by Michael Baden

Mr. Baden resigned from the Rochester Democratic Committee in February 2007.

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Dervishes spin, men shoot straight.

In a December 15 letter to Blue Stone's editor entitled "Chipman puts spin on things," Mr. Steven L. Fomal primps in the mirror of self-projection.

Mr. Carl Chipman writes clearly and to the point; his e-mails about town meetings are very informative, he lets facts speak for themselves. Read one. On the other hand, Mr. Fomal's attack is convoluted, muddled and heavily opinionated. As Town Planning Board Chairman, Mr. Fornal refused to stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance; he also posts screeds of American hatred on the web. Google and judge for yourself Of course, Mr. Fomal is protected by free speech but he doesn't seem to realize he's not the only one.

In the letter to the editor Mr. Fornal states "Our newly 'elected' administration seeks candidates (volunteers) regardless of political affiliation," but then adds this restriction: "Appointees must share a 'progressive' vision for the future of the town." As if nobody knows 'progressive' is a code word for a very left-of-center ideology. And judging by Mr. Fornal's writings, 'progressive' manifests itself as restrictive and intolerant.

In the same letter Mr. Fornal goes on to fear monger and fling ridiculous insults at Mr. Dogar-Marinesco without giving any specific examples. Mr. Fornal writes, "Dogar-Marinesco should be held accountable for his words and deeds." Exactly what words and deeds bother Mr. Fornal?

Obviously, Mr. Fornal knows nothing about Mr. Jon Dogar-Marinesco. Jon is an immigrant from Romania where he was celebrated by the people as a great social cartoonist and imprisoned by the communist regime for his personal beliefs. Mr. Dogar-Marinesco came here with his family to live out the American dream only to run into this town's new shameful bias. Jon was verbally abused and rejected by the Town Board because of his political beliefs when he offered his service free to the newly formed Business Board.

Jon is the recipient of the largest restoration grant ever in Rochester, an awarded webmaster, and a passionate collector of Americana. Does this sound like someone who has nothing to offer? Mr. Dogar-Marinesco certainly has more to offer this town than Mr. Steven L. Fornal.

Bill Dukas
Kerhonkson

Blue Stone Press, November 17, 2006

A case of censorship?

To the Editor:

Upon reviewing the tape of the Rochester Town Board Meeting held on October 5th, 2006 for the umpteenth time, I am convinced that a special note should be placed on all solicitations for volunteers to serve on committees and commissions created by the Town Board. This note should read "Only those who express themselves in agreement with us need apply." At the Town Board Public Meeting on 10/05/06 a motion was made and seconded to appoint citizens to the Business Development Committee as a group instead of individually. Councilman Alex Miller made note that one of the applicants, Jon Dogar-Marinesco, was possibly the webmaster for the Rochester Republican Club, rochesterrepublicans.com. A discussion ensued and Councilman Miller called for each applicant to be appointed individually in separate motions. Councilman Miller also stated that Jon Dogar-Marinesco's appointment might be divisive. The Town Board then called the motion for appointment as a group because the motion was already seconded and the motion was defeated 4 votes to 1 with Councilman Santosky as the lone vote in favor. The Board then voted to appoint Toni Sindone and Dr. Joan Atwood individually and left Jon Dogar-Marinesco's pending. The November Town Board Meeting has since come and gone and no action has been taken on Mr. Dogar-Marinesco's application.

I find the events that occurred on 10/5/06 extremely disturbing . Mr Dogar-Marinesco's rights as a citizen were violated in multiple ways. Firstly he was discriminated against because he freely expresses his opinions as webmaster of the Rochester Republican Club Website. He also serves as an Executive Board member of the club as chairman of the Communications Committee. One must remember that freedom of expression is a constitutionally guaranteed right for all citizens in our country not just those that are in agreement with one's own opinions. To deny Mr. Dogar-Marineseco's appointment based on his work on a website designed to benefit members of a club is an audacious attempt of censorship.

Councilman Alex Miller also violated the very procedures that he voted in favor of for appointments to commissions, boards, and committees on 1/5/06. Section 2 clearly states that "the Town Board shall review and discuss all applications and letters of intent in executive session. The vote to select any candidate shall, however, be made at a public meeting of the Town Board." Discussion of individual merits of candidates are held in executive session as provided by "Open Meetings Law" to protect the rights of applicants and to allow candid discussion by the deliberating body of individual qualifications without infringement of those rights. Proper procedure would have been for Councilman Miller to call for an executive session to discuss canditates merits and qualifications. Miller's actions infringed on Mr. Dogar-Marinesco's rights as a private citizen and as an applicant to be an unpaid public officer. Miller's statements concerning Jon Dogar-Marinesco's being a divisive influence on the committee could have a negative impact on his ability to conduct business in the Town of Rochester. Councilman Miller has placed his board in jeopardy due to those inappropriate comments.

Councilman Miller should apologize to Mr. Jon Dogar-Marinesco for his inappropriate actions. Mr. Miller should also appologize to his fellow Board Members for placing them in jeopardy. The Town Board should review Mr. Dogar-Marinesco's application and appoint him to the Business Development Committee based on his superior qualifications. Jon brings a wealth of over 30 years business experience to the committee. He is founder and CEO of Point Blank, Inc., an advertising and marketing agency, whose clients include national tourist offices and airlines.

Jon Dogar-Marinesco also established BusyRochester.com, the first website in our town devoted to promoting local businesses. He is also breaking ground for a new antique shop in our town. Jon Dogar-Marinesco's qualifications would make him an invaluable asset to the Business Development Committee. It's time to do the right thing. Otherwise "Open Government" is just an empty mantra voiced by Democrats at election time.

Carl J. Chipman
Accord

October 15, 2006

Too busy creating new committees?

Coming across 44-55 from the thruway after dusk, we all narrowly miss the turn off for Kerhonkson; why no sign? There is not a street crossing sign, nor a simple Kerhonkson arrow, no indication, nothing. Are people embarrassed by the town? Is it a conspiracy to hide in solitude, and aid decay? Or is it an oversight by those in control, who are too busy creating new committees to control others for them?

Elephants seek to care for a town, jackasses seek to control.

In wintertime when a neighbor in emergency needs a bucket of sand, the mules, to a man: "No, if we were to give someone sand, everyone would want a bucket." They insisted to put the sand behind a fence with lock because "Some one could drive up in a pickup truck and steal a hundred shoves full." As if one with arms so bold could not hold a bolt cutter. Their statement only indicates contempt for those they govern.

I do not want no stinking sand, they do not want to help. They only want to create and control town destiny manifesto.

A Republican would approve to post this sign by the pile of sand: "Take what you need for emergency; please treat the town as it treats you."

Let us have more real signs of care and less signs of control.
Thanks.

Bill Dukas — Accord
dukas@earthlink.net

NOTE: The letter below was published in Blue Stone Press, September 15, 2006, page 15. Apparently embarassed by the viciousness of their former fellow reporter, the editors chose to "edit" the text. The cuts were restored below, some in bold letters.

Republicans are people too!

To the Editor:

In her letter published in Blue Stone Press (August 18), Kathy Kuthy talks about involvement and makes an appeals to Rochesterites to stop personal attacks: "we cannot afford to sink into this morass of attacking fellow community members because they have a different opinion."

Is this Ms. Kuthy's new found philosophy? Was it all right to attack people last year, right before the election? I clearly remember that day in October 2005 when she wrote about a Republican who expressed a different opinion at a Town Board meeting: "...the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back, at least for me, was to see a woman who is currently on the Maricopa County, Arizona Most Wanted List attempt to lambast our Town Supervisor over what is right and wrong and The Constitution of the United States."

After reading what she chose to write, I started to cry. After 25 years in America I understood that some people are intent on frightening neighbors who dare to speak their minds. In this case, by digging dirt on Google, and using half-truths (the person made the "most wanted" list for missing alimony payments — Please see the NOTE below.).

Did anybody care how that letter hurt the mother of four wonderful children? Was that personal attack acceptable Democratic behavior before election?

Too often we notice double standards in the way Republicans and Democrats are treated and that is very sad.

If Republicans send letters to the editor over the 500-word limit, they are asked to bring it down to 400 words. If Democrats send 700-word letters, they are indulged.

When Democrats go to town meetings, they are involved, participate and offer their input. If Republicans go to the same meetings, they "come out in full force to discredit the excellent job that our Town Board is doing" (from a mid-June web page on RochesterDemocrats.org).

Most unfairly, Republicans are smeared as "members of the local hate group known as the Republican Club" — as councilman Francis Gray offered recently. The sustained effort to attach stigma to being a Republican smacks of dictatorship.

As political commentator Fred Barnes writes about mainstream media: "conservatives are often labeled in a way to suggest they are mean and hateful. Liberals criticize, but conservatives hate."

