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.
Socially distanced candy-giving
This is what we did last year and this year for Halloween: candy by clothesline.
Bibi Sandstrom
New Paltz
Don’t cut the police budget
Phil Erner, who has been elected an Ulster County Legislator from the City of Kingston by defeating Dave Donaldson and Suzanne Timbrouck, is apparently promoted by DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) and Rise-Up Kingston. Rise-Up Kingston is going door-to-door saying the City Council’s budget should defund the Kingston police. Is this what we want? Also, keep in mind that Pat Ryan, the County Executive, continues to show his true colors by endorsing and going door-to-door with Phil Erner. Let’s not be fools. Be ready to turn up the heat on Kingston Council members, Steve Noble and Pat Ryan if we want to strengthen our Kingston police. Do not cut the police budget.
Ralph Mitchell
Kingston
One Book/One New Paltz canceled
I am very sorry to report that this year’s One Book/One New Paltz has been canceled. We do plan, however, to return next fall, 2022. And the good news is that we will likely feature the same book we had scheduled for this year: Margaret Atwood’s Hag-Seed, a modern-day riff on Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest. In the meantime, you might enjoy watching the Helen Mirren/ Julie Taymor film version of the play, as well as the documentary Shakespeare behind Bars. The former is available on Netflix and local libraries and the latter through the Gardiner Library.
We thank all the volunteers on the One Book committee, our discussion facilitators and presenters and all of you, our devoted audience, for your continuing participation, and look forward to seeing you next fall.
In the meantime, happy reading and viewing, and if you would like to be part of our endeavor by serving on the One Book committee, please contact Robin Jacobowitz at jacobowr@newpaltz.edu.
Myra Sorin
Committee member
New Paltz
130th anniversary
Working on documentation for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation about New Paltz’s municipal water system, our engineer called because he wanted to cite the age of our system. I happened to be outside the Elting Memorial Library, so I ran in to check with Carol Johnson of the Haviland-Heidgerd Historical Collection. Unsurprisingly, she quickly handed me a thick folder.
Carol explained how the Village was incorporated in 1887 primarily to organize fire protection, because some of our neighboring communities had recently suffered devastating fires. The folder had several newspaper clippings, starting in 1891, when Mr. Cowan and six other “capitalists” from Stamford, New York visited New Paltz to build a water system with a reservoir “about 150 feet above our village” for fire protection and drinking purposes. They had recently developed waterworks in the Village of Hancock in Delaware County and were working on arrangements for other villages.
In October 1891, Village of New Paltz trustees authorized entering into an initial five-year contract that included “35 or more hydrants suitably distributed throughout the Village.” By November 1893, New Paltz residents were “congratulating themselves that the waterworks and fire companies prevented what would probably have proved a large conflagration in our Village when the old cider house caught fire.” New Paltz Fire Department and municipal water go hand in hand.
Subsequently, the Village government acquired the “New Paltz Water Works Company” in 1915. The New York State Conservation Commission, predecessor to today’s Department of Environmental Conservation, approved this acquisition and use of the upland reservoirs in a decision on Water Supply Application #162, dated June 5, 1914.
Mayor Tim Rogers
New Paltz
Meh-ta: Jus’ rename it “Lifeinvader”
I always said, “The real problem with Facebook is their name. Meta on a Thursday and my heart stood still – please: da doo run run run, yeah, doo run run run… It’s a sign of the times.”
BREAKING: Facebook has changed its name to Meta in a move many are calling “why,” since that wasn’t even in the Top Ten problems with the website.
Never Meta social network that didn’t poison our brains. The word “meta” comes from the Greek word meaning “beyond.” Zuckerberg also penned a “Founder’s Letter,” which he uploaded to the Meta website on Thursday to further explain the name he picked. The “New Improved” Facebook; what a joke. Yes, Facebook, Inc. unveiled its new name and logo at its headquarters in California on Thursday as part of a company refocus, amid ongoing criticisms from lawmakers and regulators over its market power. Logo says, “We have taken infinity, the symbol for the universe, and bent it to our will.” Actually, the logo looks like Zuckerberg’s ovaries.
