REMEMBERING EDDIE KIRKLAND

I was saddened to read last week of the death of Eddie Kirkland. At 87, he was still out on the road, driving himself to a gig in Florida when he hit a bus. Kirkland performed his memorable blues in our area, particularly New Paltz, in the 1980s and I have vivid memories of his strong personality and tasty guitar. Rest easy, Eddie. You sure brought me a lot of joy.

Leslie Gerber

Woodstock

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LIKE TALKING TO A WALL

One of the reasons one should not debate with certain people is because of the axiom “Do not argue with an idiot. He/she will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.”

Howard Harris

Bearsville

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NINE WAYS TO STRETCH YOUR FOOD DOLLARS

It seems that every month more food prices have gone up and more packages have gotten smaller. This makes healthy eating more and more challenging. So, what is a body to do?

Well, there are a lot of things that you can do...Buy as many fresh fruits and vegetables as you can afford. They are most affordable when they are in season.

Visit a farmers’ market whenever you can. And, take your snap card with you. More and more markets take food stamps!

Plant a small garden...even if it’s just lettuce or tomatoes in a bucket. Use your food stamps to buy the seeds and plants to get started. Substitute beans for meat several times each week. You’ll add variety to your meals and your heart will be grateful.

Stick to the store brands of foods whenever possible. They’re less expensive than the name brands. Discover oatmeal. This is one of the most nutritious food around, it’s reasonably priced, and doesn’t take a lot of expensive equipment to prepare. It’s also delicious!

Make a list of the things you need and follow it.

Try to shop when you are not hungry. That way, you’ll avoid impulse purchases.

As warm weather approaches, eat more raw foods. You’ll avoid heating up your home and you’ll spend less money on utilities.

Thurman Greco

Woodstock

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FRACKING TRUCKS IN PLACE

Halliburton already has 30 monster trucks in place in the Catskill Park ready to commence hydrofracking.

This practice will endanger the water supply for the entire region and New York City. I trust the DEP will not allow Halliburton to destroy our drinking water! Please take care of our beautiful water supply. Don’t let them destroy our water for generations to come.

B. Vos

Woodstock

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WATCH OUT FOR THE ROAD BLOCKS

A stroll down property tax memory lane is not a walk in the park; more a stroll through the nastiest toxic dump. Legislators who once said, “We can’t afford property tax reform” are still saying it five years later. Who’s “we” big shot? And at least two of them are now collecting both a legislator’s salary and a legislator’s pension. Feeling slimed kid? Join those of us who haunt the halls of the capital, take three showers a day and will probably never feel clean again.

Remember when we were fighting some dudes in the Senate and an old “New York City mayor that once was” that came out with a “hero’s list” of legislators who signed a pledge for reform — among them some of the dudes we were fighting in the cause of property tax reform?

Remember when some innocents in the media excoriated those who had better sense than to sign an empty pledge? The whole thing was as dumb as a box of rocks, and last week the old mayor was reported to be hurtling through Albany’s halls in a golf cart yelling “liar, liar, pants on fire!” because some of his “heroes” turned out not to be too concerned with reform once they got into the majority. I missed the spectacle myself, but it sounds like it could have happened; after all, this is Albany where many legislators blaming unions for pension abuses themselves end up on Riker’s sooner or later.

Albany is where the Governor (all the last three) decided Wall Street needs a tax break — and we property taxpayers don’t need a break? So they took a couple of billion from STAR to help finance the tax break for millionaires.

The current Governor (a DINO) insists on doing away with a $5-billion-a-year surcharge on the uber-wealthy, but also insists on letting property taxes on the middle class rise at least 2 percent per year. Why? Because in Albany it makes sense to rob from the working and middle class to give to the rich.

As an aside, to show you how many neurons die off in our state capital daily, if the millionaire’s tax surcharge expires, New Jersey will clean up because the uber-wealthy commuters who make their money on Wall Street, but live in New Jersey, won’t take a deduction on their Jersey taxes for those they paid New York because they won’t be paying those taxes anymore. Nice going Albany. We hired you to shift revenue to New Jersey. Oh right, we didn’t. You screw-ups!