Republicans are people too! We all have our own reasons for being members of this political party... Living 30 years under a totalitarian regime and seeing how close some Democratic ideas are to Communism, I chose the Republican Party.

Ms. Kuthy wrote as a private citizen. I write as the daughter of a political prisoner in Communist Romania; as an immigrant granted political asylum in this country; as an American proud to be a Republican.

Manuela Mihailescu — Kerhonkson
manuela@oldbrickhouse.com

NOTE: The person attacked by Kathy Kuthy sent in this clarification: She was a homemaker without an income, so she could never owe alimony. Ex-husband was trying to fraudulently extort money. Even with the evidence, the court ruled in his favor. He had an attorney. She did not. For standing up to fraudulent extortion, she was put on the most wanted list in Arizona. It is a civil matter.

September 13, 2006

Misleading numbers...

One of the reasons offered when discussing the urgency of a Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Rochester was that "From 1990 to 2000, Rochester was the fastest growing town in Ulster County, growing by 24%, reaching a population of 7,018. From 2000 to 2005, the Town's growth continued at a more moderate pace of 4 percent to 7,306." (Revised Draft of the Comprehensive Plan dated August 22, 2006). Can we really call significant "growth" a population increase of less than 300 people in the last 5 years?!

Recent American Demographics data identyfied the nation's 100 fastest-growing counties. Given the fact that those counties tend to be close to major metro areas, one would expect that a county close to New York City, as Ulster, would make the top 100. Wrong conclusion.

In terms of population gains since 2000, none of the top 10 counties on the 100-fastest growing list is in New York State. Four are in Texas, two in Illinois, four surround Atlanta and a county outside Washington is no. 2 on the list! Three counties near Chicago are on the top-100 list.

States "under the sun" account for most of the growth: California, Texas, Florida, Georgia and Arizona. More than half of the 100 "hot" counties are in these 5 states. If Nevada - the fastest growing state - is added, six Western and Southern states account for two-thirds of the top 100's population growth.

There are 11 counties nationally with a population gain above 100,000 since 2000. The fastest-growing counties since 2000 account for the suburban sprawl in Flager County, Florida; the Washington suburb of Loudoun County, Virginia and counties on the outskirts of Atlanta.

The study also indicates that the "quest for affordable housing" is the engine of the population growth in suburban counties near thriving metro areas.

To summarize, let's check the findings against our town's situation: a sun state we are not; affordable housing is not an attraction point in our town. Why then emphasize so much the growth, the sprawl...?!

In 1870 the population of the town was 4,088. Compared to 7,306 in 2005, the gain is 3,218 people in 135 years, an average increase of 24 people per year.

Manuela Mihailescu — Kerhonkson
manuela@oldbrickhouse.com

NOTE: The above letter appeared in the Ulster County Press, September 13, 2006, page A7. In the same issue, the article "Population numbers vary for county" by Andrew Hickey shows that "On the whole, Ulster County's population looks to have grown since 2000 by nearly 5,000 people to 182,693 as of July 1, 2005."

So, the 2000 to 2005 growth numbers are: nearly 5,000 for Ulster County, almost 300 for the Town of Rochester.

September 6, 2006

An American dream...

Last night I had a dream that local control-freaks held a moratorium to suspend logic and common sense in an attempt to rid the town of opposing critics. A 24-hour ban against certain news and radio outlets was touted, exempting one local newspaper. A suggestion to hid transparency was put to a vote, a feminist reporter ecstatically raised both hands for the count. A workshop was formed to explore the community's rural psyche for political exploitation. Participants would get free massages.

It was suggested that the town raise taxes higher to dump the poor. Someone shouted, "Everyone knows if the poor had brains they would not be poor!" There was a vote to use guilt by association and push for mandatory I.Q. and diversity tests before anybody could buy property. A mantra arose, "We know what is best, by what they are not."

Pamphlets stated "All opposition must be stigmatized with cries of racism, bigotry, and thievery. Use vulgar hip hop language for charm." Across the bottom read: "Vote yes for comprehending the reasons for restricting personal liberties, because increased hidden costs will drive out the poor, the child bearers, and the narrow minds."

Suddenly the rafters echoed with folk singer Karl Marx's latest disk, "Let us proudly take away all God given rights."

Let us hide the ugly footprint of mankind,
and squash babies in the womb,
we are in it for our pleasure like necrophiliacs in a tomb.
Let us have mirrored fields of weeds
and taxable condom machines on all corners,
and give promiscuity a hand,
and make proven social order a goner.
Glory, glory, let us have more propaganda in the school,
and use all the oppression we can as a tool,
and call all opposition; silly hick fool,
our truth is marching on.

I woke up in a cold sweat. Is it possible that the local control-freaks have dismissed civil function and only believe in aesthetic reasoning, moral relativism, and getting their way?

Bill Dukas — Accord
dukas@earthlink.net

August 1, 2006

Separating fact from fancy...

Lately I have been seeing letters published in our local newspapers concerning "rumors" in the Town of Rochester. It helps to identify the sources of these "rumors."

The Town Board will prohibit lawn mowing and the use of chain saws and other noisy equipment on weekends.

I first heard "lawn mowing" mentioned at a Comprehensive Plan Outreach meeting (Accord Fire House). Somebody in the audience asked if the town was going to prohibit lawn mowing on Sundays, and Peter Fairweather said "it has been discussed in other towns."

The second time I heard it from Claude Suhl, who mentioned lawn mowing at an Environmental Conservation Commission meeting where he discussed the Noise Ordinance that he was working on. The Committee's meeting minutes are worth reading and are available at the Town Clerk's office.

The Town Board initiated the recent reassessment to raise taxes so it can spend more money.

I first became aware of this rumor on the accord-kerhonkson.com website, followed by the Rochesterdemocrats.org website and Margaret Bonner's July 12, 2006 letter to newspapers.

You won't be able to cut down trees or shrubs on your property.

This rumor came about from the Historic Preservation Commission's revised draft of Chapter 22, and the May 4, 2006 Public Hearing at the Accord Fire House.

In the draft, "historic landmark or landmark" is defined as "any real property, including but not limited to a building, structure, ruins, foundation, route, trail, site, landscape or object, cave, cemetery, burial ground, camp or village area, or natural object(s) or configuration, geological formation or feature which is of particular historic, cultural, scenic or architectural significance to the Town of Rochester or in which the broad cultural, political, economic or social history of the nation, state or community is reflected or exemplified…"

"Alteration" is defined as "any act or process which changes or modifies a landmark or an improvement parcel located within a historic district including but not limited to exterior changes to or modifications of a building, structure, architectural details or visual characteristics of material and surface texture; grading or surface paving; construction of new buildings or structures; cutting or removal of trees and natural features..."

Both of these definitions continue but this is not the place to quote them word by word. However, I do feel that the draft it is worth reading; it can be viewed in its entirety at townofrochester.net on the Historic Preservation Commission's page.

You'll need a permit to paint your house and the color must be approved by a special commission.

Again, this rumor came about from the town's Historic Preservation Commission's revised draft of Chapter 22, which states that no person shall carry out any exterior alterations, nor make any material changes in appearance of a landmark or property within a historic district without first obtaining a "Certificate of Appropriateness." This term, not specific to our town, is recommended by New York State Historic Preservation Committee.

According to the draft, prior to the commencement of any work requiring a Certificate of Appropriateness the owner shall file an application with the Historic Preservation Commission. It further states that the application shall contain samples of color or materials to be used.

At the Historic Preservation Commission public hearing the Commission even had a pamphlet of "sample" paint colors that were appropriate. The audience was informed that the home improvement stores had historic color pamphlets available.

Clotheslines will be prohibited because they're "ugly."

I only recently became aware of this rumor through the letters published in our local newspapers.

Is the Town Board working with the Accord Fire District to close the Accord Speedway?

I found out about this rumor for the first time on the accord-kerhonkson.com website and then on the rochesterdemocrats.org website.

The best way to know what is "fact or fancy" is to attend the meetings and see for yourself. If you are unable to attend the meetings, the minutes are available, some are on the town's web site and you can request the rest from the Town Clerk.

Get involved and form your own opinion!

Tricia Kortright — Kerhonkson
KORTRIGHT2004@hvc.rr.com

July 24, 2006

Mr. Fornal's half truths...

Dear Editor,

I have just finished reading "Iraq Facts" by Mr. Steven Fornal and I am filled with dismay and bewilderment. I don't know if Mr. Fornal is making a feeble attempt at sensationalist journalism or if he is an anti-semite trying his hand at revising history. I do know that Mr. Fornal's use of half truths and inconsequential facts which lead to his assumption that the acts of the nation state of Israel are far worse than those of Saddam Hussein's Iraq is completely absurd. Mr Fornal begins his essay noting all of the UN Resolutions that went unheeded by Israel. How naive can one be? Does Mr. Fornal realize that Israel would not be in existence if it followed many of the resolutions that the General Assembly of the United Nations have passed? Votes are bought and sold at the United Nations much like stocks are on Wall Street. Wealthy Arab nations who want to deny Israel's right to exist have bought the votes of poor third world countries in order to pass resolutions that jeopardize the security of Israel. Israel's refusal to follow many of these resolutions was because they jeopardized it's right to exist and protect its citizens. Saddam's Iraq also did not heed numerous resolutions. Many of those resolutions involved the slaughter of his own countrymen and expansion into territories that belonged to other nation states in order to quench his unbridled thirst for power and glory.