Renaming Facebook reminds me of “New Coke.” And we all know how that turned out! Geez, I thought no one would ever do a worse rebrand than New Coke. Folks, you do know that Meta means “dead” in Hebrew. Mark Zuckerberg must have slept through Hebrew class.
Meta needs to change more than just its name…Hmm. So, the whistleblowers and the info they released has no part of this. Hmmm. It’s not uncommon where a company changes its exterior image to a new name to draw away from controversial issues. My bet: This is all about shielding Zuck from liability. Meta will be the parent company and all of Facebook’s current properties will become independent subsidiaries – or at least independent enough that the rest of the operation isn’t crippled when Facebook is finally hammered.
Of course, Meta sounds like a drug company (truth in advertising?). At this rate, Facebook’s new project to ruin our dreams can’t be too far away. How about Facebook donating $100 billion to change the landscape of people’s lives, instead of creating a fake one! Meta-stasizing across real and virtual worlds…We’re all Metafucked now. Oy vey!
Neil Jarmel
West Hurley
Name that snack
Digital potato chips are perfectly square.
Sparrow
Phoenicia
Persian Gulf War benefits
This is directly quoted from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Vets should contact their county Veterans’ Affairs representative for additional information:
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has extended the presumptive period to December 31, 2026 for qualifying chronic disabilities rated 10 percent or more resulting from undiagnosed illnesses in Persian Gulf War veterans to ensure benefits established by Congress are fairly administered.
If an extension of the current presumptive period was not implemented, service members whose conditions arise after December 31, 2021 would be substantially disadvantaged compared to service members whose conditions manifested at an earlier date. Limiting entitlement to benefits due to the expiration of the presumptive period would be premature, given that current studies remain inconclusive as to the cause and time of onset of illnesses suffered by Persian Gulf War veterans.
VA presumes certain medically unexplained illnesses are related to Persian Gulf War service without regard to cause, including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Also included are undiagnosed illnesses with symptoms that may include but are not limited to abnormal weight loss, cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, headache, menstrual disorders, neurological and psychological problems, skin conditions, respiratory disorders and sleep disturbances.
Persian Gulf War veterans who are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above and other unexplained medical issues are encouraged to file a claim.
Jo Galante Cicale
Saugerties
We appreciate Stewart’s
We owe a nice thank-you to Stewart’s for the free and convenient air. Congratulations also for the move to a more spacious and attractive area.
Tom Losee
New Paltz
A heartfelt thank-you
It has been a pleasure talking and helping customers while working at Modena Automotive for the past year. I would like to say “Thank you” to all the customers that I helped with the service of their cars.
I will miss all of you.
Kathleen Crosbie
Gardiner
The housing crisis
Is it an exaggeration to say that the Number One issue in our City of Kingston, the overwhelming issue, is the housing crisis? Until recently, our public officials might have been able to argue that the City simply didn’t have the substantial funds to address this crisis in any significant way. However, now Kingston has approximately $17 million received from the federal government’s rescue plan for municipalities et cetera. Yet the mayor thinks he’s being transparent, honest and even generous by disingenuously asking for input from the City’s residents on how and where to spend these federal dollars (taxpayer dollars). More importantly, is the mayor also addressing and including input from all of the former residents, many who had lived in Kingston for years and even decades, who were compelled to leave their homes over the past several years, including during this pandemic time, due to the avarice of so-called landlords?
Also, is he asking for input on how to spend the $17 million from those homeless folks who had somehow managed to survive living in tents near the Esopus Creek behind Hannaford’s, right up until the day they were forced out, with their tents being outright destroyed by law enforcement personnel? Or does he take the view that it’s debatable whether any of these folks actually exist, and that it’s also debatable whether or not any of these events actually happened? After all, let’s face it, what’s out of sight is out of mind.
