Decisions are gong to be made on Saturday morning. In the case of Highway Department Supervisor the impact of that decision is huge. Copake has suffered a succession of highway supervisors whose goal was never in doubt; to build an empire inside the town. The Supervisors were Republicans, so they hired only Republicans. They inflated the budget to a degree that their line item now constitutes half the cost of the entire town budget - that we sustain as taxpayers - and they have historically been arbiters of far more than road maintenance – they’re outsized influence was felt far and wide.
I’ve been here ten years and heard nothing from Democrats except, “We need to clean that place up”. “We need to look at the books” (Which we’ve never been able to do.) “We need new blood there.” “I’d do anything to get an independent Highway Supervisor.” Now, we have that chance and I see that instead of seizing our opportunity we are lining up to seat another Republican in the very place they have mismanaged for decades.
Bill Gregory seems like a nice man and competent, but exactly the same thing can be said of Bill Jamieson who also has decades of experience on the roads of our town and country. Both men enjoy good reputations as decent people and hard workers. The critical difference is that Bill Gregory is a Republican and Bill Jamieson is not. How then, can we squander our opportunity? How is it that we are losing our nerve at the critical moment? I remind all that this vote will put new leadership in the town’s most important office for exactly one year. If Bill Jamieson doesn’t please us in 52 weeks, the voters will get another chance to speak. How then, with this window of opportunity, can we not act in both our own interest and the interest of the town?
In case anyone’s forgotten, Bob and Linda can speak to all of you about the cost of missing an opportunity to exercise our power. They sat on a board for two years with a majority vote and instead of playing hardball, they played “nice.” They will be the first to tell you that was a huge mistake, one they won’t make again.
This isn’t personal for me. Nor should it be personal for Democrats. This is about strategy. It’s our moment to exercise our growing power. It’s our moment to make a statement to the good old boys and their dying mantra of anchoring our town to the past instead of the future. I call upon all Democrats to vote, and vote for our vision, our goals, because if anyone’s going to have a hell of a good laugh on Saturday, it will be the good old boys when they watch Democrats vote Republican.
Ian Jarvis – Voting for Change.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Coverage of the Copake area Veterans
Mr. Sacks, I was moved by your coverage of the Copake area veterans. That was a very special issue. The Chronicle serves a wonderful purpose for our town and I thank you for your public commitment. I wanted you to know that our friends in Ancram are jealous and wish they had a paper like ours. I will be looking for you at Copake Day, to personally shake your hand and say thanks.
John Hess
Copake Lake
John Hess
Copake Lake
Troubled
It was terrific news to hear today that the young man who went missing this past holiday weekend has been found. I cannot imagine the fear, stress, and hopelessness a situation like that puts on a family and friends, let alone the person himself, who must have been fighting to stay alive.
The search that was launched to find him was a success.
Thank God, and the authorities, for that.
As I read the news today, I could not help thinking about a young man who went missing in our area last December. Very different circumstances from this latest story, I know.
He was discovered four months later, by chance, deceased, quite close to where he was last seen.
I felt then, and still feel, somewhat troubled about the events and details of this man's demise.
When I hear the stories about young children gone missing, or the elderly who wander-off, or most anyone for that matter, it usually seems to include a relatively thorough hunt to find them or, at least, a reasonable explanation why a search is called-off or not launched in the first place. But, maybe that's just the world that I see and hear on the news.
I realize that each case is different, and that the young man found today was missing for entirely different reasons. But, something about John Picarello's story leaves me uneasy and sad.
Even though he went missing in the middle of the winter, I cannot imagine that a trained dog could not sniff-out his body, even in snow. I also would like to think that we, as a community, would have come together in some way to help, if called upon. But, perhaps there were circumstances I am not aware of. I remember the time when John Picarello first went missing. I knew he was missing because printed signs started to appear in some local businesses. Not much local talk.
I do not remember much, if any, local news coverage, nor do I remember a large-scale search for him.
All I know is that one day in late March this young person was found, long-dead, in a cemetery.
It was profoundly sad.
I pray for the soul of the deceased, and I send my best wishes to the family and friends who just found their missing loved one.
Steve R.
Copake
The search that was launched to find him was a success.
