The views and opinions expressed in our letters section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Hudson Valley One. You can submit a letter to the editor here.
Primary letters
Editor’s note: This is the last issue in which letters criticizing a candidate for the June 22 primary 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 June 16 issue. Thank you.
— Deb Alexsa, Editor
Richman and Baker: The real ticket
Because of pandemic protocols, the Gardiner Democratic Party bypassed its usual caucus and will count on the June 22 primary to select their candidates in the November election. Two Town Board seats are in play. Because of an unfortunate timing glitch, an outstanding candidate for one of those seats did not qualify for Democratic party endorsement, which he unquestionably deserved. I urge all Gardiner Democrats to cast their primary votes for Todd Baker and Carol Richman.
Todd has emerged as one of the rational voices in the Short Term Rental (STR) discussions, during which he has effectively, patiently and tirelessly addressed this important issue. His goal is an STR law that could provide additional needed income for some property owners, while also protecting resident neighbors — and our larger Gardiner community — from real estate speculators. Todd’s response to new or opposing perspectives is consistently thoughtful and friendly.
His multi-faceted professional experiences include the entertainment industry, the restaurant business and his successful 20-year primary career in financial services. Todd’s a “money guy” who knows how to balance a budget, create incentives and plan for the long term. (He is also, just gotta mention, an award-winning songwriter and musician who has performed on three continents — a background unique to Gardiner political candidates!) His skill sets and personal qualities make Todd Baker an ideal Town Board representative for all the citizens of Gardiner.
Carol Richman — slam dunk! She needs no introduction. Carol is a lawyer by profession. Her intellect and sheer grit have long been in play for our community during her tenures as the former chairperson of the Environmental Conservation Commission and currently as a fearless member of the Planning Board who refuses to be intimidated. She also advocates for affordable places to live, for making the hamlet a destination rather than a drive-by and for fundamental animal welfare.
Rather than being tethered to a selectively edited recitation of the past, the Gardiner Town Board needs visionary thinking and new blood, with focus on the future. GARDINER DEMS: vote for the real Democrats in your 6/22 primary! Vote for RICHMAN and BAKER to secure their election on the Democratic line in November. You’ll be glad you did.
Janet Kern
former Town Board member
Gardiner
Great writing by Erin Quinn
Bravissima for publishing Erin Quinn’s beautifully written first-person article about her bout of COVID. Not only does she have a way with words, she also provided insight to her experience. Thank you Erin and Hudson Valley One.
Paula J Silbey
Woodstock
Thanks, President Don
This spring New Paltz’s elected officials were interviewed by the reaccreditation team from Middle States Commission on Higher Education to get a sense of our town and gown dynamic and how we work with the administration at SUNY New Paltz.
It was an easy discussion as Supervisor Neil Bettez and I had many examples to share where we worked together with SUNY New Paltz on a variety of projects during the last several years. This is the only town and gown relationship I know, so I was surprised when their team said it was unusual to hear about such a positive working relationship.
SUNY New Paltz’s President Don Christian has a boundless list of responsibilities as college president but has always made a point to maintain and grow our productive relationships. He made it clear he or SUNY New Paltz staff were available to work closely with us in various ways. We worked together on many things including our water meter reading system, water and sewer billing processes, parking during graduation, emergency preparedness, SUNY Impact Aid, an education program to help on-campus residents understand how they can help reduce the number of Fire Department calls, the Feb 2020 water crisis, searching for water leaks on campus, stormwater designs, and our community awareness campaign for Covid.
Don never seemed preoccupied with politics or ego. He seemed primarily motivated by what was fair, reasonable, or helpful.
We look forward to continuing to work with Don through June 2022 and congratulate him on a well-earned retirement. SUNY New Paltz faces a tough task finding Don’s replacement.
Mayor Tim Rogers
New Paltz
Endorsement for Woodstock Town Board
I met Howard Harris in 2007 when we were replacing a worn-out metal shed in the backyard of our property in Willow. After applying for a variance to the Zoning Board, ZBA member Howard came to check on how far the proposed new shed would be from a stream and the neighbor’s property line. I was impressed by his knowledge and courteous demeanor.
We selected Woodstock in 1995 partly because of strong zoning laws and professional town government. As ZBA chair, Howard was an integral part of that, saving the town significant cost in legal fees, minimizing waste in both money and time spent on projects. If elected, I believe Howard will be a great asset to the Town Board. He knows the laws and has an understanding of how to make Woodstock better.
