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I will dedicate myself to making sure that the Accord Fire District is an effective, efficient organization.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Dear Editor:

I am honored that the Residents of the Town of Rochester have put their trust in me by electing me to The Accord Board of Fire Commissioners. Rochester Voters made history by showing up in record numbers and electing their first woman fire commissioner.

Going into this race, I had many obstacles to overcome and a tremendous amount of work to do. My many supporters assisted in important ways; they got the word out and kept me motivated when the going seemed so tough. I owe them a sincere debt of gratitude.

I also want to thank the other candidates who ran clean campaigns based on the many issues facing the fire district.

As I said over and over during my campaign, I will dedicate myself to making sure that the Accord Fire District is an effective, efficient organization that provides safety to its firefighters and excellence to all it serves. Along with Accountability to the Public, Reduction in taxes, Reorganization of procedures and finances, Recruitment and training and Receipt of grant monies will be our new 4 R's for Rochester.

I also want to thank the community volunteers who gave their time to work hard during election night to insure that the election was proper and fair for all of the candidates.

Most of all, I thank you, the voters, for your confidence and invite you to attend the 2006 Organizational Meeting of the Accord Fire District at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 at the Main Street Accord Fire House.

Sincerely,

Kathy Kuthy — Accord
Fire Commissioner-Elect
kkuthy@hvc.rr.com

What's your real agenda, Mr. Finestone?

This latest election resulted in the continuation of the status quo; an ambitious couple move in from the city and decide to get Broker licenses and get elected to the town board to support their personal money dreams. I've seen that tactic for 20 years now. Real Estate on their license plates and stinking of conflict of interest. Who benefited from our era of trailer parks? The Democrats on the town board, that's who.

Spell out your agenda Mr. Finestone, not just platitudes of rhetoric. You paint a non-elected bigot's talking-point vision of life. Unless Ms. Duke has surrendered governance for you to speak on her behalf? Are you her manager, her confidant? Her chief of staff perhaps?

What do you mean when you threaten with "Change it will"? Liberals mean destructive when they say progressive. Do you plan to attack 'antiquated' concepts of marriage and religion? Another thing, we shouldn't have to go to town meetings, we've elect representatives to do that job.

Besides we all already know change will come Max, you say nothing new. Change is in the nature and evolution of things. Change will come whether we elect a supervisor or not. Perhaps the change will entice more Christian charity, such as a meteor, or bring a true progressive realism to life without your idea of cheap social engineering. Change is just part of the continuum in 'life everlasting.'

Another thing I know for sure Max; I know you hold no answers.

You are a local hack that treats our President poorly and wishes us ill in the war. A socialist hypocrite who is trying to control the local mindset and doesn't mind destroying a segment of America attempting it.

So, thank you for your invite Mr. Finestone, but I'd rather sit out your dance and wish your damage be kept to a minimum.

Bill Dukas — Accord
dukas@earthlink.net

We encourage everyone to take the challenge and work with our elected town government.

November 11, 2005

Dear Editor,

On behalf of the Town of Rochester Democratic Committee, I am writing to thank the voters of our town for their vote of confidence in last Tuesday's election. As proud as we are of our success, we don't consider this a Democratic victory as much as we believe it to be a win for our town.

Our town, like most in America, faces some daunting challenges: encouraging sustainable economic development, increasing business and employment opportunities, maintaining our town hamlets, providing affordable housing, preserving our history and our rural character, and enhancing and preserving our scenic and natural resources. As you read this list, I'm certain you have your favorite town issue, and most likely, you have strong views and opinions about what to do or not do.

As the Town of Rochester crafts and retools the policies that will lead us into the future, it will be easy to watch from afar and grumble about local government but not participate. We encourage everyone to take the challenge and work with our elected town government. Our town can change with or without the benefit of guidance. But change it will. Town residents can play an active role or not. The choice is theirs to make, and I'm hoping it will be in favor of constructive involvement.

Sincerely,

Max Finestone — Accord
Chair, Rochester Democratic Committee
annetteandmax@aol.com

Editor's Note:

A "win for the town" by less than 1%?

The Democratic Candidates won 4 of 6 Town races (unofficial results). The votes which brought "victory" for Democrats represents under 50.5% of those cast on November 8, 2005. Time will tell how representative the new Democratic Leadership is of those casting the balance of 49.5% votes — against Mr. Finestone's "winning of the town."

Judith Karpova, professional agitator.

While Pam Duke was jumping up and down like Chavez in Argentina, the other leader of Sunday's protest against Kelder Farm's buildings — Jackie and Chris Kelder were serving breakfast to Town's residents at the Accord Firehouse — shoved a video camera in my face. She new my name, "from Pam Duke" she said. She told me hers: Judith Karpova.

A Google search for Judith Karpova returned 367 mentions. For your consideration, below are just a few fragments of a much, much larger picture. What's your opinion? Should we ever again let these people take over our Town Government?

