I remember as a child some 55 years ago or so getting my first library card in elementary school. It was so exciting going to the library and choosing a book to take home to read. It was free. Things haven’t changed much in all these years. Public libraries are still free.

The great thing about public libraries is that they have evolved with our changing times and technology. The Woodstock Public Library offers an incredible amount of services that make finding and getting any book you are searching for easy and comfortable for you. Of course you must have a library card. If you have a computer at home you can see if we have the book, DVD, book on tape or CD from the comfort of your own home by logging on to www.woodstock.org and searching our database.

The Woodstock Library participates with all other libraries in the Mid-Hudson Library System. Our website will show you where the book, tape, CD, DVD or other material you’re looking for is currently located. If it is not in our library you can order the book with a few clicks of your mouse. You just need to enter your card number in the required field on the computer screen. Once you make a request it is circulated through the system till it’s found and a reserve is put on it in your name. You can choose to pick it up at the Woodstock Library or any other library of your choice. If you choose Woodstock, the library will notify you by email or telephone when your request arrives. It’s as easy as that to find even the newest releases.

If you don’t have a computer at home you can come into the library and either use our computers at your convenience or ask one of our friendly staff to assist you in your search. The Woodstock Library has a very up-to-date computer system and database. We are constantly upgrading our technology to keep up with the changing technological needs of our times. We have wi-fi so you can sit outside on the lawn or on one of the benches and retrieve your email, blog, tweet or order a DVD from your laptop.

The Woodstock Library is constantly looking for new ways to expand our services and accommodate the desires and needs of our community. On the home page of our website not only will you find a link to the catalog, you will also find links to programs for kids and teens, other databases. Click on Ulster County InfoPortal for access to the following databases: Brain Pop, Ancestry, Heritage Quest, Proquest (Historical NYT), Home Improvement, Mango (Language Learning), Net Library (Downloadable Audiobooks), Tumble Books, Testing and Educational/Vocation and Careers Reference Center.

There is so much we have to offer at the library and it’s all for free. In these tough economic times you can’t beat that. It’s a beautiful thing!

Barry Miller, Library Board Trustee

Woodstock

As a relatively new member of the Woodstock community, a proud Baby Boomer who benefited from the awakening of the “Woodstock Nation” and a career marketer who has branding in his blood, I have been looking at the town through fresh eyes. And what I see is the potential to turnaround the decline in business, loss of merchants and an apathy which is almost defeatist. However, I feel just the opposite and believe the town has the potential for unlimited future growth if present barriers are lifted, perceptions are changed and hands are joined towards a common goal.

My belief is based on one simple, but powerful marketing concept — brand awareness. In my business, brand awareness is what we strive to create: the brass ring of marketing success. It is obvious that the “festival-that-was-never-here” created Woodstock as a brand unto itself, with a name as quickly recognized as New York City, Boston or Los Angeles. Any small town would kill to be in that company. But the Festival also created a false perception of the town which overshadowed an incredible linage of art, culture and activism. That’s exactly why artists like Bob Dylan came here years before the Festival was ever conceived. They wanted to immerse themselves in the creative energy that was Woodstock. And, as a result, they helped spark a cultural revolution that was to change society worldwide.

To rise again, Woodstock must take full advantage of its brand and use it as a platform to retell its story and reclaim its original position as an epicenter of creativity and free thought. It must harness the wisdom and activism of my beloved generation before Boomers are just a distant memory. It must have as its apostles those who daily come in contact with visitors to the town — the merchants and restaurateurs. It must promote itself beyond the confines of the Catskills, telling that story to a wider audience. It must attract new uses for vacant stores, focusing on galleries and cultural endeavors. It must take advantage of today’s social networking vehicles which now spread messages virally. Most of all, it must abandon old thinking and those restrictions which have held the town in suspended animation and inhibited growth.

Historians of Woodstock can provide facts which can be weaved into a promotable, compelling message which speaks to the resurrection of the town as a destination. Let Bethel tell the story of the Festival while Woodstock celebrates and promotes its rich history which was the impetus behind it, and the energy that can still be found here today.