Also, there seems to be a lot of concern that many businesses here in Kingston are unable to find enough employees to fill their non-living-wage jobs. And when you bring up the fact that these jobs don’t pay enough to even keep a roof over your head in Kingston: “Hey, can we just change the subject; after all, this is happening all over the country, so what does this have to do with us?”
To state the very obvious: Community dialogue is not equivalent to soliciting comments which are then ignored (unless of course they’re coming from developers, power brokers or other “friends”). One might think that after having assuaged the Kingstonian developers with a $26 million giveaway (i.e., the PILOT that is misappropriating funds which were originally intended for the school district), and after having blessed the KPD with a brand-new armored vehicle (a tank?) so that they can be fully protected from the community (which they’re supposed to protect), one might think that perhaps now, now is the time to finally listen to the folks who are directly impacted by this overwhelming housing crisis and then to act by putting a significant portion of the federal rescue funds where they can be of immediate benefit – rather than of some hypothetical benefit two or three or more years down the line.
Anthony Zitelli
Kingston
Thank you, voters
Thank you for returning me to office, Woodstock voters. I want you to know that I never take for granted your confidence in me.
I’ve been your town justice for 23 years, and I’m just as interested and involved in the position as when I first was sworn in. This job remains engaging and challenging and I take it seriously. I promise you that I’ll continue to do my very best to be fair, unbiased and thoughtful.
Thank you again for your trust. It means the world to me.
Richard Husted
Woodstock
Summit of civilization?
Some call today the summit of civilization. From my perch on the mountain above our town, I watch the evening settle. Thousands of lights poke at the rolling darkness. The moon on the horizon begins growing her shadows. I look out over the lands I have lived in for over 70 years. I hear the hinges on the door opening in the back of my mind as fear further enters civilization.
Civilization’s root word is civil. Webster writes civil means “Of, or relating to, citizens.” To understand how civility is sometimes maintained, Webster defines the differences between religious and military law and rule. Politeness, courtesy, tolerance, humanity, kindness and compassion are not laws; in my mind, they are primary character traits for humankind to survive.
On the mountain, when the mist settles in the valley at night, the lights disappearing become a metaphor for what I am feeling when watching the news at night. I see the political fog rolling in, making invisible our immediate needs for civility, feeding the hungry, caring for the ill and facing power before our extinction.
Civilization is not about having more, not flying higher in the sky, not having a greater army, not owning all farmlands, not killing off anyone who threatens. The immaturity demonstrated in our political leadership’s decisionmaking, being polite, I’ll call it uncivil. We’ve gotten to the point that offering free vaccines is seen as a gracious act. In reality, providing vaccinations is more of an act of self-preservation. Actual grace might look like a wealthy corporation funding the local hospital so their staff can keep everyone in the community alive.
The loss of wisdom alive in our culture is similar to our diminishing oil reserves. We learn wisdom through life experiences more than from formal and business educations. My evaluation of most corporations and our government is that they are led by the wealthy. Capital is a nonentity like water. Wisdom grows from our insights, emotions, life experiences and spirituality. I witness immature political leadership lacking wisdom and humanity nightly on the television news.
Henry David Thoreau argued that there are two laws: “The laws of men and the higher laws of God and humanity. If the laws of men are unjust, then one has every right to disobey them,” thus civil disobedience. Today God or a higher power has become confused with capital and ego.
The kind of trust we need in government is evident in our fire departments, driving on our highways, the rescue squads, police and schoolteachers, who all depend upon our faith. Our politicians have created a netherworld of illusion, turning our trust into vague definitions that hold little authenticity.
Until our political and military leaders learn to strengthen trust in the values that make civility and humanity, we are begging chaos, political revolution and war. The values we use to make a good friendship make humanity.
