Government/Politics

Welcome to the new kid in town! Great start.

May Dot Info live long and prosper!

WOW this is fantastic.
Welcome and thanks for such a beautiful website filled with
chock full of news concerning all.
Best, Sheilah and Bert Rechtschaffer

Great website. Keep up the good work. And thanks!

Thank you for being here!

The oil that is currently escaping to the gulf should be recovered before it hits the land (or sea beds) if at all possible. The most natural method of causing this oil to be recovered is to pay $1,000 for each barrel that is proven to be recovered from the gulf. This method produces an incentive to recover the oil before it hits the shore, when it will do tens of thousands of dollars damage to the environment. The money can come from the fines that will be levied on BP which is $1,000 per barrel released (or $4K if the oil leak is determined to be criminal) This recovered oil will save potentially an order of magnitude more cost when it hits the shore and produces unimaginable damage to the environment with a still more expensive cleanup. The current situation has no motivation for the rest of the oil industry to contribute to the solution — i.e. why should a Shell oil engineer help recover any of the oil in the gulf before it hits the shore? The only method to get that group involved is to give them more motivation to work collecting the oil in the gulf that collecting more oil from the ground anywhere else. The current situation encourages BP to use dispersants on the oil so it is more difficult to observe — which keeps it out of sight — and also more difficult to collect. If BP could collect an enormous premium for skimmed… Read more »

What a wonderful place for all the info I care to read!

While I’m glad to see that an alternative to the PCNR is now up and running, I’m disappointed to see that the “paper” will not take editorial positions or at least have an Op-Ed page. Having readers voice their opinions on issues is fine, but it’s not the same as incisive and informed editorializing.

I hope you reconsider this position as the paper grows. Perhaps you could begin by inviting local writers to write weekly or monthly columns on different topics, with the clear understanding that the views they express are their own and not necessarily that of the paper.

Peace Breaks Out in Philipstown Zoning Wars???
Draft Marked July 14 Well Received…Latest Changes Lauded…
Long Process and Patient Public Officials Praised!!
What’s Happening? Is It Really All Over Except for the Voting??

See for yourself by checking out the latest maps on the town website philipstown.com, the July 14 PCN&R, or the middle right front page of philipstown.info.

10 things I loved about my friend Donald Lusk, who the demons took today: 1.) He was unique. More than anything else about him, I have always been in awe of how he was so unlike anyone else. Irreplaceable. 2.) He was brilliant. Having all of an eigth grade education, many mistook him as daft. But the genius that was inside of him was very real. I encouraged him to journal his thoughts and what he wrote was as beat and original as anything I’ve ever read. I hope some of his rants survive and see the light of day. 3.) He was fanatic. When he liked something, he REALLY liked it and had the most intense insights into what made it great. Ditto for his dislikes. 4.) He was so funny. He could make me laugh, to where I would have to stop him. He spoke in his own language, making words up as needed and doing things with his face and limbs that defied human-ness 5.) He could be incredibly kind. And appreciative. I could call him anytime and he was there. Period. And if I did something for him he would thank me up and down, over and over! I will miss his long phone messages and wish I’d saved a few! 6.) His appreciation of music. Many thought him to be obsessive, but to sit with him at a concert, from Ravi Shankar to Yes to Davis Bromberg, was inspiring, if at times mildly embarassing. While… Read more »

I was out of town for the weekend, and didn’t find out until today that a dear son of Cold Spring had crossed the bar.

Donald Lusk will always have a special place in our hearts.

Thank you John Teagle for putting into words the way many of us felt about Donald. He had a unique voice and was an inspirational writer. Through him, I felt connected to generations of Springers long gone, and, thanks to Donald, not forgotten.

He was fearless in his passions, and as John reminds us, was instrumental in stopping the original disastrous development design of the Lumberyard. The much better project it became is a legacy to Donald’s presence in Lower Main.

I extend my condolences to his wonderful family…and to the community that will miss him, and be the lesser for his absence.

I would like to tell John Teagle I absolutely LOVED his tribute to Donald. I didn’t know Donald as well as everyone else, but I knew him. The world has lost a very special someone.

Donald was my friend for 45 years. From our grade school years at Our Lady of Loretto, our Mick Vs. Bowie arguements, and our love of the Rangers and Giants, our friendship remained. Rest in peace my friend! You will be missed more than you know!

I recently learned of this unbiased alternative to the, er, “news”paper that the PCNR has become under its current ownership.

Thank you for providing a forum in which the news is reported in a factual and relatively neutral (it is never completely neutral) fashion, allowing readers to interpret a given story as opposed to someone attempting to dictate to an (ever-dwindling) readership what it should think and what its opinion should be.

As a former reporter for the “old” PCNR, I feel profound sadness at what the PCNR has become even as I, after the first two months under the new ownership, could no longer bring myself to read its “stories.”

Again, many thanks for providing competition and best of luck on a successful venture.

I just heard Mike Kaplowitz, a candidate for NY State Senate speak today. He was terrific. He gave the clearest explanation I have heard about what happened in Albany this past year when the NY State Government was shut down. He has some great ideas of what needs to be done to help get NY State out of its current fiscal emergency. We need someone with his experience and intelligence in the NY State Senate. He is on both the Independent & Democratic lines on the November 2 election. With everything that is going on it is really important to vote this November.

Jamie Copeland has provided a unique insight into a vessel we’re crafting for our children through the false assumption that protecting them from disappointment keeps them safe.