Paul Kastner

Woodstock

So now, according to our ever trusty and always dependable “government,” the remaining oil from the BP blowout is just about gone; sunk to the bottom, evaporated, carried away by wildlife, been scooped up, cleaned up, and almost disappeared from the gulf. The key words are “almost disappeared”…a condition defined by those making an observation, and of course the BP gang. Maybe our marvelous Supreme Court will rule, to please BP of course, that oil in the gulf is gone and it’s ok for BP to start drilling again. We the Dummies, excuse me, people, will be happy.

Phil Sullivan

Woodstock

If you vote in Woodstock, please come to the Woodstock Public Library on Thursday, September 2, and vote for the proposed 2011 Library Budget and the two incumbent Board Trustees, Katryna Barber and Stuart Auchincloss. I would like to tell you about some of Katryna’s contributions to the Library Board, knowing that others will write about Stuart.

Katryna moved to Woodstock in 2002 with her husband Craig and daughter Rosalind. She became a Woodstock Library Board Trustee in 2007 and finished her Masters of Education degree at SUNY New Paltz a short time after that. She has headed the Building Committee for the Board and her experience and knowledge of building has been important in decisions that have been made. The Woodstock Library Building is elderly and requires both maintenance and revision in order to best serve the community. Katryna has made sure that emergencies (such as a leaking roof) were handled promptly and that planning for building revisions is considered appropriately. Her educational training and substitute teaching have resulted in an awareness of what resources are needed by children and adults outside of the school system.

Katryna is very much of a hands-on person and community volunteer. She is unafraid of getting her hands dirty: her most recent volunteering has been to help school children plant a victory garden on the grounds of the Historical Society. She contributes to the Library Board with humor, hard work and practical knowledge. She has chosen thrifty measures and is careful of spending taxpayer money. Let her continue to represent you.

Doris Goldberg, Library Board Trustee

Woodstock

Of course, the recent demonstration in Woodstock against Ahava products caused some consternation. You have a group committed to freeing the Palestinian people from occupation and apartheid oppression and you have a group that puts the interests of Israel above anything else. When you get both groups in the same place, there will be some shouting and name calling.

But this is the way change happens in a democracy. Think about the freedom rides and lunch counter sit-ins during the Civil Rights Era. Or the boycott of South African goods and investments during apartheid. People demonstrating in the streets for human rights made the issues clearer for the general public.

Ahava is made in the occupied West Bank. When a person buys Ahava products, the money makes its way back to an Israeli settlement that is illegal under international law. The settlement is illegal, as well as the exploitation for profit of the land’s natural resources.

If peace is ever to come to the Middle East, Israel must end its occupation of the West Bank, lands taken during the 1967 war. Buying products made by Israelis in this occupied territory does the opposite; it perpetuates the occupation.

If you would like to see what other products profit from the apartheid treatment of Palestinians, go to www.hudsonvalleybds.org. BDS stands for boycott, divestment and sanctions, a non-violent way to get Israel to do the right thing in the Middle East. Join us if you value peace and human rights for all people, regardless of race, religion or ethnic identity.

Fred Nagel

Rhinebeck

On the last Saturday in July, my wife and I were among those in Woodstock who received a half-page flier from someone on the Green demonstrating for Ahava. Concerned with the accuracy of statements and allegations in the flier, I did some research and — for the benefit of your readers who also received that missive — write to share the results.

Flier: “Mud and materials used in Ahava cosmetics are not excavated in an occupied area. The minerals are mined in the Israeli part of the Dead Sea which is undisputed internationally.”

Research shows: In her article, “The Case Against Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories,” Nancy Krikorian wrote, “The mud that is used in the Ahava products is taken from a site that is next to the settlement of Kalia.” The results of a “Geo Names” map search indicates clearly that Kalia is at the northwest end of the Dead Sea. That’s Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Flier: “Mitzpe Shalem, a west bank kibbutz, where Ahava products are produced is not an illegal settlement.”