Larry Winters
New Paltz
Comeau Wood Chipping Day 11/14/21
Comeau needs your help! The trails took a lot of extra abuse from heavy rains and usage this past season. Some of the trails, particularly at the three main entrances, have washed away, exposing tree roots. Volunteers are needed to help spread wood chips over these roots and trails on Sunday, November 14 at noon. We would appreciate any and everyone who could come out and help. Comeau is a wonderful resource and we need volunteers to keep it healthy. Bring your friends, rakes, wheelbarrows and shovels and join us. Then take a scenic walk and enjoy Comeau’s beauty.
Paula Miller
Woodstock
All the best moving forward
I am a Woodstock resident of over 20 years and a dedicated foodie, fortunate enough to have enjoyed many a delicious Chinese meal in Hong Kong, Vancouver, Food Heaven Capital Tokyo and of course countless restaurants in New York City, Chinatown and all. Also, as my parents are both part Chinese, lots of fresh home-cooked Chinese yum from our own kitchen!
Regarding Little Bear’s food, I, my husband and a number of our Woodstock pals unfortunately have to say that it has always been for us in the zone of “okay,” mediocre at best. Also – except for the sheer number – we are not surprised by the sanitation violations of this restaurant. The location is so lovely, and yet all these years it felt to us that little love and care was put into the space. As the food was “meh,” we basically stopped going. But, during the pandemic – when the Chinese food craving came upon us – we gave it another try. Alas, this time it was so bad I had to throw it out, at which point I thought: “Hey, Marlee, when was the last time you tasted any of the dishes you’re putting out? Where is your pride and joy of Chinese cooking?”
We, of course, wish Marlee Koo and her restaurant all the best as they move on, and may she continue to enjoy the patronage of her faithful/satisfied customers. We also humbly suggest to Ms. Koo that instead of making nasty, passive/aggressive bumper stickers vs. Lizzie Vann, how much nicer if she uses that time to make delish fresh potstickers!
To Lizzie Vann: Cheers, we wish you too all best going forward. We look very forward to a great good happening at this soulful location.
Myra and Dana Egan
West Hurley
Hudson Valley grad-student presence at COP26
Moving forward with the momentum built by Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Week – a collaborative effort to highlight climate-solution-minded efforts throughout the Hudson Valley – Sustainable Hudson Valley’s outreach coordinator and SUNY Binghamton graduate student Ben Eckstein has traveled to Glasgow to attend COP26, seen by some as humanity’s last chance to come together on a plan to reach our 1.5C goals. He reports sore feet as his only detriment as he meets people from all over the world and helps establish the Hudson Valley presence at this historic occasion.
While world leaders report on our need for an international shift to carbon neutrality, it is important to remember we can start with our own practices to further demand. Sustainable Hudson Valley focuses on building sustainable literacy to produce resilient communities: giving individuals the tools to navigate the economy, society and the environment in an informed and effective way. We are confident Ben will leave the ideas of the Hudson Valley, including those of SHV’s Regional Climate Action Strategy, and take with him the ideas of other international communities – furthering the collaborative work necessary to push all towards a sustainable and just future.
Chloe Rychcik
Catskill
Big night
The second of November was quite a day: election upsets at the state level, and the Braves won the World Series in Texas. The irony is that the MLB’s commissioner Manfred moved the All-Star game out of Atlanta to Denver to appease the leftists screaming over Georgia’s new election integrity laws, which are still more lax than Colorado’s or Sleepy Joe’s Delaware. That move was estimated to have moved $100 million of business from mostly minority Atlanta to 10 percent minority Denver. Doh! The other half of the irony is that the last game was played in Texas, also incensing the left over their voting integrity laws.
The other part of the night was election results in Virginia and New Jersey. The governor of New Jersey will probably be incumbent Democrat Murphy, but he’ll win by about a point over the Republican challenger. I think Murphy’s line stating that if you don’t like high taxes, New Jersey is not for you, is what took away his comfortable margin.
