Election letters
The October 22 issue will be the last issue in which letters criticizing a candidate for office in the November 4 election will be printed, so as to allow for a response. If space allows, letters endorsing a candidate which contain no criticism of his or her opponent will be accepted for publication in the October 29 issue. ALL letters should be fewer than 300 words.
— Hudson Valley One
Our election choices
We in Gardiner have excellent public officials and candidates who represent the best of our community. They are committed to being accessible, transparent, excellent, and to serving in our residents’ best interests.
Michael Hartner for supervisor is experienced and professional in his public service. Roberta Clements has striven years to protect the environment in our town. Julia Hansen preserves the records and acts as our tax collector. Brian Sticia keeps the roads and highways safe. Robert Rich continues to be an excellent town justice. And Debra Clinton represents our town and Plattekill thoughtfully in the Ulster County Legislature.
These are all experienced, talented and fair-minded public officials who have earned our continued support and votes on November 4. Let’s keeps these good officials and return them to office.
That’s why we vote Row A!
Glenn McNitt
Maryann Fallek
Gardiner
Dappled dachshund lost
I am wondering if you are able to put up missing pet posters on your page or in the newspaper. We are missing a long-haired miniature dapple dachshund since Wednesday. Last seen in Glasco on Route 32.
I have attached the flyer that we have been putting out. We are just trying to spread the word that she is missing and bring her home. Call 845-750-7990.
Maddy Armstrong
Glasco
Twinkle, twinkle
Sing to a rainbow and it will grow brighter.
Sparrow
Phoenicia
Eggs in the pod
This exhibition entitled “The crack in the cosmic egg” by multidisciplinary artist Carmela Tal Baron celebrated the universal symbolism of the cosmic egg as a metaphor for the creative process and for freeing the mind from fixation on cultural conditioning and convention. It includes digital collages, mixed-media artworks and photographs. The opening is on October 19 from 3 to 6 p.m. at ART Pod 66, 66 Rock City Road in Woodstock,
Miron Baron
Woodstock
Affordable-housing law
Thank you, supervisor Amanda Gotto, for getting our affordable-housing law on its way into our town code. Your attendance at a recent Housing Smart Task Force meeting helped us fine-tune the law so it could be adopted last night.
Judy Swallow
New Paltz
The world isn’t waiting
The fossil-fuel-industry-empowered federal government has been working really hard to take America back into the dark ages (literally). In an age when we need to rapidly transition toward sources of renewable energy and electrify our lives, they continue to throw money at loss-making industries like coal.
Meanwhile, the rest of the world is not waiting. Wind and solar generation (not capacity!) together amounted to 109 percent of global electricity-demand growth in the first half of 2025, providing all-new electricity plus cutting into fossil-fuel incumbents! This is an epic turning point!
A prime example of this amazing transformation is the country of Pakistan, where some of my ancestors lived before the India-Pakistan partition. In 2025, solar energy emerged as Pakistan’s leading source of power, rising from its position as the fifth largest in 2023. The nation, home to over 241 million people, imported 16 GW of solar capacity in 2024, primarily from China. So far, 2025 is poised to be an even more significant year, with over 12.5 GW of solar capacity imported in the first nine months. Imports of home batteries that promote energy independence are also on the rise.
This shift is already creating turmoil within Pakistan’s autocratic government, and is delaying if not potentially canceling natural-gas imports from Qatar. What is unfolding in Pakistan is a rapid, grassroots-driven transformation and clean electrification of the energy system in the fifth most populous country in the world.
If the Pakistanis can do it, we can do it, too. We just must stop playing political games and call out those politicians (mainly Republicans) who want us to keep giving billions of dollars to fossil-fuel companies that continue polluting our air and water, while spewing planet-warming gases with impunity,
Samrat Pathania
New Paltz
The art of confusion
Abortion has become less a moral discussion and more a political smokescreen. Chaos is now a governing strategy. While we argue over rights and wrongs, other urgent issues — war, inequality, and truth — slip quietly out the back door. Confusion is profitable. It keeps citizens weary and divided, and the weary seldom question their deceivers.
Disorder, confusion’s twin, undermines trust. When the public loses faith in truth, democracy begins to wobble. Worn down by contradiction and deception, many retreat into silence — hoping someone else will understand it all. The professional confusers count on this. They’ve mastered their craft. Their lies arrive polished, rehearsed, emotionally charged. Some no longer need words — a single photo or slogan can distract our attention from what truly matters.
As an old man, I sometimes blame my confusion on the speed of the digital world. I grew up reading tone, gesture, and silence. Now screens hum and scroll, replacing real connection with endless noise. I miss the sound of a human voice that listens.
Confusion has become a criminal art form. It keeps us from following our instincts, from trusting what we know to be right. Our machines can predict the weather and wage wars, but cannot love. Love keeps slipping out of their metal hearts, still looking for someone willing to listen.
If we want truth back, we’ll have to turn toward each other — not the screen.
Larry Winters
New Paltz
A welcome addition
It’s not often that you meet someone who speaks with the clarity, confidence and forward thinking that Kim Daley exhibits in conversation. Her impressive interpersonal communication and administrative skills were achieved through an extensive background of professional leadership positions.
Since purchasing her West Shokan home in 2005, Kim has been a member of the Olive Free Library board for twelve years and is currently the board secretary. She is also a member of the building, fund development, and long-range planning committees.
Communication, credibility and compassion are the essential qualities that Kim will bring to her responsibilities as Olive town clerk, with her plans to establish a monthly newsletter, add after work hours for in-person visits, and make town-board meetings available online via video recordings. When fellow Town of Olive residents meet Kim Daley, they realize that her expertise and enthusiasm will be a welcome addition our local government.
Paul K. Maloney
West Shokan
Justice pursued
Richard Husted, a name well-imbued with roots in toil and justice pursued. A bridge from the ironworker’s art to the court’s solemn, mindful heart. From steel’s fierce forge, resilience grew, a voice for right steady and true. His journey is one of steadfast might, upholding what’s “just and right.”
In all these enduring years, judge Richard stands steady, calm and clear. His seventh term is one of trust and a life where civic duty’s a must. His journey continues with honor and grace: a community pillar time can’t erase.