The crowd, some dressed in grim-reaper masks, cheered at honking cars that responded to shouts of "Break the chains of death. More world, less bank." They circulated photos of their two comrades who were arrested. Lisa Kuhn, 19, of Salt Lake City, and Judith Karpova, 54, of Hoboken, were charged with criminal trespassing, criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools, the authorities said. The two used bolt cutters to cut the chain on a trap door to the roof of the hotel before unfurling the banner, which read "World Bank and IMF = Corporate Colonialism."

Faced with tens of thousands of dollars in fines and the prospect of future criminal charges for traveling to Iraq, one anti-war activist is speaking out, challenging the federal government's right to punish her for a 2003 visit to the Middle-Eastern nation. Judith Karpova, a long-time activist, interfaith minister, and freelance writer, said she hopes three other US citizens also under investigation will join in her public fight.

Judith Karpova, from Kerhonkson, NY, author, nonviolent activist and one of the International Human Shields who traveled to Iraq just before "Shock and Awe" is getting on a plane to Crawford this week to join other Human Shields in Crawford, Texas in support of Cindy Sheehan.

"The gathering opposing the WTO in Seattle opened up an experience and a vision of an alternative society. It opened it up on the streets and on the airwaves, no matter how embattled or what the commentary, and held it open long enough for it to sink in."
— Judith Karpova, Socialist Party, NYC

The feds say Judith Karpova of Kerhonkson owes the government $6,700 for violating economic sanctions against Iraq.

There would be a representative of the leadership in each affinity group," recalls Judith Karpova of her time in Weatherman Underground. As Shin'ya Ono described the group's preparations on a Weatherman bus heading to Chicago for the Days of Rage, "In order to get to know each other and learn to move as a group, we divided ourselves into several affinity groups of six or seven persons each and did a couple of tasks together," he wrote. "We discussed the functions of the affinity group, what running and fighting together meant, what leadership meant, and why leadership was absolutely necessary in a military situation."

REMEMBER? The year was 1970 and a new organization, dedicated to the overthrow of the government of the United States was thrust into the public consciousness. The organization was called the Weatherman Underground. Though formally beginning in 1970 with its first of many bombings against symbols of American injustice, the origins go back many years prior. The formation of the outlooks and ideologies that led a number of young idealistic American youth into the Weather Underground began years before in the civil rights struggles of the early 1960s and the growing anti-Vietnam war movement of the mid to late decade. By the early years of the 1970s, the Weather Underground had become the prominent guerilla organization operating within the confines of the United States, and its influence was felt across the country and the world. Both to its supporters and its enemies, the Weather Underground was taken seriously as an organization dedicated to the destruction of the imperialist "Pig" order and the formation of a revolutionary society based on the principles of internationalist communism.

Judith Karpova of New York City, appearing as Lovee Greenback in a golden ensemble of dress, slippers and socks, topped with a neon green boa, proclaimed she wants to break "the world's illusion of being equal and having democracy, dahling. We've bought the candidates," she declared in her highbrow British accent. "We bought their fathers. We've been doing this for ages."

Judith Karpova is a member of the Green Party, and has been active in previous protests against the Bush administration.

Jon Dogar-Marinesco — Kerhonkson
jon@oldbrickhouse.com

This just in!
Too late to make the Rochester Voter Guide...

When opinion met inspiration, the Republican billboard at Cherrytown and Samsonville became a telling canvas...

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary

Preserving our roots... Growing our future...

As you can see above, the 1871 Gazeteer and Business Directory of Ulster County lists — in the Town of Rochester — ten Hornbecks and six Kelders. Farmers, wintergreen distillers, blacksmiths, canal watchmen, coopers... Between them they owned 964 acres of farmland... As you can see below, generations later they are still at it... Preserving our roots... Growing our future...

What is corruption?

It's that Democrat tacky postcard of Randy Hornbeck, with the out of context words, childishly, coming out of his mouth. The truth was: Randy was addressing the Firemen who set their own budget. The Chief had decided to get a ladder truck that would serve our community on any fire over two stories. That increased the fire budget for two years. Randy Hornbeck was telling them. "On the second year, as soon as that truck is paid off, lower your budget, you'll look like heroes." Indeed they would. Most budgets that go up never come back down.

'Rochester Voter Guide,' the latest rag in the mail, admits it has no idea what Rural Character is. Rural Character is soul, something these new Democrats in town completely lack. It's not Rural Character to call everyone that opposes you thieves and make fun of the families that live here. Kelderville? How cheap can you stoop, Pam Duke? The Democrats insist on condom lollypops for the kiddies and wonder why they can't grasp Rural Soul.

Pam Duke is a spoiler who doesn't know what she's doing, she has to constantly run to the Ulster County Supervisors Association for ideas to destroy our uniqueness by homogenizing us into every other community.

