Serving the Towns of Wawarsing, Crawford, Mamakating, Rochester and Shawangunk, and everything in between
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Survivalist Tips Are Key These Days!

You might think I'm crazy! You say it can't happen here! Yes it can, and probably will as this financial/social mess plays out.

We were out of power and phone for a week in recent years and it was like going back to the cave. We were able to deal with it as we were prepared for a short time outage. This was considered a minor inconvenience compared to a real disaster situation.

Most modern folks can't deal with this privation and don't even know what it is. We had the experience when we lived on the farm years ago... no electric, no telephone, no water in winter, and heat only from a wood stove (if you had the wood). This is a serious concern and everyone must plan for this.

It's been recommended by survivalists that you have some money out of the banks in case the ATM's and the bank is closed. Also, they recommend having some silver or gold coins to trade with. If there is a bank run, like in Greece and Spain, you had better be at the head of the line there. And absolutely have a stock of food on hand.

I don't like to say the sky is falling, but... I feel something hittin' me on the head!

Paul Henderson
Napanoch


The Gov Thinks He's A Champion Of Women?

Governor Cuomo has no business trying to position himself as a women's rights champion. Because of Governor Cuomo's insistence that an abortion-expansion plank be included in his Women's Equality Act, the entire legislation failed to become law. It is disappointing that the Governor would now seek to make political hay over an issue as extreme as late-term abortion. The proposed new political party would only serve to further divide a state that any respectable governor would be working to bring together.

If the Governor were serious about women's issues, he would have intervened during this year's legislative session to make certain that victims of sex trafficking received proper protections. Human trafficking legislation even had the support of the National Organization for Women of New York City and Democratic Members of the Assembly like Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. Instead, Cuomo continues to allow sex-trafficked children to languish at the hands of sexual predators.

Regarding the abortion issue, a 2013 poll shows that only 54.7 percent of New Yorkers identify as pro-choice, that a majority of New Yorkers oppose our state's current policy of abortion on demand for any reason, and that strong majorities of New Yorkers disagree with key elements of the Governor's late-term abortion expansion proposal. In a state that already possesses some of the most permissive abortion laws in the country, the Governor's continued insistence on beating the drum for late-term abortion expansion is nothing short of bizarre.

Governor Cuomo should consider whether or not the support that the "Women's Equality Party" may attract from certain special interest groups is really worth the discontent he has provoked amongst the millions of New Yorkers he continues to divide and marginalize.

Rev. Jason J. McGuire,
Executive Director
New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms


We Are Accessories To A Crime

On Sunday, July 13, I took part in a vigil in Woodstock protesting Israel's bombing of Gaza. As a result, I feel called upon to speak out in this community. I am all for Israel as a nation, but not for its present stance as a bully tormenting a small child, as the power of the Palestinians is in relation to its power. Israel's destructive and murderous policy should be stopped. Unfortunately that is hard to do because we — taxpaying citizens of the United States — are backing and helping to pay for it. Israel would better use its vast power and technology not to kill Palestinians but to find out and bring to justice the people who actually did kidnap and kill those three Israeli young men.

I urge everyone who is concerned about this murderous policy, in which we are complicit, to write to their representative and senator and tell him or her so.

Phoebe Hoss
Saugerties


Believes The Prez Is Against America

President Obama is doing great harm to America.

As we look at who he is, where he came from, how he was raised, his schooling, his mentors, we begin to see why. He is no fan of America, and his goal — "the transformation of America" — is to put her on equal footing with collapsing socialist and Third World countries.

He was raised on anti-colonialism and anti-U.S. propaganda by his socialist father. He despises America's exceptionalism. That's why he toured the Middle East and apologized for America's involvement in the world. According to him, we are not a Judeo-Christian nation.

He wants to redistribute wealth by taking from the doers and giving to the takers and the unions who elected him.

He has helped create instabilities within and without our borders — against the poor.

His foreign policy is a disaster. He relies on Chicago incompetents like Valerie Jarret, Susan Rice and Attorney General Eric Holder, who won't investigate any scandals. He's too busy investigating the Boy Scouts.

The downfall of America will result in tremendous suffering for the world, our children and the Democrats, who don't seem to care. God help the blind, liberal left politicians who go along with him, and may God have mercy on the innocent Americans who will one day pay the price of his willful incompetence.

We need a spiritual revival of biblical, Judeo-Christian principles and another Billy Graham to wake up America. I'm proud to have been a recipient of the sacrifices of the Greatest Generation. What will our children say of us in the years to come?

James T. Varelas
East Jewett


Keep The State's Hunting Laws Humane!

I am very alarmed about the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Black Bear Management Plan for New York State 2014-2024.