Service, skill, a thread tied tight, a beacon in the Woodstock night. Unopposed, yet not unearned, his steadfast stance cannot be turned. A life committed, legacy spun, in the heart of the town, he’s a steady sun.
May his wisdom in justice ever grow like ancient trees that deeply sow, roots of service, branches of care, in Woodstock’s heart forever there.
Vote for Richard Husted on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4th. I hope that you exercise your citizen’s rights this year, and get out and vote. Every voice counts. And a reminder, you can cast your vote early. Please get information about that.
Neil Jarmel
West Hurley
Stunningly authoritative
On Wednesday, October 8, the Woodstock Environmental Commission held a working meeting with Marcel Nagele to go over documentation regarding the Shady dump contamination and the ways to finally remediate it. Woodstock sorely needed a WEC with this kind of independence, integrity, commitment to hard work, and leadership in the person of Susan Paynter.
Marcel’s presentation was stunning in its authoritativeness and preparedness. You can watch the video at https://youtu.be/9P2vehgHYjs.
It’s a shame that this important breakthrough meeting wasn’t covered by HVOne. The initial meeting, where Marcel first addressed the WEC and provided them with the reams of documentation, was unfortunately misrepresented in your article as being contentious. Despite the fact that there were a few laughs and an instance of name calling by one audience member directed at a town-board official, the open meeting was generally well led by the commission — commanding by the presenter and respectful by the audience.
I want to particularly note that Marcel tried in both presentations to avoid divisive politics as much as possible, focusing instead on documented facts, which he has tirelessly accumulated at his own expense.
Both the WEC and Marcel deserve our support and gratitude, and it would behoove all Woodstockers to spend the time to watch these videos, particularly the latest one, as this issue affects all of us and must be resolved. The work should start now, but we hold out hope and trust that the new board will work collaboratively and have the will to do so.
Alan M. Weber
Woodstock
Stand-out character
I am writing this letter in support of Randall Leverette for election as councilperson to New Paltz’s town board in November. He is a well-respected resident of the town for 25-plus years and has dedicated himself to publicly serving our community, including as chairman of the police commission, member of the school district audit committee, and board member to the Elting Memorial Library and Woodland Pond.
In each of these roles, Randall has served our town with stand-out character and integrity, placing public service above politics. That is much less common than it used to be and still ought to be today. New Paltz needs Randall’s skills and knowledge, and he needs our votes.
Join me in voting for Randall Leverette on November 4.
Samantha Smith
New Paltz
Big healthcare losses
Before it’s too late, we must unite and demand that our elected representatives at every level of government take a stand against Trump’s overreach. We must demand that our elected officials work along with us to limit his power and through peaceful and legal means help eventually remove this regime and restore democracy.
Sadly, a handful of Democrats who sit on Kingston’s Common Council, don’t seem to understand the urgency of this historical moment. Rather than hold the Republicans in Washington responsible for passing the “Big Beautiful Bill,” they’ve revised a memorializing resolution to pin on Albany Democrats the responsibility for fixing the harms that the Republican Congress has created.
Starting in 2026, more than 30 percent of Ulster County residents will lose Medicaid-funded health insurance. Cuts to food assistance mean that ten percent of our county’s residents — including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities — will have difficulty putting food on the table. An estimated 63,000 state health jobs may be lost and dozens of hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabs that rely on Medicaid funding may shut down.
While it’s not unreasonable for our local officials to ask state lawmakers to find an emergency solution to temporarily alleviate the harm to be inflicted on our most vulnerable residents, we cannot let the Republicans in Congress off the hook. Not now. Not ever, especially not while our Democrats in D.C. are fighting hard to get Republicans to come to the table to reinstate some of the losses to healthcare.
Some of our local lawmakers think that by revising a memorializing resolution that does not hold Congress responsible they are going to make Kingston less of a target for Trump. They are sadly mistaken. If anything, they’ve just lost credibility.
Charlotte Adamis
Kingston
He asks smart questions
I am writing to express my strong support for Randall Leverette for town board 9n New Paltz. Randall has proven himself as a thoughtful, hardworking, and community-minded leader who understands the diversity of challenges our town faces and is committed to finding practical, inclusive solutions.
Randall has demonstrated his dedication to this community through years of service in a variety of roles and committees. He listens carefully, asks smart questions, and works collaboratively to make things better for everyone. His approach is rooted in fairness, transparency, and common sense — qualities we need on the town board.
Randall’s priorities reflect the values of our town. He supports affordable housing so that young families, seniors, and local workers can continue to live here. He understands the long-term impacts of Pilots on property taxes and the importance that everyone, including developers, pay their fair share. He is also committed to community safety, ensuring that everyone — residents, visitors, and first responders — can feel secure and supported.
We need leaders like Randall who care deeply about the people they serve and who are ready to roll up their sleeves to get things done. Please join me in voting for Randall Leverette for town board on Row B.
Fawn Tantillo
New Paltz
A better perspective
I am proudly supporting Mike Sasso for the Town of Saugerties town board. I have known Mike for the last 30-plus years, and he and I are both born and raised in the town.
Mike’s lifetime membership as well as a 21 years as a chief line officer (the last eleven as chief of department) of the Glasco Fire District shows how deeply he cares for this community! His efforts as chief produced many grants to help lower the burden of the taxpayers, not only in his own district but also helping other districts in the town secure much-needed grant funding! The Ulster County Fire Chiefs Association also elected Mike as a director for giving insight and guidance to line officers throughout the county.
Mike manages upwards of 390 employees for Bright Star Lottery, spanning many states. This gives him a better perspective when it comes to assisting with managing the 175-plus employees of the town.
Mike’s commitment to keep taxes in check when elected are key to the survival of Saugerties as we know it! Please join me in electing Mike.
Randy Ricks
Saugerties
Elect a railroad supporter
Regarding the current election for District 22 Ulster County Legislature which comprises the towns of Olive, Shandaken, Denning and Hardenburgh, I strongly suggest that you support Pete Friedel in his campaign against Kathy Nolan. Nolan, one of the most ardent anti-railroad activists in the county government, has been entirely responsible for blocking the Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) extension plans in the county legislature. Her comments against the CMRR in the U&D Corridor Committee were false and slanderous.