Thank God, and the authorities, for that.
As I read the news today, I could not help thinking about a young man who went missing in our area last December. Very different circumstances from this latest story, I know.
He was discovered four months later, by chance, deceased, quite close to where he was last seen.
I felt then, and still feel, somewhat troubled about the events and details of this man's demise.
When I hear the stories about young children gone missing, or the elderly who wander-off, or most anyone for that matter, it usually seems to include a relatively thorough hunt to find them or, at least, a reasonable explanation why a search is called-off or not launched in the first place. But, maybe that's just the world that I see and hear on the news.
I realize that each case is different, and that the young man found today was missing for entirely different reasons. But, something about John Picarello's story leaves me uneasy and sad.
Even though he went missing in the middle of the winter, I cannot imagine that a trained dog could not sniff-out his body, even in snow. I also would like to think that we, as a community, would have come together in some way to help, if called upon. But, perhaps there were circumstances I am not aware of. I remember the time when John Picarello first went missing. I knew he was missing because printed signs started to appear in some local businesses. Not much local talk.
I do not remember much, if any, local news coverage, nor do I remember a large-scale search for him.
All I know is that one day in late March this young person was found, long-dead, in a cemetery.
It was profoundly sad.
I pray for the soul of the deceased, and I send my best wishes to the family and friends who just found their missing loved one.
Steve R.
Copake
Rejection of my Book
I was born in a house built in 1687 in Copake and ran a 380 acres, 130 cow dairy farm in Copake for 30 years. I was president of Columbia County Farm Bureau and invited the United States Secretary of Agriculture and the Governor of New York to Copake to honor Bud Fischer for his work in starting the bulk handling of Milk. I provided pictures of the occasion for the display the upcoming display at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society of which I am a member. I hope they make use of the material I have provided to them.
I also wrote a history of the area.. I document the importance of what happened here to the development of the United States. I offered to give a copy of Rebels of the North to each person attending the Historical Society annual banquet. My offer of a free book about the history of the area was rejected. For that reason I gave my paid for ticket away and do not plan to attend the Banquet.
I believe the rejection was because of my first book, Scandal in the Courtroom. That book remains controversial. It was written to clear my son’s name for his arrest for arson which never went to trial. It involves a cover-up of an illegal arrest. As part of the cover-up Federal District Judge Howard G. Munson ruled my son confessed. That is blatantly faults, but that ruling prevented a trial from taking place.
There is also another fact the public has a right to know. I filed a motion for sanctions against the lawyers that lied. Judge Munson removed my motion from the court records in Syracuse, but evidence of its existence remained the Court Records in Albany.
Howard G. Munson was appointed to the court by President Gerald Ford and served in the Northern District of New York for 32 years. .He even served as Chief Judge from 1980 to 1988. His decision to step down as judge came after a petition for his impeachment was sent to the United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. Judge Munson faced being indicted for altering Court records. I was the person that filed that petition.
Grant Langdon,
former Columbia County Farm Bureau President
I also wrote a history of the area.. I document the importance of what happened here to the development of the United States. I offered to give a copy of Rebels of the North to each person attending the Historical Society annual banquet. My offer of a free book about the history of the area was rejected. For that reason I gave my paid for ticket away and do not plan to attend the Banquet.
I believe the rejection was because of my first book, Scandal in the Courtroom. That book remains controversial. It was written to clear my son’s name for his arrest for arson which never went to trial. It involves a cover-up of an illegal arrest. As part of the cover-up Federal District Judge Howard G. Munson ruled my son confessed. That is blatantly faults, but that ruling prevented a trial from taking place.
There is also another fact the public has a right to know. I filed a motion for sanctions against the lawyers that lied. Judge Munson removed my motion from the court records in Syracuse, but evidence of its existence remained the Court Records in Albany.
Howard G. Munson was appointed to the court by President Gerald Ford and served in the Northern District of New York for 32 years. .He even served as Chief Judge from 1980 to 1988. His decision to step down as judge came after a petition for his impeachment was sent to the United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. Judge Munson faced being indicted for altering Court records. I was the person that filed that petition.
Grant Langdon,
former Columbia County Farm Bureau President
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