Research shows: Mitzpe Shalem may not be illegal under Israeli law, but it is illegal under International Law. Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states, “The occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own population into the territories it occupies.”

Flier: “The Dead Sea is clearly Israeli. Mitzpe Shalem is within the green line which makes it just as much a settlement as Tel Aviv.”

Research shows: The Dead Sea forms part of the border between Jordan, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The eastern half of the Dead Sea is part of Jordan, while the western half is divided between Israel (south) and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (north).

Mitzpe Shalem is inside the Green Line...which means it’s in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Tel Aviv is outside the Green Line.

Flier: “The boycott is aimed at the delegitimization of the state of Israel.”

Research shows: The boycott of Ahava is not aimed at de-legitimizing the state of Israel, but at ending its occupation of Palestinian territory.

Flier: “Middle East Crisis Response Group is devoted to the destruction of Israel.”

Research shows: MECR is not devoted to the destruction of Israel, but to working for peace with justice for all those who live in the region.

Submitted in the hope that clarity will lead to better understanding,

Paul Rehm

Greenville

Back-patting is often, it seems, akin to — in fact, a close cousin of — back-stabbing.

Ron Rybacki

Woodstock

The Woodstock Film Festival is revving up for 2010. This year the Festival will take place from September 29-October 3 and we are thrilled to report that there will be more filmmakers in attendance then in any previous year. In order to accommodate these talented, dedicated, hardworking people, we need to find places for them all to stay. In past years, the Woodstock community has graciously hosted many of the festival guests in their homes and I think all would agree that it’s a lot of fun and puts you more in touch with the festival. If you have guest accommodations and would like to share in the experience of getting to know an emerging filmmaker, we would love to hear from you. For more information, please email me at nikki@woodstockfilmfestival.com, or call the office at 679-4265. And please, pass this on to your friends.

Nikki Goldbeck, Deputy Director

Woodstock Film Festival

The scarecrow stares at the frozen ground

The harvest gone with summer’s warmth

He hangs forgotten like so many other hollow warriors

No one left to talk to as he struggles to clear his head

It was a wind from the east that changed his life

When it turned his head he could see across the fallow pasture

And there above the altar in the little church hung another scarecrow

He did not wear overalls, flannel shirt and floppy felt hat

He dressed in a white robe with brambles in his hair

Who does he think he’ll frighten dressed like that?

Lorin Rose

Bearsville

Sam Chetta died one year ago, this Saturday, August 21. Sam’s friends all knew how much he loved to give and receive hugs. In his memory, let’s give lots of hugs on that day and send out a big one to Sam.

Diane Chetta, Samantha Chetta Carroll

Catskill

A great quote from Daniel Quinn that offers “Don’t try to drive the homeless into places we find suitable. Help them survive in places they find suitable.”

The fact that Ulster Savings Bank gave a $10,000 sponsorship grant to RUPCO’s NeighborWorks Home Ownership Center is a good thing and should be applauded since the Home Ownership Center benefits us all either directly or indirectly. Both homeownership and providing affordable housing are noble goals. I’m sure that we all value the benefit of having a roof over our heads and we should be similarly motivated to see that all can share in the same benefit.

We are fortunate to have a community served by both Ulster Savings Bank founded in 1851 and the Rural Ulster Preservation Company founded in 1981. Both of these institutions have excellently provided their services to promote and improve home ownership and quality housing consistently through the years.

Ulster Savings Bank, similar to most of the local community savings institutions, has responsibly funded the financial needs of the local real estate market. Unlike the national lenders that engaged in predatory lending and caused this sub-prime mortgage loan crisis and the current downfall to our economy, Ulster Savings Bank maintained high underwriting standards and did not participate in originating poor quality loans to borrowers who could not afford them. The lion’s share of foreclosures nationally are being processed on loans originated by the mega national banks and it is rare to see any of our community banks appear as plaintiff in foreclosure proceedings in Ulster County. For the record, of the 50 states, New York State ranks 42nd in foreclosure activity and Ulster County has one of the lowest foreclosure rates in our state. Further, the foreclosure activity in Woodstock is among the lowest in Ulster County. The responsible lending practices of Ulster Savings Bank have been and remain an integral part of sustaining our local economy as well as preserving the strength and soundness of the bank.