Israel's fight for its right to exist actually began before it proclaimed its independence in 1948. A poorly drawn plan for splitting Palestine into separate Jewish and non-Jewish states erupted into organized fighting in November of 1947. The British were trying to shed themselves of their Palestine Problem as their empire eroded. They had taken the area from the Ottoman Empire during World War I. This area of the world has been trampled by the feet of conquering soldiers for thousands of years. The people of this region have never had their own nation. They have always been ruled by others. There were about 1.2 million Palestinian Christians and Muslims and 600,000 Jews in the region at the time. There were about 250,000 displaced Jews in Europe that had survived the Nazi concentration camps. Nearly 6 million Jews had perished during the Holocaust. The powers of the world created a separate state for these people in order to assuage their collective guilt for allowing the Holocaust to occur and to find a home for the displaced Jews in Europe. Many of the 6 million Jews who died might of survived if nations would of opened their borders for them and if the British would have allowed their entry into Palestine. Mr. Fornal should remember the sinking of the SS Bulgaria.

Since 1948 Israel has been repeatedly attacked by its neighbors. Does the Yon Kippor War of 1973 ring a bell for Mr. Fornal? Israel has also had to struggle against acts of terrorism by groups funded and supplied by the likes of Saddam Hussein. Does Mr. Fornal also remember the Scud missiles that Saddam Hussein launched into Israel? Israel ceded territories to the Palestinians in 2005 so that a separate state could be formed for them. All Israel wanted in return was acknowledgement of its right to exist. Israel's struggle for survival is vastly different than Saddam Hussein's bullying of his countrymen and neighbors.

I do agree with Mr. Fornal that U.S. Foreign Policy has been flawed in this region of the world. The responsibility for foreign policy blunders can be traced as far back as Truman. Republicans and Democrats can all share the blame for mistakes that have been made in the Middle East. I do however completely disagree with Mr. Fornal's assertion that we have been trying to destabilize the region in order to force oil prices higher, to benefit the oil companies. The U.S. and other developed countries need cheap oil to fuel their economies. One of the biggest reasons Iraq invaded Kuwait was because they would not cut back oil production and thus created a downward pressure on oil prices. Saddam Hussein threatened Kuwait with military force for exceeding oil production quotas at the OPEC meeting held in Geneva 2 weeks before his invasion of Kuwait. Saddam Hussein needed more oil money so that he could keep building his war machine. Mr. Fornal should also note that Saddam was also upset with Kuwait because they would not cancel the war debts which he owed them. It also should be noted that Saddam coveted Kuwait's excellent port as well as the additional oil fields. Iraq's port at Basra has always had problems with silt deposits. Mr. Fornal contends that Kuwait's use of slant drilling at the Rumaila Oil Field which spans its border with Iraq as major reason for Iraq's hostile actions. This is really a non-issue in light of the other reasons I have put forth. Intentional slant drilling increases production costs. Unintentional slant drilling is very common. It is well known that most drilling never ends up completely vertical.

It is always easy to tell one part of the story instead of telling the whole story when one is attempting to revise history. Mr. Fornal's sources of information for his essay may shed some light on how his views are formulated. One of his sources is Noam Chomsky. I will grant that Mr.Chomsky is brilliant in the field of linguistics but his writings on concerning world events are very skewed due to his political idealogy. Noam Chomsky is a libertarian socialist who is sympathetic to anarcho-socialism. Mr. Chomsky's political points of view are so far left of center in the spectrum that he would make the most Liberal Democrat look right-wing. He has always been critical of U.S. Foreign Policy. Perhaps the reason for that is because he feels that our foreign policy is governed by big business interests. His idyllic vision has no governments, just workers running the system. Remember Marxists also did not have any place for religion in their fantasy world. Perhaps this is why Mr. Fornal takes such a negative slant against Israel. People like Mr. Chomsky rewrite world events in their own socialist perspective. This is reminiscent of how history books were rewritten under the like of Josef Stalin's oppressive rule. Tell the story with only the facts which prove your point of view and strike out the things that don't. Mr. Fornal also uses Milton Viorst as a reference. This person is also on the left side of the political spectrum and has been a long time critic of U.S. Foreign Policy.

I would suggest that Mr. Fornal expand his horizons in order to obtain a more balanced view of the world and stop being a hack for left-wing radicals. I believe that Mr. Fornal is a quite brilliant writer and capable of much more if only he would open his eyes and look at the whole picture.

Carl Chipman — Accord
cmc102988@yahoo.com

Daily Freeman, July 20, 2006, page A5

Rochester GOP "leader" should quit

Applause and kudos for Marijane Knudsen; as a community resident, her involvement with the Democratic Town Board in Rochester is commendable. However, as Chairman of the Town of Rochester Republican Committee she is doing a disservice to her political party. Actively participating and supporting all of the recent Democratic initiatives is equivalent to abandoning ship. The Rochester Republicans lost the last election. Now is the time to re-build and prepare for the next Election, not help the Democrats push thru their "vision" of Rochester. The Democratic majority does not need the support of the Republican Committee to advance their goals. The current Town Board enjoys a 4 to 1 Democratic majority.

The July 13 letter to the editor "We are public servants" by Marijane Knudsen in support of the Republican Steve Fornal makes reference to "Republican values" and "belief in our flag." Ms. Knudsen makes this statement being well aware that Steve Fornal is no longer a registered Republican and that he refuses to participate in the Pledge to the Flag, even as the appointed Chairman of the Planning Board.

In the same letter she refers to "disruptive behavior" by individuals during Town Board public hearings. Those disruptive individuals are Republicans fighting to protect their property rights, fighting to lower taxes, fighting to keep Rochester a place where you can live and work, not just a bedroom community. Those disruptive individuals are her constituents as Chairman of the Rochester Republican Committee. She is right, Rochester is "changing fast" and we need a Republican leader to represent our values, not jump ship and join the Democrats. As Chairman of Rochester Republicans she should be the most partisan person in Town! Ms. Knudsen must stop publicly endorsing non-Republicans (Steve Fornal) and non-Republican agendas. She was elected as Republican Chairman to work for what's best for Republicans, not for all residents. If she wants to be a public servant, let her run for office. Although she would never get the votes in a Republican caucus, there are always the Democrats.

Ms. Knudsen has presided as Chairman of Rochester Republican Committee for more than twenty years. Under her "leadership" our Town Board has gone from a 5 to 0 Republican majority to a 1 to 4 minority. If this were Yankee Baseball, the manager would have been the first to go! Ms. Knudsen needs to step down as Republican Committee Chairman and continue to devote her energy — on a non-partisan basis — to the Town of Rochester.

Town of Rochester Club Executive Board
Carl Chipman — President
Tavi Cilenti — Vice President
Shane Ricks — Treasurer
Lisa Chichkov — Secretary
Jon Dogar-Marinesco — Committee Chair
Chris Kelder — Committee Chair
Tricia Kortright — Committee Chair
David O'Halloran — Committee Chair
Kandy Santosky — Committee Chair
Scott Owens — Committee Chair

The following letter appeared in local media under headlines written by the respective publications: Why forget Ron Santosky? (Blue Stone Press, July 21, page 16), 'View' on Rochester ignored a super board member (Times Herald-Record, July 24, page 19), Rochester Councilman unfairly left out (Daily Freeman, July 26, page A5).

July 16, 2006

Margaret Bonner,
didn't you forget Ron Santosky?

In a letter published in the local newspapers ("Don't believe all those rumors about Rochester") praising good done "without regard to politics" one Town Councilman was purposely left out by the author, Margaret Bonner.

Ron Santosky is the only Republican Councilman, the person with the most experience on the current Town Board. Margaret Bonner is a Democratic Committee member, in charge of Town of Rochester's website.

By stating "Councilmen Gray, Miller and Spano have joined with Supervisor Duke to move Rochester out of the 19th century" Margaret Bonner implies that Councilman Santosky lives in the 19th century, which is insulting. Ron Santosky understood from the beginning the problems related to the Historic Preservation Law draft. He was "grilled" ironically during the April Town Board meeting, but at the Public Hearing, other Councilmen expressed the same concerns Councilman Santosky had a month earlier...

Marge Bonner eulogizes: "These officials have been doing a fabulous job without regard to politics." Isn't this disingenuous, to emphasize "without regard to politics" when you are a Democratic official who omits the only Republican Councilman?