Pam Duke lies about the race track, already she started changing the laws until the track will find them impossible to follow, which closes it down.

Pam Duke uses her committees as bribes for votes. When she came into office she gave everybody a raise and turns it against them at election time. She lies about the town's website not having an agenda, you don't have to be skilled in the art of propaganda to figure it out. And a 20% town increase is probably a 2.3% levy increase. She plays with numbers and treats us as stupid and mouths our Republican ideals.

Pam Duke blames the past for higher taxes yet hires an expensive Planner which makes her committees even more of a joke. Pam Duke is for cluster developments, which means the open space that the developers set aside could eventually be filled with tract houses as well. Laws can easily be changed. The best way to protect ourselves against this kind of corrupting behavior is to develop single houses per acreage, that way no Supervisor in the future will have the developers' donated open space to play with. It will keep our rural development in the hands of private single-family owners. She says she opposes the use of Eminent Domain, but won't put it in writing, "Very rare" does not mean no.

A zealot or two takes down two of her signs and she can't stop spending thousands of dollars blaming half the town. She should see the private metal Peg-leg Bates sign, into which a couple of her childish fans drilled dozens of rusty screws to glorify her name. In addition, I noticed the Republican signs at the corner of Samsonville and Sundown trashed. Would anyone in their right mind think of blaming the whole Democrat Party for that? Of course not, but Pam Duke would.

Bill Dukas — Accord
dukas@earthlink.net

Response to Pam Duke's Caucus Speech

A cursory perusal of Town of Rochester Supervisor Pam Duke's Democratic Caucus speech tends to leave one with the initial impression of little significant difference philosophically between her and Republican opponent Chris Kelder. Her comments about using common sense for the good of all, fiscal accountability, and being for development in the Town are long championed Republican Issues. One might believe that she crossed party lines and became a Republican. Closer inspection of Ms. Duke's speech and her actions while in office highlight inconsistencies between her actions and her words. There are also contradictions within her speech as well as vagueness as to her position on certain issues such as development in the Town of Rochester.

Supervisor Duke claims to have worked to build a community consensus on sustainable development and preserving our Town's rural character. Ms. Duke repeatedly speaks about the "common good" and using common sense for the "good of all." One must examine what processes are utilized by Supervisor Duke in order to determine what community consensus is in our Town. It must also be asked if the so called "community consensus" she has worked to build determines what is the "good of all" or the "common good."

Supervisor Duke appears to deem community consensus as the feedback she received from her Imagine Rochester Meetings and the Town Survey results. A small but very vocal minority participated in those meetings. Those meetings served as a staging ground for the Town Survey organized around the issues that emerged from them. A 16% response rate to the survey was proudly claimed on the Town's Website. Supervisor Duke claimes that no one believes more strongly than she does in the personal freedom to live the way you want, without interference, and to do what you want with you property. However, in the same speech she speaks about her opponents "chanting the empty mantra of personal property rights" and that personal freedom must be exercised within the context of the "common good." These statements are contradictory. Ms. Duke appears to be saying that she supports exercising personal freedom only within the limited scope that the vocal minority that supports her has deemed as the "common good." The numerous regulations and resolutions that Supervisor Duke has brought to our Town have been repressive in respect to personal property rights and freedoms. She has not seen a regulatory agency that she does not want us to be a party to. The use of regulation and legislation in order to move society in a certain direction or towards a certain goal can best be described as social engineering.

One must remember that social engineering — although to a lesser degree than what is attempting to be instituted by Supervisor Duke — was practiced by all totalitarian Communist regimes during the 20th century. Individual freedoms were repressed for the sake of "common good." Millions of people were persecuted and murdered. People's committees sprang up in these regimes as those governments attempted to legitimize repressive actions as being the will of the people. Members of these committees were hand picked supporters of those governments. Committee actions and recommendations were presented as the will of the people under the auspices of open government. Luckily, the governments toppled eventually due to their own bloated bureaucracies.

Certain parallels exist in our Town's committee system since Supervisor Duke has been in office. Boards and commissions have been expanded and committees and sub-committees created in order to propagate the doctrine expounded by Supervisor Duke and her partisans. Committee work runs the gamut from economic development (chaired by a Democratic Councilman who suggested a ban on economic development at an April 2005 Board Meeting) to defining rural character. The proliferation of committees has become so farcical that one person at a recent Town Board Meeting asked if she should bring up an issue to the School Crossing Committee, if one existed. This is all being done under the guise of open government in an attempt to move the Town towards the idyllic rural vision supported by Supervisor Duke and her cohorts.

