I am representing the residents of Hickory and Spring Streets and other residents most directly affected by the proposed amended Ellenville Mining Permit Modification. All residents of the village should be informed of the possible negative impacts outlined in the document from the DEC dated August 28. I have copies for your review.

The following concerns should be known by all residents of the village:

There will be an increase in water/air/noise pollution;

There will be an impact on the drinking water supply, sewage system, storm water drainage, and related infrastructures;

There will be an impact of vibrations on property foundations and structures from the proposed blasting;

There are 42 acres of mountaintop already denuded of vegetation and this will add to that amount;

There has already been property damage with the current mining operation and that will only increase if the amended permit modification is approved.

We request:

That all residents of the village be informed of the proposed project modification;

That the project be viewed with a watchful eye;

That an impartial, objective, qualified engineer review the proposal documents and storm water plan regarding any possible negative impacts within the village.

On behalf of the residents and myself I thank you for your time and attention and look forward to seeing our requests given your utmost consideration.

Steve Krulick
Ellenville

On Saturday, September 6th, from 4 to 7 p.m., the Reformed Church held its traditional roast beef dinner. A well-attended community event, the roast beef was plentiful and delicious (with salad, corn, potatoes, bread and homemade cakes and cookies for dessert). It was both sit down and take out. On this beautiful afternoon, near the end, the mashed potatoes ran out.

The Reformed Church is located on Route 55, across from the front parking lot to the Tri-Valley Central School. On this particular weekend, Tri-Valley had just finished paving or black topping its entire popular front parking lot leading off from Route 55. There were numerous tall red cone road barriers, several feet in from Route 55 to prevent cars from driving on the repaved parking area.

Reverend Paul Ruter and several other church members were naturally concerned for safety and the parking along the grass and near the surrounding cemetery and seniors crossing the road. Accordingly, two fire police — Paul Lepke from the Neversink Fire Department and Bill Brenner from the Grahamsville Fire Department — volunteered to direct traffic along Route 55 during the dinner hours. Both are FEMA Certified Fire Police. Both wore yellow fire jackets and held "Slow/Stop" signs.

Bill was stationed at the top of the hill (from Grahamsville) near the cemetery entrance, to slow down cars as they sped up the hill, and directed parking along the grass bordering the cemetery. Paul, stationed near the front of the church, directed parking and traffic crossing for the hungry seniors and "take-outs." Some parked in front of the school barriers, others parked in the driveway alongside the church.

The situation must have been under control because it was uneventful. Cars and trucks, logging trucks even a few buses and bikers slowed down, some stopped and people waved.

Near the end of the dinner, while Paul and Bill also enjoyed the roast beef dinner, several people came over and said that it seemed strange that in this busy area of Route 55 there are no "Slow, School Crossing" or clearer warning signs approaching from either direction.

I checked it out. At each end of Route 55 there is a 12 inch wide yellow roadside sign of a boy and girl carrying books. Also at either end, there are the words "school" painted in white on the roadway which is pretty much washed out. (Tri-Valley School's main entrance is from Moore Hill Road).

However, in the interest of safety at these road crossings and turning into parking spaces along the road, more and clearer warnings would be appropriate.

William A. Brenner
Grahamsville

On Sept. 7, about 35 people sandwiched themselves into odd chairs in our living room to watch the just-released film, "Disruption," a film about climate change and the upcoming Peoples Climate March on Sept. 21 in New York City. It looks like 200,000 have committed to coming to the march in New York City so far; one trainload is even coming from California! The march is happening as world leaders come to the United Nations to begin to talk about the world crisis of our era. For you who remember the impact, or were part of the 1980s movement for nuclear disarmament which helped end the Cold War, this is a similar — and at least as urgent — moment. For younger people, this is your crucial moment to change your future. Learn more at peoplesclimate.org.

There were similar gatherings to see the film about the march around the country, but people came from as far away as Rhinebeck, Millbrook, and Boiceville because our house party in New Paltz was the closest one.

Anyone can get a group together to watch the film, to get informed and inspired to go to New York City. You can get the film online from watchdisruption.com. (You can also stream it; it is less than an hour long.)

Then go to the march. New Paltz has four buses going so far and they are filling up fast. But take a train, take a bus — get there! It's going to be big.

Karen Cathers
New Paltz

Virtually every sector of New York's economy benefits from the U.S. Farm Bill. The federal government's agricultural and rural development programs are absolutely crucial to Upstate New York and the country as a whole.

The Farm Bill sets federal policy, including conservation efforts, dairy and crop insurance programs, medical research into Lyme disease, infrastructure development (most notably broadband programs), beginning farmer and specialty crop programs, plus farm-to-market promotional and incentive programs.

Our congressman Chris Gibson recognizes this and as an integral member of the House Agriculture Committee, made sure to help draft the best bill Upstate New York could hope for.

Hearing young Mr. Eldridge say that he would have voted against the Farm Bill tells me one thing about him: he does not understand the district he would like to represent. Nor does he understand the district to which he previously moved in order to run; which is currently represented by Farm Bill-supporting Democratic congressman Sean Patrick Maloney.