In the same paragraph: "Their decisions have been based on strengthening the whole community, not just a handful of supporters." Really? At the February Moratorium Public Hearing, 75% of the people spoke against it, but the Moratorium passed with 4 votes; Ron Santosky was the only Councilman really listening to the "whole community." His "no" vote got a standing ovation.

At the end of her letter, Margaret Bonner writes: "If you have questions, contact Town Councilmen Gray, Miller, or Spano or Supervisor Duke and get the real truth." What is this supposed to mean? That Councilman Santosky would not tell the truth?! Why is he excluded when the buzz words in town are "unity" and "positive communication?"

Ron's Auto Repair shop is our next door neighbor. Ron was the very first person we met in the Town. In winter, whenever our car wouldn't start, he would come and help, always with that famous smile on his face, never asking us what political color we are. We discovered that Ron is a Town Councilman only at the Republican Caucus in 2003, two years after meeting him! He represents the ultimate in decency. He never mentioned he was a Councilman or a candidate running for re-election. We feel blessed to have him as our neighbor and greatly respect him as our Councilman.

Manuela Mihailescu — Kerhonkson
manuela@oldbrickhouse.com

Daily Freeman (July 4, 2006) published the following letter, posted on this site on June 27:

June 27, 2006

Much ado about nothing

I think the Christian skate at Skate Time 209 should be allowed.

I disagree with the June 15 letter from the state division that says "Christian skate denies or at minimum, discourages non-Christian patronage." How exactly does Christian skate do this? Non-Christians are in no way prohibited from going to these skate sessions. If a statement like this can be taken into account then you could also say that "teen night" discourages adults or "disco" night discourages children. Not everyone is going to like all the music.

People might be able to argue that "teen night" and "disco night" are fair because there is a time to satisfy all age groups, but not all teens like the teen music that is played and not all adults like the disco music that is being played. Isn't this discouraging some people from coming then? No. So who's to say that Christian skate is discouraging non-Christians from coming?

It's ridiculous how people are trying to take something so positive and turn it into something negative. Len and Terry Bernardo are great people. They have done so much to make a positive influence on the people of this town. They've created jobs for people and a place for families to go where they know that their children will be safe. It's really unfair that people would let something get in the way of that and destroy the one great thing we have in this town. If any thing I think we need more people like Len in Terry in this town. Actually we need more people like them in the world.

Kristen Chipman — Accord
singingqueene89@yahoo.com

June 27, 2006

Big Egos, Small Minds

With all the hoopla that has been circling around Accord's Skate Time 209's Sunday afternoon skating session, originally called Christian Skate, now 'politically' correctly called Spiritual Skate, I decided to go and see what all the fuss was about.



First of all, if I didn't know that they were playing the 'controversial' Christian music, I wouldn't have known it was Christian music at all. It sounded like 'normal' music to me. True, the lyrics were not made up of curse words, slangs and slurs, and none of the songs came with a warning that it might not be suitable for a young listening audience, but, I didn't mind that at all. If I want to hear curses, slurs, and just plain bad attitudes, I can turn on my cable TV and listen to MTV.

Second of all, there were lots of families there. Parents with teens, toddlers, and children in between. If I didn't like young children, or teens, or families enjoying themselves as a unit, I wouldn't have liked this controversial skating session. But, since I do enjoy the above, I am glad I went to Skate Time 209's Christian Music Sunday afternoon skating session. It seemed like a great way for a family to spend an afternoon together.

The person, or persons, who found it necessary to fault this privately-owned and operated business that was advertising their schedule in the local newspaper, is actually advertising their big ego and small mind.  Big ego because obviously they are so filled with themselves that they act as if it is their job, their responsibility, to be in charge of and control what others think and do. Small minded because they seem to think that there is no higher power in the universe bigger than themselves.

Have you ever been thinking of someone and reached for the phone to call them only to have the phone ring and it be that person? Have you ever been sitting in a chair, eyes closed, and sensed that someone was staring at you and when you opened your eyes and looked around you found that, in fact, someone was staring at you? You didn't tangibly feel something, you sensed it.

Having faith in a 'power greater than ourselves' is like that. It's sensed. It's a feeling. It's nothing tangible, but it's real nevertheless.

And just because some don't believe it, that doesn't make it any less real.

Alysse Ricks — Accord
MohonkView123@aol.com

June 16, 2006

I am surprised by this verbal assault...

Dear Editor,

I am writing to express my opinion to a comment made by our Town Councilman, Francis Gray, refering to the Rochester Republican Club and it's members as a "local hate group." The group is made up of a lot of citizens who care and many local business owners here in the Accord-lKerhonkson area. These people have always been there to help whenever asked in any fundraising project to benefit the Town. I've been involved with many of these projects and this kind of rhetoric and blatant generalization makes me wonder. It only serves to divide neighbors from each other, further eroding the small town feeling that has been an important defining factor and as prevalent a character as the beauty of our natural resources. Victimization or vilification thwarts a sincere effort to work together for the betterment of the Town. I am surprised by this verbal assault to a portion of his constituency. Name calling is way beneath you. Especially, when you don't agree with something, can't you be civil or at least tactful? We teach our children to respect peoples' differences. What happened here is sad, very sad. Sincerely,

Toni Sindone — Accord
smozart04@earthlink.net

Don't be drawn into the ugliness...

Most things roll off my back like rain off a roof, but hearing of our club described as a hate group makes my blood boil.

Where is our friendly, caring, cooperative community heading? This divisive ill willed atmosphere is beginning to poison our homeland locally and all across the nation.

We are at the point where the pendulum is about to swing the other way. I hope we can keep it from swinging too far away before it returns to us.

Don't be drawn into the ugliness. Seek the high road until it is so obvious to all who see the difference between right and wrong.

Rick Kelly — Accord
mingler@att.net

Memorial Day No-Shows

Anybody's intention to attend a Memorial Day Parade could be derailed on short notice. Life is unpredictable. But there is something to be said about the conspicuous absence from community celebrations of those on Town's Boards, Commissions, Committees and sub-Committees...

Mingling with the masses is a no-no for elites?

Nowhere to be seen at the Memorial Day Parade, many would probably come to the weekenders' Comprehensive Plan Outreach Meeting on Saturday, June 17, 9:00 am. Wanna bet?

Jon Dogar-Marinesco — Kerhonkson
jon@rochesterrepublicans.com

May 12, 2006

Comments and Concerns

about the Revised Code
for the Historic Preservation Commission

COMMENTS:

The attorney for the town suggested that we review this document, prior to the Public Hearing and come prepared with our suggestions on what we feel should be changed or removed. The commission has had more than a year to work on this but we've had less than a month to review, research and make our suggestions.

The first thing that I will bring to your attention is that all of the research done by the Historic Commission, came from only 2 places. The Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Had other places been researched, they would have noticed that other municipalities have adopted similar laws, only to have to re-write or abolish it altogether at a later date when people became fed up with the restrictions and loss of property rights.

One of the leaflets from The Preservation League of New York State contains some very disturbing information. "The first such preservation ordinance was adopted in Charleston South Carolina, in 1930. The number grew to about 250 in 1970. Today there are about 1000 of these laws in the Untied States. Of these, about 100 of these preservation ordinances have been enacted by municipalities across New York State, and the number is growing. That means, on average, we have 5 times more preservation laws than any other state in the country!

In the Rochester Historic Preservation Commission's letter addressed to the Town Board dated April 19, 2006 is the following statement: "It has been said that Ulster County has the largest number of structures remaining from the time of the original 13 colonies. Some of our families have been in this valley for 300 years and some remain to this day on the very same farmstead. According to John Bonafide of the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the Town of Rochester may well have the largest number of early stone structures."

With that said, I would like to point out that we, the property owners and residents have done an excellent job of preserving our history without suffocating laws, as presented here.

If the commission wants to educate residents of this town about the history of property that they own or have recently purchased, that's great, and if they want to encourage a person to apply for acceptance to the National Historic Register, that's great. But to insist that Town of Rochester residents live under the constant scrutiny of the Rochester Historic Commission is totally wrong and in my opinion, borders on dictatorship.

CONCERNS:

I'm concerned that if this law is passed as it is written, appointed members don't have to live in this town. People from other towns, counties and even other states can be appointed to this commission.

I'm concerned because, this proposed document has been copied from a "Model Law" written by the Preservation League of New York State. The "Model Law," in detail, encourages townships to word their law so broad that a property owner won't stand a chance of winning if a complaint were ever to go to court. This law was not written with property owners and residents in mind.

I am concerned that this law will not complement the new Comprehensive Plan. Because of how it is designed, it will stifle, rather than encourage change, economic development and growth in the Town of Rochester. The application process to do anything on your property would be a very long, involved process.