At this time, while town office improvements are being proposed, Howard will help guide that project as well as others to enhance the appearance and function of our town. I will be voting for Howard Harris for Town Board on June 22 and urge all who love Woodstock to do the same.
Pat Horner
Willow
Kudos to Health Alliance Hospital
After I took my husband with a serious emergency to our local hospital, he was taken to the Health Alliance Hospital in Kingston for more extensive care.
Although I was not allowed into the hospital due to COVID restrictions, the staff was very responsive to me. The care was exceptional. Dr. Thomas Holman is not only an excellent doctor who made excellent health care decisions for my husband, but he spoke with me on my cell phone explaining my husband’s situation in detail. He stated that even though I was not allowed in the hospital, he would keep me informed and wanted me to be part of all decisions. Dr. Holman contacted me discussing the best choice for a hospital to meet my husband’s needs. The nurse let me know when my husband was picked up and provided contact information. I told Dr. Holman that I appreciated the way I was treated by him during this difficult time and that it made a big difference. I am grateful for the excellent care, communication and support. The need of support persons in patient care is confirmed by the professionals listed below.
The American Association of Critical Care Nurses include in their PracticeAlertTM: “The unrestricted presence and participation of a support person can enhance patient and family satisfaction because it improves the safety of care.”
The Nemschoff study indicates that “Unrestricted presence of a support person can improve communication, facilitate a better understanding of the patient, advance patient and family-centered care and enhance staff satisfaction.”
Renee Barchitta
Roxbury
Wind power
Explore the wind.
Sparrow
Phoenicia
Todd Baker and Carol Richman for Gardiner
For the June 22 Gardiner Democratic Party primary, we can vote for two candidates. This year, Carol Richman and Todd Baker are by far the best choices.
Carol Richman has served on the town Planning Board and is a formidable attorney. Todd Baker has recently emerged as the leader of the new STR issue (Short-Term Rental). I am grateful for Warren Wiegand’s past contributions and I voted for him four years ago; but, going forward, their qualifications now make Todd and Carol the best candidates.
Todd’s late candidacy should not disqualify him. I know that many committee members are grateful that we now have a choice, and they will be voting on June 22 for Todd and Carol. Most saliently, Carol Richman herself endorses Todd Baker.
I hope, after scrutinizing the track record of all three candidates — and weighing the community’s needs at this time of Zoning Code revision — everyone will vote for Carol and Todd.
I already voted by absentee ballot. If you are a registered Democrat, please do the same, or show up at the polling venues on June 22!
Samuel Cristler
Gardiner
Traffic jams
It is no fun to just drive into the Village of New Paltz for anything — whether to have pizza, go to the pool, visit the library, or pick up groceries. Who are all these people driving through my little college town? Did our village leader do things to encourage all this driving? Weird if you actually believe in the existential threat from manmade greenhouse gases!
Paul Nathe
New Paltz
Curtain pulled back
OMG!! Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a firebrand ally of former President Donald Trump, insists “Any Rational Jewish Person” thinks mask mandates are as BAD as the Holocaust… with her mouth and thought process she set off intense criticism by comparing vaccine passports to the yellow badges that Nazi Germany forced Jewish people to wear during the Holocaust. After reflecting on the seriousness of the matter, Greene repeated the comparison, then issued an impressively demented anti-apology about the whole thing.
The bolder and crazier she gets the more attention she gets. This is the same person that said Jewish space lasers started the California wildfires. Surprise, surprise she’s anti-Semitic, this menace to society is not really helping the GOP at all. Republicans should have a serious talk with her. In fact, if such people [a merchant of venom] can be voted into positions of power, spew their racial intolerance, growing anti-Semitism rhetoric, ethnic and other religious prejudices aloud with impunity, then any hope for democracy in my opinion is gone.
Comparing the Holocaust with mask wearing and vaccinations during an epic health crisis of virulent proportions demonstrates unbelievable ignorance…. Rep. Greene seems to be missing the “humanity” gene. How dare she try to erase the reality of the Holocaust? WTF is wrong with her? Someone needs to shut her up. She continues to spew her filth — I’m sure the Holocaust victims wish they would have had a choice between torture and death or wear a mask. No thought for the families of the victims or survivors who may still be living.