I am very proud to say that I am a Republican and that I support a slate of candidates led by Chris Kelder that have a profoundly different approach to government than what is proposed by Supervisor Duke and her backers. Our beliefs come from a long lineage of social philosophers — from Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Thomas Jefferson — that believed in the inherent good of humankind when allowed to act freely in an unrestricted environment. We believe that the government that governs least, governs best. Government is established to protect the rights of individuals and to do what is the will of the people. We do not believe in social engineering. We believe that people will do the right thing if given the chance to do so on their own. Government must only intervene to protect the basic rights of individuals and to protect its citizens from outside threats.

I resent the fact that Supervisor Duke and her followers are trying to dictate to me what is good for me and my family and then try to hand me the bill for it. I don't need a committee to define rural character for me. I grew up here and my roots are here. My wife's family has been here for many generations. My wife's grandfather comes to mind when I think of rural character. He worked two jobs at a local sawmill and drove a school bus in order to raise a family in a small house that he owned on Samsonville Road. He was a hard worker, a good neighbor, and was fiercely independent. That is true rural character.

We have a great slate of Republican Candidates running this year for election. They are local people that we know and trust. They will listen to your concerns instead of telling you what is good for you. A vote for each of these fine people is a vote for your own individual freedom in our Town. This election is critical. We need to take our Town back. We can not afford the idyllic vision Pam Duke and her supporters are trying to force on us. Soon only the wealthy will be the ones that can afford to live here.

Vote Row A on November 8th and make sure you get your neighbors, friends, and co-workers to do likewise. God Bless Our Town!

Carl Chipman — Kerhonkson
cmc102988@yahoo.com

Hate mail from Democrats...

The first postcard from the Democrats exploits Chris Kelder's personal life. On it Pam Duke states she is going to respond to our needs 24/7. Malarkey, like we're voting for a nurse. Let us have emotional and lie detector tests for the position of Supervisor.

Pam Duke badmouths the town for 'living in the old way.' Not true, history is only a reference and life is now. We need a Supervisor to shepherd, not exploit.

And the so called 'old' ways of Rochester brought forth enough farmland to be turned into 'green zones' that Pam Duke got to play with. Pam Duke not only can't say thank you, her group talks about 'old boys' as if they hate men. They lie, Ronnie Sommer is not a man and Chris Kelder never ran before.

The second Democrat postcard is pure trash; it insults our Highway Superintendent who has worked hard for us for 18 years. It infers, two generations of Kelders on one ticket, means they are thieves. Pam Duke should repeat her accusations to Parete, Parete and Parete.

Rochester First lies when it says it is a non-partisan group, is the same bunch that hides behind the other phony shell, Citizens for an Open Rochester. Both names sound great but were created to bash Pam Duke's opponents.

As Supervisor, Pam Duke had the opportunity to make her reign transparent, but her only concern seems to be who gets to play with the 2.8 million tax dollars.

Pam Duke covets the Senior Star Program like most other politicians since Mr. Cook died.

Pam Duke takes credit for things she had nothing to do with; Road electricians have been wiring cable and broadband for well over 6 years now. She'll say anything to get re-elected.

Chris Kelder is rooted, transparent and skilled in land Stewardship.

Bill Dukas — Accord
dukas@earthlink.net

The thefts have been reported...
Police have promised to investigate...

Over the past couple of weeks and with growing frequency, Democratic candidate signs — large and small — are being stolen from private properties in the Town of Rochester. The most recent incidences occurred in the Cherrytown — Upper Cherrytown areas, one just up the road from the Pine Grove Dude Ranch and the other on a local farmer's field. The thefts have been reported to the police, who have promised to investigate. There is a sad irony in the disappearance of political signs: At a time when our government is working to establish democracy in Iraq, some of our residents believe that democratic rights do not apply to the citizens of the Town of Rochester.

Cameron Bonner — Kerhonkson
ronbonner@starband.net

Marge and Ron Bonner are Town of Rochester Democratic Committee members.

Ugly Democratic Negative Campaign
in the Town of Rochester

The Town of Rochester Democrats believe in running a negative political campaign. Their mailings, letters to the editors and phone calls have been a barrage of lies and deception. We are glad the Town of Rochester residents are smart enough to see through their desperate political tactics. The Rochester Republicans have chosen to run a positive campaign of truths for a better town government. Please take the time to read about our slate of candidates.

Shane Ricks
Rochester Republican Club Treasurer

Master Plan is an euphemism
for Social Engineering.

Thanks to the past
the town of Rochester is in great shape.
Development has been at a measured pace,
what more could one ask for?

Chris Kelder takes heritage serious.
His responsibility is inherent and obvious.

Pam Duke is a spoiler with no roots to this community,
she is stuck in 40 years of active liberalism.
Pam Duke anticipates and summons sprawl,
mirrored by the creation of many committees
which she controls with flattery;
"They sit on the edge of progressive reasoning."
Committees bribe easily with wish lists of spending
and an aphrodisiac called governance.