All of Rochester is historic, because all of Rochester is 300 years old. Therefore, every piece of property would be eligible for Historic Preservation. This could be a major concern for all current and future property owners in our town.

In 1993 the National Trust for Historic Properties put the entire state of Vermont on their list of "Most Endangered Historic Places," then in 1994 they listed Cape Cod, Massachusetts. What it to prevent that from happening here?

The Historic Preservation Commission identified a specific event, which in their opinion deems our current law inadequate. The event they refer to happened in March of 2005 when a 10-lot subdivision was proposed on Lower Whitfield Road. Concerns were voiced to the Planning Board regarding the proximity of the subdivision with a number of early stone houses and a Dutch barn. Nothing happened until the Town Board and the Planning Board received a letter from the EPA concerning... the possible presence of Federal and State wetlands within the proposed subdivision. Several weeks later, Albany declared that this area was eligible as a Rural Historic District, not that the area contained Federal or State wetlands.

This appears to be a simple case of not-in-my-back-yard and gross abuse of government power. If you pass this law, every time someone wants to subdivide or build, neighbors, or any other resident can seek to have the area declared Historic.

This law, as written, could create a Certified Local Government Program, and I am very concerned about another layer of government. The uncontrolled, absolute power that this law would provide, breeds abuse and corruption.

If someone has not been able to keep their house up, adding fines is not going to help. It will simply make matters worse. This will force the owner to sell the property or lose it for taxes and fines. This is ultimately a back door to "eminent domain."

Kandy Santosky — Kerhonkson
RONS213@aol.com

May 12, 2006

Let's be friends!

May 4, 2006 should be remembered as a significant day in Rochester's recent history. The day when the town folks attending the Public Hearing on the Revised Code for Historic Preservation Commission stood up and strongly expressed their opinions against a law which supposedly would promote the "general welfare of the public."

The Accord Fire House was packed, but I found it disturbing that not all members of the Historic Preservation Commission chose to be present. They want a huge vote of confidence, and they don't even show up to introduce themselves and listen to what people have to say? Compared to the old code — Chapter 22 — which indicated that "The Commission... shall have no power to prohibit such plans if they are otherwise acceptable under law," the new law gives immense power to the Commission, and this was an issue raised by many speakers.

It seemed inappropriate and quite unfair to let only the Commission Chairperson answer the tough questions and take the blunt of people's outrage.

One of the Commission's members present at the Public Hearing, Mr. Paul Reish, was the only pro-new-law heard voice. Is Mr. Reish a full-time Town of Rochester resident? If yes, for how long? These are legitimate questions about people who would designate landmarks and control our properties.

According to the Commission, our town has about 250 historical structures, over 70 stone houses, more than any other town in Ulster County. How can then be explained that the Town of Rochester simply does not exist in any of the Ulster County tourist guides?

Let's check the Hudson Valley Guide, "Historic Sites"... Nothing!

Let's check the "D&H Heritage Corridor" — a promo piece listing museums and historic sites in NY and Pennsylvania... Not a word about our town, our museum, our heritage...

Let's check Ulster County Tourism's "Legacy in Stone" brochure about stone houses... The only stone house listed is Diest Haus in Accord, under Town of Marbletown!

How can we increase tourism — a goal stressed in the new Comprehensive Plan — if we don't let people know that we do exist?

The new Historic Preservation law is intended to "ensure orderly, and efficient growth and development in harmony with the Town of Rochester's Comprehensive Plan."

Meanwhile, the first goal under the Comprehensive Plan's "Government Services" is to "apply more resources toward code enforcement and enforcing all the codes." The priorities of the Comprehensive Plan are clearly stated: codes, more codes, code enforcement and enforcing all the codes!

Let's not forget that we have in our town the "Friends of Historic Rochester." We should keep the "friendliness" in our approach to historic preservation. We need to remain friends and not become "Dictators of Historic Rochester."

Manuela Mihailescu — Kerhonkson
manuela@oldbrickhouse.com

April 12, 2006

Have you ever heard of anything
so jackass backwards?

I do not enjoy most public rituals, yet I do not think rituals are bad, or should be done away with. I can appreciate their importance, or the joy they bring to others.

Example; if I accepted an invitation to a church or synagogue and during the service it came time to knee or pray, I would oblige, not only out of respect for the friend who dragged me there, but also out of respect for that house of worship. If I was not in the mood for acquiescing, I would not try to change others way of believing, I just would not go.

Town-hall meetings are rituals basic to the American participatory experience. They start with the Pledge, then 20 minutes of public discourse, followed by business of the day, then more public comment period before closing.

For some reason, Pam Duke's tenure brings out those who feel the need, not just to ignore, but also publicly belittle the Pledge of Allegiance with any excuse possible. I have heard substituted chants to Goddesses, or braggarts belittle the Pledge because they hate this President, or hatred of Amerika, or they will not say the Pledge because of the line, One nation under God. But their latest reasoning; those who say the Pledge are mindless flag wavers, and those who do not say the Pledge are the real patriots; is jackass backwards.

Yet from those confused souls, Pam Duke found her inspiration to choose her chairperson of the Planning Board. You would wonder if they hate America so much, what are they doing celebrating the Town ritual in the first place?

Observation leads to a hypothesis of the compulsive part of perversion.

Compulsion is a high; it rushes endorphins around in the brain and makes the experience a bit out of control, on the edge, beyond morality. Too bad our sexual peccadilloes did not stay confined to the bedroom where there was no need for their justification. Unfortunately, when sexual perversion escaped from the boudoir to flaunt itself publicly, a meaning well society, more then tolerated; it normalized and encouraged. This took away the perverted illicit thrill, and the compulsion part was forced to find other venues of release.

We are a mimicking species, it is not hard to push perversion onto the children, marriage, schools, religion, or traditions, such as the Pledge of Allegiance, to satisfy a narcissistic compulsion. A mental condition many suffer from; I just wish they would grow up and learn to do their suffering in private.

Bill Dukas — Kerhonkson
dukas@earthlink.net

April 7, 2006

Some Master Plan

Did Pam Duke studied at the Elmer Gantry school of leadership?

During town meeting time, when she's not too busy praising herself, or swirling in minutia, she's convincing everybody that the part she plays has very little to do with taxes. "It is greedy road maintenance and an expensive school system that abuses us." Such a performance almost makes me forget the loss of property rights she envisions.

REPORT
Restrictive Land Rules Add Billions to Housing Costs
Published Wednesday, March 29, 2006
By Benita Dodd


Atlanta — Smart growth and other restrictive land-use rules create housing shortages that force homebuyers to pay tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars more for homes — added costs that represent a stiff penalty for families purchasing in cities or regions that try to manage their growth, a new report finds.

Planning-induced housing shortages by Georgia's southern neighbor have forced homebuyers to pay extra, from $24,000 to the cost of median homes in Tampa-St. Petersburg to $175,000 in Naples, according to the report. In fact, penalties exceed $25,000 per median home in more than 100 U.S. metropolitan areas and reach as high as $850,000 in San Francisco. O'Toole puts the national price tag conservatively at $275 billion.

Such planning penalties are far greater than the so-called costs of sprawl, notes O'Toole, an environmental economist who has studied urban growth and transportation for more than a decade. High housing costs can hurt local economies by causing employers to locate elsewhere and forcing workers to make long commutes to other areas with more affordable housing. Land-use restrictions are also regressive because they impose especially large burdens on low-income families while providing windfall profits for wealthy homeowners.

Many homeowners whose home values have increased will never realize the benefits of those increases. Homeowners who want to trade up to a larger house will face the same high costs confronting first-time homebuyers. High-priced housing markets are also more likely to have bubbles, leading to huge losses when the bubbles deflate.

For links to spreadsheets and documents with data and calculations for more than 300 metropolitan areas, visit the American Dream Coalition.

For more on land use in Georgia, visit the Georgia Public Policy Foundation.

"The Planning Penalty" recommends that Georgia officials take care not to create any barriers that would prevent homebuilders from meeting the demand for new housing. Local officials in Savannah and Chatham County, where prices have been rising particularly fast, should review their planning ordinances and repeal any rules that tend to create housing shortages.

If you plan to stay in Rochester beyond the real-estate flipping era, Master Plan's peripheral action will quickly add an extra 30-45% in tax increases, per house. Greed shows itself as 'constriction' and 'control,' the essence of the Master Plan. It is very possible the bill of goods Rochester is being sold will end up costing it an extra 20 million dollars in compoundable negative growth. Now Elmer Gantry doesn't spell out the cost to the taxpayers, for one of two reasons: no respect for the individual, or a bit too slow to figure it out.

Bill Dukas — Kerhonkson
dukas@earthlink.net

March 27, 2006

To Whom It May Concern

As flattered as I am that you would imbue me with the genius of America's Founding Fathers, I can not allow you — whether by malfeasance or ignorance — to continue to misquote me.

