Let me be the first to say that regarding the shuttering of the Shawangunk Journal, "NO!"

The excellent reportage re local town issues would be lost. Nowhere else can one get that type of news via an on the scene reporter attempting to bring as unbiased report of what transpires as is possible. If the SJ goes, of course we would resort to internet offerings by gossips and ax grinders which would only make matters worse as to understanding the intricacies of governance and what efforts are being made (or not in some unfortunate instances) on our behalf. And to also lose the entertaining/educating columnists like Marc Fried and Ryan Trapani would be sad, indeed. Both of these gentlemen bring nature and locale into focus for so many of us. Not to mention the fine articles that have appeared lately from learned people in their field delivering deep consideration of matters that are important to one and all.

Raise the price if you must. But, please don't fold...

Steven L. Fornal
Accord

It is no surprise to any of the residents of the Town of Mamakating that Shalom Lamm was indicted for voter fraud in the Bloomingburg village elections. It has been apparent to everyone in the area for some time that Lamm and his associates have been plotting to co-opt the village government, in conjunction with the village leadership, and create a new Hassidic community.

Long-empty buildings suddenly had dozens of registered voters and the "Bloomingburg Community Bus" could be seen leaving Kiryas Joel and pulling up in front of polling stations on Election Day. But what is truly disappointing is the Mamakating town government caving in to Lamm's charges of discrimination. Rather than showing any backbone and standing up to him, it chose to settle and pay him almost $3 million. Sad to say that the town's residents have just paid for Lamm's legal defense.

Robert Carlson
Bloomingburg

Shalom Lamm and his alleged co-conspirators deserve their day in court; an indictment isn't a finding of guilt. If FBI charges against them prove true, however, the real losers won't be those charged. The dramatic recent rise in hate crimes and groups reflected in FBI and Southern Poverty Law Center data speaks for itself — fewer reasons, assuming any remain, are needed for many people to hate those they perceive different from themselves. The history of anti-Semitism needs no review, a point we can assume Lamm was well aware of when filing his own charges not long ago in federal court against local jurisdictions for discriminating against Hasidim.

If it is borne out that, while around the same time, he and the others illegally conspired to manipulate the election process for their personal financial gain, who can be blamed for assuming with equal confidence that Lamm took advantage of one of the darkest periods of human history to advance his own agenda? Worse still would be his own contribution to lowering the bar further for those seeking easy targets for their hate.

I do hope Lamm and the others are found innocent of such despicable acts. If not, let the weight of law be sufficiently heavy — no deals. The only bright spot in the sad affair is knowing the FBI and federal prosecutors have our backs.

Dave Colavito
Rock Hill

Today on TV President Select Rump said the following concerning Russia's hacking of the US election: "I know things other people don't." A reporter asked him, "What is it that you know?" He answered, "You'll find out Tuesday or Wednesday." This is a problem that will haunt his presidency from day one until its demise. He has ZERO credibility. Here is a partial list, in no particular order, of some of his many huge and obvious falsehoods (i.e. lies). 1. He knows more about ISIS than the generals. 2. He has a secret plan to defeat ISIS and he will do it quickly. 3. He will be the healthiest president ever elected. (His so-called doctor may have said that on his behalf.) 4. He had evidence that our esteemed President Obama was not born in the US and he would give it to us as soon as his investigators came back from Hawaii (We are still waiting). 5. He saw thousands and thousands of Muslims in New Jersey celebrating on TV when the World Trade Center came down. 6. Only he can fix "it" (meaning our economy). 7. He won the popular vote. 8. He will show us his tax returns as soon as the IRS is done auditing them (are they even auditing them?) 9. (This one is generic...) He did not say what you just saw him say (who do you believe, him or your lyin? eyes?) You cannot believe a word he says. He is a flim-flam man.

Lee Augustine
Ellenville

For years I've heard about the inability of the Pentagon to audit its books. Now a Reuters investigation by Scott Paltrow has revealed that the Pentagon has lost track of $8 trillion since 1996 — that's $400 billion a year. And I see little MSM coverage of this scandalous amount of mismanagement and probably fraud. Where is the demand for accountability? Where are the congressional hearings that are warranted when this much money is sent to the Pentagon and never accounted for? Will the new president be asked, "What will you do about what appears to be massive fraud and waste at the Pentagon?"