Committees are easy to hide behind
and can be used as an excuse when raising taxes.
Committees, by their very nature, seek power.
Some members imagine themselves as special
and decided to help Pam Duke out
by hiding behind Citizens for an Open Rochester
and anonymously pour hatred slime out of the press.
So much for 'openness.'

Chris Kelder's Expertise is Land Stewardship.

Master Plans are not new ideas,
we live under a liberal influenced one, circa 1990.
It lives by encroaching on property rights;
Constantly increasing setbacks, easements and set asides
from all 4 sides,
it grabs a 100 feet around anything
that springs forth to its fancy.
Master Plans have caused drain fields to quadruple in size
and waste to be flushed above the ground.
Master Plans surrender 50 feet wide strips to third parties
who roam through anyone's land on an itch,
and cause people to be fined; that shouldn't be.

Bureaucrats swipe your home if you fall behind in taxes,
or just rip it from you on a whim.
Eminent Domain insults the species,
what has Pam Duke done about that?
Nothing.

Chris Kelder has his own business,
he doesn't like taxes.

We need a Supervisor
who can calmly deal with a whiner's complaint,
who shies from compliments,
who holds the office in transparency
where tradition is a value.
Newcomers must accept this town for who and what it is,
this town belongs to all.
Vote for a Supervisor to hold it steady.

Pam says, "It's only a 16% increase, don't panic,
it's just everybody's wish list, I can deal with it,"
Wish lists make up her Master Plan.

Pam says, "She hasn't scratched the surface."
Scratched the surface of what?

Chris can institute real density restrictions,
if and when need be.
He's organic,
he knows about flooding, conservation,
and considerations
needed for nature's environment.
He'll do right, that'll protect us.

Another committee law added to the books;
trailers have to face the road,
they can not face the sun.

People need to be told
in Pam Duke's Master Plan.

Bill Dukas — Kerhonkson
dukas@earthlink.net

Hornbeck for Councilman

Randy Hornbeck is home grown — having lived in the Town of Rochester all of his life. He went to Rondout Valley schools and chose to stay in our town. As a resident of Rochester, Randy and Laurie raised their family here and also supported their family by working in our town. Their children have made the same choice. Isn't this the All American Dream?

As a member of the Town of Rochester Town Council, Randy makes it his business to know what's going on. He is a hands-on public servant. He is visible in our town and always just a phone call away.

Randy knows the issues — it's about YOU, YOUR property, YOUR rights, and YOUR taxes! It's about keeping Rochester rural and doing what is right. Randy is here to stay. He does not just become involved at election time. He is not afraid to speak his mind and he's not afraid to hold the line.

This election day is critical for the Town of Rochester residents to know the truth and to re-elect Randy Hornbeck. Vote for Randy and everyone on Row A.

Virginia Avery — Accord
VAveryTOR@aol.com

Chris Kelder comes from a superb background of former town executives...

It is my pleasure to tell you that I have lived in Accord for 65 years and to my knowledge have never missed a vote at election time. My husband and I devoted our lives for 40 years in a commercial undertaking in Accord and gave employment and support to the folks who worked so hard for us and to help the community in any way we could. At this time it gives me sadness to read all the election criticism and defaming by the party who is in opposition to the Republicans and all the hard work they have done over the years for the Town of Rochester. And the solutions they offer seem flawed and have little to offer the town.

Since I am now a Senior Citizen it is important more than ever that we keep the Republicans in office and support the fine work they have done and will do in the future. No one can live comfortably with the proposed 20% increase in taxes which allegedly is slated by our opposition nor can we afford to elect other than the excellent Republican candidates who are to represent us on the Town Board and in the County. Chris Kelder, for instance, comes from a superb background of former town executives and has the knowledge and will to do what the Town people want and need. He has grass roots and an enthusiastic desire to do the Supervisor's work with vigor and forethought required for the tasks ahead. He will be a leader but will listen. We need someone of his calibre to hold the reins and steer the course correctly. But this requires also all the folks in Row A to form a cooperative group of Republican leadership and reliable workmanship to give us the proper handling of the Town necessities and good government. REMEMBER, when you select all those candidates on ROW A you are being intelligent and alert and insuring with confidence the best for the Town of Rochester.


Mrs. Doris P. Schoonmaker — Accord
(845) 626-0100

A Democrat crossing party lines
to get the best into office.

As Election Day approaches, I am concerned that people come out and vote. It is the duty of each individual to voice our needs and vote for the candidate that will best represent us and our community. That candidate is MELVYN TAPPER.

I have known Mel for 24 years. The Town of Rochester would be lucky to have him as its Town Justice. Mel is a Senior Court Reporter for the NYS Supreme Court. For almost 20 years Mel has worked daily in Criminal, Civil, Family and Justice Courts. He has worked with the best judges in the State and knows how to run an efficient, orderly and respected courtroom. As the present Chairman of the Town's Planning Board he has shown the ability to make the tough and sometimes unpopular decisions in a reasoned and knowledgeable manner after carefully weighing both sides. His experience, integrity, sense of fairness, common sense and long-time roots in the community will enable him to be an excellent judge for the Town of Rochester.