The section of my piece entitled World Citizens' Declaration of Independence As Amended From American Original that you continue to quote, should have been clear enough if you actually had read the piece rather than just react to it. Yet you keep referring to the actual verbiage included in the Declaration of Independence and attributing it to me. The entire piece was for an international audience and designed to be provocative via irony. I served as editor and this was an assignment from the publisher of the website. It is a simple perceptual twist to provide a fresh approach to viewing world issues.

The Declaration of Independence was altered only by entering Citizens of the World, or people of the world, or nations of the world in place of references to American representatives, American people or America. Then, all references to Great Britain/England etc were replaced with references to America or the United States etc.

Included with each stanza were examples (as referred to in the stanza in which they appear) that the readers could "google" in order to ascertain the, at the very least, perceptual reality of the charges. The irony is, of course, when people realize that the very document that served as platform for the American Revolution could, indeed serve the people of the world in their own revolution against us.

Hence, caution is required of Americans to more deeply delve into world events in which the United States has been implicated. The hope is that Americans will begin to see the stimulus/response quality serving as the basis for hatred and acts of terrorism against America.

Another problem noted on your website (seemingly purposely disingenuous) is the reprinting of my letter to the editor that I did not send you. Yet, you put it under the heading of More Hate Mail as if I did send it to you. At least be up front with what you're doing.

You perhaps should try to discuss with me the many misperceptions you seem to have in regards to my personal philosophies and/or my efforts on behalf of the residents of this township rather than blather nonsense, mischaracterize, intimidate, bully etc., etc., while insisting such low-brow responses are critical review.

Thank You,

Steven L. Fornal
slfornal@hvi.net

For the autopsy report on this letter, click here.

March 26, 2006

Steven Lance Fornal, a man of his words...

Page 15 of the "non-partisan" Blue Stone Press (March 17, 2006) features only 3 letters, all lecturing readers on how patriotic, democratic, constitutional, American and courageous is to be against the Pledge of Allegiance!

All three mention the year 1954. All three refer to the McCarthy era. All three take a shot at guessing what a kid could learn from witnessing the non-saying of the Pledge.

Did all three authors attend an intensive course on how to reply to Alysse Ricks' America, love it or leave it letter without missing any talking point?

Or is just another example of extreme left wing activists losing their marbles over anything normal in America? Steven Lance Fornal does not oppose the Pledge of Allegiance because of McCarthy or the words "under God." He is against the Pledge because he is against everything America stands for. Don't take my word for it. Just take a look at his own words:

"We, therefore, as World Citizens... solemnly declare... that we are absolved from all allegiance to the United States of America..."

Read here the whole patriotic, democratic, constitutional, American and courageous text.

— The Editor

March 26, 2006

Wrapped in the American Flag
is a Warm Place to Be

Dear Steve:

I'm replying to you in this forum, because, hypocrite that you obviously are, you probably peruse this site, and if you don't, your buds surely do, and will tell you about it.

You call me a 'self-ordained Patriot,' and I thank you for that. Being a Patriot is not a negative label, it's a positive label. Thank you for calling me a Patriot.

My son, the Doctor, came home this weekend. (Yes, Steve, I grew a Doctor. Jason graduated #3 from Rondout, went to Cornell, then to med school and is on his way to becoming a Radiologist. My other son, Brian... he did something no one from Rondout ever did: he took his senior year at Clarkson University, came back here, was Valedictorian of the class of 2001 with a 107 average, then went back to Clarkson & will graduate this May as a Chemical Engineer... What did you grow Steve?)

Jason came home this weekend and I showed him your reply. He was astounded.

Thus, this reply:

You laugh at me for thinking that it's important to show your respect, honor & love for America by saying the Pledge of Allegiance? Well, I don't laugh at you, I mourn for you. You enjoy all the benefits America gives you, yet you don't appreciate them. You call me unknowledgeable. I call you ungrateful. 

People died for your right to hide behind your sacred First Amendment. Someone died for your right to have free speech. Someone's father, mother, sister, husband, son, daughter... friend... died so that you could live in a country where you can say and do as you please, yet, you show no respect for that. 

Yes, I call you a hypocrite. If it were not for the trials & tribulations that our forefathers had to endure, there would be no America. Respect that. Honor that. Love America. And if you can't, then move to a country that is ruled by tyranny. Move to a country where you are not free to say and do as you wish.

This is what America is all about. Being free. 

It was said that I am wrapping myself in the flag. Well, I am happy to do that. Wrapping myself in the American flag is a warm place to be, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

So, you go ahead and hate this country. You go ahead and continue to be the negative, ungrateful person you seem to be, and I'll continue to love America and all that it stands for. I'll keep myself warm, wrapped in the flag.

God Bless you.

Alysse Ricks
"Self-ordained Patriot"  

March 4, 2006

Excellent Public Servant

Dear Editor:

I believe I speak on behalf of the majority of the citizens of the Town of Rochester and anyone who has a business or conducts business in the town.

Doug Dymond has served this community for the past 13 years. Acting in the capacity of Building Inspector / Code Enforcement Officer, he has given thanklessly of himself to this community and all its citizens. I have seen first hand how Doug has generously walked applicants and homeowners through the application and building process of their homes and businesses. He always had the applicants' and community's best interest in mind.

Doug has been an asset to this community and has developed great trust with the public. His skills, expertise and quick response have been helpful to the citizens of this town and to the Code Enforcement Office.

People always said that Doug hasd a thankless job, and in the end that was so true. He was removed from his position without so much as a "thank you."

I, for one, would like to say thank you to Doug for all the years he so thanklessly and selflessly served our town. I will miss his quick wit, sense of humor and ability to keep the most complex of issues in perspective. It has been a pleasure to work with him for so many years.

God bless and good luck to him and his family.

Barbara Striano — Accord

February 24, 2006

Love Your Country

I realize that it is the prerogative of the Town Supervisor & the Town Board to appoint whomever they wish to fill any vacancy on any town board they see fit.

And I understand that the Constitution, & the Amendments that proceed it, give the right to any American to show their lack of respect, their lack of honor, & their lack of love to our country by not participating in the Pledge of Allegiance, but I'd like to pose this question:

What kind of example is Mr. Steve Fornal, the newly appointed chair of the Town of Rochester Planning Board, setting by his refusal to lead and/or participate in the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the meeting?

What if, through his/her studies, a student found their way into that meeting to learn how American government is run? What thoughts would that student have gone home with? Would that student have gone home with the belief that it is ok not to show their love, honor & respect to their country?

When I was growing up in the 1970s, there was a saying that I heard quite often:

America: Love it or leave it.

Alysse Ricks — Accord
Mohonkview123@aol.com

February 10, 2006

It's not about the 'culture of corruption,'
it's about the 'corruption of culture.'

Times Herald Record 02/09/06

Rochester Councilman Finds Nails In Driveway and quickly blames those who disagreed with his Moratorium. He accuses Republicans of being thieves; they dropped off a handful of nails at the base of his driveway because they were "Worried about him looking at the books, or asking questions." How utterly asinine.

He then boldly refers to it as an act of terrorism.
How gauche to reduce beheadings and roadside bombings to the cheap slandering of political opponents.
Sure it was a stupid, meaningless act; the perpetrator should have complained with the mouth, pen, or election lever.

Alex Miller spins suspicion onto an angry guy who mentioned his own name before leaving. Alex preferred to keep that name quiet so he can generalize the blame onto all who opposed him. He doesn't realize: the Moratorium is a non partisan offending instrument.

In truth, Alex Miller was the only one who benefited from the news coverage. He got free nails, free exposure, and free headlines. Remember, the deceitful left are the loudest with unsubstantiated charges. Republicans are a bit classier. They're not as corruptible because they suffer guilt from the awareness of right and wrong.

I'm not saying that Alex did it to himself to silence critics and stigmatize Republicans, but as long as we're going to guess, he's as good a guess as any.

Blue Stone Press 02/03/06

Don't apologize for me, Mr. William DeGraw, if you got any complaints; I'm William Doukas, both names without change for a thousand years, all the way to great-great...great-grandpa Mustapha, last Emperor of Byzantium, who fled to a Scandinavian Princess. And for a thousand years before that, my family's faces decorated a few gold coins in that realm.

So a measly tenth generation Huguenot, that oversteps the impressionable Blue Stone Press' 300-word maximum — imposed on the rest of us peons — impresses me not. We all — every local, yokel, immigrant, or hick — have a past. So stand on your own two feet instead of summoning up the dead. In life everlasting, Christ is the only one I bow to.

And how dare you and Marijane K. cling to the Republican Committee as your own dominion? Surrender it to those who care. If it weren't for the Republican Club, these orks in power would have been on all slates. You two should hang your head in shame instead of bragging how you rolled over for a position on the Planning Board. A position rendered near useless by the Moratorium; anyone can bobble their head.

