We've been hearing many calls for justice from both the Village of Bloomingburg and, slightly quieter, from the Pine Bush School District.

The former, as anyone who follows the news around here knows, was rocked by a major electoral upset recently. A completely new village board, with mayor and other officials, is in power. There are many questions regarding the complexities of having a partly-finished development in the community, most of its main business structures now reliant on its completion, a new wastewater treatment plant needing to be put online, and accompanying matters of trust.

The latter is still reeling from what happened when a major news outlet, the New York Times, published a story about a long-pending lawsuit charging the district with anti-Semitism. That led to a call-out in the Governor's state of the state speech, investigations, and a bad rep for the district that new superintendent Joan Carbone is trying to correct... with a visit to Albany to talk to some Cuomo reps from the education department this past week.

Both cases involve waiting processes, and patience.

For Bloomingburg, many are asking what happens now that some 140 votes got tossed out as no good, an FBI investigation was started, there were possible felony charges brought up, and the big developer in question, Shalom Lamm, suddenly went quiet after making a statement that he was ready to work with everybody.

For PBSD, there's still a taint in the air, and a sense of defensiveness about the charges everyone got painted with when the hint of bigotry was raised beyond the community's borders.

Fortunately, everyone seems to be working towards calm, at last. Other media are asking that the tone of discussion get brought down several notches, by Lamm and those he's accused of hatred. Those now in control are moving forward with measured steps.

For everyone asking for prosecution to the fullest extent of the law, and eventual retribution for the pains suffered by all this past year, we feel it necessary to add a reminder. Big cases, such as massive voter fraud, possible felonies, hate crimes (no matter their magnitude), and anything to do with costly development, move very, very slowly. These things could take years to come to an end. They will have huge ramifications and repercussions, no matter where they end up.

It all takes patience, in other words. And care as we all now move forward, almost as if nothing happened... even though we know changes were sought and granted, at least electorally.

On other fronts we've been watching the eggs get lined up, and smashed in some cases, around the casino gaming siting race going on in our area.

Orange County keeps touting how it could use some casinos, and be good for the state because their sites would be better for gamblers. Yet its planners are also noting how, whether a gambling hall lands there or not, they'll be needing some long-promised and now much-needed moolah to widen roads and interchanges down where the Thruway meets what's about to become I-86.

In Sullivan County, the push is solidly on for getting both of the Catskills' casinos. This has involved a lot of attention to the blighted aspects of the place, and chest-thumping attacks on others' proposals. Much like what we've noticed from the state's Southern Tier and Capital District.

Ellenville's Nevele Resort project, meanwhile, has been very steady in its feel-good campaign. The Ulster County Legislature gave them the nod this week; the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation sent a letter of support; Central Hudson's given its blessings; and even the regional social services agency Family has spoken about being ready to work with the big new entity seeking to land in Ellenville and send ripples throughout the region.

Remember their "Two" campaign... humble yet effective. We suspect it may work, playing this quieter, more persistent game.

It certainly befits the beauty of this area we live in. And given the current rush everyone's in to get themselves ready for a first big deadline on April 23 next week, quite right for the strength celebrated in this weekend's Easter holiday.

Yes, we can ALL overcome... together.