She’s the official “face” of the “new” GOP a/k/a The Trumpublican Party — loud, crass, brash, delusional, vindictive, etc., etc. How this woman is allowed to be a member of the GOP and get on TV is ‘mind blowing’ to me and many other Americans… She needs to be removed from the government. Unfortunately, with blessings from the big man himself who has breathed life into these new Trumplandia authoritarian-type politics, Greene is given carte blanche to cross all redlines and is allowed to provoke controversial issues and incite his base and her people, 75 million MAGADIEHARDS with impunity as she stirs domestic and international outrage. Her being a lightning rod on Trump’s behalf only proves that Trump’s indomitable presence in American politics could outlast the 2022 and. 2024 elections…that he still pulls the string… and that he is UNTOUCHABLE…
Again, not really all that surprising by the Trump GOP, who sows the seeds of a new fascism, is it? Kevin McCarthy, minority leader, is too scared to discipline her for aforementioned awful words. But he’s not too scared when having Trump’s support to punish someone telling the truth like Liz Cheney. Very sad state of affairs when they’re scraping the bottom of the political barrel with Gaetz and Greene, two of the most amoral, despicable and corrupt examples of human depravity.
The fact that the Republican leadership is not calling out this woman, denouncing her misleading idiotic rhetoric and forcing her to resign speaks volumes about them and the direction they have chosen to undertake. This useless, disgraceful, dishonorable and destructive GOP leadership should find another job. They need to get out of the way for someone with honesty, loyalty to their oath in upholding the Constitution and who have the skills and correct motivation to govern in Congress today.
Neil Jarmel
West Hurley
Warren Wiegand: Smart financial management for Gardiner
I am asking for your support in the Democratic Primary for the Town Board on June 22. Over the last 12 years on the Town Board, I have been a leader in keeping Gardiner’s finances strong and its taxes low. In fact, Gardiner’s taxes have historically been among the lowest of Ulster County’s 19 towns.
During my years on the Town Board, I have focused on the town’s financial health: keeping taxes under the tax cap, selling unused assets (including $100,000 from the old library) and attracting funding from outside sources (Ulster County, the Open Space Institute, government grants and private donations).
I identified more than two dozen unused, town-owned properties to be sold to raise cash and to be returned to the tax rolls. I uncovered more than $500,000 of reserves which had been “forgotten” since the 1990’s. (Over $100,000 of these reserves subsequently were invested in Gardiner’s highways and snowplows). I discovered that the town has historically been “over-budgeting” — raising more in property taxes than it was capable of spending.
I led the fight to reimburse the town for $129,000 in legal fees from a court case which the town won in the New York Supreme Court, against a property owner who was unwilling to pay his fair share of property taxes.
But there’s much more to do. We need to insure that taxes remain affordable for seniors and young families. We should be smarter at setting annual budgets so we don’t raise more in taxes than we need. We need to expand cost sharing with Ulster County and neighboring towns. We must sell unused, unneeded town-owned assets. And we need to continue to use our surplus financial reserves to improve our infrastructure without raising taxes.
Please support me on June 22 so that Gardiner continues to spend your tax dollars wisely.
Warren Wiegand
Gardiner
In support of Kayleigh Zaloga for Saugerties Town Board
I support Kayleigh Zaloga for Saugerties Town Board, and I recommend my fellow Saugerties Democrats to vote for her in the upcoming primary election.
Kayleigh and her husband opened their home to my partner and me when we were in between rentals and looking for our own place to call home. Their kindness and generosity extended far beyond when we moved out: we’ve counted on them when we didn’t have running water, when we had to stack five cords of wood in the pouring rain and they have been literally helping us build our home.
I know Kayleigh’s vision for Saugerties is a community that we can all afford to live in, where we all belong no matter where we’re from and what we look like and where our environment is protected for future generations. Find out more about her and her plans for Saugerties at www.kayzalogaforsaugerties.com.
I hope you’ll join me in voting for Kayleigh Zaloga in the Democratic primary for Saugerties Town Board! The election is on June 22 and early voting at the Saugerties Senior Center will run from June 12-20.