Proposed hunting regulation changes, contained on page 22, Strategy 2.1.6, state: "Assess the potential benefits and concerns associated with bear hunting practices currently prohibited by the environmental conservation laws. (e.g., hunting with the aid of bait or dogs, trapping with cable restraints, taking bears less than one year of age), and consider other options (e.g. spring season) that may increase bear management capacity at some future date."

The Department of Environmental Conservation says "the controversial use of traps, dogs and bait all currently outlawed should be reconsidered to spur interest in bear hunting." They feel that there is not enough bear hunting in New York.

I believe hunters have a right to hunt bear, but to consider allowing these proposed practices at some future date is not only unsportsmanlike (as hunters have told me) but also morally and ethically wrong.

Contact your legislators and Gov. Cuomo. Tell them that these currently outlawed practices should remain outlawed.

Shirley Merriam Cornish
Old Forge


Urges All To Fight Health Insurance Tax

Small-business owners pay enough taxes. More will only make it harder to stay open. The Health Insurance Tax (HIT), for instance, will force some of us to take drastic steps over health insurance coverage, which could be bad for our employees and for business. There's still time to put the HIT off for two years — if Congress passes H.R. 3367.

The HIT is charged to health insurers, and they will raise an estimated $500 per policyholder annually. Since I provide coverage to my five employees, this means I'll have to pay an additional $2,500 every year. I cannot afford such an increase, and neither can many other small-business owners.

I've owned Forever Jewelers for 30 years, and I see my profit margin shrinking by the day. All of it's because of seen and unseen taxes. The HIT is an unseen tax, but we'll certainly feel it.

By the time many small-business owners realize what's wrong, however, it will probably be too late to do anything about it. Congress needs to find ways to alleviate our tax burdens. Although a preliminary step, enacting H.R. 3367 would move us in the right direction. There's power in numbers, so let's be vocal in asking our representatives to support this important bill.

Moshe Schwartzberg
Warwick


Thinks The GOP Are Hypocrites On Healthcare...

Over and over we hear Republicans wanting to "repeal and replace" Obamacare. Yet, at the same time, we are hearing very little about what they would replace Obamacare with. They have also repeatedly called Obamacare a "train wreck."

Let's hear some details, Republicans. If it is a train wreck, tell us how it is a train wreck. If you want to replace Obamacare, tell Americans what you will replace it with. How will almost 50 million people get some health insurance protection? Vague, unproven attacks about Obamacare are just scaring people.

While the initial roll-out of the plan was a failure, that, in and of itself, says nothing about the actual plan, which I am hearing is covering millions more Americans. Telling people they could always go to an emergency room is not health insurance. It might be great for a broken bone or a heart attack, but emergency rooms are incredibly expensive, and not the place to go for chronic illnesses such as diabetes, or worse, cancer treatment.

Finally, many of the attacks against Obamacare are coming from Republican members of Congress, who themselves have probably the finest health insurance available. And this insurance is paid for by the American people.

There seems to be some hypocrisy here: government-paid health insurance for Congress, but the rest of us are on our own (unless we are lucky enough to have Medicare or Medicaid).

William Gronwald
Monticello


Open Up The Jobs For Younger People

I can't believe the amount of people who collect SS and other benefits. I feel they need to work to keep busy. There are so many people out of work, who can't get work because someone doesn't want to move on with their lives. It's time to step down and do what you need to do. So many people are on some sort of help to make ends meet because there is no work in this area without traveling out of town. I have even seen people up in their 80's still working — are you crazy? Even the President can only run for two terms. Get yourself a life, let someone else get a pay check.

C. Lake
Ellenville


Ah, The Evils Of Marijuana...

As recent headlines have pointed out, we do indeed have a drug abuse epidemic here, especially of heroin. You tell of the many laws recently passed, designed to help addicts to lead them to a cure, but also to punish dealers. How then does it make sense, at the same time, for lawmakers to be approving or contemplating approving the legalization of that stupefying weed marijuana for medical purposes? And all this while our federal government is doing everything to discourage the smoking of tobacco (not entirely without cause). Warnings, limits, taxes, more taxes.

Let's say it right out. Marijuana is a drug (not harmless) and "for medical reasons" is only one step toward legalization for general use.

Statisticians, those crafty number manipulators, say marijuana is harmless, although its mind-dimming effects can last long after its use. Statistics say marijuana does not lead to further drug use (or abuse). Ask some real people. Many have admitted to graduating, for a better "feel good" lift, to pills, cocaine, even heroin for its thrill. People on marijuana who drive — and they do drive — cause accidents. They become aggressive, cause tragedy.

With the drug epidemic we have here, do we need to legalize marijuana?

Laura T. Scribner
Goshen



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