The Rural Ulster Preservation Company, a not-for-profit housing organization, has helped countless numbers of people seeking to attain and maintain home ownership. These services offered to low and moderate income households have enabled home ownership by providing both pre-purchase and post-purchase credit counseling and education. It also offers grants for owner occupied property rehabilitation and counsel our neighbors unable to pay their mortgages and who are facing foreclosure. RUPCO has a successful track record of working with communities to provide quality real estate development to meet the needs for projects such as affordable rental housing.

Paralysis by analysis has slowed Woodstock’s goal of providing affordable housing. Despite the ability to please everyone, the common goal will eventually be met. It is unfortunate that this common goal has taken so long to be achieved and the beneficiaries of the goal have been forced to suffer by waiting. Woodstock Commons has gone through an arduous and costly process and done so working within the boundaries of the law. At the end of the day, providing the legal challenges are set aside, it should be a hope for us all that affordable housing will be provided, and our economy will be improved by both the construction and the occupancy of the property. Thereafter Woodstock can move on to other challenges that will continue to make us a better place to live.

Jim Dougherty

Bearsville

Since my next bi-weekly column doesn’t arrive until next week’s paper, I wanted to alert readers to a wonderful production this weekend at the Shandaken Theatrical Society in Phoenicia. Kander and Ebbs’ musical review, Closer Than Ever, has my favorite theater songs of the past quarter century aside from Sondheim’s. Some of the songs are howlingly funny, others very touching. The performance in Phoenicia worked extremely well, with four first-rate singers and excellent support. I had a great time and I wanted to recommend the production to others.

Leslie Gerber

Woodstock

What a memorable and very special celebration we had this past Saturday at Photosensualis Gallery to usher in the release of Xerox The Clouds, our new CD featuring the collaboration of poetry and cello. It was truly a Woodstock event in every way, a testament to the extraordinary goodwill, energy, and care of the people in this unique town. I would especially like to express our profound appreciation to Sally and Michael, the owners and creators of Photosensualis Gallery, for their generosity, their hard work, their beautifully renovated gallery space, and a myriad of welcoming gestures.

Thank you to Julie Last for her roses and expertise in setting up the sound system. Much appreciation to Brian and Donna at Woodstock Times for getting the word out for the CD Release Party. And lastly, to all of you who came, for your love, your support, your collective positive, kind energy, presence, and goodwill…thank each one of you for making Saturday’s event extraordinary and memorable in every way.

Thank you to Donna Wilder for being both the caretaker, overseer, and purveyor of the CD’s themselves, a job she carried out with grace, wit, and her beautiful smile.

Susan Hoover

Woodstock

Sera Smolen

Ithaca

Sixteen was the number of volunteers needed on Monday to get the monthly food delivery from the Regional Food Bank in Latham to Woodstock. Not counted in this number was the team in Latham that received the food order and packed the food. Also not counted was the team that loaded the order and drove it to Kingston to the parking lot of The Kingston Plaza Shopping Center. From that point, Woodstock volunteers Bridget Sweeney, Vicki Stern, Mike Laurenso, Jim Hansen, Jeff Muise, Bobby Blitzer, Lisa Calcagno, Paul Shultis, Al and Ann Abrams, Barry Greco, Ed, Harriet Iles, Officer Geno, Kareem Peoples, Robert Corbett, and Ronald Latham took over and got the food to the Woodstock Reformed Church, got it in the building and got every last item put away. All this happened before noon.

