The force be with you

To the editor:

Congratulations to Anthony Kaiser of Cochecton, NY who graduated from the New York state Police Academy in Albany, NY last month.

Our best wishes to with you, Anthony, as your join Bryon and Mike, also of Cochecton, as they embark upon a career with New York State’s finest.

We’re proud of your guys!

Opening the book on Sullivan West finances

To the editor:

The December 30-January 5 article “Sullivan West enters adolescence” glosses over the district’s current financial situation.

With respect to the $4 million increase in the 2004-05 budget, the article cites health insurance, employee benefits and retirement system contributions as causes. However, the major factor in the budget increase is debt service for the current projects. The refinancing of short-term BANS to long-term bonds, as required by law, increased this debt service by $1.8 million. Total debt service, including $620,308 for projects the district inherited in the merger, is $4.1 million this year, or 13.7 percent of the budget.

The article states that the district used $3.4 million in “reserve funds to support programs.” The district did nothing of the kind. The $3.4 million (actually $3.725 million) refers to the amount of unreserved fund balance that was applied to the tax levy this year. The law prohibits retaining this fund balance in an amount greater than 2 percent of the budget. However, until this year, the district had always retained a fund balance far in excess of what the law permits, thereby causing taxes to be greater than necessary. Last year, after the district retained $3.3 million, or 12.5 percent of the budget, board member Arthur Norden and I filed an appeal to the education commissioner. Our appeal compelled the district to comply with the law this year.

The article mentions using $1.5 million “to lessen the debt service over a 23-year period.” This refers to a resolution by the school board, in April last year, to pay an additional $1.5 million in BANS principal beyond what the district was obligated to pay. Without this payment, the district would have had $1.5 million in additional fund balance to apply against this year’s tax levy. More pertinently, the availability of this $1.5 million belied any notion that money was “tight” last year.

Extra money appears to be available this year as well. In the first few months of this year, the board has authorized spending of $1.1 million to repair the parapet wall at Delaware Valley and an undisclosed amount to mitigate the unsafe steel beam situation at the high school. The board also has engaged consultants for various services and has commenced “multi-million dollar” litigation against the school architect. As a safeguard for public funds, the state comptroller recommends that board authorizations for services, including litigation, contain spending limits. Because the recent authorizations for services do not contain such limits, the board, essentially, has issued “blank checks” to these consultants and attorneys.

There has been no public discussion of how the district will fund these unbudgeted projects and services. If money was “tight,” the board would be wrangling over what programs to cut this year in order to free up money. Money, obviously, is not “tight” this year, either.

The article’s comparison of Sullivan West to a “lanky pimple-faced teenager” is apt. Like a teenager, Sullivan West must learn how to manage money. It could begin with an honest assessment of its financial situation, stripped of positive “spin.”

Board members need to be committed

To the editor:

Sullivan West voters will remember the expensive campaign complete with an extensive mass mailing, which even included a color photograph, which was waged to elect Gerald “Jerry” Murphy to the school board. A lot of people worked very hard to elect him.

Jerry Murphy’s campaign literature stressed his “Experience and Commitment” and pledged that he was, “adamantly opposed to closing the Narrowsburg school.”

Ironically, Jerry Murphy also said, “We must keep the promise of the merger!” Many voters believed him and were convinced that he was seriously interested in being on the school board.

At the November 17 school board meeting, the public was stunned to hear that Jerry Murphy was suddenly resigning. Under questioning by me, Mr. Murphy admitted that he was moving to Pennsylvania and that the move was not job related.

During the public comment period, in Jerry Murphy’s presence while he was still sitting on the board, I made the following statement.

“No one should run for a school board position who does not have a deep and abiding commitment to the area and who does not fully intend to serve out his term. It is the height of irresponsibility to do otherwise.

“Jerry Murphy’s resignation after only five months on the board is a disappointment to all the voters who supported him and further destabilizes and polarizes a school board already in turmoil.”

The fact that the Sullivan West school board is in such chaos that it could not agree at a subsequent meeting to fill the position by appointment or a special election, as required under New York State Education Law, demonstrates how correct my statement was.

The Sullivan West Central School District is a multi-million dollar operation. It needs dedicated school board members who will serve out their terms in office and make the hard decisions, not dilettantes, or administrative cheerleaders or people ready to move out of the area at the first opportunity.

Jerry Murphy’s unfortunate resignation further fuels the cynicism that permeates the Sullivan West Central School District. Quite frankly, he let the public down.

Honor the troops—work for peace

To the editor:

I attended the Sullivan County Legislature session in mid-December where Sgt. Catalin Dima was honored. He was not present as he had been killed in Iraq on November 13. His wife was there with her young children to receive the memorabilia and check offered to her. She was weeping. She didn’t want things and hollow honors. She wanted her husband alive and well. Why does Ms. Dima and her family have to endure such profound suffering to support the selfish, wanton ambitions of some other Americans? I am not being philosophical. I want you to really take in the question I just asked and let it cut deep. What do you feel?