More memories of the long property tax struggle revolve around the $16-billion-a-year rebate of the stock transfer tax, less than a penny a share. It is supposed to be collected, but if it is (very murky this tax), it is rebated after being in a special fund — or is it?

We tax reformers wanted this painless tax to be kept because, well, we could use $16 billion a year for a whole host of goodies, among them property tax reform, and still have a bunch left over.

But the Albany gang says the Wall Street gang — many of whom already live in New Jersey or Connecticut — would leave New York. Again?

Funny thing happened on the way to researching this tax. In 1905 when it was instituted, the big-bucks boys said they’d leave. They didn’t. They never do, dammit!

And people are worried about getting rid of bedbugs. Hell, that’s a snap compared to the scourge of the Wall Street boys who crashed the system, got bailed out and now — reconstituted as the laughably named the Committee to Save New York — are throwing $10-million into Cuomo’s coffers to help pass a budget that gives the millionaires a tax break, fires workers and is trying to kill our efforts at tax reform.

Thanks goodness “The Committee” hirelings are really goofing in their current efforts to buy public opinion. Their adverts amount to propaganda pop-ups on the internet that sends users into spasms of profanity. And screeds in the Wall Street Journal just blow their already flimsy cover. Not to mention the hypocrisy of showing hard hats in their print ads — like everybody on this billionaire’s Committee to “Save” New York is a construction worker and not a CEO of the too-big-to-pay taxes corporations. As if!

But $10-million buys a lot of lies and a lot of legislation. So on the road to property tax reform, watch out for the jerks that set up road blocks. We intend to crash right through and get home.

Gioia Shebar

Gardiner

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AN EDITOR’S ROLE

Regarding Paul Lojeski’s letter about me [“Censorship in Woodstock,” February 24], it seems that Mr. Lojeski didn’t understand the situation. I am an independent publisher who offered to publish an anthology of poetry by Woodstock Poetry Society members. As editor, I would choose and edit work at my discretion, getting final approval from each author for any edits I made.

A great majority of the authors involved thanked me for making their work stronger with my editorial decisions. For a few, we went back and forth until we were both satisfied that the needs of both the poem and the anthology were being met. Mr. Lojeski had two misogynist images in his poems, and when I asked him to change them, he demanded I print his work verbatim. I refused, and he was therefore not able to be included in the anthology. One other writer refused inclusion, and two authors were not able to reach a satisfactory compromise and pulled out. That’s publishing, and that’s editing. 28 authors [including myself] remain, happily anticipating this new book.

As a relatively new member of Woodstock Poetry Society myself, I have been delighted by the welcoming community of writers, and impressed by the quality of work heard there, which is why I wanted to publish an anthology — to share this beautiful work with the wider world.

Trina Porte

Canaan, New York

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RUPCO: LIE AFTER LIE

During the years-long RUPCO housing project review, Planning Board left water capacity analysis to Town Board. Town Board thought Planning Board was doing it, or that Town Board could do it after Planning Board did its part. Either way, nobody but RUPCO analyzed Woodstock Water District’s ability to expand to RUPCO’s proposed housing.

RUPCO’s analysis of water supply relies on a 1996 Brinnier and Larios water supply study, which relies on 1985 well pumping tests. Although the wells lost capacity between 1965 and 1985, as one would expect, RUPCO assumes that production capacity has remained constant from 1985 to the present. This is simply impossible. Water Superintendent Kevin Hunter wrote a single page letter in 2007, stating that the water system was designed to produce about 300,000 gallons per day. RUPCO Attorney Moriello represented Hunter as saying that Woodstock could, now produce that quantity of water.

The other piece of water insanity is RUPCO’s claim that the 28 acre property is entirely in the water district. It’s not. The property is only half in the water district. RUPCO also makes this claim, although it contradicts RUPCO’s first claim of being entirely in the district. In addition, RUPCO claims that bisected properties are entitled to service to the whole property. There is no such passage in town law. This non-existent passage was cited and argued to DEC by Town Attorney Rod Futerfas as recently as December 2010. Upon being notified that he cited non-existent law and that there are severe consequences for lawyers who do that, he retracted his citation and the argument based on it, calling the error an “inadvertent” one. Please. An inadvertent error is saying “east” when you mean “west,” not citing a specific passage of non-existent law from the town for which you are town lawyer, constructing a legal argument upon it, and having that “inadvertent” error be exactly the same as the fiction that RUPCO has been trying to foist on us for years. Perhaps Futerfas’ entire attention to the RUPCO project has been inadvertent. It certainly seems that way.