The job in the pantry was made easier by the advance work of Judy Fox and Maryanne Wrolsen who came in last Friday and emptied the closet, organized the shelves, cleaned the floors, and threw out the trash.

So, I guess 16 really wasn’t the number. The actual number was far greater. But, the number served each month is over 600.

Thank you to everyone who helped get the food to the pantry and thank you to everyone who shops at the pantry. Without your participation, we would not be the wonderful place that we are.

Thurman Greco

Woodstock

AshokanBoaters.org is a community group supporting the DEP’s efforts to bring recreational boating to the Ashokan Reservoir. We salute the DEP for its successful pilot program at the Cannonsville Reservoir and look forward to a program suitable to our beautiful Ashokan.

As responsible boaters, we will work with the DEP and local environmental groups to ensure a program that is respectful of other recreational activities, environmentally safe, and supports or even enhances the DEP’s efforts to sustain water quality.

Over 750 people have signed a petition split fairly evenly between paper and online. The idea is simply to publicize the solid support the DEP would have when they bring their recreational boating program, which includes kayaks, canoes, rowing boats, and small sailboats to the Ashokan. AshokanBoaters.org recommends anyone interested go to the AB.o website where the petition can be signed, paper copies and poster printed, and lots more information is available. The petition drive will wrap up in September and we expect to have over 1000 signatures by then.

Curry Rinzler, Project Manager

Woodstock

I feel compelled to refute Mike Kramer’s assertion that Robin Segal is the Jane Jacobs of Woodstock (August 12 Woodstock Times). Jane Jacobs was a hero of mine and her book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, a major influence on why I went into the field of urban planning. Indeed, I always assigned this book for city planning courses I have taught over the years. Jacobs consistently championed high population densities along with diversity of housing types as necessary for lively neighborhoods. Thus I believe that if Jane Jacobs were alive today she would not only have supported RUPCO’s Woodstock Commons current 53-unit housing plan, but also the initial proposal which would have allowed some 80+ dwelling units. I would also like to note that I have no financial or professional ties to RUPCO, contrary to Kramer’s claim that only those that do support the project.

Jill Fisher, AICP

Woodstock

On Tuesday, August 10, the Woodstock Tennis Club hosted its second annual Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser to benefit the local organization Breast Cancer Options. The event, which was splendidly organized by Head Pro Karen Gill, was a stunning success and raised over $1,650.

We wish to thank the following for their generosity: tennis pros Ty Dennis, Devarshi Mitra (better known as Bubla), Lydia Diaz, Scott Taylor, Mark Birman and Lou Duke who donated their time and expertise; Lynn Patterson who created a sumptuous spread, and for their gifts of food, wine, and raffle prizes, Adams Fairacre Farms, Gill Farms, Bistro-to-Go, The Wine Hutch, Hurley Ridge Market, and Marigold Home.

Vivienne Hodges

Woodstock

Strange in this day and age when you are not allowed to light up a cigarette in certain areas so many people are still “blowing smoke.”

Howard Harris

Bearsville

I have been following stories on natural gas hydro-fracking and see that those in favor of the one year moratorium or those opposed to “fracking” in general are almost universally termed “environmentalists.” I have stood at the rallies with a sign that pleaded for a one year moratorium but I do not consider myself an environmentalist.

I consider myself a homeowner with rights to my land. Natural gas companies are trying to pass legislation allowing them to use eminent domain to drill into my land against my will. (Lehigh Valley News, August 14, 2010).

I consider myself pro-business. Toxic mud and spills of “frack fluid” into creeks accompany drilling in virtually every community where drilling has occurred, (Aspen Daily News, August 3, 2010). Ulster County west of Kingston is dependent on tourism. A spill into the Esopus would wipe out the businesses built on that tourism.

I consider myself pro-community. Current fracking procedure brings hundreds to thousands of workers from out of state into the community to be fracked. Housing is quickly taken up by these non-residents. 600 trucks rumble down small town roads for each well drilled, ruining the infrastructure. (Billings Gazette, August 15, 2010). We already struggle with housing and road issues and cannot afford to further deplete our resources.

