal Hornbeck Community Center, 56 Rock City Road in Woodstock, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. except Tuesday, June 17 and Thursday, June 19 when polls will be open from noon-8 p.m.
Other local primaries
Democratic primaries are scheduled for local offices in four additional Ulster County municipalities on Tuesday, June 24.
In the Town of Shandaken, Barbara “Babs” Manfield is challenging incumbent Peter Disclafani for the town supervisor’s position.
In the next-door Town of Olive, Kimberly Daley and Dawn Giudetta are on the ballot competing for the job of town clerk and tax collector.
In the Town of Wawarsing, three candidates — William Brown, Samantha Ellis and Leonard Distel — are seeking two seats on the town board.
In the Village of Ellenville, Nilsary Lewis Rivera, Angela D’Aiuto and Letitia Kentop are vying to fill two four-year positions as village trustees. None are incumbents.
To learn more about the candidates running in New Paltz, Woodstock, Hurley, Kingston and for the county legislature, visit hudsonvalleyone.com.
Join the family! 