Where and when did the lie that RUPCO was entitled to town water start? As far back as 2003, according to a transcript from the Affordable Housing Committee, committee member Bob Young, referring to the 28 acre property, said, “Of course this parcel has access to Town water and Town sewer.” Of course? Back in 2003? Said who? Who was “helping” the Affordable Housing Committee find the best location for a big project? RUPCO was.

Woodstock has let RUPCO lie to and dominate this town. Our water district simply has insufficient capacity to accommodate RUPCO’s project. Last summer’s non-drought water emergency proves that. If you live and own property in the Water District, and would like to join our active Article 78 petition against Town of Woodstock for failing to manage our water district competently, please contact me: robinsegal@rocketmail.com

Robin Segal

Woodstock

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PALESTINIAN DISASTER

Images of the damage from the tsunami in Japan are deeply disturbing, gut wrenching, and even terrifying. In some way this horrendous natural disaster has parallels to the unnatural disaster which has befallen the Palestinian people. The Palestinians were assaulted by a highly destructive, but unnatural, force called Zionism. The tsunami has left the Japanese devastated and disoriented. Years of brutal Israeli occupation, attacks, and dehumanization have left the Palestinian people demoralized, depressed, and also devastated. The separation wall, the military checkpoints, and the prisonlike control that the Israeli Defense Forces exert over the Palestinians have made life unbearable in the occupied territories. The constant intimidation, dehumanization, and scorn heaped upon the Palestinians by the Jewish settlers (with the support and encouragement of the IDF) has forced Palestinians to abandon their homes and shops in places like Hebron. Homes in the occupied territories have been demolished by bulldozers (not tsunamis) and many homes have simply been confiscated from Palestinian families and occupied by Jewish settlers.

One major difference between Japan and Palestine is that all the world, including the US, will rightly respond to the pain and suffering of the Japanese people. However, the world (particularly the U.S.) does not hear the cries or acknowledge the pain of the Palestinians. For that matter, the U.S. actually helps to perpetuate Palestinian suffering by sending $3 Billion a year of U.S. taxpayer money to aid Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land.

Eli Kassirer

New Paltz

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FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF LIFE

In this world, with so many natural disasters, wars against people who can’t protect themselves, it is a bit of a joy to discover there is something out there to amuse us, fill our minds with the wonders of technology. It is the Apple I Pad 2. So fast when it’s turned on — to connects to whatever one wants it to. The graphics so clear, it is mind boggling.

My pennies, dimes are piling up so soon I can have an I Pad 2 to connect to the world and discover a ray of hope that somewhere man’s sense of good is prevailing.

Maralyn Master

Woodstock

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PLANETARY LUNACY OR LUNAR CYCLES

On December 21, 2010, a Full Moon Eclipse fell on a Winter Solstice to keep things rockin’ and rollin’ for a long time to come. Eclipses set the tone for future weather and seismic activity. This Solstice Eclipse was severely afflicted in aspect to Mercury (communications), Jupiter (expansive, large and excessive), Uranus (unexpected strange or sudden events, electricity and seismic activity, freedom) and Pluto (atomic energy, masses, transformation, death and regeneration).

With this Eclipse in malefic aspect you can expect massive catastrophic events to follow Lunar cycles. A Revolution for Freedom as we have seen among masses in Egypt, Libya, etc., extreme flooding in Australia, New Zealand Earthquake, Kilauea Volcano, dead birds falling from the sky (strange), fish and marine life dying in masses, just to name a few, all very recent, and now Japan’s huge Earthquake and Tsunami. Worst case scenario is now awaiting Nuclear Melt Downs to begin. That will pull in the Pluto (Plutonium) energy involved.