As unfortunate as it sounds, children need to lose in order to learn from it, and to change the outcome through effort. When they dread not finishing first, they learn to fear losing. Yet if they are to be successful in art, music, engineering or business, they can not fear failure. This will free up their ability to creatively solve the problems that life throws their way.

Excellence is no vice and while mediocrity occurs, it is not a virtue. As a successful coach once said, ‘losing is when the learning starts’. Protecting our boys, or any of our children from this reality is not healthy for them or their future. Thank you Jamie.

Tim Donovan

Want To Pay Taxes, Get Nothing in Return? Vote for Nan Hayworth

Nan Hayworth wants us to hire her as our member of Congress, and pay her a government salary (with government healthcare) in return for her pledge to do nothing for us. Huh?

In order to get the endorsement of the far right wing Club for Growth, Nan sold us down the river and pledged to refuse to accept the return to our towns and cities of any of the tax money we pay into Washington. These funds would ordinarily be used to pay for needed aid to our schools, fire departments, hospitals, police and roads, among other needed projects.

But Hayworth wants to “just say no”. Her idea is that our taxes paid from our hard-earned money should go to, say, to Vermont, California and Massachusetts to pay for their roads, and schools, while we have to fork up more in property taxes to pay for our own local projects.

In contrast, Congressman John Hall has fought hard to bring our tax money back to the district, for needed projects like the Montrose Veterans Hospital ($6.75 million), a new sewer system in Peach Lake in Southeast/North Salem, ($13 million), improvements to Rte 6 and Annsville Circle ($3 million) in Peekskill/Cortlandt, and aid for the Philipstown schools (over $700,000) — and this is just a small sample.

Vote for John Hall, and get your (tax) money’s worth

Dear Editor, In response to Carol Marquand’s letter to the PCNR about the Fish Library Budget for 2011, I could not agree with her more about the vital function the Desmond Fish Library plays in our community. However, I would like to clear up a misconception about Garrison Volunteer Fire Company finances and our use of Reserve Funds. To maintain our community’s insurance rating category 6-9 as established by the ISO (the Insurance Services Office, Inc), our Fire Protection District must purchase and maintain certain types of Fire Fighting and Rescue Vehicles. These vehicles are designed to meet OSHA (the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and NFPA (the National Fire Protection Association) standards and are built to perform under emergency conditions. They each cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. For communities the size of ours, these purchases can have a huge impact on the local budget in the year in which they are paid for, turning fiscal planning into a nightmare. For this and other financially prudent reasons, the Comptroller of the State of New York has advised Towns with Fire Protection Districts, like Garrison, to encourage the use of Reserve Funds for the purchase of fire fighting equipment: “Saving for future projects, acquisitions, and other allowable purposes is an important planning consideration for local governments.. Reserve funds provide a mechanism for legally saving money to finance all or part of future infrastructure, equipment, and other requirements. Reserve funds can also provide a degree of financial stability by reducing… Read more »

Village Sell’s Out Residents and Goes Down Wrong Road The Village of Cold Spring is ever so close to finalizing access to their upper reservoir dam, located off Foundry Pond Rd. There is a court Settlement Agreement in place, between the Village and out-of-town NYC developer Alfredo DeVido, whereas the developer will pay the Village $13,000 to give up its rights to their previously used reservoir access road that runs along the edge of his land, a route the Village asserted their rights to in numerous letters 5 years ago. Using this information, I sued the developer, with the support of many neighbors, to ensure a sensible sub-division and in parallel, help the Village maintain their access road to the reservoir. This is what good neighbors and good communities do, bond together and support one another for the common good. But this is Cold Spring, a whole different world. 5 years have passed and now the Village has pulled a 180. They have found an alternate route for reservoir access, up the nearby, privately owned road, Faust Court. When Mayor Gallagher called me a year ago for my consent for the Village’s “temporary access” up Faust Court for emergency dam repairs, I told him no, and reminded him the Village already had access via the old road adjoining DeVido’s property. But the Mayor claimed it would be too costly for the Village to go that route and that it was impassible. The reality is, that road was intact, and with… Read more »

LETTER TO THE EDITOR REGARDING COMP PLAN Copies to: Members of Cold Spring’s Village Board of Trustees and Special Board for the Comprehensive Plan December 14, 2010 As a member of Cold Spring Village’s Comprehensive Plan Special Board for the past four years, I have studied (as time permitted) the current Draft and I am respectfully voting “No” on the current Draft for the reasons stated below. Since we Board members have worked long and hard on the Comprehensive Plan, I felt that my fellow Special Board members and the community deserved an explanation of my vote. Here are the reasons for my “No” vote: 1.The latest version of the Draft reached me December 9, 2010, so the members of the Comprehensive Plan Special Board did not have time to read and study this version before voting the night of December 9, 2010. My feeling about that is, “This is not Washington DC where they vote on laws they have not read.” This Plan will influence Cold Spring for the next 20 years or so; therefore, we should have had time (several weeks at least) to review and analyze the Draft before voting. Instead of voting, if we had planned to continue meeting and analyzing the Draft in January, we would have four months to polish a document that has been in the making for four years. That time frame would, rightfully, put voting on the Draft beyond the next election in mid-March, which is essential. We do not want… Read more »