“Yes, ‘n’ how many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?

Yes, ‘n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, The answer is blowin’ in the wind.”

-- Bob Dylan.

To end the suffering and bloodshed in Iraq is going to take a lot of us persistently speaking out to bring about peace in that ravaged, unhappy land. If you care, find a way. Options include prayers, letters, emails, peaceful protests, speaking out when you can, contacting our near-deaf senators and being peaceful yourself.

How important is this? Immeasurably important. If we hadn’t been protesting and resisting, how many more dead and wounded would there be in Iraq today? As a heartfelt resolution for the new year, let’s work to bring the troops home and have peace in Iraq at least by Christmas 2005. It can be done.

Let there be peace.

Narrowsburg residents have generous hearts

To the editor:

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all our customers that donated phone cards to our military overseas. The donation program started in early December, and the response by this community was overwhelming! In just three weeks, over 70 cards were donated by customers of the Narrowsburg Post Office.

I have been the Postmaster here for five and half years, but realized early on that this is a special community and that I was fortunate to work here; this was even more apparent this holiday season. Your generosity at a time when money is tight and the economy uncertain showed just how caring, giving and special you are. Thank you again!

Rumsfeld has to go

To the editor:

As a 21-year retired Army soldier and veteran of “Operation Desert Storm,” I must say that it is past time for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to resign. His callous and arrogant reply to SPC Thomas Wilson’s question of truth was no proper answer. Soldier’s have a right to expect that they will go to wars–which politicians start–with all necessary resources.

The era of the government’s failure to back troops on the battlefield ended in Vietnam. Bureaucrats such as Rumsfeld have no common-sense comprehension of what soldiers of character need to achieve victory in the Iraq quagmire.

He should have the moral courage to resign—or be dishonorably fired by President Bush. Soldier’s bleeding in Iraq deserve support—nothing less.

SPCA needs our help

To the editor:

The Sullivan County SPCA is in dire need of our community’s help. Many people of this county are not aware of the conditions that exist at the animal shelter in Rock Hill. There are a handful of volunteers that are feeding and caring for these animals.

The shelter is not large enough to house all the animals and there is not enough money to properly feed and care for the all the animals. The shelter is also in need of repairs.

As animal lovers and responsible citizens, we are launching a campaign for the items necessary for the best care of the animals.

The shelter’s wish list is:

1. Cash donations. All monies go directly toward animal care and building utilities. They need to keep the heat and electricity on. Every animal at the SPCA sees a veterinarian and gets all needed vaccines.

2. Cat litter.

3. Bleach and cleaning supplies.

4. Canned and dry, dog and cat food.

5. Dog beds and good durable toys.

6. Volunteers are needed to walk dogs, socialize cats and help with cleaning and building maintenance.

Memories on Route 17 in Parksville, Pizza The Rock in Rock Hill and Peez Leez in Livingston Manor are drop off locations, in addition to the SPCA in Rock Hill.

Please send donations to the Sullivan County SPCA, 104 Rock Hill Drive, Rock Hill, NY 12775. The phone number is 845/796-3120.

The animals and the staff thank you in advance for your help.

Celebrating a true victory for Ukraine

To the editor:

The long-lasting presidential election in Ukraine is finally over. On December 26, after a bitter campaign by the great majority, Ukrainian people elected a new president—the most popular person in Ukraine, real patriot and freedom fighter, Victor Yushchenko. By doing so, Ukrainians decided to make a great step forward toward democracy and freedom. President-elect Victor Yushchenko speaking to his supporters said, “For 14 years we have been independent. Now we have become free. The people proved their power.”

Although the country at present time is divided and his presidency will be tough, election of Victor Yushchenko gives Ukrainian people hope for a brighter future and long-lasting freedom and justice. Secretary of State Colin Powell said, “Finally Ukrainian people had an opportunity to elect freely their next president. The Ukrainian people can be truly proud of this achievement.”

One 21-year-old demonstrator at Independence Square (Maydan) in Kyiv expressed his happiness: “Today we began to live. We showed ourselves and the world that our future can not be dictated to us. We will dictate it! Victor Yushchenko promised to bring Ukraine closer to the West, open and honest government, to promote law, and order, economic and political reforms and to advance national unity.”

Orange Revolution—the hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters, who, in the name of justice and freedom, demonstrated on Independence Square (Maydan) in Kyiv for more than two weeks at sub-freezing temperatures—deserve a great recognition for their bravery and dedication. Their important voices and chant, “We are together, we are many, we cannot be defeated. Freedom cannot be stopped,” have been heard all over the world.