Japan’s Horoscope of this catastrophic Earthquake and Tsunami had the Lunar Nodes also called Dragon’s Head and Tail on the 2010 Eclipse point setting off a trigger in a Grand Cross (major affliction). Lunar Nodes (moon shadows) are associated to Eclipses and can indicate destructive events depending upon their relation to each Eclipse. If an Eclipse was afflicted you can be certain to expect destructive weather patterns and severe pulling on earths crust. This Eclipse cycle was extremely volatile. Another thing to note was Transiting Neptune’s (the Sea) close (afflicting) square to the Moon at the time of Japan’s Earthquake and Tsunami. All current Lunar activity triggers the cyclic energy of the Full Moon Eclipse on December 21, 2010.

The Transiting Moons Nodes are currently afflicting the exact Lunar Eclipse point of 2010. Our last Full Moon of February 18, 2011, was at 29 Leo exactly opposite Neptune on its last leg of Aquarius and about to go into it’s own sign of Pisces. We have not yet had our next Full Moon on the 19th of March a day before the Spring Equinox. This Full Moon in Virgo will be Opposite Uranus in Pisces forming a Grand Cross with last years 2010 Winter Solstice and Lunar Eclipse. Expect some more of the Unexpected Major Weather...Jupiter has also been playing closely since the 12/21/10 Eclipse accounting for the expansiveness and enormity of the situation.

We have to stop drilling into our planet bleeding it to death for oil and gas, cutting down trees, and slaughtering our wildlife. The Sun, Moon and Planets of our Solar System have their own power. It’s called Mother Nature fighting back to bring about balance. Shake, Rattle and Roll with the Ebb and Flow. As Above, So Below.

Marian Tortorella

Mt. Tremper

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AFFORDABLE BOOKS

I’m writing to invite the community to the Phoenicia Library’s book sale extravaganza to be held the weekend of March 18-20 at the Phoenicia Fish & Game Association at 5419 Route 28. This indoor event will feature over 6,000 books at very affordable prices: Most books are 50 cents for paperbacks, $1 for hardcovers, and 25 cents for children’s books. Better books (first editions, signed copies, rare books) are individually priced. You’ll find a smorgasbord of books: novels, mysteries, and an abundance of nonfiction organized for easy shopping into numerous categories, including religion, history, art, culinary, biography, theater, film, music, and many, many more.

Dealers are welcome; you probably won’t find a hidden treasure, but even our higher-priced books are way below market value, and we offer discounts for large-quantity purchases. No credit cards will be accepted, though we take checks and Paypal. And if you bring in a recent receipt from a Phoenicia business, you can buy regularly priced books at half price. After 2 p.m. on Sunday, all regularly priced books will be 50 percent off. This event is free on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m-4 p.m. There will be a Friday evening preview from 7 p.m.-10 p.m., for a $5 admission. Hope to see everyone there!

Holly George-Warren

Phoenicia Library Board

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NUCLEAR LIES

So, how’s that big money nukey thingy going? Scared yet? Hold on while the nuclear industry tells us how great the Japanese nuclear disaster will be for the atomic industry and for America. They’ll tell us how much we should just love the shiny new improved nuclear power Version 4.0. This will just be the “Best Nuclear Upgrade Ever!”

That’s what they told us after Chernobyl’s radioactive meltdown (which, since 1986, has killed more than 800,000 people as reported in a book just released by the New York Academy of Sciences) and Three Mile Island, which had so much radiation gushing out that the radiation meters were pinned and couldn’t measure it all.

We stand with the people of Japan, suffering greatly from the earthquake/tsunami compounded by the nuclear catastrophe. We have no way to stop earthquakes, but the best way to prevent another nuclear meltdown is to take part in the growing movement against nuclear power. Insist on the rapid shut-down of nuclear plants worldwide. This is not an isolated movement. Join in!

The corporate/government authorities lied to us about both Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, and we can expect they will do the same about the Japanese reactors. So, watch out for the latest pro-nuclear talking points; they’ll be coming fast and thick. Learn lots more online at beyondnuclear.org, nuclear-news.net and nukefree.org.

Does our neighboring Congressman Gibson still want to shove 12 billion dollars (per reactor) down a nuclear rat hole with the costs guaranteed by our taxes? His malarkey about needing nukes to stop importing oil is just that — malarkey. The United States produces less than one percent of its electricity from oil. If Congressman Gibson insists on his nukes on the Hudson scheme, I predict he’ll run into a tsunami of opposition that will quickly end his political career. Maybe he can then find work in the sinking nuclear industry.