Zach Kalatsky
Saugerties
Being willing to learn something
In my experience, ideologues-those who consider their ideology or set of beliefs “the truth” rather than “a window to truth” are unwilling to consider any “truths” that contradict their own. For this reason, it was refreshing to read Susan Slotnick’s, non-ideological, column “Hot issues in a Tuscon hot tub.” In the article, Susan tells of an encounter in a Tuscon hot tub with a Chicago police officer whose African American race made his complaints more palatable to her and caused Susan to examine her views on the police and admit, despite the objections of her progressive friends, that progressives, as well as those on the right, often deny reality altogether when defending beliefs; even when the issues are complex. Susan then tells of having two encounters with another, Caucasian and boorish police officer: one at her house, the other at a traffic violation stop. During the traffic stop, this officer recognizes Susan as Hudson Valley One’s columnist and informs her that he and his wife “doodle on her column” or “use it for a placemat when we eat.” Noting her anger at the time of the insult’s occurrence, Susan, now, self-deprecatingly, mocks her “How dare you” internal reaction over the officer’s disdain for her ideas. With this in view, the reason I found Susan’s article refreshing is because she tells of having thoughtful reflections during long Hudson Valley springtime walks which lead Susan to both a recognition of having unconscious biases as well as the need to be willing to confront them. This willingness is demonstrated by Susan when she writes of wishing she had started a dialogue with her assumed “not too bright” officer critic, not only to understand his severe reaction to her columns, but in the hope of learning something, beneficial, from him in the process.
Several years ago, I read an article by Bertrand Russell titled “Why I am not a Christian.” Even though the title indicated a disapproval of my beliefs, I was curious to learn this brilliant man’s reasons for rejecting Christianity, thinking they might present a real challenge to my faith. However, after reading his treatise, I found Mr. Russell’s reasons for rejection unconvincing because his arguments were specious and easily refuted. In fact, after reading the article, my faith was fortified and I was even more glad I was a Christian. In view of progressive Susan’s “born again” willingness to learn something from someone she would have dismissed in the past, I present the following challenge to Hudson Valley One’s many progressive readers: Google Danusha V. Goska’s article “Top 10 reasons I am no longer a Leftist” and read it; even though such a reading may challenge your beliefs. (Those who are pro-choice should know that none of her reasons include abortion.) Citing her graduation from U.C. Berkeley, two tours in the Peace Corps, as well as other things, Ms. Goska testifies to her leftist bona fides in her article’s preface. Of special interest to members of the Jewish feedback community should be Ms. Goska’s first encounter with the “truly frightening phenomenon” of left-wing anti-Semitism on display at a PLO fundraising party she attended. Regarding this event she writes “I felt as if I had time-traveled to pre-war Berlin.” The hope of my challenge is that those who accept it will be willing to drop any conscious or unconscious ideological biases while reading the article with the same “maybe I will learn something” spirit that Susan presented in her, refreshingly, honest article. Who knows…maybe the something that you learn will make you even more glad you are a progressive.
George Civile
Gardiner
Vote for Bennet Ratcliff and Maria Elena Conte for Woodstock Town Board
Bennet Ratcliff is running for the Woodstock Town Board to help create a community that values the environment, the arts, social and economic justice. He believes Woodstock can:
1. Lead the way in reducing carbon use and lowering emissions.
2. Stop the destructive high-elevation dam and reservoir that threatens our towns.
3. Create a community where artists, musicians and writers can live affordably and work successfully.
4. Take down systemic barriers of racial, gender and economic privilege that have existed for centuries in our town, region, state and country.
Woodstock has already passed a Comprehensive Plan that supports these efforts. Now, it’s up to us to do them! Bennet has experience working with others on the Onteora School Board, the Woodstock Democratic Committee and the Secret City arts organization.
We hope you will vote for Bennet for Woodstock Town Board. He will be an asset to our board and will work to find good solutions for all!
Maria-Elena Conte currently serves as the Deputy Supervisor for the Town of Woodstock. She is the co-founder and organizer for the Woodstock NY Women’s March and is a member of the Woodstock Democratic Committee. In 2019, she started research into Home Share programs hoping to start a pilot program here in Woodstock. While deep in research, Covid hit and her priorities shifted towards immediate needs of the seniors in the community. Maria-Elena started the Woodstock NY S.O.S. Program — Senior Outreach Services, checking in with residents and connecting them to volunteers providing meal and grocery deliveries. She acts as liaison to the Woodstock Housing Committee and assists in the planning of the Home Share program. She also spends time fundraising for the community. Maria-Elena hopes to strengthen women’s voices on the Town Board as an elected councilperson. Please vote for Maria Elena. She will make a difference!!
Terence and Linda Lover
Woodstock
A response to George Civile
We Women in Black write in response to George Civile’s letter in the May 26th Hudson Valley One calling those who protest Israel’s brutal attacks on Palestinians anti-Semitic. Our group, which protests each Saturday on Main Street in New Paltz, often focusing on Palestinian rights, does not consider criticism of Israel anti-Semitic any more than we consider criticism of US policies un-American.
