Letters to the Editor

If you'd like to submit a letter to the editor, email us at editor@watershedpost.com with "Letter to the Editor" in the subject line. Please include your full name, address, and telephone number so that we can reach you with questions if necessary. (Your address and phone number will not be published.) Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

Letter to the Editor: Ulster County to pass up $3 million in FEMA grants for Catskill Mountain Railroad

By WP Newsroom
12/21/12 - 4:21 pm

This letter is part of an ongoing conversation in our letters section about the future of the Catskill Mountain Railroad in Ulster County. -- Julia Reischel

Dear Editor:

The statements that the scrapping of the rails West of Phoenicia will not impact the operation of CMRR [Catskill Mountain Railroad] are not entirely true. The rails west of Phoenicia are a County Asset, and are part of what is currently under a lease between Ulster County and the Catskill Mountain Railroad. CMRR has been using portions of the rails from West of Phoenicia to rebuild the active portions of the line, from Phoenicia, east to Kingston. At the present time, the D & U RR has also been running their trains into Ulster County, using a turnout and platform at BellAyre/Highmount. D & U has plans to extend their train service through Highmount to include the Horseshoe Curve. The plan to scrap the rails west of Phoenicia was contrived by Mike Hein with the advice and counsel of Kathy Nolan, chairperson of UTAC. CMRR, as lessee, was never asked if they had need of the rails or plans to continue re-opening the line West of Phoenicia. Mike Hein, having conveniently disbanded the Ulster County Railroad Advisory Board some two years prior, had no source of information as to what CMRR or the D & U RR were doing. In fact, the Catskill Mountain Railroad only found out the rails west of Phoenicia were to be scrapped when they read it in the "Freeman". This is in violation of the lease agreement, and should have been discussed with the Catskill Mountain Railroad.  Read more

Letter to the Editor: "Removing the Catskill Mountain Railroad is morally wrong"

By WP Newsroom
12/12/12 - 12:16 pm

This article is written in response to a letter to the editor published on November 26, 2012. -- Julia Reischel

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to a letter posted here & comments at last week's Special Session of the UC Legislature by Kathy Nolan. Ms. Nolan advocated for a "World Class Network of Trails" to replace the Catskill Mountain Railroad over most of the railroad line . Ms. Nolan states the truth about the Catskill Mountain Railroad, but not the true story. She is correct: the Catskill Mountain Railroad is for profit corporation. However, she fails to tell the rest of the truth. No one on the CMRR ever made a dime from it.  Read more

Letter to the Editor: Let's make it easy to shop local

By WP Newsroom
11/28/12 - 11:31 am

Dear Editor,

A few days ago, I saw an Internet statement that said, “I’m thankful for those who choose to shop local.” As a board member of our local chamber of commerce, I can say that I agree with that sentiment.

But I am also am thankful for the business owners that make it easy to “shop local.”

I want to acknowledge and thank the hard-working entrepreneurs:

  • Who opened their retail location on “Black Friday”, one of the busiest shopping days of the year
  • Who park their own personal vehicle away from the front of their business so it’s easy for customers to park
  • Who smile and welcome shoppers into their store, gallery, office, etc.
  • Who are open during their posted open hours

It’s these little things that make both visitors and residents want to come back and to continue to support the many wonderful and diverse small businesses that we have here in the greater Stamford area of Gilboa, Grand Gorge, Harpersfield, Hobart, Jefferson, Kortright and Stamford.  Read more

Letter to the Editor: Great AteOAte!

By WP Newsroom
11/26/12 - 12:10 pm

Dear Editor,

I would just like to make a comment about a wonderful catering group we have right here in our local environs. They are known as AteOAte and can be located at info@AteOAtecatering.com. I was very lucky to have been invited to two affairs in private homes catered by AteOAte. At each the staff was exceptionally friendly and professional, service was perfect and the food delicious, and there was plenty of it. The hosts Susan Dey and husband Bernard for Bassett hospital where details of the proposed new Andes clinic were presented, and Steve & Julie Berg a reception and dinner for the board and friends of the Catskill Mountain Club of which Steve is the president. All were most gracious in opening their beautiful homes for these two separate affairs. Our community is lucky to have such generous and civic minded folks. Thank you Bernard, Susan, Steve, Julie for your community efforts and hospitality and AteOAte for your great catering.