Liberal activists, direct from the failed Kerry campaign, have admitted to abusing our last election. Check out your newly appointed Planning Board czar, Steven Fornal's own words, as he rewrites the Declaration of Independence:

"...we are absolved from all allegiance to the United States of America, and all political connection between us and America is, and ought to be, totally dissolved;"

Steven cannot find one good thing to say in 250 years of American history and ends his blabber by justifying terrorists. Cool? And Mr. DeGraw, what do you think about the middle-aged spinsters who repeat pledges to Goddesses of arrogance and ignorance, during the Town Board's Pledge of Allegiance? You think that's cute and healthy?

And what about the deceit of running an election without telling anybody a Moratorium was in play?

You want to silence me. Why? I don't exist to stir up trouble, I exist to point it out.

Check out the Republican creed and get inspired by a real tent.

Bill Dukas — Kerhonkson
dukas@earthlink.net

Alex Miller's Letter to Times Herald Record

The Times-Herald Record news reporter got it wrong. Recent violence against Town of Rochester elected officials and upon its citizens is not a battle by Republicans against Democrats. Yes, the members of our Town Board and the citizens who were targeted are Democrats. Yet, it is too simplistic to make such broad generalizations. This is a case of lawlessness against the lawful.

Violence tears at the very fabric of our community and divides us along unnatural and artificial, political lines. It is foolhardy to succumb to the primal ideology of Us v. Them and I know our town won't allow it.

Republican President Theodore Roosevelt said, "There can be no fifty-fifty Americanism in this country. There is room only for 100 per cent Americanism, only for those who are Americans and nothing else."

Democrat President Franklin Roosevelt said, "we look forward to a world founded upon four essential freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression... the second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way... the third is freedom from want... the fourth is freedom from fear."

Fear, intimidation, and threats against the safety, welfare and security of our families, our livelihoods, and our community will not be tolerated. The criminals are being sought by local, county and State officials. They will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Our town knows that there is more which unites us than which divides.

I call upon all citizens to publicly declare that lawlessness, violence, intimidation, and criminals have no place in our town. Let us declare zero tolerance for the language of hate and misinformation intended to divide us.

The reporter got it wrong, factually and contextually. Muck-raking as TR used to call it.

Alex Miller

Editor's Note...

...on Alex Miller's Letter to Times Herald Record, which he called in the first place.

The sound you hear is a donkey back pedaling. Alex enjoys the taste of politics; he wants to go further than our little town. Talking about mileage, he's still milking it, notice the plural on criminals (getaway driver, perhaps?). Maybe Alex should call in the FBI, the nails could have been purchased in Jersey.

It's possible the 'nail dropper' could have been a Democrat. There are a lot of Democrat laborers who didn't like the Moratorium.

He quotes Roosevelt during war time:
"There can be no fifty-fifty Americanism in this country. There is room only for 100 per cent Americanism, only for those who are Americans and nothing else,"
but he appointed Steven Fornal as chair of the Planning Board, the same Steve who penned this:
"...we are absolved from all allegiance to the United States of America, and all political connection between us and America is, and ought to be, totally dissolved;"

Don't give Alex an inch. It's too late to ignore him.

* * *

Alex Miller's letter ringed a bell...
...so we Googled this one sentence: "Violence tears at the very fabric of our community." Here are a few of the 267,000 returns:

Violent crime tears at the very fabric of civilized society...

Bias crime tears at the very fabric of our society...

Intolerance tears at the very fabric of our freedoms...

Violence tears at the very fabric of our nation. ...

HIV tears at the very fabric of our nations and homes...

All together now...

Jon Dogar-Marinesco — Kerhonkson
jon@rochesterrepublicans.com

February 8, 2006

Pamdemonium!

February 2nd Town Hall meeting once again showed the true colors of our new Town Board. The meeting started out with the Pledge of Allegiance. "Pledge of allegiance to what?" would be a good question. There were various pledges being voiced all around the room.

The Public Hearing on proposed Local law #1, a Temporary Moratorium on Development was addressed first. Sixteen people poured out their hearts and voiced their opinions against the moratorium, giving many reasons why it was not a good idea or even necessary, and showing how they would be adversely affected by it. Each comment was followed by loud applauses and a few cheers. Most of these sixteen people were in addition to the ones that spoke up against the moratorium at the January 18th meeting. Five people shared their opinions in favor of the moratorium. At least two of these people were repeat back patters for Pam Duke from the January 18th meeting, telling her she was courageous to take the steps others were reluctant to take over the years to protect our Town. Their cries of "wolf" echoed the unsubstantiated fears of predators coming in and taking over the town and forever changing it in a way which would be displeasing to all. There were some applauses after each comment.

Armed with a timer, Alex Miller and Pam Duke would cut off after 3 minutes anyone who had not finished what they were saying. One person who was obviously upset with the direction the Town is going under Pam Duke's "leadership" was escorted out of the firehouse by his wife when the state trooper went after him. He made comments — that Pam Duke did not like — about her being the Supervisor because not enough town folks came out to vote and get her out of office. Pam Duke made comments about not needing to hear "this stuff" and that is when the trooper advanced on the resident. The crowd parted for the residents to leave and then quickly closed back, slowing the advance of the trooper. This resident voiced what many feel but were too intimidated to say it themselves.

After everyone who wished to speak had their turn, Alex Miller started reading a typed and prepared speech about the moratorium, pointing the differences between this board and previous ones. He mentioned some residents by name claiming that their comments affected him and then stated that "this board, unlike previous ones, was listening to the people of this town." After his lengthy speech, he proceeded to say why he was in favor of the moratorium and why the board has chosen to take this needed action. If the board was listening, how come the ink was dry on the wording of the moratorium long before the public hearing even took place and there wasn't any room left for changes? The majority of the Town Board checked reason at the door. They went through the motions of a public hearing but had their minds made up long before a hearing even took place. A motion was made for the moratorium and it was passed 4 to 1 with the sole "Nay" vote coming from Ron Santosky — who boldly stated why he could not vote for such a moratorium after listening to the voices of the people. The room burst into the loudest applauses yet. After the vote, many — who came on behalf of the Hudson Valley Resort, which would be adversely effected by the moratorium — left the firehouse.

Wayne Kelder made a request asking for "A motion allowing the Highway Department to advertise for bids for crushing the Town-owned gravel." He stated that the board had the papers in front of them and Pam got very upset with him questioning him on why these were given to the board only two days prior to the meeting. She put up her hand and said "No!" and then shook her head and said "No!" to the board. Wayne explained that he was looking at his schedule of what is normally done in February and realized that it had not been done. He stated that the bidding, which is done every four to five years, is done during a time of the year when contractors need work and the town can usually get a better price on the crushing. Enough gravel is crushed to last a number of years. The Town would receive the bids and then decide who would do the crushing. Alex Miller remarked that he "could not vote on something he didn't have enough information on."

The "Resolutions" period of the meeting exposed even more the arrogance of the Town Board's majority. Marijane Knudson was voted in for another term as Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Bill DeGraw was praised for his services on the Planning Board and then removed because he has become ineffective in standing up and dealing with the recent pressures facing the planning board. Steve Fornal was voted in as Chairman of the Planning Board. Yes, the same Steve Fornal that won't even stand up during the "Pledge of Allegiance" to the American flag.

The discussion of the simple issue — and necessity — of sanding and plowing became a total fiasco. There was much heated discussion on whether or not the Town should plow and sand the schools', the First Aid Squad's and the firehouses' parking lots in an emergency situation. Much was said about the "legality" of allowing town residents to come to the Town Hall and take a bucket of sand and salt mixture for private use. Alex Miller said "Wayne is trying to get the board to vote on something that is illegal to do." Wayne had to speak up and clarify the misrepresentation that Alex Miller was spreading. Randy Hornbeck spoke up during the second public comment period and said that the Town was giving away taxpayers' money to all of the organizations that come to the Town asking to support children's programs like soccer, Little League, football and basketball. The second public comment period was filled with comments about the madness created by the idea of giving a bucket of sand to a resident in need.

Wayne Kelder requested a second time that the board approve the motion allowing the Highway Department to advertise for bids for crushing of Town-owned gravel. Again he was told "No!" The board voted 4 to 1 against putting out an ad to get the bids on the crushing. Again, Ron Santosky's was the lone common sense vote. Further action would be taken at the Audit Meeting at the end of the month.

Please come to the Town Board meetings and see for yourself the permanent pandemonium created by its majority. Is this what the Town of Rochester needs? Come and let your voice be heard.

Lisa Chichkov — Accord
slchichkov@novocon.net

February 4, 2006

The reason we haven't had a Master Plan since 1968: we don't need one.

Although the vote on the Moratorium was a disappointment, it should come as no surprise.

As Councilman Alex Miller pontificated for the camera, it became apparent that the Town Board had already made up its mind on how it would vote.