Sent to the Mayor and Trustees of the Village of Cold Spring: As a member of the Comprehensive Plan/ Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP) Special Board for the Village of Cold Spring (the “Special Board”), I respectfully submit the following comments to the Village Board in advance of its January 4, 2011 workshop on the recommended Comprehensive Plan. The views expressed below are solely my own and do not constitute legal advice. 1. The Special Board’s four-year-long process in formulating the recommended Comprehensive Plan has been robust, inclusive, and transparent. Dozens of volunteers collectively have contributed thousands of hours to the Special Board’s work, and hundreds of community members have expressed their views on the Village’s future in dozens of meetings, a thorough survey that achieved an impressive 20% response rate, and many written comments. In particular, in the months leading up to the December 9, 2010 vote to recommend the Comprehensive Plan, the Special Board held a series of well-attended public forums on particular issues, such as economic development and the Marathon-Campbell-Foundry area. Notes from these meetings (and dozens of other Special Board documents) were painstakingly transcribed and made available to the public and posted on the Village website, and taken together these documents constitute a remarkably fulsome public record that provides the basis for the recommended Comprehensive Plan. Further, the Special Board deliberated for many hours on the abundant oral and written public comments received during the public hearing to the September 29, 2010 draft Comprehensive Plan and… Read more »

Thank you for posting my letter and for mentioning it in your post. But your post mischaracterizes my letter.

My letter does not cite “suggested changes” to the recommended Comprehensive Plan but rather implores the Village Board not to delay the Comprehensive Plan process and explains why particular elements were included in the recommended Comprehensive Plan, including discussion of specific properties and form-based zoning. To quote the conclusion of my letter:

5. Get it done. It has now been almost five years since the Village Board decided to revise the Village’s 1987 Comprehensive Plan. The work of the Special Board has already generated positive benefits for the Village, in particular via recommendations that led to the recently adopted policy of granting waivers for off-street parking requirements, which has led to increased occupancy of storefronts on Main Street and revenue for the Village. Adopting the Comprehensive Plan will surely multiply such benefits.

By all means, the Village Board should carefully consider each provision of the recommended Comprehensive Plan, seek legal advice where appropriate, and modify the Plan where it deems necessary. But needless delay and inaction will likely promote the toxic blend of haphazard development, decay and high taxes that has afflicted too many communities in this region.

In fairness, your post provides a summary of the Square/Mermell/Phillips/Fadde letter and should provide a summary of mine.

Is the discolored water safe to drink? Actually, not a simple question to answer. Please consider the following: Background: We utilize liquid chlorine at the treatment facility, to disinfect the filtered supply of water, which then enters the distribution system. The water carries a measurable free chlorine residual throughout the system. Testing to-date has shown that the drinking water supply is free of pathogenic bacteria.The distribution system is a contained, pressurized system of piping where the water supplied has been shown to be disinfected, via the residual mentioned above. When there is an emergency, such as yesterday’s repair – the greatest potential for contamination comes from the ability of outside, untreated water entering the pipes. It is one reason why we have pumps dewatering trenches during a repair. There would have to be a ‘negative-pressure’ in the pipe relative to the water in the trench, in order for that water to enter the distribution main. Otherwise it is simply, chlorinated water flowing out of the pipe. So at that point, we are still talking about low potential adverse health effects. Discoloration: Generally caused by an abrupt, high volume/flow change of water through the distribution system piping.The majority of that pipe is cast-iron, which had 90+ years of untreated water flowing through it.Consequently, it has a level of corrosion lining the walls of the pipe. We use the term ‘tuberculation’ to describe the hardened corrosion lining these walls. On the surface of this tuberculation, you would be able to swipe your… Read more »

1/22/11
if CS would learn how to plow to the curb, then maybe we wouldn’t be disturbed by 3 hours of early morning clean-up plowing on a Saturday morning. that’s a lot of DPW OT

Ms. Square,

I have attended many CPAC board meetings and I believe that I may have attended more Village Board meetings at which Trustees have discussed the CPAC.

Moreover, I was the official recorder at many of the sessions at which Cold Spring citizens gathered to discuss various aspects of the plan. I reviewed the notes and the list of people who participated in the various sessions. I note with interest that you were not among the participants. Another recorded fact of which you seem to have little grasp.

I did read your piece and I repeat where is your “concise, clear description of the communities core priorities” based on Community Survey?

Repeating your claims in the bullet points does not make them true. You claim to have done research but your letter displays none research, only the assertion that you did. Where is it? What is it.

To your last paragraph, I did not single you out. I referred to your three co-signers.

Just a note to say I read the piece in the New Yorker re. your paper and want to wish you success. My wife and I happily spent the first five years of our marriage in Putnam Valley and have extra fond memories of Cold Spring. In 1977 our son, James, was born in Julia Butterfield Hospital. I’ve always loved that area, its rugged and magnificent scenery, Storm King, the river, Bannerman’s Island, West Point. Before marrrying I lived in New Windsor, then Cornwall. I’ve added your News-e paper to my favorites list.

Sincerely,

George Comtois

Just saw The New Yorker article and–as an interested bystander–was appalled to learn that the odious Ailes has hijacked county newspapers (is there any news media that Fixed News won’t buy?) and transformed them into Right-wing rags.

Citing the twisted views of Ayn Rand approvingly in a paper owned by the plutocratic Ailes is unsurprising given his apparent desire to establish his own private “Galt’s Gulch-on-Hudson”. But, his motivations reek of hypocrisy (big surprise!), as the article points out, to wit: “He regrets the sway of local environmentalists, but it was their influence that made the area the sort of place where Roger Ailes would wish to live.” Hypocrisy? On the Right? Really?!

