TRR photo by Tom Kane Roy Howard and Jeryl Abramson pose before an addition to their home at Yasgur Farm. (Click for larger image)

PARTY TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT DECISION

By TOM KANE

BETHEL - It's a celebration of Woodstock but it's also an important political rally for the Green Party-with musical speeches.

Roy Howard and Jeryl Abramson, who are under a court injunction forbidding them to hold a Woodstock commemorative rally without a permit, will hold a political rally on August 11,12 and 13 at their Yasgur Farm on Route 17B, a few miles from the original Woodstock Concert site.

"Because we are on the ballot, the party must abide by New York State Election Bureau standards," said Don Hickok of the Green Party. That means that the group will have to give up its assembly method of governance and form a state committee that makes decisions, like the Democrats and Republicans.

"Some members will not like giving the power to a small number of people on the committee," Hichok said. It's not going to be easy discussing this kind of thing in an open field among Woodstock revelers, he said.

Bethel Supervisor Allan C. Scott who had sought the injunction three years ago was out of town and could not be reached for comment.

The gathering will be the fourth assembly this year of the Green Party. "It's a legitimate political rally. You don't need a permit to hold a political rally," Abramson, who is Sullivan's Green Party chair said.

Many Green candidates, including U. S. Senate Green Party candidates Mark Dunau Al Lewis, Ronnie Dugger and Walter Ivakuo will speak.

"It's a party rally and it's a meeting by the party leadership to plan strategies for the up-coming election, " Howard said.

Abramson said they will be in strict compliance with Board of Health regulations at their rally. "We will have chlorinated water on site and an amble number of Port-a-Potties," she said.

When asked if she expects the Woodstock Nation and other devotees of the original Woodstock Peace Rally to show, she said, "I hope so."

One original Woodstock Concert musician coming is Country Joe McDonald. The official dates of the Woodstock Concert anniversary are August 15, 16 and17.

In past years, fans of Woodstock gathered at their farm-sometimes illegally-and held their own party as the official party, A Day in the Garden, was held at the historic Hurd Road site.

No concert is planned this year by Alan Gerry, the owner of the site and organizer of last year's Day in the Garden Festival

"We think this is the time when the Green Party is going to take a major step forward with Ralph Nader running for president," Howard said.

Abramson and Howard feel that the two major parties have now merged philosophically into one, stand for the same things and do not offer an alternative to voters,

"The Greens are a real alternative," Howard said. "It's time."