I ask that you support Peter Friedel to defeat Nolan. If you wish, you can contribute to his campaign by sending him a check at PO Box 35, West Shokan, NY 12494.His campaign website is https://www.electpeterfriedel.com/
You can also forward this email to your friends and neighbors in their district.
Friedel will be very supportive of the CMRR, which has brought many millions of dollars to Ulster County in the form of tourism over the years, not to mention the enjoyment of many many local families. Please support Friedel to defeat her and support this wonderful, fun tourist attraction.
In case you may have forgotten, Nolan has been sharply criticized for her conduct as the president and chairman of the board of Samadhi Center, a non-profit drug rehabilitation clinic. The county comptroller wrote a critical report detailing the mess she created at Samadhi, where she has a conflict of interest and voted for funding for it.
Bruce Tuchman
President, CMRR, Woodstock
Metaphorically speaking
Leftovers shouldn’t linger in the refrigerator too long. They degrade, lose their flavor and quality, and eventually become a health risk. It’s wiser to clear them out and bring in fresh ingredients, ones that might actually nourish and satisfy. Whether the new batch delivers remains to be seen. If they fail to meet your needs, they can always be returned — or at the very least subjected to a candid review.
Howard Harris
Woodstock
Common-sense oversight
Gardiner voters face a stark choice this year. Running to succeed longtime town supervisor Marybeth Majestic, are two candidates, one Democratic, one Republican. The Democrat, Michael Hartner, is exceptionally well-seasoned, with years of quite varied experience in Gardiner town government, proven administrative expertise in the public sector, and strong “small-d” democratic values. The Republican, Ryan Wiley, is an apparently well-meaning young novice with no government experience whatsoever who touts his status as a developer, a business owner, and a farmer.
Hartner’s website, MichaelHartner.com, is extraordinarily detailed about his values, his priorities and his plans, while Wiley’s site is vague, citing a key priority, as preventing “overreach” by government officials — code for let’s not regulate developers very much.
As a former Democratic Party official, I have come to know Michael Hartner quite well. I say without hesitation, he is probably one of the most honest and forthright people I have ever met, sometimes to a fault. He is deeply devoted to data and science-based decision-making. He is a detail guy who looks at every angle of every option and evaluates it based on a set of rock-solid democratic and humanist values.
His commitment to transparency and protecting our environmental riches has been demonstrated time and time again. He will bring common-sense oversight to the development community without being anti-development. He has the guts to stand up for what he believes in and is intolerant of prevarication or dissemblance.
I have nothing against Mr. Wiley. Perhaps one day he will be a good candidate for Gardiner town supervisor. However, it won’t be for a while, and in the meantime Gardiner needs a proven leader of impeccable character and leadership ability who will bring a degree of professionalism, rigor and discipline to small-town decision-making that is exceedingly rare in my experience. Elect Michael Hartner and empower him with a Democratic town board on November 4th.
Tom Kruglinski
Gardiner
Accountability is owed
The taxpayers need a huge apology from the Ulster County executive office regarding iPark 87. Additionally, we need an investigation into the Ulster County BOCES lease agreement.
We need people fired for these poor decisions. Accountability is owed.
Ryan Van Kleeck
Town of Ulster
Genuine and honest
Town government has narrow oversight. It has limited control over roads, school taxes, etc. We do, however, have home rule over land use. Gardiner’s supervisor will facilitate Gardiner’s future: whether we achieve a rural, environmentally-friendly town that protects our slice of heaven.
As a fellow town-board member, I have witnessed Michael Hartner work tirelessly to improve Gardiner. Michael advocates for development that would provide housing for seniors and working families and boost the hamlet’s businesses. To protect Gardiner’s valuable natural resources, he founded and chairs the Drinking Water Committee and has chaired the Environmental Conservation Commission. He has also served on the Ethics Committee.
As a current town-board member, he is genuine and honest. When making decisions, he provides a path to his reasoning. His career as a schools superintendent has provided him with a wide breadth of skills and experience that he constantly augments by attending conferences that relate to town government, land use, and infrastructure improvements. He has vetted grantswriters to harness grants for these improvements.
Carol Richman
Gardiner
One man’s “happy days”
I was reading in a local newspaper about the big pricetags on some of the beautiful homes being sold here in the Hudson Valley. I looked at the pictures of these homes and couldn’t help contrasting them with the stone shack my parents and us four kids called home on New Paltz Road.
It had a dirt floor and a tin roof. We heated the two bedrooms and small kitchen with a woodstove. We kids hauled dead branches from the woods in back of the shack to keep the stove going. It was a miserable life, having no electricity and no plumbing. We lowered a pail down a nearby well for water.
All this was during the so-called Happy Days of the 1950s.
Tom Losee
New Paltz
John Butz rejoins the fray
Regarding Geddy’s three-week moratorium request on non-local election letters pertaining to national politics, I see I’m likely the only one who took him seriously, unlike at least ten others. I guess I can rejoin the fray.
In response to Neil Jarmel’s “Posted by Trump” letter two weeks ago, only Neil would fail to see the sombrero AI depiction as the joke that it was. Jeffries, Schumer, et al. exhibited feigned and exaggerated outrage, citing it as racism and bigotry, even though a good number of Hispanics immediately saw the humor in it. Of course, Neil wants to make a big deal out of this one-time display of humor while totally being silent, as usual, on acknowledging far more dangerous behaviors on his party’s behalf that have been the real threats to democracy: the proven Russia hoax, Hunter’s laptop from hell, the falsified Steele dossier, four phony and illegal FISA applications — and the list goes on.
This week, Neil is grossly offended by the National Guard being sent to assist local law enforcement in tackling crime situations in their cities that they were unable or unwilling to handle on their own. Neil forgot to mention that Washington, D.C. was a prime example of great crime reduction which made many locals feel safe again. Yet in his twisted logic Neil says this very same successful intervention “makes the U.S. less safe.” Foot in your mouth, Neil?