We protest Israel’s efforts to evict Palestinians living in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem, part of the relentless effort to dispossess Palestinians. We protest Israel’s repeated attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the worshipers within; we protest the cruel bombing of Gaza which killed 248 people, including 66 children, while Hamas’s rocket fire killed 12 people in Israel, two of them children. We protest Israel’s continually expanding restrictions on Palestinians. We protest the separation wall that keeps Jews and Palestinians apart. We protest war and injustice wherever we see them.
We also protest US wars and condemn the US for arming Israel and funding the assault on Palestinians to the tune of $4 billion a year.
Palestinians and Jews alike need peace and safety. Israel has no right to dispossess and slaughter Palestinians.
Ingrid Blaufarb Hughes
for New Paltz Women in Black
Que sera?
From time to time, I remember what Woodstock was like in the 80’s and 90’s and wonder what Woodstock was like in the 60’s and 70’s and now I am concerned about Woodstock’s future. I will do my part to bring back Woodstock, will you do yours? Visit bringbackwdstk.blogspot.com.
Howard Harris
Woodstock
Saugerties Democratic Primary
Did you know that the town of Saugerties is having a six-person democratic primary? This is exciting because there are two spots on the upcoming November Election ballot for Democrats and I wanted to take a moment and wish my competitors Dierdre Miller, Tim Scott, Jr., Kevin Freeman, Kayleigh Zaloga and Nina Schmidbauer the best of luck! Often there is little to no interest in local races and this year we have a lot, and that’s a good thing!
Town Board members are responsible for local workings of government which is why it’s so important to take part in local elections. Board members:
• Create legislation for the town
• Fill vacancies in town offices (elected or appointed)
• Selects police officers
• Provides for the hiring of other employees
• Adopt budgets
• Fix salaries of officers and employees
• Provide for the construction of drainage flood control facilities
• Provide for towers to be built
• Buy and install traffic control equipment
• Regulate certain dangerous conditions
• Provide for town improvements
Saugerties is an amazing town and having grown up a shy barefoot mountain child working my way through the ranks from Brownie and Girl Scout to an “Eraser” with Saugerties Little League to working at one of our town’s treasures, Krause’s Candy, I left the comforts of West Saugerties and headed to university. A summa cum laude graduate, I then embarked on a ten-year tenured high school social studies teaching career, married, became a stay-at-home mom of two involved in the PTA and various volunteering activities to then come full circle to raise my girls in the town that raised me!
“Expanding my horizons” at the suggestion of my father I’ve lived elsewhere and traveled across the United States and abroad having the opportunity to see the workings of other communities and cultures and have found Saugerties by far the best place to reside. Our town is blooming and growing and its truly amazing to watch the bare shops open as fun boutiques, art venues and delicious restaurants filled with customers. What’s more, we have our beautiful mountains to explore, waters to splash, fish and boat in, festivals to attend and last but not least, the school community! They say, “it takes a village” and this is the village that has it all right at our fingertips.
Being immersed in various facets of the community for the past several years and regularly attending town and school board meetings, as well as the recent police reform, reopening task force and town halls, I can assure you that I would never dream of entertaining a position without having informed myself on the behind-the-scenes activity that bares the responsibility of the workings of our town. See laurenforsaugerties.com for more information and remember, election day is June 22 with early voting beginning June 12. Get out and vote!
Lauren Marcello Ruberg
Saugerties
Vote for Carol Richman and Warren Wiegand in Gardiner
June 22 is primary election day across the state and in Gardiner registered Democrats will be choosing two of three candidates to run for Town Board on the Democratic ballot line in November. I strongly urge you to choose the two candidates with the most experience in government and public policy, Carol Richman and Warren Wiegand. These two individuals also are the candidates endorsed by the Gardiner Democratic Committee.
Carol Richman is a local attorney who practices public interest law. Though her public policy experience and civic engagement is extensive, this is her first run for elective office. She is an environmentalist and an advocate for sustainable development in our town. Carol served on the town’s Environmental Conservation Commission for seven years, including two as its chair. She then moved onto the Gardiner Planning Board, where she was and is that body’s strongest voice for mitigating the impact of planned development on the environment and protecting the town’s ecological diversity. Carol is an advocate for family farms and affordable housing, as well as for marginalized people in our community. The move to Town Board is a natural one for Carol. She is a strong leader with top-notch government, legal and policy credentials.