I’m sure readers can rest assured that their local newspaper will aspire to the highest standards of objective, unbiased journalism, just like that practiced by the “fair and balanced” uber-Right propaganda machine Ailes has grown fat managing all these years. Yeah, sure.

I can’t wait to read Michelle Bachmann’s column on organic gardening, a subject I’m sure she knows well. After all, her family owns a tax-subsidized farm. Hey, Roger, isn’t that socialism?!

Eat the rich.

As a Putnam County native, I was mesmerized by the article in the New Yorker about the founding of Philipstown.info. I confess to picking up the magazine whenever I encountered a red light while running errands near my current home outside Washington, DC and getting annoyed whenever the light changed from red to green. Of course I wanted to visit the Web site as soon as I got home. It is unbelievable. Kudos to Gordon Stewart and the entire staff. I loved the Putnam County Courier and admire what you are doing even more.

Gail Harrison
Former resident of Patterson, NY and graduate of Carmel High School and former Assistant for Issues Development to Vice President Walter F. Mondale

Fox Among the Chickens Part II
Peter J. Boyer did a masterful job of describing the “Mr. Ailes Goes to Philipstown” saga and gave a delightful portrayal of our town, its people and its history. Remember, Mr. Ailes also purchased the “other” paper in Putnam County – the Putnam County Courier – which primarily covers the eastern part of the County.
Naturally, the same articles about county-wide issues as well as various mottos and other drivel are published in both papers simultaneously. The towns in Eastern Putnam, however, are very different from Philipstown. That is the home of the county seat and politics there are extremely complex and very vicious. Mr. Ailes fits right in. Part II could be entitled “A Fox Among Cameleons” or, better still, “A Fox Among Vipers”.

I read the New Yorker article, and of course, Roger Ailes is not high on my list of people I would like to have a drink with. But his publishing of teacher’s salaries is something that was long overdue. The teacher’s union has us all brainwashed that teachers are all starving to death, when in fact it is not true at all. One reason I sold my home in New York and left the State was the scandalously high property taxes. I could never figure out why they were so high, until I met some local school teachers, and after a few drinks, several admitted they were making six-figure salaries at our small local school. I was floored. After all, I was raised on the mythology of the “poor, underpaid school teacher” who struggles to get by on canned tuna, all for the betterment of our children. And of course, I remember those “The more you know” ads on TV where they prompt you to make “the great sacrifice” and become a school teacher for the good of the nation. But it seems the era of the underpaid public servant has past. And staggering school budgets are, in part, due to very high pay and benefits for school district employees in New York State. I left New York and now live on a Retirement Island off the coast of Georgia. It is a pretty sweet deal, and of course, it isn’t cheap to live here. In fact, you have to… Read more »

Mr. Bell, Some points in response to your comments about teachers. “* School teacher salaries are public information and are easily available and often published; see the Web site http://www.SeeThroughNY.com. “* As a social studies teacher and a school board member, I read extensively in all manner of publications and have never encountered a teacher union trying to brainwash anyone that teachers are starving to death. On the contrary, teacher unions point out that after many years of being seriously underpaid, teachers finally now receive salaries more closely befitting highly educated and dedicated professionals. Most teachers spend hours above and beyond the school day planning lessons, grading papers, giving students extra help, with no additional compensation. “* Most parents actually do not want their children to be taught by starving, underpaid, burned-out teachers who can’t afford to retire. They want their children taught by good, effective, energetic, well-educated teachers who are devoted to their calling. School districts who want to hire and keep this kind of teacher offer competitive salaries (although the recession has now created more of a buyers’ market). “* teachers in New York State must have at least a Master’s degree to be permanently certified in their field and permanently hired. The Garrison administrators named in the article have two. As a patent attorney with a law degree, you might agree that higher educational achievement merits higher compensation. Overall, teacher salaries are still below those in many other fields. “* Education spending is an investment in human… Read more »

My friends, having just read The New Yorker article about the P.C.N. & R. vs. everybody else, I can only say YOU GO GUYS! I am a journalist working for a local Southern California Patch – the AOL-conceived online news alternative which, as the story illustrated so well, should only up the quality of local journalism.

Keep the stories coming!

(Letter to Editor submitted to New Yorker magazine) Peter J. Boyer’s Jan. 31 article “Fox Among the Chickens” marginalized what could have been an important story about media’s reach into small-town newspaper life and politics, and turned it into another bucolic “Our Town” piece, sugarcoating its conclusion to suggest that everything is working just fine in America, thank you very much. The real concerns of our community, and others across the country, magnified by the takeover of the local paper by Fox News CEO Roger Ailes and his wife, were made to look unfounded, even childish. Boyer’s charge that a cryptanalysis was used to discern a blatant transformation that took place after the paper changed hands makes us wonder if he actually looked at print issues produced after the paper was bought. Overnight it was sprinkled with Christian aphorisms (minus the underclass Jesus as advocate for the poor), anti-government sentiments alongside patriotic articles, history and morality lessons with fundamentalist takes on the Constitution and the Founding Fathers, and a general neo-con religiosity throughout, ad nauseam. The denigration of the “Full Moon Project” as a group of 28 year old, well-intentioned but misguided pot-luckers was groundless as well. We know them as a group of educated and successful professionals and artists (mostly 40 and 50-somethings), people who actually consider social activism a worthy, if often frustrating pursuit, with real concerns about journalistic integrity, the intrusion of Fox-like methods at the local level and its impact on real political outcomes (for instance,… Read more »

