A partnership between HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley and Health Quest is the best option for our community. The two institutions could achieve a synergy that would go unmatched by any other proposal.

A mash-up that is under consideration between HealthAlliance and out-of-the-area Westchester Medical Center and St. Peter's Hospital in Albany would lead to our medical community simply becoming a transfer center.

I've had enough patients leave the area for even their most basic specialty care. We can provide this care locally. This partnership would bring more specialty care into Ulster County — specialists who live in the community and are accessible every day.

I spent three years as a fellow at Westchester Medical and sent patients from Ulster County there for bypass surgeries and cardiac stents for ten years. Though my patients did very well, there was a common thread in their experiences: They felt lost because they were no longer in their community. My Ulster patients in Ulster are cared for by their neighbors, friends and family. This makes a tremendous difference in how they respond, recover and heal.

I joined Health Quest three years ago to ensure high-quality local care would continue. I want my patients, neighbors, friends and family to get their care here because it is better for the community and, most importantly, better for them.

Please let our politicians know that a partnership between HealthAlliance and Health Quest is what the community needs and they must get involved.

Dr. Ali Hammoud, Medical Director
Cardiology Services, HealthAlliance
Division Chief of Cardiology,
Health Quest Medical Practice

It is past time to call county Legislator Dave Donaldson, D-Kingston, to task for his past and current hand-in-glove actions on behalf of the Catskill Mountain Railroad.

Donaldson for years was chairman of the Legislature's Railroad Advisory Committee which, in a blatant conflict of interest as a public oversight body, included several standing officials of the Catskill Mountain Railroad, which the committee was tasked to oversee. For decades, the CMRR was basically allowed to do whatever it wanted with no real oversight from the Legislature and, as a result, lease provisions went unenforced and the corridor was allowed to deteriorate.

Donaldson now has resuscitated the Railroad Advisory Committee and assumed chairmanship. In August, the will of the Ulster County public for trail-only use of the Kingston-Ashokan section of the corridor was evidenced by an outpouring of support from residents, community leaders, and business owners, and clearly decided by an overwhelming, 18-4 legislative vote on Resolution 275.

In response, Donaldson, has acted as if the mission of the Advisory Committee is to support the CMRR in efforts to overturn it. He has repeatedly allowed railroad officials, with no credible data of their own, to sit at the table and champion a "rail-with-trail" proposal, which has been thoroughly debunked as economically and technically unworkable by multiple professional engineering studies, while squelching any challenges or even pertinent questions from informed attendees, including, at times, fellow legislators.

This week an eminently reasonable compromise was offered by the County Executive's office which would allow for the CMRR, or other railroad operator, to demonstrate the viability of a rail-with-trail solution for the section which the CMRR had insisted as vital for theme-train events. Rather than embracing this compromise, however, Donaldson is now pushing the outrageous railroad claim that hikers and bikers driving to the Ashokan would instead stop and ride a two-hour train there and that this is now the only viable railroad business model.

It is time for Donaldson to stop acting on behalf of a solitary private business and concentrate on serving his constituents and the public for whom he works.

William Sheldon
Kingston

Enough is enough, already. Stop appeasing the irrational fears of minorities who petition local authorities for protection from their hypothetical fears and nightmares or anything they deem potentially dangerous: Lower the speed limit on Route 213; lower the speed limit on Route 209 north out of Marbletown; and lower the speed limit on County Route 2 in Kripplebush, all in the name of safety for fear of "what might happen."

Now the Marbletown town board is asking the state Department of Transportation to eliminate the two passing zones on Route 213, between Route 209 and Lucas Avenue, because more of the same are fearful of "what might happen" and that the passing zones "might encourage some to pass a stopped school bus." Really? How many "passing a stopped school bus" tickets have been issued in that area? What? Zero?

Why don't we just outlaw dangerous cars and regress to horse and buggy? Let me guess... too much horse flatulence might lead to more global warming, climate change or whatever buzzword is in vogue to further the agenda and hysteria of some.

Most of us know how to drive and are perfectly capable of obeying the traffic laws regarding passing stopped school buses. Lowering speed limits and eliminating passing zones will only lead to increased lawlessness.

We need passing zones to mitigate the time consumption and frustration of being stuck behind a Prius that just can't seem to reach the speed limit.

Stop catering to those who need protection from everything they deem dangerous, from cradle to grave.

Robert Ridgely
Accord

I have known, Lisa, the post mistress at the Walker Valley Post Office for quite a few years now and she is what we wish they could all be. Lisa is friendly, fun, always ready to help, always there and very efficient. So I was shocked and saddened to learn she is losing her job after ten years so that the postal service can hire a new woman for less money. This really stinks and just before Christmas no less.

Lisa wrote us all a letter of farewell that I want to quote here: "I wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart — couldn't have kept this office going without you & wouldn't have made it through the day without a friendly hello or wave... you have made me realize what a community really is."

That was just part of a lovely thank you to us, the customers. She wants us to understand the new woman has a lot of pressure to deal with too. I think the postal service should be ashamed for treating people, who are not in a union, so horribly. I am going to tell the USPS what I think by emailing to USPS.com under the contact us section.