Warren Wiegand is running for re-election to the Town Board. Warren is a familiar face to most of us in Gardiner and an outstanding member of the board. He is well known for his hard work, creative solutions to town problems and his ability to work collaboratively with his fellow board members. Warren has served 12 years on the Town Board, including eight as Deputy Supervisor. He also served two years each on the Planning Board, the Board of Assessment Review and the Open Space Commission. His involvement with the Gardiner Library is extensive, including serving as chair of its Capital Committee. Among Warren’s many accomplishments are co-authoring the town’s Open Space Law and resurrecting the Open Space Commission after a multi-year period of dormancy. He led in protecting the Hess and Kiernan farms from future development. Warren is known as a fiscal hawk who leads in maintaining financial discipline in town and keeping taxes as low as possible. Warren also led in efforts to limit nighttime noise at the Jellystone Campground.
Both Carol and Warren also believe in our (“big-D”) Democratic values and the notion that there is such a thing as “good government” that works actively to better communities, states and nations. This is especially important in these perilous times.
And, if you are like me, you recognize that in town government, experience matters. Carol Richman and Warren Wiegand have the experience, the skills and the will to maintain and improve good government in Gardiner. If you are a Democrat, please show them your support by coming to Town Hall on June 22 (there will be no voting in the Firehouse this election) and casting your vote for both Richman and Wiegand for Town Board. More information on the primary and on voting can be found at gardinerdemocrats.com.
Tom Kruglinski
Chair, Gardiner Democratic Committee
In reference to a letter in the June 2 edition of Hudson Valley One
It’s human nature to be suspicious of the unfamiliar. Unfortunately, the internet age has given a voice to the fear-mongering fringe. People implore readers to “do your own research.” Having spent 40 years at the Vanderbilt, Yale and Mt. Sinai Schools of Medicine, as well as the European Molecular Biology Lab, I can tell you that doing research is not something you’ll knock off in ten minutes on Google.
One recent letter urged us to research the mRNA vaccines that are helping control the spread of COVID-19. The letter writer has had negative reactions to vaccines in the past and is wise to avoid this one. All the more reason to encourage the rest of us to get the vaccine — herd immunity can also help those who can’t be vaccinated. You’re protected because we’re vaccinated. Because of the pearl-clutching regarding the ingredients and the potential side effects, we probably won’t get there, though. Vaccines have led us out of the dark ages of childhood diseases and scourges like polio, measles and diphtheria were virtually eradicated until this recent spate of “researchers” have decided that the risks outweigh the benefits.
As an environmental lawyer, Robert F Kennedy, Jr. led the noble effort to clean up the Hudson River. Since mercury was one of the pollutants in the river and mercury is present in some vaccines, it must be dangerous and therefore vaccines are unsafe, but this is a logical fallacy. Try this: Chlorine gas killed thousands in WWI. Bleach contains chlorine. It’s poison. Sodium is a metal that reacts violently with water. Throw some sodium in a lake and it explodes (look it up on YouTube — it’s pretty cool). However, when you mix sodium with chlorine, you get table salt, which is neither explosive nor poisonous. Chemistry is funny that way. Similarly, not all mercury compounds are the same. Formaldehyde is scary, but did you know that it’s a natural by-product of metabolism? In fact, your liver makes about 50,000 times more formaldehyde than is present in vaccines EVERY SINGLE DAY.
When someone says, “Your immune system is your best defense…”, they are identifying themselves as ignorant of how it works. Millions have died worldwide from COVID because their first exposure to the virus was more than their immune systems could handle. The vaccine gives your immune system a snapshot of the virus so it can recognize and fight it before the infection can take hold. It’s your actual best defense (remember smallpox?). And no, mRNA vaccines are NOT gene therapy!! The message never reaches the nucleus of the immune cells so it can NOT alter your DNA or any other genetic material. Once the mRNA has been identified it is destroyed, but the characteristics remain in the cell’s ‘memory’ so it can fight an infection later on. Please don’t pass along false information under the guise of “research” when even the people initiating it don’t know what they’re talking about. This is a thorough de-bunking of RFK’s claims: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19-health-pseudoscience/anti-vaccine-propaganda-robert-f-kennedy-jr.
Steve Massardo
Saugerties
Howard Harris for Town Board
Howard Harris will make a great addition to the Woodstock Town Board and deserves your support and vote on June 22 in the Democratic primary. He has been a steadfast town volunteer for many years with the Zoning Board of Appeals and knows how town government does and should work. Woodstock will be much the better having Howard Harris on the Town Board.
Michael Veitch
Woodstock
Join the family! 