And, lastly, I consider myself pro-health. I want clean water to drink. Thirty-five to 50 families in Dimock, Pennsylvania have no clean drinking water. Cabot admits they did not build proper casings around their drill rigs and is trucking water in to the residents now. (Associated Press, July 22, 2010.)

Our one year moratorium on hydro-fracking is through the State Senate and goes to the Assembly next month. It says “let’s take a year to look at this practice and make sure we are doing it safely.” That’s it. Support Ulster County. Support the moratorium.

Deb Weir

Boiceville

Republicans are using the stimulus to get their constituents to vote for them. Over a hundred Republican governors, senators, and representatives have spent the past year vilifying the Recovery Act, while simultaneously requesting funds to create jobs in their districts and taking credit for projects at ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in February 2009, and it has saved or created more than two million jobs, provided cut taxes for 95 percent of working families, and made loans to over 42,000 small businesses. It also provided critical relief for state governments facing record budget shortfalls.

Last February, the Republican leadership in both the Senate and House sought to kill the stimulus bill. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was able to get all but three Republican Senators to vote against the Recovery Act. Now, he’s bragged about funding for a military project in Kentucky. Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor the Republican House Whip succeeded in getting every Republican member of the House to vote against the Recovery Act, but is now seeking funds for a high-speed rail project in Virginia to create jobs. Minnesota Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty balanced his state budget with funds from the Recovery Act, that he has often attacked on TV.

Obama is focused on creating jobs and being honesty with the American people, but Republicans continue to engaged in a hypocritical campaign of attacks. They’re proving that their opposition is about politics, because if you’re both praising something as necessary and saying it doesn’t work, you are a hypocrite.

Jim O’Leary

Delhi

On behalf of the Woodstock Elementary School PTA, I would like to express a belated thank you to the following businesses for graciously donating a variety of food supplies for our yard sale food/drink stand. Both the money saved from not having to pay for these supplies and the money made from selling the food and drink go directly to children’s programs at Woodstock Elementary School.

Also, we would like to thank the community for buying vendor space and for coming out to shop at the yard sale. It was a great success and a fun day to boot!

Lysa Ingalsbe

Woodstock PTA President

Last Saturday about 80 people squeezed into the Woodstock Historical Society building on a beautiful afternoon to listen to and take part in a program about the Spirit of Camp Woodland, an extraordinary camp which lived in the Woodland Valley from 1939-1962. Norman and Hannah Studer, the directors, set out to create this unique and wonderful institution which did the prime collecting of the folk songs and folklore of the Catskill Mountains, embraced the traditional people of these beautiful mountains, helping to preserve a world which was fast disappearing. At the same time it brought with it “up from the City” the belief in integration, challenging social and economic injustice, internationalism and a deep love of music. Woodland found a way to bring these two worlds together by reaching out with mutual respect and love for the land.

So on Saturday we sang and told the story of Camp Woodland, while laughing and crying. The beautiful music rang out as fabulous musicians — Eric Weissberg, Mickey Vandow, Pat Lamanna and Joe Hickerson — Camp Woodlanders all! — sang and led us in the choruses.

I want to thank the Woodstock Historical Society and especially Weston Blelock and Letitia Smith who worked so hard to make this a reality. Their generosity and their interest in this extraordinary institution which was Camp Woodland is deeply appreciated by all of us.

Woodland has managed to send its legacy out in many directions — with those who fight for social justice, with those who believe that the voices of children are important, with those who believe that the past is rich with culture and value and with those who are willing to stand up for what they believe and of course with those who keep singing.

I talked to my son Mat, who has been organizing with “mountain folk” in WV to stop the destruction of mountains by the Mountaintop Removal done by Big Coal Companies, about the event. I said that I had told people of his work and that it was so reminiscent of the spirit of Woodland, mountain folk and radicals brought together with shared love and respect for the mountains. He said he too has been talking to people in WV about Camp Woodland and its love of the mountains and its legacy which he feels has proudly inherited. The the spirit of Camp Woodland goes on.