My vote is for MELVYN TAPPER and yours should be too.

Carol Waxman — Kerhonkson
(347) 489-8251

Perhaps the Republicans in our town are on to something with their "Your Taxes... Your Property... Your Town!" slogan.

Recently I had a very unpleasant experience with campaign signs being posted on my residential property in the Town of Rochester. I came home from work to find signage supporting Democratic Supervisor Pam Duke's Re-Election on my lawn. I promptly removed the signage as I did not give anyone permission to place signs on my property. Shortly thereafter I received a visit from a sheriff deputy. I was grilled as to why I removed the signage as someone had witnessed my actions and had called in a complaint. I explained that I was acting within my rights as a property owner and the deputy left after much discussion.

Candidates and their supporters should respect the rights of property owners when placing their signs. They should always ask permission from the property owner before placing a sign. Perhaps the Republicans in our town are on to something with their "Your Taxes... Your Property... Your Town!" slogan. I'm definitely not supporting Pam Duke and the rest of the slate if this is indicative of their respect for individual property owner's rights.


Steve Samuels — Kerhonkson
(845) 626-2823

Why move to a place because you like the way it is and then try to change it into something else?

I find it so amazing that this man, a Rondout Valley High School graduate, went on to Cornell University, an Ivy League school — where he graduated — and instead of heading off to somewhere else where he could have made "big bucks," he came back home to work his family's farm. Chris Kelder has integrity. This is a REAL man, with REAL country values. Chris Kelder has REAL country character.

Chris Kelder knows what it is to work hard for his family's and town's well-being. He's a REAL farmer, not a phony "gentleman" farmer transplanted from the city or suburbia, who bought a piece of land in the country pretending to be something he's not. With Chris you get the real thing. Chris knows what it's like to work hard and how to get things done. Chris Kelder is a no nonsense kind of man. He's not afraid to fight for what is right, which today means fighting for lower taxes, no nonsense government and most importantly, citizens' property rights.

I live here because I choose to live here. I like it the way it is. It's pretty here. The people are nice here. It's peaceful here. My children got an excellent education here. If I wanted to live in suburbia, I'd move to suburbia. The way some of the new citizens are trying to make our town into something it's not, something it shouldn't be, something it was never meant to be, is just not right. Why move to a place because you like the way it is and then try to change it into something else?

I live here because I choose to live here. The town of Rochester is a rural, country town, with rural, country values. Chris Kelder will keep the town of Rochester the way it should be. That's why I am voting for Chris Kelder for Town of Rochester Supervisor.

This is a very important election. Let's keep the Town of Rochester the wonderful place it is. Let's elect Chris Kelder the Rochester Town Supervisor.

CHRIS KELDER will fight for YOU, your TOWN, your TAXES, your PROPERTY!!!

Alysse Ricks — Accord
Mohonkview123@aol.com

Rural character... Rural characters...

Rural character! Ah! The sound of those words has buzzed around our community for a number of months. They have brought a lot of heated discussion and opposition and yet after surveys, committees, board meetings and town hall meetings, its definition has remained ambiguous and eluded us. Is it possible we are looking in the wrong place for a definition?

I saw and felt rural character in so many ways at the 1st Annual Jennie Bell Pie Festival on October 1st. It was the most wonderful experience and it gave me a sense of what a small, rural town can really be like when we get together in one place and just be who we are, rural characters. The character of a town is in the reflection of those who live and work here.

Thank you to all of those who worked unselfishly, many long and hard hours for the benefit of our town to put on the 1st Annual Jennie Bell Pie Festival. Thank you to Chris Kelder and his family for opening up their beautiful farm and giving us all such a wonderful place to celebrate life, laugh and enjoy the day. Thank you to all of the pie bakers who brought their delicacies for us to fuss and congregate over and of course raise money. It was exciting to see the winning pie get auctioned off by the piece and bring in $100. Many thanks are sent to our council people and candidates for being willing to stand and have shaving cream pies tossed in their faces. You all were great and brought a lot of laughter throughout the day. Real rural characters! The children in the talent show demonstrated real courage and were great. Thank you for sharing your talents and inspiring us all. Much thanks goes to all of those who donated to the auctions, showed cars, parked cars, made purchases, emceed, cleaned up, sponsored the fireworks and finally thank you to everyone who showed up and supported a rural festival. It was wonderful and I look forward to the 2nd Annual Jennie Bell Pie Festival which will be bigger and better with more rural character and rural characters.

Lisa Chichkov — Accord
aimtodogood@yahoo.com

I do hope that people in this town start opening up their eyes and seeing Councilman Gray and Supervisor Duke's true colors.