To no one’s surprise, Steve Romine had to respond to Susan Puretz”s firm letter questioning genocide. Steve and his sources once again cite unquestionable genocide on the part of Israel. I still find it bizarre and deflective how Steve and his experts to this day continue failing to acknowledge Hamas’s roles and responsibilities in significantly contributing to the loss of life in Palestine.
John N. Butz
Modena
Keep voters informed
A vote for town supervisor may finally result in a vote for town and village consolidation. As a former town supervisor and voter in New Paltz for over 70 years, I am supporting Tim Rogers and urge you to do the same.
When Tim first considered running for village mayor in 2015, he set up a meeting with me through his father, who knew me. I told him to keep voters informed. Tim has done this and obtained significant grant funds for village improvements.
I urge the voters to select Tim Rogers as our new Town of New Paltz supervisor.
David S. Lent
New Paltz
ADA-compliant sidewalks
Many would like sidewalk repairs, but it’s eye-opening hearing directly from wheelchair users. We recently toured Main Street with a neighbor in a wheelchair. We saw how ramps at the new Taco Bell were needed, and wondered whether they were included in its updated site plan. Planning boards should make this a priority. NYSDOT made sure these ramps flanking the driveway will be ADA-compliant.
We push to advance sidewalk projects, but there is nothing as motivating as seeing a neighbor in a wheelchair navigate difficult sidewalks. Real-life reminders help, as grants and approvals for sidewalks are odd, time-consuming mazes.
NYSDOT remains on track to start their 4389 linear feet (LF) project, including 21 ADA-compliant ramps at ten intersections in May 2026.
N. Chestnut: 825 LF between Broadhead and N. Front (west side)
N. Chestnut: 676 LF between N. Front and Main (east side)
S. Chestnut: 1462 LF between Innis and Southside (east side)
S. Manheim: 700 LF between LaBella Pizza and Plattekill (west side)
Main: 726 LF between Grove and Millrock (south side)
Our long-delayed 1350 LF project is scheduled for March/April 2026.
Prospect: 380 LF between Slate St and HW DuBois (west side)
Church: 500 LF north of Briarwood to HW DuBois (east side) and between HW DuBois and Mulberry (west side)
Huguenot: 470 LF of bluestone south of the monument past the burial ground (east side)
Huguenot is wildly overdue. Per a 2008 easement, the village agreed to repair the bluestone after Historic Huguenot Street granted a permanent easement to connect to the Sewer Plant. This was to be finished by December 2008, before Obama’s presidency.
For 2025, we are again applying for Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funds for the ninth round since its 2016 inception. Our application will propose some DRI funds be used to improve sidewalks on Main, a.k.a. the Empire State Trail.
Tim Rogers
New Paltz
He listens and learns
I met Tim Kelly through our shared efforts to protect our community from the proposed battery energy-storage system (BESS) on Hurley Avenue. From our very first conversation, it was clear that Tim and I shared the same deep commitment to keeping our town safe, not only for ourselves but for the generations to come. Tim is relentless in his mission to protect and preserve our beloved town. He spends countless hours researching, preparing thoughtful public comments, and attending nearly every board meeting held by the Town of Hurley and the Town of Ulster. His dedication is unwavering, and his integrity shines through in everything he does.
Though I haven’t known Tim for long, I’ve come to see how deeply rooted he is in Hurley’s history. His long-standing family ties to this town fuel his determination and sense of responsibility to ensure Hurley remains a safe, vibrant, and well-governed community.
Several community members have told me that they feel reassured knowing Tim is fighting for them, and I wholeheartedly agree. Tim is caring, knowledgeable, respectful, level-headed, and fair. He listens, he learns, and he acts with courage and conviction.
For these reasons, and for his proven dedication to the people of Hurley, I am proud to endorse Tim Kelly for Town of Hurley town board in this upcoming election.
Jillian Fried
Old Hurley
Back to a rule of law
Millions peacefully protest the insanity of the MAGA movement. The official White House response is “Who cares?” But if I were a Republican elected official you can bet I’d be getting nervous about the next election cycle.
Stay united. Stay peaceful. Stay focused. We’ll get back to a constitutional democracy and rule of law.
Vive la Résistance!
Mauriac Cunningham
Saugerties
Block the bombs
Many may remember the cries for “Food, Not Bombs.” We face this decision again and again. And while we are grateful for the latest ceasefire, we are uncertain it will bring lasting peace for all involved.
At this moment we all have an important role to play in holding our elected officials accountable as well as to continue strengthening diplomacy — and thereby democracy. if we continue to send weapons to Israel before there is a chance to rebuild, and bring stability to both Israel and Palestine, we as a nation have failed in our efforts to bring peace.
The Block The Bombs Act (HR 3565) prohibits U.S. transfers of some of the most destructive weapons. Blocking this transfer gives diplomacy a chance to bring lasting peace. While we understand there are many challenges in these decisions, we repeat our ask that congressmember Pat Ryan join the already 55 congressional co-sponsors of the Block the Bombs Act. And if he is not in favor of signing, we ask for a clear explanation why he is unwilling to join his colleagues.
Also we ask our senators, Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, to help pass the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval SJ RES 34 and SJ RES 41, which seek to block the sale of certain offensive weapons, staying in line with U.S. law. Now more than ever, all our elected officials — and each and every one of us — have the opportunity to strive for diplomatic means, not bombs, not fear, nor anger, to move all parties toward peace.
Anne Rogers
New Paltz
Flabbergast
I’ve been told:
You’re good at talking.
Been told: You always
have a whole lot to say
about everything. Hear:
You have a mouthful
of words for wisdom,
advice, anecdote,
gossip. Hear: You can
gas bag with the best;
you flabbergast your
listeners. You must be
happy with lips and gums
flapping. You have the
gabby gift. You must have
kissed old Blarney Stone
twice. You tell the truth,
even if, like Emily D.,
you tell it slant. Funny,
today you seem to have
nothing to say.
Patrick Hammer, Jr.
Saugerties
For Gardiner’s sake
Unchecked land development as well as its attendant risks to the health, safety and quality of life for homeowners remain causes for concern in Gardiner. Meanwhile, the interests of corporate developers and large contractors have often been generously accommodated by the town board, planning board, and zoning board of appeals.