Youngkin’s major upset win in Virginia is going to have repercussions in Biden’s agenda. This upset is in part a referendum on Biden. Members of the Democrat congress are going to be questioning the big social entitlement and climate change spending bill. He’ll lose support. Lyin’ Joe has managed to do in nine months what took Jimmy Carter three years. McAuliffe got out the big guns to support his campaign: Biden, Obama and Kamala. It was a fail trifecta. At least Carter and Obama can feel better that they won’t be considered to be the worst presidents of modern times.
Youngkin also appealed to suburban parents who were fighting to keep vile CRT and porn out of their public schools. The line that hurt McAuliffe was when he said parents shouldn’t decide what schools teach their kids. Newsome insisted that CRT was not taught in VA schools, though there are memos instructing school districts to promote it. Funny thing: If the school boards are not mandating CRT instruction, why are they fighting the parents who want it removed from the curriculum?
Youngkin is a likable, friendly, successful white businessman. Maybe that could support the argument made by Main Stream Media and shrill Trump Derangement Syndrome leftists that the white supremacists rallied to elect him. There’s a big problem with this. The same voters elected Republican Jason Miyares, of Cuban descent, to the state AG office. Doh! And the new Republican lieutenant governor is Virginia’s first immigrant in over 200 years. She is a former Marine, born in Jamaica and black. Her name is Winsome Sears. Sorry, McAuliffe: Winsome, lose some. So much for the phony systemic racism narrative.
The Brandon Administration’s agenda is taking on water and they’re bailing fast. This recent election reflects people’s concerns over local issues with education, inflation, mask and vaccine mandates (personally I’m pro-vaccine and anti-mandate) and the embarrassment of our commander-in-chief dozing at the climate summit (though I’m sure anyone would be bored to tears with the speeches there). Joe’s agenda is being rejected. Wouldn’t you rather have Bad Orange Man and some mean tweets?
Tom McGee
Gardiner
Thank you from Elting Library
Thank you to all of the residents of New Paltz who took the time to cast their vote on the Library’s proposition during the general election on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. We are particularly grateful for those who voted in favor of the Elting Memorial Library budget. The increase in funding will allow the Library to improve technology, expand resources and provide personal assistance to our patrons.
It’s an exciting time at the Library. In 2022, we will add new museum passes, as well as more useful tools to our Library of Things. In answer to community demand, we have been creating additional “people space” inside the Library to provide more room for studying, programs and meetings.
Regardless of how you voted, we are here to serve you. I can say with confidence that there is truly something for everyone at the Elting Library!
Robert Miller
Board president, Elting Memorial Library
New Paltz
Muck boot time
In response to a post I put on Facebook regarding the Comeau building, Supervisor McKenna put the following on the Town of Woodstock’s Facebook page: “Howard Harris Pinocchio, your nose is growing again. Historic designation is based on a famous person living here, a famous event taking place or an incredible example of architecture. The first two cannot be used. While it is a beautiful building, there are a number of incredible examples of this style of architecture up and down the Hudson Valley. There is certainly no lock on getting historic designation for this building. Your argument also gets a little weak where you want to save the historic nature of the building and yet put an elevator in! Not to mention the structure of the second floor would have to be rebuilt, another alteration. And where did the $840,000 come from?”
My response: Guessing you did not read the article in HV1 titled “Woodstock historian Heppner seeks designation for Comeau property,” or if you did, you think Richard is wasting his time. Additionally, your facts are wrong. I wrote: “Comeau building has a good chance [not a lock] of qualifying for National Historic Register status.” Nowhere did I mention anything about an elevator or any use of the second floor [that was written by Bob Young]. And to answer your question: 2,400 square feet, the size of the Comeau building, times, according to our supervisor, $350 per square foot for renovations. You should get your facts straight before you make any accusations.
Howard Harris
Woodstock
Pete and Tony
I have had two local heroes in my life (outside of my family) — one is finally getting at least some of the recognition he deserves and the other we recently lost to COVID.