Jack McShane
Andes NY

Letter to the Editor: The Time is Now for Trails

By WP Newsroom
11/26/12 - 9:31 am

A response to this letter was published in our letters section on December 12, 2012. -- Julia Reischel

Dear Editor:

Completing a world-class trail network linking the Walkway Over the Hudson to Kingston and then out to the Ashokan Reservoir and beyond offers Ulster County huge economic benefits built on healthy recreational activity. Studies across the country repeatedly demonstrate substantial economic and health benefits from building off-road multiple-purpose trail networks, and linking existing mountain biking and hiking trails in the Catskills with these trail networks obviously creates an invitation for outdoors enthusiasts from around the world to join us in enjoying these riches.  Read more

Letter to the Editor: Assemblyman Pete Lopez on Rebuilding from Recent Hurricanes

By WP Newsroom
11/19/12 - 1:41 pm

Dear Editor,

As our neighbors in the Greater New York region to continue to struggle with the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, we know that many also suffered upstate, particularly along the Hudson River. The flooding damaged homes, businesses and public structures, leaving many without power for days.

In many cases, Sandy impacted homes and businesses still recovering from the impacts of Hurricanes Lee and Irene in 2011, and brought into sharp focus, the anxieties and challenges our region continues to struggle with as a result of those storms.

For our friends and neighbors downstate who continue to suffer, we have a statewide obligation to provide intensive support and help them recover as quickly as possible, even as we continue to rebuild here at home. We offer our continued thanks to the many emergency responders and other volunteers, who continue to sacrifice their own comfort and safety to protect the lives and property of others.

All of us are also grateful to the many federal, state and local officials who prudently took steps before, during, and after the storm to protect our communities as much as possible.  Read more

Letter to the Editor: The Catskill Mountain Club views the Catskills as a region, not a conglomeration of competing interests

By Julia Reischel
11/5/12 - 5:35 pm

To the Editor:

The Catskill Mountain Club (CMC) views the Catskills as a region, not as a conglomeration of disparate counties and chambers of commerce competing for their own recognition among tourists.

We are trying to sponsor activities not only to the four counties in and near the State Park or Blue Line, but also to outlying counties in the region including Otsego, Schoharie and even Southern Albany counties. These activities involve any outdoor non-motorized activity, including hiking, biking, paddling, skiing, family walks, and educational and social events.

Based on recent research done by The Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce, visitors to the Catskills almost unanimously selected organized outdoor recreation as the major draw to our area. The location of the activities within the region was not a factor. Over the past couple of years, this research has challenged us to accelerate our website’s growth and expand our board of directors to represent all counties in our region. The NY/NJ Trail Conference and Finger Lakes Trail Conference are both represented.  Read more

Letter to the Editor: Rosa is "clear choice"

By WP Newsroom
10/28/12 - 1:11 am

To the Editor:

As we all know, Judge Carl Becker is running for re-election as county judge. This is a TEN year term. By law, Judge Becker will be required to retire halfway through his term, serving at the most only six years of a ten year term. If reelected, once he retires, the State will appoint someone to fill the remainder of his term until a special election can be held. And that someone could be from ANYWHERE in the state.

I have also seen numerous letters stating that Judge Becker “created’ the Drug Court, as stated in the letter from Ian Lamont. By no means, did Judge Becker ”create” the Drug Court. This was state mandated program and was required by law. And Judge Becker tried to foist the Drug Court onto the Delhi Court. This was unsuccessful.

Why vote for someone who can only do half the job? Judge Becker will be receiving two pensions, one for his time working for DSS, and one for his time as County Judge. Clearly Judge Becker is more interested in padding his pension than serving the people of Delaware County.  Read more

Letter to the Editor: Judge Becker has "legal discernment"

By WP Newsroom
10/28/12 - 12:29 am

Dear Editor:

Over the course of the summer I had the opportunity to intern at the Delaware County Courthouse, where I audited trials and hearings in Judge Carl Becker’s courtroom. Most people would not 'enjoy' auditing court proceedings, but for a law student the experience vivifies the dry case reports which are prescribed reading. Parties in the dispute become more than ink on paper: they become faces with real lives and futures at stake. Justice and judicial decisions are not merely abstract fodder for legal analysis, but directly impact the trajectory of individuals and communities.  Read more

Letter to the Editor: "Separating glib statements from true environmentalism"

By WP Newsroom
10/24/12 - 1:11 pm

To the Editor:

As our local weather gets stranger and stranger, I think that more people are becoming aware how dependent we are on the natural world. We need politicians who understand the necessity to protect our farmland and other open space, who vehemently oppose fracking because of the water and air pollution observed in other states where fracking is now being done, who want to help us sever our dangerous and ever more expensive dependence on fossil fuels, who see the jobs available for local people from installing solar panels and wind turbines.

The Sierra Club, founded in 1892, is the nation's oldest and largest environmental organization with approximately 45,000 members in New York State alone; its Mid-Hudson Group has over 1,900 members. Julian Schreibman has been endorsed for the new 19th Congressional district seat and Kirsten Gillibrand has been endorsed for a full term as federal Senator.  Read more

Syndicate content