Fortunately, Michael Hartner, a progressive Democrat, is running for the position of Gardiner’s town supervisor. Mike stands for the enforcement of laws and ordinances designed to protect the environment as well as the community’s health, safety and quality of life.
He has a profound commitment to the well-being of Gardiner’s homeowners and merchants. He has shown excellent vision and leadership in promoting the “third Thursday of the month” environmental Zoom conferences in which several nearby towns participate. For Gardiner’s sake, vote for Mike Hartner as Gardiner’s next supervisor.
Irwin Sperber
Gardiner
Release the files!
The devil is in the details, and the biggest detail missing in the New Paltz village dissolution study is – numbers! There are no numbers showing how tax savings will actually be achieved.
The steering committee was led through a 69-page administration and finance report that does not include a single dollar amount showing how much each assumption will save. The public and press were not permitted to participate in these meetings.
Charles Cross, former village mayor of South Nyack, said “dissolving the village and aligning it with Orangetown would financially benefit [village] residents.” South Nyack dissolved and Orangetown taxes went up.
That is why dissolutions occasionally pass, but no consolidation in the state has passed. When everyone votes, even village residents see how unfair it is to “financially benefit” village residents at the expense of their neighbors. I urge the village to release the administration and finance report. The public will see that none of the assumptions have associated dollar cuts.
Here is what it does say: “The study approach to the fiscal impact [considered] that optimizing cost-effective organizational models, cost-effective strategies and efficiencies cannot be achieved immediately and can typically take multiple years to implement and achieve savings.”
In other words: “The real money comes after the vote.”
These consultants have done this before. Where are the results for the impacts on towns that have absorbed villages? Where are examples from other dissolutions of how we’ll save money while keeping all the current employees, departments, committees, task forces and commissions by “hybridizing” them?
Let’s keep Amanda as supervisor and Tim as mayor. That’s how we reach collaboration, consensus and possibly consolidation.
If like me, you don’t live in the village, you can vote for supervisor in November. But not for dissolution in 2026!
Vote for Amanda Gotto.
Kitty Brown
New Paltz
His values are mine
I have been a Republican, and ran for Gardiner supervisor in 2023 endorsed by the Republican Party. Now I support Michael Hartner for supervisor.
He’s as honest as “Honest Abe,” and works just as hard. His values are mine: build an inclusive community with housing opportunities for working families and seniors. Improve infrastructure for new businesses, trails, bike paths. Be considerate of others, even if politics differ. Mike walks the walk. Please vote for him!
Scott Arnold
Gardiner
Gambling with the future
Faced with facts that conflict with his narrative of how things work, Tim Rogers censors people who state those facts. Here are two I mentioned on Facebook before he censored me:
Rogers signed a contract with ParkMobile to install its parking app in the village while ParkMobile was defending a class action suit (it lost) over a data breach affecting 20-plus-million users. Didn’t know? Didn’t care? Rogers won’t say.
Wondering how to stop Ulster County Industrial Development Agency (UCIDA) from handing developers millions in tax breaks through Payment In Lieu of Taxes (Pilot) relief, Rogers sought advice from UCIDA’s own attorneys — his adversaries. In fact, the law prohibits their speaking to him. Didn’t know? Didn’t ask? Both.
Naïve and Ignorant Rogers blunders along, dragging New Paltz into high-stakes games he’s not equipped to play. New Paltz deserves a town supervisor who won’t gamble with its future.
Leslie Elman
New Paltz
Supporters of housing
Having worked on housings issues in Saugerties for many years, I see that it’s increasingly difficult for people who work here to afford to live here, and this negatively impacts everyone in town. We have two candidates for town board who are committed to working on this problem: Bill Barr and Stephanie Bassler. Please show up to vote for them, and bring your friends. Bill and Stephanie will work for the betterment of our whole community.
Diane Colello
Saugerties
A principled Republican
I am writing to express my support for Randall Leverette for continuing his seat on the New Paltz town board. Randall supplies a wealth of publif-service experience, intelligence, dedication, and integrity to the position.
One example: Randall, as IDA chair, had pushed through a ban on Pilots for retail housing projects. Had he not been removed as IDA chair a few years ago by the real-estate-lobbied county legislature (controlled by Democrats), we probably wouldn’t be confronted with a Pilot issue today for 151 N Chestnut. To my Democratic-Party-enrolled neighbors, I know it may be hard to vote for a Republican, especially given the despicable character of that party nationally. In fact, Randall is the only Republican I’ve ever voted for, back when he ran for town supervisor.
There are some principled Republicans who are repulsed by MAGA and Trump’s actions. Randall is one such individual.
Michael Russo
New Paltz
Keeping the station going
On Sunday, October 19th, 2025 Felicia Kacsik, manager and CEO of Woodstock 104 radio station, passed away at 4:38 p.m. from a rare form of leukemia. She had been struggling with the illness for a couple of months before it started deteriorating her health quickly.
We mourn her loss and will remember all her selfless service to the Woodstock community. She was a complex person and a brave soul for many reasons.
Woodstock 104, a community and commercial-free radio station, will continue on its mission to bring information and conversations to the wider radio audience that is prohibited by corporate control on other stations. The community will continue to be informed and educated.
Felicia trained us in the advent of her departure to run the station. The new station manager is tech engineer Terry Britton. It took Felicia and Randi Steele 13 years to go through the hoops to get an FCC license for Birds of a Feather Media, the non-profit group that overseas Woodstock 104. We plan on keeping the station up and running.
Steve Romine
Woodstock
Classic scapegoating
Racism and hatred have no place in New Paltz. We should all stand together in rejecting discrimination of any kind and affirming that every member of our community deserves safety and respect. However, a recent editorial by Eli Kassirer responding to a racist incident in New Paltz took a troubling turn. It described Zionism as inherently racist and characterized Israel as a “murderous” or “apartheid” state.
These assertions are not only inaccurate but dangerously divisive. They risk turning legitimate political debate into rhetoric that targets Jewish residents, especially those who identify with or support Israel’s right to exist.