The nuclear priesthood and their corporate politicians want to site hundreds of new reactors across America and to sell hundreds more around the world, while extending the life of brittle old nukes like Indian Point just 50 miles from Kingston. We continue to starve the truly green technologies on the altar of fossil and nuclear power. We’re already stuck supporting over 100 reactors overstuffed with highly flammable radioactive waste while our communities have even less money to invest in local energy efficiency and clean distributed generation.

It’s time to take some personal action and join with others to help stop any new nukes on the Hudson. Contact local organizations like Clearwater to start, and support Congressman Hinchey in his principled oppositions to nukes.

Tobe Carey

Glenford

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TRY AND HIDE THE SKY

Camped out in the middle

Between resentment and regret

He was looking for redemption

But hadn’t found it yet

He was drinking Oh Be Joyful

He was living on his nerve

He was hoping for a straightaway

Cause he couldn’t hold the curves

Every thing was so much clearer

When in that altered state

He had all the answers

But now he’ll have to wait

He never feared the darkness

He often wondered why

Instead of gazing at the stars

They try and hide the sky

Lorin Rose

Bearsville

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QUICK BUCKS

We’re drawn to products labeled natural, hoping that they won’t contain anything lethal. Natural Gas is not one of those products. There’s nothing wrong with the natural gas, but there is something very wrong with the current method of hydrofracking used to extract it. So I’m not ready to buy into it, and neither should you, until it’s been proven safe for you, your children, and your Mother Earth.

Last year, on NPR a hydrofracking engineer stated that the gas companies were exploring new and improved methods of extracting this gas. Fine. Let’s hope they’re better than the current methods, which are an environmental disaster, polluting our drinking water and the air we breathe. (Why are these guys exempt from The Clean Air and Water Acts?) Good science takes time. That’s why we need a moratorium on hydrofracking until we can figure it out. We need to stop those trucks from barreling down upon us in their deadly haste to get the gas out of the ground... for what? Clean energy for the Catskills, or quick bucks for the gas companies?

On May 2, there’s a rally scheduled in Albany for a statewide ban on hydrofracking for natural gas. Consider attending.

Myra Silander

Woodstock

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BE A FOUNDING SPONSOR

Well folks, spring is almost here, the snow is melting and we can finally begin the building process for our Woodstock Dog Park at Mallory Grove/Rick Volz.

We have an offer for all people who are interested in the park, who think the park is a great idea for our town and who are going to use the park. From now until Opening Day, anyone who donates $60 or more will have their name placed on a sign at the park, honoring them for being a “Founding Sponsor” of the Woodstock Dog Park.

Soon you’ll see wood being chipped that will become the trails that are going to meander inside the park. The various signs and the enclosure itself will be going up and as we move into a warmer season.

The “Founding Sponsor” donations are tax deductible and will help us with the ongoing maintenance of the park.

If you are interested in donating, please make your check out to the Woodstock Dog Park noting that it is for “Founding Sponsor” and send it to the Town Clerk, Town of Woodstock , 45 Comeau Drive , Woodstock NY 12498 .

Fran Breitkopf, Hatti Iles, Kari Hastings, Laura Ricci, Lee Danziger, Marie Duane, Teri Reynolds, Walt Bollenbach

The Woodstock Dog Park Task Force

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WORDS OF A FEATHER

Jeff Moran and Terrie Rosenblum must have attended the same Ostrich Academy. Unfortunately for them, most of us flocked to more traditional places of learning — places that taught us common sense, whether it was formalized or simply the school of hard knocks. We learned that the best way to an answer is through the door marked “facts” and that sticking one’s head in the sand was not an appropriate response to any question.

Last week Moran offered his explanation for why he allowed RUPCO to handle the town’s duty to obtain regulatory approvals. Its most remarkable trait was its sheer audacity.

Why would anyone, least of all an agency whose very existence is premised upon the protection of the public, not see a conflict here? Yet Moran blithely noted that inviting the developer with cozy political connections to “join the town in the application process” made perfect sense because “RUPCO possesses most of the necessary documents.” So much for guarding the hen house. Is this not exactly the sort of government “oversight” that made Bernie Madoff a jailbird?

