Share The Holidays
Christmas and Hanukkah are a time a joy and togetherness for many but not for all. There are some families who are facing the reality of homelessness and poverty due to domestic violence. Family Domestic Violence Services is looking for individuals, family groups or groups of co-workers who would like to adopt a family for the holidays. The donor would provide gifts to a family who is recovering from the trauma of domestic violence and adjusting, possibly, to a dramatic reduction in income and standard of living. You can help put a smile on the face of a child this year.
Family Domestic Violence Services has designed a holiday program to help the families we serve through an otherwise very difficult time. This program can only succeed with the support of community members.
Adopt a family sponsorship: As a sponsor, you would be able to select the size of family you would like to adopt. It could be a parent and one child, or it could be a parent and six children. We will give you your family’s wish list.
Last-minute list sponsorship: Because we are a crisis organization, we never know who will be coming to us and when, For this reason we have designed a list of items that we will use to put together a last minute gift basket for those families who arrive at our shelter late in the season.
Adopt-a-family sponsorship: Don’t have time to shop? Perhaps you would be interested in contributing to the Adopt-A-Family Fund. A gift or gift card at any level would be greatly appreciated. Call Kathleen Welby-Moretti at 331-7080, ext.127 to get the details. Happy holidays!
Kathleen Welby-Moretti, Family Domestic Violence Services
Kingston
Is Hydrofracking Really A Ponzi Scheme?
Let’s debunk a few myths about hydrofracking. Is it really profitable? Is it an efficient way of using our resources? Is it really safe?
Oil and gas companies that frack have received large government subsidies, over $13.5 billion. Oil and gas companies, thanks to the 2005 Clean Air and Water Act and the Halliburton loophole, bear no financial responsibility for any environmental accidents that have occurred or may occur in the future. They do, however, pay money to some injured parties who are then forced to sign nondisclosure documents. In the movie Gasland, landowners who leased their land were not allowed to talk about the consequences of hydrofracking. It was their neighbors whose water became contaminated, who received no payments, and did not sign a nondisclosure form who helped to make the filming of Gasland possible.
Oil and gas companies have already made huge profits from the sale of natural gas (much of it for overseas buyers) and many investors. Halliburton, alone, made $6.5 billion in one quarter. Once the gas is fracked and released (like letting all the air out of a balloon) there is nothing left except frack waste, ten million gallons of contaminated water for each well, that includes over 600 chemicals and radioactive material. Despite what these companies say, we have not yet found a way to return this water to its original, potable state.
Will we let oil and gas companies get away with this? Would it not be more economically intelligent to put our money into renewable resources that include wind and solar, hydroelectric and geothermal energy? Let’s take the enormous subsidies going to oil and gas companies and use it to sustain us rather than poison us.
Barbara Adrienne Rosen
West Hurley
Judy, Just A Volunteer At The Pantry
We talk a lot about the anonymous volunteers. Repeatedly, our volunteers come to the pantry and work and no one even knows who they are. Well, I’m offering recognition to one very ordinary volunteer in our pantry. She’s representative of the growing number of people at the Good Neighbor Food Pantry.
Judy has been with the pantry for at least three years now…good weather and bad. Judy came to the pantry when we were serving two dozen people weekly and only open Thursday mornings. She came looking for a pantry where she could both shop and volunteer.
There is not one job in the pantry which Judy has not done at one time or another. A couple of years ago, when the pantry began to offer fresh produce, Judy went to Albany weekly for seven months and returned with fresh produce. Her car took her faithfully and carried every load successfully.
When the pantry hours were expanded, Judy was the first volunteer to work the afternoon shift. She has attended every meeting, training class, pantry opening, and she is now a board member.
The only things that Judy has missed are the events that occurred when she had other meetings or crises with her foster child. This child is a living, walking miracle only because Judy and Doug have got him and are working with him for his future.
Both Judy and her husband have health issues. They have gone through all the trials and tribulations of unemployment. Nothing stops them.
It is a pleasure to have Judy working in the pantry. If Judy ever needs a reference, the pantry staff will be more than happy to say wonderful, truthful things about her.
Our pantry is filled with wonderful people just like Judy. We are all so grateful to have Judy and all the wonderful people who tirelessly give of themselves to keep the pantry going. Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Woodstock
Pay Tribute On Veteran’s Day
Now that Election Day is over we can concentrate on the group of men and women, who have, through the past two centuries, preserved our right to vote. Last year President Obama signed a presidential proclamation addressing Veteran’s Day. It said, in part, “on Veteran’s Day, we come together to pay tribute to the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States armed forces. Americans across this land commemorate the patriots who have risked their lives to preserve the liberty of our nation, the families who support them, and the heroes no longer with us. It is not our weapons or our technology that makes us the most advanced military in the world; it is the unparalleled spirit, skill, and devotion of our troops. As we honor our veterans with ceremonies on this day, let our actions strengthen the bond between a nation and her warriors…”
In the spirit of this proclamation, veterans of Woodstock American Legion Post 1026 invite and encourage all members of our community to stand together in honor of our country’s veterans. Our veteran’s day ceremony will be held at the Woodstock Veteran’s Memorial on Rock City Road at 11 p.m. on Friday morning, November 11, 2011.
Let us join hands for the freedoms we share as Americans.
Don Haberski, U.S. Navy Veteran, American Legion Post 1026
Woodstock
Ban Plastic Bags
I noticed in the news last week that Southhampton has banned all plastic shopping bags! Yippee! Remember when this was a topic of conversation during campaigning in our town a few years ago? It’s time. We need to convince retailers in Woodstock to ban plastic bags and encourage reusable bags.
On my first trip to Europe back in the early 70’s, I was amazed to find that shoppers were willing to shell out 2-3 cents per bag if they didn’t bring their own. What a concept! It’s time for us to catch up and walk our talk in Woodstock!
Take notice Sunflower, Sunfrost, CVS, Rite-Aid, and all other retailers! Let’s get real!
Linda Fisher
Woodstock
For more letters, see print edition.
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