Zionism, at its core, is the movement for Jewish self-determination in the Jewish ancestral homeland. In no way has it ever sought the removal of non-Jews. In fact, the opposite is true. Israel is the only pluralistic, multi-ethnic democracy in the Middle East. Zionism arose after centuries of persecution, displacement and genocide against Jewish communities across the world. To equate this belief with racism is to deny Jews the same right of national identity and self-determination that is recognized for countless other peoples globally.
Criticism of any government’s policies, including Israel’s, is fair and protected speech. But there is a critical difference between critiquing a government and denying an entire people’s right to collective security and identity. When rhetoric crosses that line — when it labels Zionism itself as evil — it echoes some of the oldest and most harmful antisemitic ideas and becomes hate itself.
The constant drumbeat portraying Jews as perpetrators of genocide without factual basis is offensive and hostile to Jewish residents and to the spirit of a harmonious community. It is classic scapegoating.
In recent years, terrorist messaging and propaganda have been normalized in the name of tolerance and liberalism. But true liberalism demands intellectual honesty and moral courage. It does not excuse hatred or falsehoods.”
Tom Kluth
New Pa;tz
Your article was wrong
I wanted to flag some concerns about the article [about SUNY New Paltz STEM funding] published Saturday. Nearly every sentence in the first and last paragraph of this article is incorrect, starting with the headline – the grant is not related to diversity in STEM fields at all.
The person identified as the project lead, “SUNY New Paltz associate professor of chemistry Pamela Stenson,” is not a SUNY New Paltz employee or otherwise affiliated with the institution.
The team of departments and goal of the study HV1 published are also inaccurate. Our original release outlining the actual aims of this grant funding can be found here: https://sites.newpaltz.edu/news/2025/10/national-science-foundation-epiic-grant/
Our hope is that this piece can be removed or corrected as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your support.
Andrew Bruso
SUNY New Paltz
New Paltz
Stop the takeover
Ryan Wiley’s campaign tries to assert that he is independent, not Republican, and not even political. However, these are the Republican Party insiders who selected Wiley as their candidate: The Republican chair of the Ulster County Board of Elections, the Republican chair of the Dutchess County Board of Elections, the 2023 Gardiner town supervisor who ran twice as a Republican, the registered Republican chair of the Gardiner planning board, and the chair of the Ulster County Republican Party.
They ran his campaign to get the Republican line on the ballot and carried his petitions. It’s a matter of public record.
Can it get more political? How is this campaign non-partisan or even transparent? In contrast, the Democratic candidate for supervisor was chosen by a committee of volunteer Gardiner citizens in a meeting open to the public.
Stop this attempted right-wing Republican takeover of Gardiner
Tim Hunter
Gardiner
The learning environment
Let’s please stop talking about money and talk about the education of our children. That should be the center of any discussion on changes in facilities.
Combining early-childhood students with older children in the same building will hinder supporting developmentally appropriate academic and social/ emotional development of the early-childhood population of New Paltz.
The Specialized Professional Association (SPA) for early-childhood education is the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) sets the standards for early childhood education. These standards are the model for the standards for the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Early childhood educational experiences are the foundation for a successful K-12 education for each child.
Elementary, middle and high-school children are at different developmental levels from early childhood, and they each have different needs.
While the NAEYC and NYSED standards do not mandate facilities dedicated exclusively to each developmental level, they strongly suggest that the physical learning environment be appropriate for the age and developmental level of the children served.
Safety and Health: The environment must be safe and healthful, with considerations for different age groups (e.g., choking hazards for infants/toddlers, accessibility for younger children).
Appropriate Equipment and Materials: The environment must provide a variety of equipment and materials appropriate for children’s ages and stages of development. Space Design: The design must allow for and be sensitive to the differences in space attributes and usage for children in different age groups. The environment should support children’s collaborative, active learning, which requires different considerations for older students.
The money required for accommodating the young children in Lenape would be better spent on resolving the deferred maintenance issues in the Duzine School rather than on moving the youngest population in with the older. Our youngest, at the most important stage of their development, do not have a voice in this discussion unless we adults help them make the case for a developmentally appropriate setting for their educational experiences.
Dr. Rose Rudnitski
New Paltz
Judicious attention
This is to endorse Ulster County comptroller March Gallagher’s re-election. I am the chair of the Ulster County Citizens Commossion for Digital Inclusion, convened by comptroller Gallagher, whose efforts recently resulted in a $62-million grant of public and private money to expand fiber broadband to all unserved locations in the county.
Comptroller Gallagher recognized the critical role of broadband access in modern life, and in 2022 organized the citizens commission to expand access to broadband, digital literacy and digital devices across the entire county. Access to future-proof fiber optic broadband in every unserved location was no small target, as the county includes remote, thinly populated areas, rugged terrain, and involves other jurisdictions.
Many providers balked at undertaking the task. These and other challenges made the goal of universal broadband daunting, to say the least. But daunting isn’t enough to cow March. She never let up, and the county now reaps the benefits: $20.8 million in funds matched by another $41.6 million from Verizon.
This is not a stand-alone achievement. Gallagher has also earned and saved taxpayers over $17 million by daylighting all county contracts and vendor payments, daylighting all county payrolls, and identifying better county investment strategies.
Current issues such as budgetary consequences of federal cuts and our housing crisis complicated by short-term rentals make the judicious attention of the comptroller more important than ever. That’s why I urge voters to re-elect March Gallagher for comptroller.
Jenny Lee
Denning
Our radio station lives on
Some in our local community (and beyond) may be wondering why Woodstock 104 has been off the air for a brief period recently. This letter is being written to update those folks who might want to know that our local, progressive, commercial-free radio station is still alive and going to continue!
Sadly, Felicia Kacsik, who ran the radio station by herself the past seven years, and before that with her partner Randi Steel, has passed away. Felicia had cancer and died peacefully in her home on Sunday, October 19. We will keep everyone posted on a possible memorial service for her in the upcoming days.
In the meantime, now more than ever, it is important that all who value this amazing radio station give their support generously. You can send checks or money orders – made out to “Birds of a Feather” and send to: Woodstock 104, PO Box 104, Woodstock, NY 12498.