I have spent my life listening to, learning from, singing and marching with Pete Seeger — starting as a very young boy. Only the causes changed — civil rights, the war in Vietnam, economic inequality, freedom and justice and environmental/ecological appreciation and preservation. Throughout, he remained ‘just plain Pete’ — humble, selflessly leading from behind, bringing everyone along as equal participants in the fun, passion and hope for a better future. Recently, the USPS announced the release of a Pete Seeger stamp. It’s a start and we in the Hudson Valley should be proud.
Another native son with a ‘life well lived’ passed last week — his name was Tony Falco and he provided years of joy and pleasure, music and good times at The Falcon in Marlboro. An environmental scientist by training and profession, he started over 20 years ago in a tiny backyard space, providing live venues for musicians to share the fruits of their creativity. All money donated went directly to the artists, with no cover charge and no one excluded because of financial insecurity.
He rebuilt an abandoned factory on the side of a waterfall into a world-class entertainment destination, providing employment for an extended family of loyal workers. Like Pete, he was ‘just plain Tony’ — a simple and humble man who exemplified the great character, high principles, dedicated purpose and love to which we should all aspire, and who represented the best ideals of humankind. In dark times like these, they shine brightly to light our way forward.
Mark Rausher
New Paltz
Let the leaves be
Tired of raking? You don’t have to. Raking is so 1990s! Leaving the leaves provides shelter and food for moths, bees, snails, spiders, butterflies and beetles. Most of these do not migrate. Your home is their home and like us they need cover against wintry elements…as well as predators.
Swallowtail butterflies are camouflaged in chrysalises that resemble dry leaves or a stick. The red banded hairstreak butterfly deposits eggs on fallen oak leaves, which in turn are the food for the emerging caterpillars. Leaves keep the soil soft enough for a queen bee to crawl into and hibernate.
Don’t want to leave leaves all over the place? Okay, then gather them around trees, spread them over flower gardens, let them pile up in corners and let a thin layer remain on turf. All of this helps wildlife and diminishes weeds.
For more information on leaves go to https://www.leaveleavesalone.org/.
Doris Chorny
Wallkill
When you’re “Woke”
Woke is a slang term that has eased into the mainstream from some varieties of a dialect called African American Vernacular English (sometimes called AAVE). From this view, awake is often rendered as woke, as in, “I was sleeping, but now I’m woke.” Woke is increasingly used as a byword for social awareness. Those who consider themselves “Woke” people believe that those who aren’t Woke are hindering the battle against injustice and that only Woke people can define injustice and determine the proper way to end it. The following song parody is a commentary on the present-day state of “Wokeness” in America inspired by Bill Maher and James Carville who, recently, registered alarm at the influence “Wokeness” has within the Democrat Party and the implications such influence holds (as seen in the results of the Virginia and New Jersey elections) for the Party’s future. The reader should imagine the song being sung by an irritated and sarcastic AOC who recently criticized the use of the word as outdated and one that is only used by James Carville and people of his generation.
“When you’re Woke” (to the tune of the Doors’ “When you’re Strange”)
Woke is the word liberals use often
when you’re a liberal “being Woke’s good”
Woke people don’t…know…they are sleeping
they’re stuck in a nightmare of relative truths
(Bridge)
When you’re Woke
A Spartacus moment’s not rare
When you’re Woke
you think only Woke people care
When you’re Woke
When you’re Woke
When you’re Woke
Woke people rail, against all injustice
but injustice can’t ever be…color-blind
reason and logic they are unwanted
good can be evil when you are Woke
(Bridge)
When you’re Woke
Biden seems thoughtful and bright
When you’re Woke
a racist can only be white
When you’re Woke
When you’re Woke
When you’re Woke
So many people living in Woke land
Too many people living a lie
Woke folks imagine…no Hell below us
Above us they think…there’s only sky
(Bridge)
When you’re Woke
Absolute truths are not real
When you’re Woke
the truth comes from things that you feel
Woke people think the Press should be biased
as long as the bias supports all their views
They want “un-woke” news to be censored
by all of the people giving the news
(Bridge)
When you’re Woke
all gods must answer to man
When you’re Woke
a “true” god is your biggest fan
When you’re Woke
When you’re Woke
When you’re Wo-oke…
George Civile
Gardiner
The facts speak for themselves
Responding to Lee Riech’s 11/03/21 letter challenging my 10/27/21 letter, I submit the following four responses:
Firstly, According to a Harvard Study, vaccine adverse events (“AEs”) are vastly under reported on VAERS to “less than 1%” and cause “slow identification of problem drugs and vaccines that endanger public health” (https://digital.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/docs/publication/r18hs017045-lazarus-final-report-2011.pdf). Now even with only 1% reporting, in one year’s time, these experimental mRNA vaccines accounted for half of all AEs over the last 30 years comparing 856,919 to 1,673,645 AEs (https://www.medalerts.org/vaersdb/findfield.php?TABLE=ON&GROUP1=CAT&EVENTS=ON&VAX=COVID19).