All of us are libertarians? I’ve read the party platform. Please don’t count me in that number.
Here is a bit of news about Ayn “Do as I say, not as I do” Rand:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-ford/ayn-rand-and-the-vip-dipe_b_792184.html

Clay, I was thinking of the ideal of libertarianism when I spoke for all of us, not the square peg/round hole version that politics creates. I believe we all want to preserve as much autonomy as possible and submit to as little authority as necessary. And the Michael Ford opinion piece at HuffPost actually supports what I wrote earlier: “Sure, many of us believe in a tax-revenue supported “safety net”, and Social Security and Medicare” – including Rand, apparently! I’m no Rand (or Rosenbaum)authority and so I’m no apologist either, but I take her opinions to mean that we should always strive against authority except that which is necessary. She might have envisioned anarchy, but only, I suspect, with a healthy fear of it. She came here for the sanity of the place, for the freedom.
What I was asking for were reasons that her beliefs were and still are dangerous – how they’re corrosive to “our way of life”.

To the Editor: The Working Village Group was formed in 2010 by a group of village residents who believe that an involved and informed citizenry is essential for a highly functional and effective local government. We support responsible, productive candidates in village elections. We are delighted to support the re-election of Mayor Seth Gallagher and Trustees Bruce Campbell and Ralph Falloon in the upcoming Village election on March 15. If we were to base our endorsement on fiscal responsibility alone, Mayor Gallagher and Trustees Campbell and Falloon would receive our support. When these three public servants took office, they inherited a $95,000 deficit. In just two years, not only did they erase the deficit, but they built a $120,000 surplus. As taxpayers in these difficult economic times, this is the kind of fiscal administration we must maintain. Beyond responsible money management, Mayor Gallagher and Trustees Campbell and Falloon have improved our infrastructure, protected our water supply, and fought for the interests of our seniors. As a leader, Mayor Gallagher has created an administration that has been open, respectful and welcoming to all citizens. We enthusiastically endorse all three candidates and urge you to vote for Gallagher, Campbell and Falloon on March 15 at the Cold Spring Firehouse. Yours, Stephanie Hawkins Ivy Meeropol Thomas Ambrose John Plummer Dar Williams Michael Robinson Aaron Freimark Evelyn Carr-White Sharr White Kathleen Foley John H. Hedlund Evan Hudson Andrea Connor Hudson Brett Phares Isabella Bertoletti Nathalie Jonas Philip Nobel Michael Armstrong (signed as a resident… Read more »

Arthur Warren clearly has Internet access and thus should know that none of MoveOn.org’s founders or staffers are part of WVG. So what’s the deal with baseless cracks like that, Mr. Warren? Are you a Cold Spring resident, sir? If so, please come to a WVG meeting and meet some of your neighbors, none of whom brought anyone MoveOn.org, but all of whom are quite neighborly folk who mean what they say about their passion for our community. Feel free to contact me and I can let you know when our next meeting is. My number is in the book. I live in Cold Spring.

Mr. Warren: I haven’t. I don’t know about the others. Nor do I understand why you care so much. I have attended several Met and Yankee games, though. I also hosted parties at my house to watch these teams play. By your reasoning, this should somehow connect WVG with MLB. But of course there is no such connection, just as the connection you continue to assert through your innuendo is, likewise, non-existent.

Why did you not answer my question? I will ask it again: Are you a Cold Spring resident, sir? If so, would you like to attend a WVG meeting? So long as discourse remains civil, we welcome diverse perspectives. Can you please answer my question about you as I have answered yours as regards me?

Thank you for attending any of my productions. I especially hope you got to see the one with kids I did last year, our adaptation of the masterpiece film by Akira Kurosawa, The Seven Samurai, or my original script, Rendition in Damascus. This spring, I am directing a production of Anton Chekhov’s landmark script, The Seagull, which will play at Garrison Landing and the Depot (the first half outdoors, the second half indoors), opening May 20. This is the first voyage of a new theatre company, World’s End Theatre. The name comes from the maelstrom in the Hudson, and inspires us, we trust, to plunge into the swirling currents of creativity that occur within us all as we seek to render truthfully this great script. But I digress. I’m delighted that you’re now saying “may have a MoveOn.org type agenda.” This is a progression toward a more factual discourse from your previous statement which began our to-ing and fro-ing, and I quote: “…brought to you by the folks who also brought you MoveOn.org!” In the vernacular as I’ve experienced it in my 44 years thus far, all of them spent as a speaker of American English, “Brought to you by…” can mean “A product from the creators of…” As in, “The Jeffersons, brought to you by the people who made All In The Family.” “Brought to you by…” can also mean “Paid for by…” As in, “The Jeffersons, brought to you by new All-Tempa-Cheer.” So when you said that this… Read more »