The absurdities continue: Moran now says RUPCO should not suffer a refusal this late in the game just because the Planning Board didn’t do a competent job during the years it spent reviewing the project. Hold on, who was on the Planning Board back then? Oh yes, it was Moran and Rosenblum! Anything coming home to roost here?

Last December when RUPCO attorney, Michael Moriello, dubbed the town board’s role in the approval process at this point as being merely “pedestrian and ministerial,” the ruffled feathers went flying in all directions. Of course, conveniently lost amid all the clucking and strutting were the underlying safety and environmental questions which could put the entire matter to rest and would likely be done by now if anyone cared to actually do the proper tests instead of just talking about them.

Rosenblum and Moran worked the same ploy in making their year-long case for flying solo in the preparation of a stewardship plan for the Comeau. During this extended period of time they methodically avoided and ignored the clamor for a wetlands delineation study which would be enormously relevant to any number of past, present and future decisions concerning the property, and which could be incorporated into the as-yet-unsigned baseline documentation for the easement.

This head-in-the-sand style of leadership does not serve our community well. Decisions made as a result of reaction and inaction, instead of planning and preparation, tend to be poor ones, too often later described as regrettable mistakes extremely hard or impossible to correct. In the case of RUPCO, the DEC’s “late arising” demand for a permit revision application came about as a result of wrong information having been previously submitted. That situation does not create feelings of sympathy for RUPCO, which received $13 million in state funding by reason of the DEC’s prior go-ahead. It also fairly places into question Moran’s judgment in passing to RUPCO the town’s responsibility to submit correct data this time around.

In the Comeau case, the trouble with the ostrich approach became evident quite recently, when the results of Rosenblum’s year long “efforts” were presented to the WLC by (who else?) Jeff Moran! Evidently, the academy neglected to teach these two former classmates that the dodo, like the ostrich, couldn’t fly at all.

Joe Nicholson

Woodstock

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OUR OWN STEWARDSHIP PLAN

A group of community members has written a draft proposal of a stewardship plan for the Comeau. The conservation easement requires us as a community to step up to make it work. Without effective and sufficient planning for stewardship, the town will be unable to successfully manage the easement property. It is 16 months since the town board signed the easement in 2009 and it is important to take the next step now.

Implementation of stewardship practices, such as identifying the natural resources of the Comeau and then monitoring the conservation values of the land yearly can begin step-by-step with volunteer help. Research for funding sources, in order to save any taxpayer expense, can also be a critical job for the volunteer committee. These, and other community stewardship activities, should be part of any effective plan. We hope that this proposal can help to educate us all about stewardship and move us as a community towards the adoption of an informed plan. We believe that it will serve to expedite a public collaboration on a good and comprehensive Stewardship Plan for the Comeau. We hope everyone who values a balance between preservation and use at the Comeau will become involved. This citizen’s draft stewardship plan is available in hard copy at the Woodstock Library.

Pat Jackson, Concerned Citizens for Comeau Stewardship

Woodstock

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JOB WELL DONE

The Board of Fire Commissioners would like to recognize and applaud the many men and women volunteers who responded to the public service calls as a result of the Mother Nature’s deluge of March 10 and 11.

Their Herculean efforts were well appreciated by the many Woodstock residents whom they assisted. Some of these volunteers amassed in excess of 20 hours during this period assisting others. Once again may we say “job well done.”

Jim Brunner, Chairman

Board of Fire Commissioners

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GRATEFUL FOR VOLS

I want to express my gratitude to the volunteers of Woodstock Fire Company #1 for their dedicated efforts in assisting me and other members of our community during last week’s meltdown and flooding. Their volunteer service is the finest expression of what community is. Thank you.

Stuart Ober

Woodstock

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PREVENT ILLEGAL WEAPONS SALES

I am grieved to hear about a young woman’s recent tragic suicide by a weapon purchased illegally. All people who grieve with the mother and with thousands of other families and friends who have lost loved ones because of weapons sales and abuses, please make your voices known. Come to our Vigil for safety and security and to prevent the illegal sale of weapons. Bring placards or hold ours. Tuesday, March 22, noon, Route 9W in front of the sign for the Hudson Valley Mall, Kingston.