The Rev. Finley Schaef
Saugerties

The name of the president of the Home National Bank in Ellenville in the early 1950's was William (Bill) Rose, not Joseph DiCandia, whose name does not ring a bell with me at all. I was taking Army Basic Training in Fort Hood Texas in 1956-57 when the banking scandal hit the newspapers. It was the only time in my memory when the village name of Ellenville made the national news.

Some time later on I had a conversation with Conrad Eck who I think was an employee with the bank and he filled me in on some of the details. The paper mill was not the only problem. There was also a delinquent loan with a woman trying to keep her hotel going. According to Conrad, that loan was more of a problem than the paper mill. The way Conrad told it, Bill was able to cover the problems up until an unannounced surprise audit came to pass early one morning.

Conrad died recently but he used to reside in what was called the old Wagar Farm place about a half of a mile below the Cape Pond dam. So Conrad cannot vouch for what I am saying, and instead I am sending a copy of this to Richard and Dale Craft who will probably remember it as I do.

Bill Rose was a prominent name from a prominent family and their residence was on South Main Street at the beginning of the bottom of the slope that forms Terrace Hill and on the west side of the street. He had been a commander in the Navy during World War II and was well thought of, and people felt sorry for him when it all happened. He didn't profit from it and the only people who got hurt were the bank stockholders.

I saw him after he got out of jail when he was working in the family business in what was called the "Rose and Douglas Hardware Store." He had a grey complexion from being away from the sun for so long. Other than that he was OK. The store by the way was on Canal Street across from the Methodist Church. I think the bank was there too, side by side with the store.

I remember the paper mill and had a tour of it with a Boy Scout entourage once, and I used to notice that the Rondout Creek used to change color according to the color of paper that was being manufactured.

I have since received an email from Dale (nee McDole) Craft where she pointed out that she had worked for Bill Rose in the Home National Bank prior to the banking scandal. She also pointed out that he was scrupulously honest and had a revered reputation in the Ellenville area by all who knew him. He just got caught up when he made two loans that went bad. She also pointed out that DiCandia was the president of the Napanoch Paper Mill, not of the Home National Bank.

Thanks for listening.

Bob Perry
Ellenville, High School Class of '51

It's almost two months since the election; we need an appropriate epitaph for the 19th Congressional District campaign in our district, in which John Faso, R-Kinderhook, defeated Zephyr Teachout, D-Clinton.

Since the election, I am surprised that no one saw fit to comment in an editorial or otherwise on the most unpleasant and negative campaign I have ever seen. It was nothing short of a well-financed smear campaign, with almost nothing promoting actual positions on relevant issues. One newspaper endorsement read: "Teachout holds promise for a new era in politics." Thank God it wasn't. It was looking like an ugly era.

This is the second time in four years voters in our district have demonstrated admirable common sense by rejecting candidates with lots of money but no experience, who have somehow felt our district was their foot in the door to access power in Washington.

In the future, I would want someone who really lives in our community to represent us (no carpetbaggers, thank you) and, when it comes to the next election, stick to the issues and not spend the entire campaign acting like a first-grader, sticking out her tongue and calling names.

And I would hope the media, instead of encouraging and participating in mudslinging, would hold candidates to what they should be doing: pointing to their records and staking out their positions on relevant issues.

Ellis Lader
Hurley

I'm glad to know Faso, R-Kinderhook, is not a "knee-jerk" Trump supporter. I would caution about accepting Trump's statements, however. His behavior during and after the election seems to me to be of a pathological liar. We've heard much reported about Trump's "bold" Cabinet appointments. I would call them "reckless." If/when Faso gets to question Trump's appointees, he should ask them the following: How many persons will be denied affordable medical care? How many persons will fall below the federal poverty level without a decent minimum wage? How many years before Galveston, Miami, New Orleans and Charleston will be swept away by rising sea level? How many persons will be denied their rightful opportunity to vote while the federal government allows states to pass restrictive voting requirements in the name of preventing voter fraud?

The answers should be very interesting.

William Tuel
Rosendale

I'm writing to wish the staff at the Journal a very successful 2017.

I currently do not subscribe to the Journal; I prefer the anticipation of seeing the new copy each week at Peters and buying it when I market. My husband does the same thing, so we usually end up with two copies of each issue. It's a ritual we both enjoy.

We hope you find a way to continue. The Shawangunk Journal is one of the greatest parts of the Catskills. Your stories and reporters are the best. (By the way, does Chris Rowley ever sleep?)

So... best of luck to you all, and please keep at it.

Vincent Fox
Napanoch