I am writing this letter in regards to the town board meetings in the Town of Rochester. While attending the meetings this past year I have become very irritated to the point of being incensed with some of the behavior of Supervisor Pam Duke and Councilman Francis Gray.

During the town board meeting on October 6, there were numerous occasions in which Supervisor Duke and Councilman Gray handled themselves in very inappropriate ways when there was opposition to the agenda that they had. On one occasion, Councilman Gray demanded and insisted very rudely and loudly that Councilman Hornbeck give information that he was not ready to state yet. After being berated and verbally attacked by Councilman Gray, Councilman Hornbeck retrieved the evidence to support his case which pointed to nine inconsistencies in Councilman Gray's actions while in office. After several vicious, divisive and inappropriate comments by supervisor Duke and Councilman Gray directed to the others on the board, the meeting continued.

On two separate occasions regarding discussion about the town website, Councilman Gray and Supervisor Duke verbally attacked Councilman Ryan when he had opposition and concerns that he stated in regards to the issue at hand. Councilman Gray hurled many sarcastic, rude and degrading comments to councilman Ryan during the first round. During the second round of attacks on this issue, I reached my breaking point. Supervisor Duke, using very threatening and angry nonverbal body language, launched an aggressive and degrading attack against Councilman Ryan because he was not cooperating in the way Supervisor Duke expected him to. After venting her anger at Councilman Ryan, Supervisor Duke and Councilman Gray made other unnecessary divisive and rude comments to the others on the board during the remainder of the resolution period.

On a few occasions during the meeting when members of the public made comments in response to the actions of Supervisor Duke and Councilman Gray, Supervisor Duke would very sternly and angrily tell them to be quiet or she would have them sent out of the meeting. Any derogatory, insulting comments made by Duke supporters against other members of the audience went unnoticed by Supervisor Duke. This has been the pattern as long as I have been going to meetings this year.

During the last public comment period I raised my hand and waited to be called on. When called on, I addressed a problem I had with the way the town board has treated one of our local businesses to which I have no ties. While I was speaking, Duke supporters in the audience started heckling me with insults and nasty comments like, "Why don't you shut up?", "You are so stupid.", and more. Supervisor Duke said NOTHING to them. The second part of my address to Supervisor Duke was in regards to the way she spoke to Councilman Ryan when he didn't agree with her. I said that this kind of treatment of our town councilman is completely unacceptable and that any time someone opposes her or Councilman Gray the two of them launch an all out aggressive attack at them and try to intimidate them in front of all present at the meetings. When I was finished with my comment, she made an unnecessary comment back to me to which I responded and then she told me to be quiet. I said, "No, this is the public comment period and the proper time to address these issues. You just always try to silence anyone who has a point of view that you do not agree with and this is wrong." AGAIN while I was speaking, Duke supporters from the audience were verbally attacking me for speaking up and Supervisor Duke did not address their speaking out of order. Typical behavior for Supervisor Duke.

While the meeting went into executive session, a very nasty, grumpy old lady came to the front where I was standing and got right in my face with my 7 year old son standing right next to me and made all kinds of derogatory attacks and nasty name calling against me. How uncivil! I told her to "grow up and get a life" along with some other things. This kind of behavior is absolutely repulsive and uncalled for.

I do not expect that things will change much while Duke is the supervisor of this town. I do not think much will change just because one person has verbally addressed an ongoing problem with the way Councilman Gray and Supervisor Duke deal with anyone in the town who oppose their agendas. I do hope that people in this town start opening up their eyes and seeing Councilman Gray and Supervisor Duke's true colors. We do not need this kind of dictatorship in our town. A suggestion to Supervisor Duke and Councilman Gray, take communication and anger management classes for your own good.

Lisa Chichkov — Accord
aimtodogood@yahoo.com

Manipulative subtleties.

Although it claims neutralism, the Towncrier has the appearance of a Democrat newsletter. I'm curious about the activist who anonymously writes and compiles many of its notices, why not give them public credit? Notice that the crier's last issue of September 5th was only a few days after an e-mail of August 30th and both of those e-mails carried duplicate Democrat caucus meeting with telephone #'s and encouragement. Also note the Towncrier, dated July 17th, published a direct link to online rochesterdemocrats with no thought of any Republican balance. If you save e-mails check how many Towncrier newsletters supply Democrat info in its body of information vs. how many of its newsletters supplied Republican info. Big difference.

In the Towncrier's defense it's possible that no Republican submits anything to them yet someone who writes anonymously for the Towncrier knew ahead of time to be at the Republican Caucus to post the results of the Kelder / Duke setup. It is not hard to imagine Liberal activists signing up as Republicans to jam the Republican Club's already approved slate. A cheap tactic and judging from the reaction at that Caucus, unappreciated. Months before, the Republican Club had already put together their ticket and Ms. Duke did not attend a single one of those meetings yet she thought nothing of the ploy to extend the sweltering Republican Caucus into the night.