Mr. Warren, If you were just joking, then why didn’t you say so in your first reply to me? Instead, you asked me a pointed question, “have you or any of the undersigned ever hosted a MoveOn.org fundraiser?” I answered it (as regards me), and you AGAIN did not say you were joking, but stuck to your guns with the reply, “Some of which (sic) may have a MoveOn.org type agenda.” If you were just trying to be funny, you would have said so much sooner. The fact is, you continued to try to associate the WVG with MoveOn.org. What strikes a nerve with me is not anyone’s association with any group, but rather when people make baseless accusations and then, when called to account, back off with the “I was just joking” excuse. I’m glad you like the name. I actually advocated against the name quite vociferously within what is now WVG. As I’ve said below, we don’t all agree all of the time in the WVG’s brief history. But that’s okay. We argue openly and civilly, as that’s the American way. But I don’t understand how you would suggest Working Village Group bears any resemblance to Special Board for a Comprehensive Plan/Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan. What are you talking about? None of the three words in “Working Village Group” match any of the words in SBCP/LWRP. Sure, the SBCP/LWRP has Planning Groups. My kid’s kindergarten class has Reading Groups. My mom is a member of a Book Group.… Read more »

So now your joke isn’t a joke? Which is it, Mr. Warren? Or should I say, “Mr. Warren”? Yes, WVG is an Advocacy group or a Special Interest Group. Please don’t give me any props for admitting what is an obvious fact. Anthony Phillips is also a member of the Special Board, as is Catherine Square. Both are actual candidates in the upcoming election, and thus are obviously publicly endorsing themselves. Are those self-endorsements conflicts of interest? Mr. Armstrong’s distinction, appended to his name on the letter, is that he is not signing as the volunteer Chair of the Special Board but as a citizen, in much the same way that he might put a bumper sticker on his car or a sign on his lawn, or advocate for a candidate in conversation while at Foodtown. The legal definition of “conflict of interest” is: “Situation that has the potential to undermine the impartiality of a person because of the possibility of a clash between the person’s self-interest and professional-interest or public-interest.” Mr. Armstrong’s volunteering to help form a plan for the Village and endorsing candidates for election are both expressions public-interest, not self-interest or professional-interest. Mr. Phillips, Ms. Square, and any other members of any of the volunteer boards can — and do –endorse candidates. The two other trustees not up for re-election can also endorse candidates. Elected officials and civic volunteers across the nation support candidates publicly. Sometimes they do it as individuals, sometimes they do it as members… Read more »

Mr. Plummer, We can go on and on about this all day. It initially was a cute little joke, a quip towards what I thought was a comical action (the need to make a website, form a group, post endorsements) etc. on the part of your organization. Honestly, my first reaction was – who do these people think they are? Forming a group and throwing official endorsements about seemed like your group might have had some kind of entitlement issue, or sense of self righteousness. In reality you are an admitted special interest group with an agenda for the Village. Your not raising money for the poor – your meeting to formulate ideas on how to change the Village more to your liking…by endorsing and hopefully electing officials that share your vision. My only question is, what about those poor souls in Cold Spring who don’t agree with your ideologies, political leanings, etc. Should they just stay quiet and let the VWG go about their business – because the VWG knows best? Because John Plummer says so? As far as current elected officials endorsing someone on the ticket – sure it happens, but is it right? Newspapers do it all the time, and they usually toe party lines. I did find the following quote in the Jan 26th PCNR quite funny: “However, Falloon urges people to vote based on who they think is the best candidate, and not who is affiliated with whom. “One of things that I pride myself… Read more »

Mr. Warren.

I’m so pleased you agree that these values are noble and great.

We are hopeful that our local leadership will share them.

Many thanks,
Stephanie

John and Stephanie of the WVG Collective –

I am sure many agree with the goals you have listed. Although I for one don’t like them presented in the form of a special interest / advocacy group / community organizer agenda.

Peace be with you.

The New York Times recently wrote an editorial criticizing the Governor’s proposal for a property tax cap as “!one of the oldest ploys in Albany and certainly at odds with Mr. Cuomo’s promise of a new New York.” The full story can be found at NY Times Opinion Page.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/opinion/01tue3.html

The state of Texas approved a tax cap similar to the one being promoted by Governor Cuomo and approved by the NY State Senate. The Texas cap is having a devastating effect on public education throughout that state. If the governor’s proposal is approved by the NY State Assembly and goes into effect, the consequences for public education in NY State could be equally devastating. The full story can be found in the NY Times (February 15, 2011).

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/education/15texas.html

Thanks for hammering home the point Mr. Armstrong.

Conflict. of. Interest.

Dear Editor,

I guess I am addressing this to Mr. Plummer, Mr. Armstrong, Ms. Hawkins, Mr. Nastasi and the other members of the (WVG) if they wish to answer.

I have re-read your wholehearted endorsements of Seth Gallagher, Ralph Falloon and Bruce Campbell. I have even read Mr. Nastasi’s attacks on the former Mayor Anthony Phillips https://highlandscurrent.org/2011/02/09/election-pits-current-against-former-mayor-3-vie-for-2-trustee-slots/.

However, I haven’t heard anyone say anything about the other candidate in this race, Catherine Square. I was wondering if any members of the WVG could enlighten me why I (or the Village voting public in general) should not support her?

From the Comprehensive Board meetings that I have read reports of and the times I have listened to her speak – she has struck me as quite possibly the most intelligent candidate of the bunch. She is a relative new-comer to the area, but has spoken with respect and dignity on all matters relating to the Comp Board of which she is a member, and seems genuinely concerned with the well being and betterment of Cold Spring.

And to be frank, I find the fact that she is of African-American descent a positive step in the right direction for Cold Spring!

