Can You Imagine My Surprise

Bob:
Are you going to speak to the Naples Daily News as well?

We are in Bonita Springs, just north of Naples.
Can you imagine my surprise when I saw Copake was to headline Naples!!!!

Judy Whitbeck
Bonita Springs, Florida ( as well as Mount Washington in summer)

What is the movie playing at the Copake Theater

Hi Bob

Thanks for the great job you are doing with the Copake Chronicle. Everyone I send a copy to winds up subscribing on their own, which is a really good sign. And I have a question re signs: What is the movie playing at the Copake Theater in the icon you have for accessing movie listings (another great help by the way)? I have tried all the photo enhancement tools I have on hand, and I still can't get enough definition from the icon to read the sign above the doors. As a kid, I loved going to that theater, and it was a sad day when it was destroyed...anyway, if you can help, would appreciate it very much.

Regards
Ed Wiggers

The Answer is Gremlins was playing at the Copake theater in the photo. It was released in 1984.

Randi Shadic and the men of the Copake Fire Company

Bob:


I found your tribute to Randi Shadic and the men of the Copake Fire Company very moving and well placed. Your appreciation of the strong leadership of Mr. Shadic does you credit, as I have seen you demonstrate the very same qualities here in Copake for years. You are a straight shooter and speak your mind openly and without fear. As far as I’m concerned you lead by example and that is no easy thing to do.

I would like to thank the men and woman of the Copake Fire Company for their selfless devotion to our town's safety. Many people don’t understand the nature of those volunteers nor how hard they work, running into trouble and danger, when others are running away. As you said, we are indeed a very lucky town to have these people as neighbors and friends.

JJ Miller
Craryville

America’s Criminal Justice System is Second Rate.

America’s criminal justice system is second rate.


“I can get the Grand Jury indict a ham sandwich,” I heard a lawyer brag. . That is because it is the prosecutor is in charge of the grand jury. There is no judge and what happens is kept secret. The target of the grand jury doesn't have a right to call witnesses. . New York requires that exculpatory evidence must be presented however.

I would like New York State to do away with the Grand Jury. I would like it replaced with a hearing before a judge with the right of the defense to present witnesses and cross examine the police on how they conducted their investigation. Most cases where a person is later freed involve a forced:”confession.”

The Grand Jury has been around sine 1166 when King Henry II used it to consolidate his kingdom. Britain did away with the Grand Jury because of abuse in 1933. All other countries did away with the Grand Jury. The only exception is the United States. Today only about one half of all states in the United States have the Grand Jury system. Once an indictment is secured the prosecution holds the upper hand.

After serving years in jail Frank Sterling of Rochester was freed from prison by Donald M. Thompson, Esq. with the help of the Innocents Project. Frank Sterling was convicted for the November 29, 1988 murder of 74 year old Viola Manville in Hilton, New York. In fact Mark Christy, who was later arrested for the 1994 murder of Kali Ann Poulton murdered Manville. He was questioned as a suspect in the Manville murder in 1988, but then Sterling became the police target. “There’s no question in this case the police officers had tunnel vision,” said Innocence Project co-founder Peter Neufeld. Innocence Project officials contend that investigators became too fixated on Sterling and ignored other possibilities. . In an appellate brief, in fact, Thompson once wrote that “any reasonable view of the evidence would have supported the conclusion that (Sterling) would be free and Mark Christie would be serving time for not one murder, but two.”

I believe the power to indict should be taken away from the prosecutors and the police and given to a judge where witnesses can be cross examined and where the defendant has the right of council.

Grant Dinehart Langdon

Communication to our Community

Bob,  Thank you for putting out such a wonderful communication to our community. I look forward to receiving and reading it every time it pops up on my computer. It was great receiving the snow emergency last week and being made aware of that. Thank you for this great service you are providing.

Denise Chickery
Copake Lake

A Feeling of Fellowship and Pride in the Town

Dear Bob,


Congratulations! Your young publication now 100 issues old! Generating an emergency alert system is a real contribution, but even more your tribute to Randi Shadic and others who serve the community does a great deal to create a feeling of fellowship and pride in the town. As your fellow Copake citizens, we are all very fortunate to have the benefit of your experience, expertise, and civic devotion. Thanks.