The plan is to keep the radio station alive and well. Steve Romine and Terry Britton were trained by Felicia (before she passed) on how to run the radio station, and the plan is to definitely keep the station up and running.
Thank you and God bless!
Nicole Nevin
Woodstock
Lusting to run
Local politics and national politics don’t always align.
Years ago, when two Democrats ran for New Paltz town supervisor on the Republican line, a crossing over tradition was established. Both Toni Hokanson and the late Carol Roper were elected.
Incumbent supervisor Amanda Gotto should be elected on November 4, also.
She has budgeted a zero 2026 tax increase for everyone in New Paltz. Meanwhile, village mayor Tim Rogers is partnering up with a Republican developer who is paying for the village to sue the town Rogers is lusting to run. So dumb.
Rogers has helped the county Industrial Development Agency to hand out 15-year tax breaks to wealthy developers to build apartments in the village that most folks in town won’t be able to afford. He says he’s against tax breaks. For whom? Anyone who wants to cut a special deal so the village gets the fees while town residents make up the difference.
After nine years as village mayor, Rogers is running out of revenue. So he decided to run for Amanda Gotto’s job. First he’ll want a raise. Then he’ll install parking meters in town. He’ll write long reports about not very much on Facebook while letting the town fall into the same shabby state as the village. That’s the Rogers experience.
Like so many things in New Paltz, crossing over to vote for Amanda Gotto for supervisor may seem odd, but it’s the right thing to do. The woman running for town supervisor believes in a zero tax raise for all, lowering her own salary and not letting fat cats eat our lunches.
Ava Lowle
New Paltz
I don’t vote party line
On November 4, Gardiner residents will elect a new supervisor and town-board members. A friend asked me why I have signs in my yard for Democrats. Simple. I do not vote party line, I vote for the most qualified.
I’ve been a Gardiner resident for over 40 years. We need town-board members who will uphold the towns municipal codes. That will selflessly make decisions that benefit the town.
Michael Hartner will be our next supervisor. Michael is supremely qualified as a retired schools superintendent and is currently a town-board member. I am confident he will be an outstanding supervisor. More at https://gardinerdemocrats.com/michael-hartner-for-town-board/
Roberta Clements must be on the town board, too. She is a member of (and previously chaired) the environmental conservation commission, is vice-oresident of Friends of the Shawangunks, and has a long volunteer history of environmental protection, activism, and ridge protection.
Jerry Brown
Gardiner
Long in the making
How did we get here? How do we get out? Full-blown fascism in the U.S.A. We must correctly understand the first question before we can effectively answer the second. I heard no solutions from the recent massive No Kings marches.
It didn’t suddenly start with Trump. It’s been long in the making. The cancer of fascist oligarchy has spread deeply into all branches of government, our educational institutions, economic structures and media outlets, infecting even our cultural pastimes.
We have participated. Sleepwalking through it, succumbing to intense propaganda, turning a blind eye, or acquiescing to what we couldn’t help but see, but didn’t know how (or care enough) to respond to, to stand up and push back. Now it shouldn’t be too difficult to acknowledge our helplessness as to WTF to do.
It may be that Trump has caused so much disruption that he has created his own downfall. The combined impact of tariffs, rising prices, intentional job cuts, rising unemployment, cuts to assistance programs through all social strata — all yielding economic pain. His fascist bullying and martial law may spur enough traditional centrist Republicans to encourage their representatives to join the vote to impeach him for his dozens of impeachable offenses.
Coming after Trump is the more articulate, equally deceptive Vance, eager to do the bidding of the unelected offices and institutions which comprise the shadow government. We have to recognize the insidious economic and ideological bond between AIPAC, the condensed ownership of mainstram media, social media platforms, the entertainment industry, the war industry, and Wall Street’s web of corporate and multinational banking interests. These are the empire managers for the ultimate plutocracy which needs to be illuminated, confronted and constrained.
This is what is. Now is the time. We are the ones.
Liam Watt
Phoenicia
A choice for Woodstock
My name is Thom Jenkins.
My family has been in Woodstock since the mid-1700s, and my third-great-grandfather, Peter Short, is one of the signers of the founding Charter of Woodstock created in 1787.
He also got kidnapped with Peter Miller by Tories disguised as Delaware Indians on June 17,1780 during the Revolutionary War less than a mile from where I live today and forced at gunpoint to walk to Montreal, where he escaped and walked home to Woodstock.
It is safe to say I love this town with all my being.
Today I stand here not as a politician but as a member of this community who loves this town deeply. Woodstock has always been more than a place. It’s a spirit. It’s the shared belief that people’s voices matter, that art and nature belong together, and that our community thrives when we listen to one another.
I am running for town supervisor of Woodstock as an independent write-in candidate.
I’m running because I believe it’s time to restore the partnership between our residents and our local government, and to ensure that every decision about development, land use, and community services reflects the values and voices of the people who live here.
Over the past few years, Woodstock has faced difficult debates about water, noise, housing and growth. Some of these issues have divided neighbors and blurred our sense of togetherness. Out of those divisions, I see an opportunity to rebuild trust, preserve our town’s identity, and move forward with transparency and respect.
Together, we can protect what makes Woodstock special — its beauty, its integrity, and its community spirit — while building a future where everyone has a voice and a safe, warm home.
I’m will share the outlines of my program on Facebook and next week hope to do so in writing here.
Thom Jenkins
Woodstock
Aren’t we all Paltzonians?
Why should we elect Time Rogers? I’d say just compare the contents of both candidates’ campaign websites (electtimrogers.com vs reelectgotto.com). You’ll find that Tim’s experience, accomplishments and realistic priorities make him way more qualified to meet the challenges that both the town and village are only starting to face.
Tim has a ten-year record of successful administration. He has kept taxes flat for nine consecutive years, obtained over $9 million chasing grant money, and got us a new fire station, courthouse/police station and finally a safe pedestrian-bike path. His priorities are focused, realistic and accomplishable.
His priorities are not political slogans, pie-in-the-sky attention-getters, nor “make-everybody-happy” ideas? Understandably.
Tim has major respected endorsements. And what about his desire to make us one community to meet our challenges together? Stands out for me. Why should we be “townies” or “villagers,” aren’t we all Paltzonians?