Using the rate seen in the past 30 years, 65,000 AEs would have been expected with this mRNA vaccine, not 400,000 reported over six months, giving a huge red flag.
Secondly, the FDA knew in advance of the vaccine jabs, 20 specific AEs would be showing up on VAERS, including myocarditis/pericarditis, stroke, auto-immune disease and death, according to an official FDA slide presentation “Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, 10/22/2020,” page 16 (https://www.fda.gov/media/143557/download).
To say this experimental mRNA vaccine is safe and VAERS reporting is not indicative of vaccine problems is the actual “misleading information” considering the FDA admitting 20 expected AE’s that coincide with VAERS reports.
Thirdly, Lt. Col. Theresa Long MD. US Army Flight Surgeon details her experiences with healthy athletic soldiers and pilots becoming injured after vaccination and filed an incredible whistleblower affidavit, everyone must read, identifying the unacceptable risk of mRNA vaccines (https://americasfrontlinedoctors.org/2/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AFFIDAVIT_OF_LTC2_Long.pdf).
Fourthly, regarding the allegation of “misleading information” on Ivermectin, I referenced credible studies with significant citations, including one study with 1,630 citations in one year (The FDA-approved drug ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro), as well as many Random Control Trials (“RCTs”), the gold standard of studies (h). Mr. Reich, on the other hand, submits no RCT’s and takes one source listed in an unidentified study that I allegedly referenced, and attempts to use that single source to infer all my studies are not credible. Meanwhile, he is silent on the chart I submitted (https://ivmmeta.com/#fig_fpr) of all known RCT studies on Ivermectin, 31 in all, documenting Ivermectin 84% effective as a prophylaxis, 63% effective in early treatment and 23% effective in late treatment of Covid-19. Ivermectin, clearly is a reasonable and viable medical alternative to the risky experimental mRNA vaccines, which are higher risk for children than a child being hospitalized with Covid-19 (https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.30.21262866v1).
Bottom line Mr. Reich, abundant scientific facts speak louder than repetitive unsubstantiated rhetoric.
Steve Romine
Woodstock
A successful Zombie Escape
On behalf of UlsterCorps, I would like to thank everyone who participated in, volunteered for, and sponsored our 11th annual Zombie Escape, held on Halloween, Sunday October 31. Congratulations to top finishers in the 5K: Shane Murphy, first overall with a time of 19:19 and Rebeccah Wassner, first female overall and third overall with a time of 21:58 and to best costume award winners, Team Grease.