Mac
Copake Falls

Our Community is Very Fortunate

In this season of unexpected weather and higher gas prices, our community is very fortunate to have the DEPOT DELI open every day of the week now, fully stocked from the daily papers and coffee to sandwiches, drinks and canned foods and much more (maybe even homemade chili).  They are located near the Taconic State park and entrance to the rail trail in Copake Falls.  329-4770


Iris Sachs

My New Web Site - www.crookedjudges.com

Letter to the Editor:

I would like to announce my new web site; http://www.crookedjudges.com/.  In my web site I propose that the Grand Jury be replaced with a judge to examine the evidence to determined if there is enough evidence to go to trial. My proposal is based on the arrest of my son and his indictment by the Grand Jury.  The District Attorney, Paul Czajka, ended the matter "for failure to go forward." He did not have any evidence and could not win the case. There was no determination of guilt or of innocents. The web site also proposes a mandatory investigation of charges of judicial misconduct if the charge is dismissed and then appealed.  I have asked the innocents project and others  to comment.  The innocents Project has freed hundreds of men from prison that were proven innocent.

Grant Dinehart Langdon

RE: A STATE OF EMERGENCY for all Columbia County

RE: A STATE OF EMERGENCY for all Columbia County


Thanks for the heads up...had no clue!

Karen D.

RE: A STATE OF EMERGENCY for all Columbia County

RE: A STATE OF EMERGENCY for all Columbia County


Thanks Bob, without your updates it’s next to impossible to know what's going on up there. We are having enough issues down here in Westchester County. Thanks again!

MaggieQ.

RE: A STATE OF EMERGENCY for all Columbia County

RE: A STATE OF EMERGENCY for all Columbia County


Bob - THANK YOU for this. I had no idea there was a state of emergency right now. It's just great to have this local source of information at this very isolating time.

Mary Allen

Stuck in the Driveway

Dear Bob,


I have never written a letter to the editor before but I thought this would be an appropriate first.
On 12/27 ( the day of the 20” storm) I was able to drive my 4 wheel vehicle out of my driveway onto County Route 7 in West Copake. Retuning after 4PM I did not get a head of steam back into my driveway as the highway department pushed a wall of snow at the entrance. My snow removal person did not get to me yet.

Trying for about 15 minutes with someone behind the wheel, I pushed and pushed with no success. Cars coming the other way slowed down when they saw my car partially on County Route 7. I got scared when one of the cars did one hellavu slide.

Now for the purpose of this letter. Several months ago they were letters and letters about getting rid of the Copake police Department. I am very happy that they decided not to. A Copake Police car passed my stuck car, turned around with emergency lights ablaze letting traffic from both directions know there was something wrong. Seeing we were still having trouble Officer Luann Varney climbed though almost 3 feet of snow drift and helped up push the car out of the way.

I am glad that the powers that be kept the Police Department. They are here to protect us which is in their line of duty. Ms. Varney went a step further.

Ed Horowitz

Copake Sign Ordinance

Does the Copake sign ordinance require that "out of use" signs be removed? I believe there is such a requirement for temporary signs such as political campaign signs. But what about businesses that go bust? The restaurant on Route 22 just north Copake Falls was last in business briefly around the start of 2009. Its signs are still up promising a great breakfast deal. Random Harvest is long gone, but its signs still advertise organic produce. No doubt there are other examples, including empty stores in the center of Copake. Shouldn't these signs be removed when there is no viable business? They are unsightly and they emphasize to passers-by that Copake is full of failed enterprises. Not the message we want to send, I'm sure.


Dale Peterson

Brilliance of the Annual Light Parade of Copake

Dear Editor, I just wanted to share with our community how heartwarming it was to see so many neighbors come together and share in the brilliance of the Annual Light Parade of Copake on such a frigid Saturday night. We purposely come out of our warm, comfy homes knowing how cold it is to partake in the festivities and join in the good will we feel when surrounded by our neighbors and family. Truly a beautiful picture of how community organizations and individuals come together for the betterment of all. A theme that can be replicated all year long if we allow it.


Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Everyone.
Joan Spencer

Anger of Party Chairs Ironic

To the party chairs clamoring for Baer's removal and

demanding an end to autocratic, secret back-room deals, I
have to ask: You're angry...NOW?

For years you have supported the very policies and behavior
that you are demanding to have end, but NOW you're angry.

Forgive me for pointing this out, but the absurd irony of this
statement is surpassed only by the logic of giving tax breaks
to the wealthy--increasing the national debt to unprecedented
levels--in exchange for extending benefits for the long-term
unemployed.

So now, after years of not only failing to protect the citizens
from this destructive, self-interested behavior, we have a
declaration from some of Baer's former cheerleaders that it
must come to an end.

Makes me wonder if one of the writers found themselves on
the receiving end of Baer's "autocratic and secretive"
managerial style and were otherwise "alienated, threatened
or dismissed".

You might be reminded that all of this occurred on your
watch, and was made possible by your active support, or at
the very least, tacit approval.

Just so that we all understand: The same individuals who
have a record of steadfast support for all of these misguided,
self-interested and financially devastating acts are now
leading the charge for open and transparent government.