God Bless you Lisa.

Lucy Muller
Cragsmoor

Recent articles pertaining to the most recent UGARC group home placed on a dead end residential lane (Jeffrey Lane in Hurley) have prompted me to write, along with a volunteer from my local rescue squad (once again at ARC this morning) telling my husband that we "voted them in" to our neighborhood. Really? I wish we had a say... that's the problem; we were denied a say regarding the 5,000 square foot (tax exempt) 8 resident, 24 employee (3 shifts, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) group home that operates at the end of the private (resident maintained) dead end in which I live. I have seen more fire trucks (false alarms), ambulances, police cars, garbage trucks, delivery vans, conversion vans and handicapped busses in the past six months than I have in the 16 years I've lived here. It's certainly not the driveway of your typical "single family residence."

Back to how we were denied... UGARC is required by law (Padavan Law) to notify the town of their intention to operate such a group home, before the home is purchased or built. When Cedar Ridge and Krum Road residents noticed the construction of such a large building we inquired with our town officials, were told what was being built, and we asked how and why? We were told by our town supervisor that he never received any notification of such a project, and that he would never have allowed such a project in this neighborhood, that it was not appropriate placement. Thereafter, we residents filed a suit against ARC and our town for not following proper procedure. Well guess what... after our town received our lawsuit notification the letters of intent that UGARC did indeed mail, on two different occasions, appeared. According to supervisor Carl Chipman, and the town attorney, the letters were "inadvertently left out" of our original request for paperwork regarding the ARC building project. Therefore we had all just wasted our money, and time, because our town officials lied to us to cover the fact that they just did not care enough to notify us... As if this business was in no way going to alter our neighborhood! Which is what ARC tried to tell us too.

Our issue is not with the people that UGARC represents, it is with the size and business atmosphere that such a large facility brings to residential neighborhoods. If UGARC had built a home that was actually the size of a true "single family residence" in this neighborhood, that produced the same amount of traffic as a true "single family residences," there would never have been an issue. However, they did not.

Some regard for the people who already reside in the neighborhoods they move into should be taken. As many neighborhoods are seeing these homes more often it is obvious our town supervisors and UGARC executives need to be more aware of the impact these homes have on small residential neighborhoods. Mixed used zoning areas are more appropriate placement. UGARC is a business and only cares about their business; they have been unresponsive to many requests we have made such as... move your garbage pick up (several per week) from 5:30 a.m. to a more reasonable time. Is that too much to ask?

So for those of you out there who think that we, the residents, are wrong, think again and get the facts! Hurley residents, I feel your frustration and I understand.

Donna O'Connell
Kerhonkson

It has been well over 20 days since I made a Freedom of Information Law request to the Town of Mamakating, Sullivan County. As of December 14, 2014 I have not received a response to my request. Supervisor Herrmann and council members Taylor and Geraldi ran on a position of open and fair government. It appears after almost one year in office the new town board is no different than the previous administrations in the areas of obtaining public information through the town clerk's office, and legitimate issues such as addressing the former town attorney Richard Stoloff's health insurance issue, councilman Wood's compatibility of office, and the Fedun building permit fiasco. It's bad enough when you had to fight the previous people in office but when the people you supported act in the same manner the taste in my mouth is twice as bitter. Mr. Hermann, Mr. Taylor, and Ms. Geraldi, you have not lived up to the expectations of the people who elected you.

Richard W. Morris
Wurtsboro

At last night's Laws and Rules & Governmental Services Committee meeting Resolution No. 458-14, entitled Establishing A Policy Against Suspicionless Warrant Checks At The Entrance Of Certain County Buildings was defeated. I have and will continue to be the first in line when it comes to ensuring the safety of our workers and the public visitors at all county buildings. With that said, I have always found that a calm, professional approach to safety and security concerns offers the best climate for policy discussion and development.

We have all witnessed first-hand the knee jerk reactions to frightening events that have occurred worldwide. What has always been prevalent in Ulster County is the unique ability to come together in times of crisis and need. Sheriff Van Blarcum and his officers were the first ones to enter flooded homes during Hurricane Irene. County Executive Hein was a constant presence in Emergency Management Office's response and recovery efforts during and following the storm. The response of Ulster County's entire law enforcement and emergency response community is known for its collaboration and cooperation.

The security operations at county buildings are no different; which is why I supported defeating Resolution No. 458-14. A memorandum of agreement signed between the County Executive and the Sheriff called for warrant checks. I am convinced that any changes that need to be made to that agreement will provide the best safety and security operations at Ulster County buildings, as well as protecting the rights of our citizenry, once the Executive and Sheriff work out the proper operational procedures.

Therefore, I support giving the County Executive time to determine the best course of action for security operations at county buildings and support giving the Sheriff time to obtain legal opinions and fully vet the operational procedures that ensure the professional security force he continually provides. Together, Ulster County continues to face many challenges while positively moving forward. I am convinced that the best safety and security operations at Ulster County buildings will prevail.

John R. Parete, Chairman
Ulster County Legislature