At that Republican Caucus there was ample literature stating the rochesterrepublicans.com website, which was conveniently overlooked by the Towncrier's anonymously planted contributor, who also ignored the many flyers advertising a Republican Family Day on September 11th.

Question: Is the Family Farm Festival, which falls on the same date, purposely dated to tunicate the underexposed Republican Family Day? It will become obvious if Democrat flyers are handed out at that Family Farm Fest. The folk who will attend the Fest would not be aware of its political implications, but those who put it together... well, we know how sneaky Liberals can be. Notice on the Towncrier September 5th e-mail there is no mention of the September 11th Republican Family Day which had been planned for many months.

For sure the Towncrier posts Town hall meetings and interesting local news but, by its omissions, it quietly seeks to manipulate its readers into a specific ideology. Fair and balanced isn't natural in today's political climate, one has to make an effort. Posting all "letters to Editor" is general practice; it is the subtle nuances in the anonymous body of the Towncrier I question.

Bill Dukas — Kerhonkson
dukas@earthlink.net

We need to stop trying to dictate people's every move and allow people to pursue their dreams.

I am writing this opinion in regards to the site plan recommendations submitted and other areas of discussion in the town where there just seems to be more and more government control, regulations, intervention, fees, permits, etc. I am against more laws and expense regulating how people can divide up their land and making them go before a second or third party of people to tell them what to do on their private property. We need to stop trying to dictate people's every move and allow people to pursue their dreams.

Our country was founded on the principle of everyone being entitled equally to the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Since our country's beginning, there has been a lot of change. Just look at the population. People have to go somewhere. Businesses come and go depending on the need. Change is inevitable. Few things are actually the same as they were a few hundred years ago or even 25 years ago, but our foundation and roots remain the same. Most change is for the better but some is not.

Civilizations typically go through a series of cycles. "The average age of the world's great civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through the following sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to great courage, from great courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependency from dependency back to bondage." I am of the opinion that a lot of the squabbling in this town is the result of selfishness. Instead of each of us taking responsibility for what we are doing, we want to make the town responsible to dictate what we should and shouldn't do. This selfishness is leading to more rules and regulations and soon to a state of being in bondage to the laws and government. When we wake up and see how the actions we are taking now may affect us later, will we like what we have brought this town to? What ever happened to common sense?

As humans, we all desire to pursue a way of life that is best for our families and ourselves. We all have dreams that turn to goals. This means change. Some we may like and some we may not. What gives me the right to say that my goals and dreams are more important than yours are? NOTHING! What gives me the right to say that now that I have achieved my goals and dreams that I am going to inhibit you from attaining yours? NOTHING! What will happen to the children growing up in the Town of Rochester? They are not staying. We have nothing to offer them here. They couldn't afford to stay. Why? Because we want to preserve open space and dictate who can and can't live here or operate business on their own property. You want to tell people who own land how they should manage, divide or sell their land. There are many laws on the books that are not even followed but are conveniently used against someone at another person's discretion. There are so many petty and unnecessary "laws" that most of us could probably be considered lawbreakers.

What this town needs is a healthy dose of respect for others. We need honesty and integrity. There needs to be accountability at the town level for its actions and behavior. Do we want a better town? The town is made up of people. What are WE THE PEOPLE going to do to make this a better place? We do not want the government locally or at any other level dictating how we live and what we do. As PEOPLE OF THE TOWN OF ROCHESTER, we need to encourage people to make this place more beautiful by cleaning up their streets and yards. Encourage volunteerism to help those who are unable to keep the exteriors of their properties kept up. Reach out to the elderly, the single parents, widows, veterans' families and those who need compassion or a helping hand in their time of need. We need to care about our neighbors instead of compete with them and see how we can drive people away. When we respect others, we think twice about what we are doing and how it will affect others. Remember the golden rule we all learned in kindergarten? Do unto others as we would want them to do unto us. We don't need more rules, laws, restrictions etc., that we can throw in someone's face and say that people can't do with their private property what they want or rules that add so much expense that people who live here and work here can't afford to pursue their dreams and stay here.

As far as local government goes, if you are in office to pursue your own personal agenda, you are in an office for the wrong reason. Your offices are those of a public servant, not dictatorship or personal gain.

As far as laws go, some have been around since the beginning of time. They are for the good of all. Some laws are necessary to protect society as a whole in regards to our Constitutional rights. Making laws to protect your personal interests and deprive others of their unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness will lead to a public outcry you will not soon forget. We live in the land of liberty, not a communist country. We are looking communist more and more each day in this town with what is going on which is causing unrest. Yes, take a lesson from history and don't repeat the mistakes of the past!

Lisa Chichkov — Accord
aimtodogood@yahoo.com