Maggie Veve
New Paltz
Moving Saugerties forward
I write today as a member of the Ulster-Dutchess Working Families Party chapter in strong support of Fred Costello for re-election as Saugerties town supervisor. As a lifelong Saugertesian with generational working-class roots here, I care deeply for my community and do not wish to see an unqualified and unprofessional person leading it.
Fred understands that in order for Saugerties to move forward, bold actions are required and no one can be left behind. That means standing up for all who reside here. It means continuing to honor and further our status as Climate Smart and Housing Smart while protecting current and future residents from undue tax burdens.
The list could go on, but in summary Fred upholds WFP values and strives to further them. Early voting runs October 25 to November 2 with Election Day on November 4. Absentee ballots are another option. Vote Row D for Fred Costello!
Tim Scott, Jr.
Saugerties
We are not alone
Driving west on Route 28, I saw a billboard with a picture of a crying statue of liberty, head in her hands, asking if I was worried. I am very worried about what is happening to our country, but I am also very glad to be living in an area where people who share my worries care enough to put up such a billboard.
Seeing that message on Route 28 made me proud and it reinforced my commitment to continue working to resist the cruelty that is reported every day in the news. I learned that the local Indivisible Hurley/Woodstock group put up the billboard (indivisiblehurleywoodstock.org), so I would like to thank them for reminding me that we are not alone.
Alice Radosh
Lake Hill
Unstable fable
Once upon a time, a nation of people lived in peace. Their lives were filled with laughter and tears, joy and pain, just like the daily rising and setting of the sun and the coming and going of the seasons. Life had its ups and downs, but it was a good life and one that everybody understood.
Then one day a new leader took over, and started hurting good citizens for no apparent reason. Most people were stunned at the weird behavior. They felt it was wrong. Some complained. Some watched but then turned away. They didn’t want to see, it was too painful.
As things got worse, more and more people began to turn away. Everybody now knew the harsh treatment of good people was horrible. But many became more scared of the violence. They kept turning away. They chose to not see. For them, the truth of the situation was too hard to bear, and much too scary to do anything about. So they simply chose to not see.
Some chose another path to not see. They decided to join the mean leader and his cruel enforcers. It was too hard for them to see what the leader was doing. Resisting became way too scary, but joining the leader gave them a chance to feel more secure, at least for a while. Unfortunately, in time those who followed the mean leader also were harshly treated by him.
Both groups who chose not to see ended up suffering greatly as the leader became more and more ruthless. All their lives were horribly compromised. Those who did their best to stand up against the mean leader started calling those who would not see, the “notsees.” Are you one of them?
“None are so blind as those who will not see.”
Marty Klein
Kingston
Environmental values
We the undersigned enthusiastically endorse Bill Barr for the Saugerties Town Board. He has worked tirelessly to bring environmental values into the Winston Farm rezoning controversy. He is the only candidate to go on record as supporting a minimum of three-quarters of the property as undeveloped open space, as has long been recommended — even by the town — to maintain the biodiversity and environmental quality and integrity on the property.
As this is one of the major issues facing the town board, we need him on the board as someone who understands and supports the importance of Winston Farm in maintaining the health, beauty and aesthetic character of our town.
Vote for Bill Barr for the Saugerties town board on (or before) November 4!|
Janet Moss Asiain
Margarita Asiain
Michelle Aizenstat
Marc Brodkin
Yves Mikol
Susan Murphy
Joanne Pagano Weber
Janelle O’Rourke
Saugerties
Never say never
Casual observers know the best time to steal is when a victim is distracted. This letter clarifies for Mr. [Mike] Harkavy my appeal to Saugertiesians to take action regarding local politics.
[Fred] Costello has over 21 years on the town board. If by 2021 he did not know the proper use of taxpayer funds, we will be even more outraged when the state comptroller does a more extensive audit. For example, the late George Heidcamp exposed many town-paid lunch credit-card receipts, the most memorable of which is a $500 credit-card receipt during the reign of Harkavy-backed [Greg] Helsmoortel to celebrate a repast after the funeral of a town worker’s husband.So while taxpayers might spend time at No-Kings’ rallies, they should also question Costello’s $91,979 mismanaged town funds in the state audit while long-time residents are being squeezed out of their private homes by overtaxation, overassessments and overregulation resulting in overspending. Examine why the supervisor is pushing to re-write zoning laws to change our town without specific plans but will accommodate big donors. Scrutinize how the town’s incompetent and unethical hiring practices led to accusations of sex crimes and other lawsuits facing us taxpayers. Talk to each other because a burden shared is a burdened halved. Initiate action to vote, organize by helping others to vote, and never say never.
The winner can be a third-party-candidate like myself.
End the Costello reign because there are No Kings in Saugerties. Vote for competency, efficacy, inclusivity and transparency on Row C. Vote Gaetana Ciarlante for town supervisor.
Gaetana Ciarlante
Saugerties
Experienced administrator
My long-time friend and colleague is running to be the town supervisor in Gardiner. From the time we were undergrads at Plattsburgh State in the early 1970s to working as superintendents of schools at neighboring school districts on Long Island, I have known Mike to possess a number of attributes that would serve the residents of the Town of Gardiner well. He is a deliberate, analytical thinker and a person of integrity. Equally important, he is a friendly person who gets along well with everyone while being open to others’ viewpoints on issues.
Although the responsibilities of being a town supervisor are different than those of a superintendent of schools, they are similar, and Mike’s past experience would likely provide him with strong skills necessary to be an effective town supervisor. Inherent in his work as a superintendent was the possession of broad knowledge of the many aspects of running a school system — working effectively with personnel with a wide range of responsibilities, understanding and planning for numerous issues, leading a board, being the face of the organization, negotiating contracts, etc.
Mike’s ability to be fiscally conscious while simultaneously being forward-thinking served him well as the superintendent of the Springs UFSD, and would similarly serve the residents of Gardiner well. I commend him to you as an experienced administrator who has the time and talent to serve the Town of Gardiner in a highly effective manner.
John Gratto
Plattsburgh
Join the family! 