Jane Toby

Catskill

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THE DECLINE AND FALL

I, and I’m sure many others also to say the very least, have noticed the foul and evil decline in the way “Washington” has been behaving, and the weak response of President Obama, which discouraged many people like myself, and resulted in the increased power of the very wealthy after the last election. The Nation, once regarded as “Our Country,” so to speak, began decaying during the W Bush years and is now on the road to a frightening climax of total rule by the very wealthy one percent who have doubled their monetary hold on the total rest of us since 2002.

“We,” those of us over 60 or 65, were brought up believing in the rule of the majority, not the rule of the wealthy, but somewhere in the last few years of his term Bush demolished that idea, and Obama did nothing to return the masses to their former beliefs. Sometimes I wonder, considering Obama’s quick shower of our tax money on the criminals of Wall Street, and his hiring of some of the very people responsible (at least they should have been) for keeping Wall Street at least stable, if Obama is a “plant” to facilitate the takeover and rule of our country by the hugely wealthy one percent.

The people now in power in DC, backed by the accursed majority of the so-called “Supreme” (God Help Us) Court, are against Unions, against higher education for young people, except of course for their own. The planned rulers of our future favor that the poor too old to work should just die, and would have the middle class maybe perhaps be slightly higher paid than the peons of the “working class.” And the filthy money graspers usually made sure their savage and self-serving trickery is not directly forbidden by law, as they despise and hate a welfare state...Allow them time and their ever increasing power, and in not too long, we may have to take Egypt’s path to recover our rights. The only other way I can see at this point is if Senators and Reps, not satisfied with their high pay for the work they do, stop taking “bribes” from the would-be rulers of our nation.

Phil Sullivan

Woodstock

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MANY VOLUNTEERS MAKE MARCH FOOD DELIVERY A SUCCESS

They say it takes a village...well it may not take a village but it certainly takes a crowd. And a crowd joined in on Tuesday for a very successful food delivery for the Good Neighbor Food Pantry. Volunteers began at the Hannaford’s in Kingston at 9 a.m. and then convoyed the food over to the Woodstock Reformed Church to deliver 6000+ pounds.

This food delivery was a success because of the individuals who were willing to donate a morning to the project: Mike Laurenso, Ed Gilligan, Jim Hanson, Jeff Muise, Al Abrams, Bruce Abrams, Hatti Iles, Lisa Restaino-Bodie, Doug Fox, David Spriggs, Leith Rogovin, Bobbie Blitzer, Phil Sullivan, Mary Ann Ahroon, David Corbett, Catherine O’Neill and others.

The food was delivered and put away by 11a.m. And, that included moving the refrigerator in to the new storeroom space. It has been in a space donated last summer by the generous owners of the B & B, On The Green.

Then, it was time for the second installment: Tooth brushes and tooth paste were picked up at the Woodstock Apothecary and taken to the pantry.

The afternoon event was a very successful cereal drive at the Sunflower Natural Foods Market which began at 2 p.m. This cereal drive continues monthly at the Sunflower Natural Foods Market and is critically important to the pantry because it is the sole source of cold cereal at the Good Neighbor Food Pantry.

This event was successful because of the generosity of area residents who donated money or cereal. Volunteers at the table at the rear of the store included Ann King, Bobbie Blitzer, Karen White, Jo Schwartz, Mary Lou Paturel and others.

The final installment of this month’s food delivery included a food drive at the Woodstock Elementary School. Students have been bringing in food from home for several weeks to donate to the spring food drive.

Bread Alone also donated a large supply of bread for the pantry.

This may seem like a lot to some people, but, many of the pantry volunteers feel that it is just barely enough. The pantry numbers have been increasing steadily over the past months and it is the goal of the Good Neighbor Food Pantry to offer a 3-day supply of food for each person/household visiting the pantry.

Tuesday, April 12 is the date of the next food drive for the Good Neighbor Food Pantry. If you would like to volunteer to work at this event or if you have questions, please call 845-399-3967

The next cereal drive at the Sunflower Natural Foods Market will be held outside on a Saturday in April!

Thurman Greco

Woodstock