I find it curious then why the WVG would not support her as well? But instead supports two of the old-guard for Trustee…

The more research I do, the more inclined I am to not follow the recommendations of Cold Spring’s newest Special Interest, the WVG.

A.W.

I guess this is only for Mr.Warren. Ms.Square has never tryed to harass me or my family with this towns police force and if she ever did become a trustee and even mayor and used her power to do the same, I would bash her or anyone in this forum as well.I endorse Mr Gallager Mr. Campbell and Ms. Square.What about you Mr Warren? I don’t vote for someone just because of race.I vote for people who don’t tell you one thing and then do another. I hope Ms. Square does win along with the above mentioned. I only attack when being attacked. Phillips knows why!

From NYT 2/24/11

“Fox News Chief, Roger Ailes, Urged Employee to Lie, Records Show”

If Claude Rains were alive he’d be shocked, SHOCKED! to learn this.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/nyregion/25roger-ailes.html

Mr. Nastasi,

Thank you for your civil discourse with me. However, I will no longer debate on these boards as I have had entire posts removed and edited. I will gladly resume it with you when I see you on the street. Thank you.

A.W.

To the Editor:
President Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in time for American Heart Month, which is just concluding. What better way to show our love for our children and concern for our heart health than seeing to it that all of our children are adequately fed with good, nutritious food.
This has been one of my concerns ever since 2003 when I raised the issue of childhood obesity and diabetes and what we could do about it on the state level. We have come a long way since then. Now by state law we encourage all schools to have a wellness plan and a wellness committee in place to oversee the types of food choices offered in our schools.
I am delighted to see the focus of these initiatives backed up by Washington. Because of our efforts at the state level as well as local initiatives, many schools in our state will already be in compliance with the new federal law for food on lunch lines as well as in school vending machines. Now, with this federal legislation, we can make even greater progress towards improving the health of our children throughout our country. We need to remain vigilant about this issue as it has serious implications for us all.

Sincerely,

Sandy Galef
Assemblywoman

I would like to take a moment to respond to Arthur Warren’s post on this page. It is astonishing that this kind of small minded innuendo is trotted out in the year 2011. Mr. Warren insinuates that the Working Village Group has suspicious motives or “methodology” because of one member’s academic work regarding houses of worship for Muslims. There is no connection between a group of residents (who believe in transparency in local government, fostering community amongst all of its residents while securing the natural beauty and resources we are so fortunate to have here) and some unstated radical plot to which Mr. Waren alludes. His disagreement with the site of the Mosque in lower Manhattan and his distaste for “Special Interest Groups and lobbying” are of no bearing to a resident’s academic course of study. It would appear to be an attempt by Mr. Warren to sow suspicion through religious intolerance towards Muslims. I would like to point out that Cold Spring should remain proud of the fact that it was the site which broke with religious intolerance 175 years ago by establishing a church for a religion then suffering discrimination and prejudice. Catholicism. Our Lady was the first Catholic church outside of Manhattan in the United States. I urge residents to be intolerant of only one thing; anyone who would use personal attacks and veiled religious prejudice to advance their agenda. There is no place for it in a community and it should not be condoned as it… Read more »

I would urge Philipstown.info to consider reformatting the Letters/Opinions section of the site to provide for collapsible threads for “dialogues” which arise from single posts.

By putting these “discussions” which arise in a thread which could be expanded by the reader, it would give greater equality to all comments posted. There are many comments made by community members which deserve to have a longer duration near the top of the Letters/Opinions page and not be driven down 3 or more pages as a result of a specific back and forth on a single topic or dialogue.

This change would enhance the ability for readers fully comprehend these “conversations” as the back and forth will be contained within the thread. All comments will be on one subject and be more readable overall. I guarantee that if readers are interested in the content of a such a discussion or thread they will choose to expand and read it. One possible solution would be to have a “comment” option to address a particular post rather than only the wholesale “submit comment” button.

I firmly believe this will not only allow for more topics to be represented simultaneously, it will also foster greater discussion of those topics. Please consider this change to further improve Philipstown.info as it is a great addition to our community!

Mr. Teagle,

Thank you for the reminder of all of the positive things that Mayor Gallagher has accomplished. To that list may we also add that he attempted to not only give himself a raise, but also health insurance (which is unheard of for a part-time municipal employee). Also, lest we forget, can we also add one of the reasons he ran for office in the first place – his alleged illegal bagpipe factory at his residence. Which if I recall correctly was against Village building code.

A.W.

Ms. Conner, I assure you that I am a real person. I am a concerned resident of this community that just finished reading the headline article on this site regarding the Comprehensive Plan, specifically these quotes attributed to Mayor Gallagher: “From here we can kind of relax,” Mayor Seth Gallagher observed. While continuing to improve the plan, “we’re not under the type of pressure we were before to meet a deadline.” Correct me if I am wrong, but according to local news outlets this process of meetings, studies, hiring of consultants, more meetings, more studies, more consultants, members quitting, yet more meetings, yet more consultants – is now nearing it’s fifth year. That’s five years of taxpayer funded expense (direct expenses to the Comp Board budget, and indirect expenses accumulated through weekly meetings of the board, public hearings, hiring of consultants, grant money (which comes from State/Fed tax $), even the paper cost to reprint the never-ending incarnations of the report). And after all of that the comp board itself can barely agree (by a vote of 5-4) to move forward…after 5 years! Many of the former members of the comp board (such as Mr. Henderson referenced in the article) express passionate appeals at every hearing that public concerns are not heard, comments and criticism are dismissed and that time has been wasted. And still Mayor Gallagher believes “From here we can kind of relax”…? It begs further examination of one of my initial points on this forum regarding the… Read more »

Mr. Plummer,

I assure you as well that I am a real human. The fact that you dislike the points I make, and wish to not address valid concerns I have with your organization – a self admitted special interest group – well that is on your shoulders, not mine.

