Injustice Done to Magarelli • The Onteora Mess • The Many Pathways from CVS

Sam Magarelli Dealt a Harsh Injustice
In order to keep a certain powerful Republican in office, the Republican majority gerrymandered a ghastly and illegal new "superdistrict" –I would call it an uberdistrict– for the Ulster County Legislature, consisting of Woodstock, Saugerties and Ulster.
This has the impact of disenfranchising the Democrats of Woodstock, who have almost a 3 to 1 edge over Republicans.
Sam Magarelli, in 1999, was the biggest vote-getter in the old District 3, outpolling Ward Todd even.
Then came 2001, and they dished up a revolting dish to Magarelli. In Woodstock, Sam swept to a landslide win over Michael Stock (even though Stock actually won a slot in the Legislature), 1352 for Magarelli to 995 for Stock.
Democrats are not known for their persistence in these matters, but the issue is very important. Some one, some lawyer, some group interested in the principle of one person/one vote ought to take this gerrymandered scam to court, and sue and sue and sue and sue and sue and sue and sue, all the way to the Supreme Court.
I think Legislative elections should be Town by Town. That is, each Town have a representative or representatives in the Legislature.
Of course, the winds of change are coming even to the far reaches of Shandaken, and perhaps one person/one vote will soon have its day.
Meantime, I think we should all salute Sam Magarelli for his hardworking years for us in the Legislature.

The Onteora Mess
What a shameful mess the right wing nuts, with their not-so-secret authoritarian agenda and their fiscal craziness, have made of the Onteora school system!
Take their fanatical campaign against the truly decent and completely above-board Superintendent, Hal Rowe. Rowe is an excellent administrator, and a hundred times more valuable to the teaching of our kids than any of the hound-like Know Nothings that would force him out.
These desperate, micro-controlling ordnungoids are sailing crazily against what parents and residents of the area want: a freedom-based, multi-cultural, wide-ranging, respectful and even gentle and nourishing school that will help our kids get useful jobs, go into the professions, become aware citizens, and later on themselves raise healthy non-crazed families.
As for the current Onteora board majority, you'd think they were determined to create a generation of students that grow up addicted to sneakiness, fiscal imprudence, biased mind sets, and non-inclusive, hostile lifestyles.
For those Woodstockers looking for a good cause, you can join forces with the hundreds upon hundreds who have organized against these wing nuts.
For instance, there will be School Board elections next year and we can vote the Know Nothings out, and return decency and respectability to Onteora.

CVS
I may well prove wrong, but to me it appears there will never be a supermarket at the old Grand Union site.
And why? Because those leading the charge against CVS allowed the Town to drop proceeding with eminent domain research and action to acquire the lease on the property, which as I recall extends for 25 years.
I think that certain anti-CVS forces also have a hostility toward Hurley Ridge Market coming into the building, at whatever size, and so I think that Hurley Ridge will not come aboard.
On my computer is a 75-page list of vacant property CVS holds around the nation. They well might merely add Woodstock to those pages.
Or, perhaps the lease will prove valuable. Will Woodstockers boycott a Denny's if it should seek the site? or a Burger King.
In a way, we deserve a Burger King, because of the fumbly chess games that certain Woodstock activists play, unable to think more than a move or two head.
Or, the site might become a mini-strip mall, with 3 to 5 smaller stores or offices. Would that be terrible?
In any case don't count on a major supermarket at the old GU. Too many Woodstockers, even some activists, buy their food at Walmart or the big stores in Kingston.
How about a nice Gehry-designed diner, with a big vegetarian section in its menu? Meanwhile, o Town honchos, why not allow kids to skateboard in the GU parking lot, without busting their chops?


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