The Board brushed aside all comments from local laborers, carpenters, landowners, homeowners, businesses, many with livelihood and finances committed.

Even our biggest employer, Granite Hotel, begged for permission to replace rot and update old rooms, left empty handed. And the Board clung to a bucket of sand, offering help to nobody.

The cancellation of the Moratorium
wouldn't have cost a thing.

The only defense for the Moratorium came from a few Wicca types. Hooting and pacing the aisles like revivalists, they fear mongered: "Devil developers were going to summon up plots of 400 houses and make our lives miserable within the next 12 months."

There are many reasons why people become politicians, but this Board's defense fit the ethos of pagans who need power to dance amongst self-induced Gods. Government programs become idols to worship. With ears closed, they hear only the echo of omnipotence; an aphrodisiac that attracts isms and entraps the participants.

The idea of a Master Plan is a terrible idea.

It was used as a gimmick for a certain political ideology to take over.

A Master Plan is just another way
to say Eminent Domain.

Do you really think you are going to share in its planning? Doesn't the behavior of the Board dispel that illusion?

A politically devised Master Plan ignores a town's process of organic growth. Set asides, wetlands, flood plains, mountainous terrain, are nature's Master Plan. Town Boards, Zoning Boards, Planning Boards, are man's contribution to that evolving process, why mess it up?

There are no soldiers returning from a war that need a thousand houses. No industry to support anyone.

A Master Plan is a costly, fear mongering illusion, spun by egotists; judge it by the Moratorium.

Bill Dukas — Kerhonkson
dukas@earthlink.net

February 3, 2006

Open letter to Pam Duke

Dear Town Supervisor:

Mr. Steve Fornal chairman of the Planning Board?
Pammy, are you high? Come down to Earth, girlfriend... You are ruining our town with your recent actions, and this is the topper!

Why do you hate this town? Why are you ruining it? Why did you move here in the first place? It's obvious you chose to make a life here, even though you didn't like it here. If you did like it here, you wouldn't be changing everything that makes the Town of Rochester the peaceful, happy country town it is (or was?).

I'd love an answer, but make sure you look at me when you talk to me. Not to do so would be rude.

Love,

Alysse Ricks — Accord
Mohonkview123@aol.com

(Alysse Ricks is a Jersey transplant who moved here because she liked it the way it was, and didn't try to change it into something else)

To sample Steve Fornal's ideas, please click here.

February 3, 2006

The huge majority of the people were against the moratorium, but their voices fell on the prejudiced ears of Pam Duke, Alex Miller, Tony Spano and Francis Grey

"Government of the people, by the people and for the people," but not in the Town of Rochester. In this town, the majority of the Councilmen and the Supervisor come up with their own ideas on how to rule the people of the Town and strip them of their rights. I personally agree with the idea that "The Government Exists for the Sole Purpose of Serving the People, not Ruling the People." The Declaration of Independence says "governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." The people of the Town of Rochester came out now in two meetings to voice their opinions against a moratorium. The huge majority of these people were against a moratorium. Their voices fell on the prejudiced ears of Pam Duke, Alex Miller, Tony Spano and Francis Grey. Councilman Ron Santosky is the only one who has a conscience and respect for the people he is in office to represent. He voted against a moratorium restricting the people's rights. He voted against a moratorium that was not a necessity even in the estimation of Peter Fairweather (of Fairweather Consulting) who was hired to update the Town Plan.

The survey which Pam Duke uses to hide behind in making her decisions was only sent out to 3,500 people in the town, yet according to the 2000 census — and taking into consideration that the then 15-19 year age group was over 18 during the time of the survey — there would have been approximately 5,458 people available to voice an opinion. 583 surveys were returned. According to the survey only 8% or 47 people of those who responded said that a comprehensive plan was their number one concern (see page 11, frame 2 of survey results). Those 47 people are less than 1% of the Town's total population over 18. The voice of less than 1% is more important than the voice of over 99% of the others and used to govern everyone. Something is wrong with this picture.

According to the survey results, 80% agreed with approving new economic/commercial projects with controls (pg. 7, frame 1). Also, 78% said that the town should encourage new economic/commercial activity (pg. 6, frame 6). People's number one concern was fair and reasonable town and school taxes. How are these results addressed by a moratorium such as the one voted on by the board? The town is remedying this concern by spending more money, limiting the possibility of commercial development and limiting the ability of some to earn a living. Go figure!

Lisa Chichkov — Accord
aimtodogood@yahoo.com

January 27, 2006

Comments on the preordained Cost of Community Services Study (COCS)

How many part-time residents have moved in since 9-11? If one looks at the jump of building permits from 2000 to 2005 (page 11), it's from 5 to 65 — a 1300% increase! On page 10: 95 new homes in different configurations. The point is, after 9-11 real-estate around here jumped.

Have you noticed how many part time-residents flipped their real-estate since 9-11, reaped huge profits and skedaddled, leaving higher assessments — which increase taxes — on the backs of the regular homeowners with children? Yet the report ignores 9-11 totally.

The 'Overview' section pays attention to parks and preserves but mentions nothing about wetlands, flood plains, or rocky mountainous areas that would suggest nature's own way of preserving wilderness. Also not included in this study is the effect roads, amenities and surroundings have on the inherent value of open spaces.

How many full-time homeowners bought vacant or wooded areas next to their homes to act as a buffer or investment? And full-time homeowners with kids are the reason Albany funds what it does. Yet nowhere in the COCS is that calculated.

Most businesses in this town are owned and operated by full-time homeowners. And full-time families make up the bulk of the customers servicing those businesses. But notice how the CBI (Commerce/Business/Industrial) is manipulated into its own column, to offset full-time homeowners with families, and further cheapen their contribution.

Under a true analysis, full-time homeowners fund the greatest part of this town's taxes.

No matter where secondary homeowners purchase a home, they will pay a school tax. If weekenders feel cheated they should put their kids in the Rondout school system, or if they have none, they should adopt a local pupil and get their money's worth.

This COCS study, besides instigating class warfare, leads to the conclusion that if nobody lived in this town at all, that would be the greatest source of revenue.

What a bummer to be a real Democrat these days. No longer called to champion the poor, but manipulated to hold the mirror for elitist pagans in vanity quests.

Bill Dukas — Accord
dukas@earthlink.net

January 26, 2006

One home for every 13.8 acres.
Where is the sprawl, Pam Duke?

Dear Editor,

I am strongly against any moratorium in the Town of Rochester on commercial development or subdivisions, or for that matter, against any moratorium on building, period.

The Town government claims that it's concerned about the "growth, increased development, environmental sensitivity, health, safety and general welfare of the Town." Where is the problem, Town Board? We have one home for every 13.8 acres. This is hardly a sprawl. Take a drive around.

One of Supervisor Pam Duke's goals in implementing a moratorium is to take "inventory of the Town's natural resources" (including open space and farm and agricultural land). It is not difficult to inventory the Town Hall land, the park and any cemeteries the town is responsible for. The rest of the land in the town that doesn't belong to the state belongs to private landowners, people who own the title to the land and pay the taxes on it every year.

The "open" land in this town belongs to people who have owned and managed it just fine for many generations. It is unconscionable for a few people in this town — who came from other areas in the last few years — to decide that they want to control what is not even theirs, by restricting the use of other peoples' private property because of the "growth." Did they ever stop to consider that they are a part of the growth they are fighting against? There are many ghost towns around the country they can move to and enjoy plenty of open space. This is not a communist country or an elitists or socialist town and we do not need the Town taking away peoples' rights and freedoms "for the good of all."

Lisa Chichkov — Accord
aimtodogood@yahoo.com

January 13, 2006

One from the heart...

Dear Editor,

We are writing this note to thank Randy Hornbeck for taking our senior group to a holiday lunch at Friends and Family Restaurant and also for the many times he has taken our group out to lunch. We also want to thank the Rochester Republican Club for the many things they have done for us. Don't forget them, they are great people!
Many thanks from all of us.

Yours truly,

Ruth Osterhoudt — Accord
Rochester Senior Group
626-3745

January 8, 2006

The more Pam Duke hides behind closed doors, the more transparent her deceptions become.

During a Vietnam carpet bombing protest, sitting crossed legged on the steps of the Pentagon threatened with a rifle butt skull cracking that preceded the bus booking arrest, a thought whiffed through the air and settled on the brain: 'Scratch a liberal and you'll find a fascist.' Manipulated rallies continued to demand withdrawal. Not one person on the self-righteous left gave two thoughts or a simple prayer to the millions that died in the killing fields of Cambodia after our troops pulled out. I left the left for anywhere else. How can a philosophy teach its children it is okay to lie for idealism — even if that idealism is based on a lie? The moral relativism of accepting no responsibility for one's action stinks. Notice how the left blames President Bush for everything and holds no such mirror up to themselves..

Fact: only 5% of United States is urbanized. Chec