A.W.

Mr. Warren, First of all, thank you so much for being brave enough to go onto this site and ask hard questions. As a long-time resident of Philipstown, I would like to respectfully suggest that Special Interest Groups (SIGs) have to register themselves with someone like either the Town Board or maybe the Sheriff’s Office. I’m not trying to create a form of Stalinist Russia. Not at all. I just think people shouldn’t be able to hide behind some kind of mask (and groups are kind of like a mask, you know? (Sidebar: have you — or anyone in town — ever been to Carnivale in Italy? I will tell you: that is one exciting adventure! I myself make it a point to go every year and take lots of photos of those wacky Italians in all their wild masks. My top three masks I’ve seen at Carnivale: a giant wedge of cheese (homage to Wisconsin?), a Siamese cat, a lady that looked an awful lot like Liza Minnelli.)). Anyway, the point is, I am all for masks, but they have a time and a place. Carnivale, as stated above, is such a place/time. So is Halloween. So, would be, a masked ball, or a party where the invitation specified “come in costume.” But these SIGs should not exist as ways for people to have “group-think” opinions where the “group” or SIG is “saying” something but then, really, who is responsible? By the way, Mr. Warren: I love that you… Read more »

Mr. Teagle,

You write:

“Since Mr., Ms., or Mrs. Arthur Warren are not registered voters in the Village of Cold Spring, their opinions mean little as does my current opinion since I am no longer registered in the Village of Cold Spring.”

I would also refer you to the list of supporters posted with the WVG endorsement letter, which also features a few non-Springers. Also, I don’t believe Peter J. Boyle the author of “Fox Among the Chickens” written for the New Yorker, is a Cold Spring resident. Nor is Roger or Beth Ailes. Yet all either have posted their opinions, or are the subject of many local “opinion” pieces.

Last time I checked the First Amendment didn’t put a geographic limitation on the Freedom of Speech. By all means, express your opinion on the current state of local politics; resident or non-resident.

You also write:

“Please, philipstown.info, keep it real and delete the unreal/undeclared/unclaimed posts.”

What you really mean here is, please delete anything which expresses an opinion that is different from ours…

A.W.

Mr. Warren, A brief addendum to my earlier comments regarding the face you somehow (miraculously! I have hit every button I can think of to get a face up therefor me) changed already twice today, and for those readers who, like me, the “web-way” takes some getting used to: My comments below regarding master actor Yul Brynner are going to confuse some and perhaps make them think that I (or Mr. Warren) are having some online “senior moments” (or that our prescriptions of Oxycontin need refilling (kidding. I am very careful with medications, as I’m sure Mr. Warren is.). The fact is, earlier today, Mr. Warren put up this beautiful face of Yul Brynner in his iconic role as Ramses II in the Cecil B. DeMille masterpiece THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.* I posted a response in which I praised the choice of the face Mr. Warren had chosen. But as the editor of this site kindly explained to me (thank you, Mr. Mell! Would that all news “paper” editors had your bearing, sir!) there is a delay between when an individual writes a comment and the comment appears. I don’t get it, but I suspect it has something to do with code or something. Then Mr. Warren’s image changed to Yul in a suit. The epitome of class, I tell you. I posted a response about that. But still, you see, my comments had not been “posted”. Or appeared (not sure on “lingo”). Then, to top this all off, by the… Read more »

Mr., Ms., Mrs. Warren,

Don’t tell me (or anyone else who reads this) “what you really mean here is…” I mean what I wrote. From your last sentence, I’m inclined to believe you did not read my post. I’ll rephrase my five sentences to make it easier should you choose to reread the previous post:

(First and second sentences) I feel strongly that anonymous letters are acceptable, but should carry less weight with readers than a signed letter. A safe outlet for opinion without fear of repercussions is a beautiful thing.

(Third sentence) Opinions of registered voters should carry more weight with readers than those of non-residents. Vice-versa, the opinions of non-residents should carry less weight with readers than those of concerned residents. I did not imply and do not believe the opinions of others should be censored, including those you mention. FYI, I am not part of the citizens group you mention because I no longer vote in Village elections.

(Fourth sentence) I was there. Were you?

(Fifth sentence) Signed or anonymous posts, yes. Cowards and pretenders pimping righteousness while intentionally misleading the public into thinking they are someone or thing they are not, no.

Thanks for including the Lakeland BOE Budget Meeting info on your website. As a resident of Philipstown who lives in the Lakeland School District, I appreciate inclusion of our school information.

To Editor, Mr Mell,

It appears my comments are somehow not “passing muster.” My son – the “family nerd” (his term!) – says you approved Leonora and Mrs Kourie even though their comments were written after mine.

What in the He** is going on? I am beginning to wonder about your “policy”. I have, I feel, gone out of my way to take a conciliatory tone and even offer an “olive branch” via my invite to the “Warr-ing parties”. So what have I said that is keeping me off, sir?

In sincere interest,

Don