So thank you again to the Woodstock Historical Society, Letitia and Weston for their incredibly hard work and for making that wonderful day possible.

Sue Rosenberg

Saugerties

We’re in for a Republican win this November and that will result in the re-taking of our country by the corporations. Now that they (the Republicans) have returned Newt Gingrich into a leadership role, (not necessarily a Presidential candidate) they should have no trouble sailing in, with puppets such as Sharron Angle and Michele Bachmann following his lead. Of course, they’ll put his strategy into their own “down to earth” language, so that the people will “get it” and move, not on the real issues, but on their interpretation of the issues. And Newt will allow them to speak in their language, but won’t use the phrases by himself.

For instance, I noticed Newt’s quote on the “Mosque,” (i.e. the community center, that is said to include an Interfaith section) — “The folks who want to build this mosque — who are really radical Islamists who want to triumphally prove that they can build a mosque right next to a place where 3,000 Americans were killed by radical Islamists…” I don’t know for sure, what this “mosque” is going to be, but I expect that it will be carefully observed by our countries homeland security forces, don’t you?

Besides, what terrorist with any brains would make it into a new training ground, as some are already calling it. Forgive me, but there were certainly big brains behind the 911 attack. It was brilliantly planned and executed, with all kinds of pre-planning, etc. For instance, on the morning of the 911 attack, we had a military mission going on. It was the very day and time that war games were being practiced. This was the reason that the FAA, NORAD and the Air Force weren’t available for our protection. Coincidence? Maybe. Pre-planned? Maybe. I’m not presenting a 911 conspiracy theory here, I’m merely presenting a reason to believe that the terrorists were not stupid, and I wonder why we can’t at least find out how they, (not Saddam Hussein), planned it. Of course, you could argue that they are just lucky — but that might turn you into a religious convert, because any religion with that kind of luck might be worth looking into.

Speaking of religions, how long do you think it will take for them to tie this “mosque” into questioning President Obama’s religion? (You have heard that he is a Muslim, haven’t you?) As soon as Muslim and Radical Islamist become one, (oh, it already has?) — well, as soon as Obama and Muslim become one, Newt can take credit for a job well done. He didn’t say it, they did, and as a reasonable Republican, he can then run for something — maybe not president, unless he can have his ex-wives somehow converted into his supporters.

Well, I’m going back to my issue of disappearing oil in the Gulf and my belief that if we don’t get involved in politics, politics will take charge of all of our lives. Please remember that Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Jill Paperno

Glenford

We’d like to thank the Town Board for the recent approval of 30 minute parking in front of our new pharmacy, Woodstock Apothecary. Our patients have been utilizing the four new spaces regularly and have been very thankful.

Also, to the people of Woodstock — thank you tremendously for the outpouring of support we have received. It is not easy to tell people that a third pharmacy is opening in Woodstock, but the community has been great supporting us. Our patients have realized shorter wait times, better service, and true pharmacy care.

Now that our parking issue has been resolved so promptly by the Town Board we can have our grand opening celebration, taking place September 4-September 11. We will have free demonstrations, special sales, and other promotions. Call us or visit our website for more information!

Neal Smoller

Woodstock Apothecary

On Saturday, July 31 there was a demonstration by the Mid Eastern Crisis Respond Group. An ugly demonstration at that, and disturbing to many. It was held on Woodstock Reformed Church private property, without consent from either the town or the property owners. These impromptu demonstrations on the Village Green have got to stop. The town and church have a firm agreement in place where we communicate with each other on the appropriateness of any use of the village center. For any one person or group that wishes the use of the green, a written request must be received by the town and the church prior to permission being given for the activity. We sincerely hope that this message is heard so we can all share and enjoy this beautiful space.

Barbara Moorman, Member, property committee

Woodstock Reformed Church

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

Play on Betty...Play On!

Dennis Moss

Willow