Sean Eldridge just doesn't get it. He sees the Farm Bill as another opportunity to score political points by claiming that it takes food from the mouths of the poor.

Do you think President Obama, Chuck Schumer, or any of the other 132 Democrats (and two Independents) would have supported a bill to do such an inhumane thing? In fact, when preparing to sign the Farm Bill, President Obama said it assures "America's children don't go hungry" and "will continue reducing our deficits without gutting the vital assistance programs millions of hardworking Americans count on to help put food on the table for their families."

President Obama recognizes that this bill ensures our Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) remain strong and able to meet the needs of our nation.

Mr. Eldridge's claim that this bill does not live up to this commitment is both dishonest and untrue.

We've all seen the bumper sticker? "Got Food? Thank a Farmer!" I'd like to make a new one: "Got a Farm Bill? Thank Congressman Gibson."

Or how about: "Got a Farm Bill? Thank God Sean Eldridge is not in Congress."

Robert M. Bishop
Hamden

A recent letter making the rounds opines that our president is ruining the nation. The writer obviously has been drinking the Fox News and the Tea Party Kool-Aid. His statements are totally ridiculous and without any merit. All veterans do not share his comments, but he would like you to believe that somehow, coming from a vet, it makes this credible.

The reason Obama was voted in a second time is the country wanted to move away from an executive office that believes shoot first and then aim.

I shudder to think what shape the country would be in if Romney was voted into presidency.

The economy is on the mend, as is employment and the stock market. Our soldiers are coming home. Our people can now buy health insurance for the first time, and the USA has once again gained the respect it deserves. We were the laughingstock of the world during the George W. Bush years. Billions were spent for a useless war, and our economy was in the tank.

The politicians that believe we should jump into a military option in every country that is having a problem should first send their own sons and daughters to fight. We should not be involved in anyone else's war, unless our own country is truly threatened.

Linda Stuart
Ruby

With the onslaught of scandals that have occurred since the election of the current president, their God-like idol, the army of Republican-hating syndicated columnists still think that Watergate is "unrivaled as the king of political scandals." Hello, when will these narrow-minded, Democrats-can-do-no-wrong, opinionated people wake up, open their eyes and realize that any one of the recent scandals makes Watergate look like child's play?

As bad as Watergate was, it did not cause the death (murder) of innocent American citizens. It did not infringe on the constitutional rights of the American people or border on treason.

I can think of at least a dozen department heads, including Cabinet members, who should be tried and put into prison for what they have and are doing or failed to do in the name of inept, incompetent, refusal or deliberate failure to properly perform the necessary function of the position they hold or formerly held.

At some point we need to wake up to the reality that what is going on in the Obama Administration is more than just a case of inexperience and Bush's fault. In my opinion it appears to be a well-orchestrated, deliberate plot to destroy our nation's economy, and even turn the country into a totalitarian state.

Is there anyone out there who can prove that the Obama administration and the national Democratic Party are not a bunch of Fifth Columnists with a deliberate plan which they are carrying out very successfully?

Attilio Contini
Bloomington

You have a grave situation facing you, especially with the addition of blasting. First thing to absolutely understand: DO NOT let your planning board tell you there's nothing they can do since the NYSDEC is involved. Since your PB will have to issue a permit (again, presumably a special use permit; but certainly at least a site plan approval) they are considered an "involved agency" which can go back and forth with the NYSDEC Mined Land Reclamation Department to get mitigation.

DEMAND that the NYSDEC Noise Mitigation Guidance be used to assure noise will not be greater than 6 dBA above current ambient level. This will require field testing of noise NOT book value noise projections based upon some engineer's figuring as s/he is paid by the mining company to ascertain current ambient level. Then the PB MUST condition the noise increase to be no more than 6 dBA above the field tested levels at lot line.

The PB MUST demand that fugitive dust will be non-existent vis-a-vis surrounding properties (and not just those abutting the mine site as dust migrates hundreds of feet from site; same for a noise component).

The PB MUST demand that the company pay for photographic evidence of the condition of people's foundations PRIOR to allowing for blasting. Too often the NYSDEC allows blasting without getting the necessary background data and then once complaints come in regarding cracks/fissures, settling, etc. the NYSDEC then says the homeowners must prove that the damage was caused by blasting. MUST have home foundations (again must include homes many hundreds of feet beyond the project site) inspected BEFORE allowing for blasting.

Truck traffic will be harsh, noisy, dusty, damaging to the roads. PB has the authority to decide which roadways will be used. Obviously the roads allowed must be able to handle heavy truck traffic (most town roads are NOT constructed to withstand the pounding of daily transits).

PB also has authority to decide where the entrance and exit will be. Make sure they choose the least populated and least traveled locations.

And never forget that most NYSDEC mines (at least those involved with MLRP) have 20-, 30- and in some cases 100- year Life of the Mine lengths of service. Meaning, the PB MUST keep that in mind. Whatever mitigation they demand will be all that stands between the homeowners and decades of impacts.

Steven L. Fornal
Accord