And you expect us to take you seriously.

Rose Aulino
Copake

Didi Barrett Thanks Columbia County

To the Editor,


As we enter the holiday season and look ahead to 2011, I want to take this moment to thank friends and neighbors in Dutchess and Columbia Counties for the extraordinary opportunity to run to represent them in the New York State Senate. I am honored by the 37,000 citizens who voted for me and I am inspired by the many hundreds of citizens who volunteered throughout the campaign. They gave extraordinary time, energy and financial support. They, too, wanted to see a more transparent, accountable and sensible state government.

No turnout figures or percentage of the vote begin to tell the stories of the people, young and old, that we connected with over these last nine months. I am very proud of the race we ran. We gave voice to many folks throughout this district who have felt ignored for way too long. We spoke passionately about the beautiful Hudson Valley and the need to find economic engines that attract sustainable jobs, protect our natural resources and farms, and celebrate the best of our region.

We traveled many times from one end of this incredibly diverse district to the other; we spent time in each of the 31 towns and three cities in the 41st State Senate district. We talked with residents about substantive issues and educated voters about the incumbent’s voting record, not his real estate.

For more than two decades, I have been an active member of the Millbrook community. I remain committed to public service and to this region. I look forward to continuing to work side by side with neighbors, community leaders and activists to make the Hudson Valley of the 21st century the best it can be for residents and visitors alike.

Thank you again,
Didi Barrett

What is the Matter with the United States?

To the editor,


What is the matter with the United States? We rank 37 in education and our medical care is not, as the Republicans claim, the best in the world but only the most expensive. Our trains run slower than most other countries and our bridges are falling apart.

I have been exchanging Christmas letters with on old collage friend, Bert Bakker, who lives in the Netherlands and have some thoughts to share. Bert recently took another trip through northern Europe after 20 years and had some observation. The stores had more goods and the people seemed better off. A second observation was there were not as many military planes flying around. Then he went past an air base and it was growing crops and had been rented out to farmers. What had changed was the USSR had collapsed and defense begets were cut. It was the old story of guns or butter.

Instead of funding our schools, building faster trains, building new bridges during the Bush administration we have spent a trillion on fighting in Iraq. We have the guns, but now we are short on butter.

Now, not one Republican voted for a measure to extend the Bush Tax Cuts to the middle class and even people with income of a million dollars. They want the tax cuts extended to multi-billionaires. And here I am a mere multi-thousandaire getting stuck with the taxes!

What happened to the GOP?\
 
Grant Langdon

Comments on the Fairness of the ZBA

I should like to second Bob's comments on the fairness of the ZBA in
the Copake Chronicle.I had the occasion to go before them on a
spurious complaint from the Zoning Enforcement Officer with which the
Building Inspector concurred. The ZBA rejected their complaints as out
of order, apologized to me for the inconvenience and I believe
reprimanded them both for forcing me to bring a case before trhe ZBA
with the considerable paper work time and photos required. Our
Community should be grateful that we have such intelligent, rational
and fair members of this Board.,

Leonard Ladin
West Copake

Reggie Shouldn’t be Crowing about Holding the Increase to 9% instead of 10%

The Republican ideal is less government, less taxes
Copake added to the budget by going to a sole assessor. The Republicans had no candidate but now Reggie gets to pick a Republican for the sole assessor. Adding hours to the Copake Police is a waste of money and efficiency. It just adds patronage jobs to help elect Republicans. Copake taxpayers will be funding the Sheriff’s budget but not using their better staffed and trained services. Reggie shouldn’t be crowing about holding the increase to 9% instead of 10%. "

Grant Dinehart Langdon

Family Resource Centers of Columbia County Epress Gatitude

To the Editor,


On behalf of Family Resource Centers of Columbia County, I am writing to express our gratitude to the many families and friends who turned up for our Family Bowling Night Benefit held at the Chatham Bowl last weekend. This event was a tremendous success and raised over $1,800 for our five resource centers.

Our success would not be at all possible, especially during these difficult fiscal times, without such generous community support. We are truly fortunate to have the Chatham Bowl lend its support to us for this event each year. Our thanks also goes out the Side Door Grill for their tireless work in providing our crowd with their delicious pizzas and hospitality throughout the evening. We are truly fortunate to have these family friendly establishments in our community!

This event was also made possible by generous support from our longtime supporters, Kinderhook Bank, Guterman, Shallo and Alford, Herringtons, Chatham Brew and Fairbrother and Company.



Thank you to all for your commitment and support for the children and families served by Family Resource Centers of Columbia County.

Sincerely,
Beth St. Dennis
Executive Director