We are so grateful to the Shawangunk Runners for all their help each year organizing the race, setting the course, timing it and creating the awards — Steve Schallenkamp and Christopher Regan do so much to support and promote community runs like ours and we are so grateful. To our amazing volunteers from Alpha Phi Omega and SUNY New Paltz Saturdays of Service — with a special shout out to lead navigator/sweep Jess Schimek; EMT Patty Ruska; walk leaders Jim Sullivan and Mike Dube; Found Studio & Antilogy Screenprinting for the shirts; Davenport Farms for the pumpkin awards; Saunderskill Farms for the apples; New Paltz Bagels for the bagels. Thank you to race photographers Hudson Valley Outside — Kellie McGuire and zgunks images — Martin Weiner for capturing the spooky fun! And so much gratitude to our generous sponsors: Hudson Valley Credit Union, Ulster Savings Bank, Radio Kingston, Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Rondout Savings Bank, FirstCare Medical Center, Michael DeWan Appraisal & Associates, Garland Excavation, KB Chiropractic, High Falls Cafe, Masseo Landscaping, Adams Fairacre Farms, Topricin Pain Relief Creams and to The Williams Lake Project (soon to be known as Fifth Lake), for hosting our Annual Zombie Escape each of these last eleven years.
All proceeds from the event benefited UlsterCorps, a countywide, grass-roots non-profit resource dedicated to fostering a culture of volunteerism, collaborative work and community service. Since its founding 12 years ago, UlsterCorps has provided a vital link in building a network that is strengthening the fabric of our community of service through spreading and sharing generosity — by facilitating collaborations among groups and by the placement of volunteers across diverse organizations and agencies. UlsterCorps with local nonprofits, businesses, farmers and people of all ages have come together to make Ulster County a better place: increasing food security among those in need, supporting Emergency Response programs, building the Ulster County Animal Response Team (UCART), and so much more.
Beth McLendon Albright, Director
UlsterCorps
A red wave is sweeping the nation
Time for the Woke Liberals and Democrats to go back to sleep. Their policies are a complete failure as the elections of last week can attest to. No amount of money in Bidens infrastructure bill is going to save this country. This country needs leadership, not the failed policies of a completely incompetent Biden/Harris administration. Sleepy Joe has the second lowest approval rating of ANY president in history (Gallop poll). If Biden and Harris don’t scare the hell out of you, then Socialism should. It should be no surprise to anyone that Republicans did so well in last week’s elections. Last Tuesday was a prelude to what is coming for the mid-term elections next year. A red wave is sweeping the nation. Ride the wave or drown in the blue cesspool. The choice is yours.
Rich Giuliani
New Paltz
Tragic stupidity!
Coming too soon to our town, the legalization of Sex for Hire! Desperate times call for desperate measures. We are broke and need more taxes.
We have to spend billions we do not have and do it with a shrinking state population.
Liquor costs a tiny fraction of what we pay for it; more than half the cost of a bottle is taxes. On Sunday, I bought a bottle on the way home from church!
Pot (aka cannabis) used to cost us a ton to enforce its status as the most popular law to break; now it is on the verge of being sold at school bake sales.
I once lived in a neighborhood with a candy store front for a bookie. Now, the New York State Racing Association will take my bets on my kitchen phone, for free! (Actually, 15% to 25% of all the money bet on every race goes to the state). I can phone in a bet from my car if I do not want to have my wife overhear me gambling with the rent money.
Football, basketball and baseball, both pro and college, now have betting for every change of the score, the total number of points scored by both teams, actually by almost any game statistic.
Draftkings is one of dozens of internet or smartphone ways to get plugged into ‘the action’, but to really increase ‘the handle’ our politicians are opening Las Vegas-style casino hotels all over the state. I was saddened to learn that Governor Hochul’s husband is a major NYS casino operator. Resorts=Gamble! Now that is embarrassing.
What else can we make legal, and then promote, to increase our state’s income? Yup, like the Great State of Nevada, we can plug into the entrepreneurial skills of young women and young men with legalized prostitution (for everyone’s good, it needs to be regulated, with Covid-like mandates for STD testing). A good politician runs a balanced budget!
Paul Nathe
New Paltz
New life will evolve
Humanity is certainly capable of destroying itself, but I don’t believe that we can destroy the planet. Even in the worst case scenario, new life will evolve. All that is needed is a lot of time and the universe has plenty of that.
Peter Koch
Woodstock
Join the family! 
