"I've been working on the railroad all the live long day". That's a jingle we used to sing in the car on family vacation trips. Well the railroad is gone, the tracks have been removed. What remains is the gravel and dirt. It's called the Rail Trail, the millennium ticket to tourism and ultimately revenue for the Hudson Valley

First there was the D&H Canal, then came the O&W Railroad. These were the transportation links for that period of local history. The incredible story of the D&H Canal is on many websites under the title of dhcanalheritagecorridor.org. A wealth of information is right here in High Falls at the D&H Canal Museum.

"Wawarsing Rail Trail Set to Expand" [July 17, 2009 Blue Stone Press]. This is the long awaited approval for funding to connect the real estate dots of a section of the Rail Trail. It's a steadfast, tedious, compiling of approvals but the ultimate goal is near. Imagine a completed trail from Ellenville to Kingston and even a side link to the Rosendale trestle and on to New Paltz. A maintained trail for hikers and bicycle riders, casual riders, serious riders, horseback riders. It has a dual purpose: enjoyment for local residents and appeal for tourism. This could add to existing tourist offerings of farm stands, local history, fall foliage, and Halloween all along the 209 corridor.

This is our future folks, large scale industry has deceased. Obviously the 209 corridor has been chosen for farm, land preservation, recreation, and tourism.

Maybe by the 200 year birthday of the opening of the D&H Canal [1828], the Nevele will have successfully converted to a motel and golf course. It will feature tourist packages to families who desire outside activity: bicycle riding, hiking, horseback riding. A completed and maintained Rail Trail has endless potential for revenue. The success of the Rail Trail might even entice moderate size motel chains to buy our dormant motels. A steady influx of tourists is necessary to support local eateries. Motels serve that purpose.

The wheels of business deal agreements move faster in the 1820's than in the hand held encyclopedias of the 21st century. Read the history of the Rail Trail and you will find it needs all the energy it can gather.

John Nodar
Kerhonkson

By all means, the Town of Rochester should maintain its funding to the Ellenville Public Library & Museum and restore funding to the Stone Ridge Public Library in an amount equal to what is currently paid to Ellenville. Historically, the two libraries each served half of Rochester's library users and funds were equally divided between the two facilities until five years ago. Withdrawal of funds occurred after Marbletown taxpayers voted to be taxed to support the Stone Ridge library and asked Rochester residents to pay a $50 fee which was on a par with Marbletown residents. At the present time, library services are available to those who are able to travel to Ellenville or can afford to pay the $50 annual fee at the Stone Ridge library.

Both libraries are capable of and provide excellent services, whether you prefer the roomy, contemporary Ellenville library or the cozy, homey atmosphere of Stone Ridge. I see no basis in the assumptions that renovation of a building limits services or that restoring funding to Stone Ridge will impair the success of the Ellenville Library.

The fact that we do live in a rural area makes transportation an important factor in how we spend our time and money. I, like most people, are both busy and watching our budgets. It would make no economic or other sense to add a weekly trip to Ellenville when I already go north each week.

On occasion I do go to the Ellenville Library for an interesting activity or for a book which is available in the Ellenville/Ramapo System that is not available in the Stone Ridge/Mid-Hudson System. Meantime, books, movies, and equally interesting activities at the Stone Ridge Library nurture and educate me, as have libraries for the past 67 years of my life.

Marbletown is receptive to the needs of its residents and taxes them to provide library services for their residents, just as Rochester must assume responsibility for providing accessibility and choice of library services for all of its residents. It is a basic right that the town of Rochester needs to guarantee for all who wish to use a library.

Fay Loomis,
Member, Rochester Citizens for Library Choice

I am very happy to see Ulster County Exec Mike Hein is keeping a close watch on Central Hudson Gas & Electric's rate increases. We definitely need some fiscal restraint in Ulster County and the federal government. The 8.5% increase from last year and the 3.5% that will be levied in eleven months add up to 12.2% over a two year period (or 6.1% a year). While I appreciate Mike Hein's diligence I also think Central Hudson is a great American Utility Company. Central Hudson has served the people of our valley for many years providing top notch electric and gas transmission supplies. They have been an excellent corporate neighbor and employer.

Central Hudson provides the type of good paying jobs that we need more of. Central Hudson employees are our neighbors. My kids went to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts with children whose parents worked at Central Hudson. I served on the parish council with employees of Central Hudson. The people I know from Central Hudson are hard working and honest. They pay their taxes and their mortgages and they serve in the United States Military. I like them. If I have to pay forty dollars more a year to help keep an American Utility Company solvent I am proud to do it. A 6.1% increase in one year sure beats the "Bail Out" prices we've been getting hit with to buy up automobile companies, banks and insurance businesses. I'd rather support a working American company than buy up foreclosed businesses.

While I support Central Hudson fully I am gratified to hear Mr. Hein's concern over a 6.1% increase in rates. I am sure Mr. Hein wouldn't criticize Central Hudson's rate increase if he were about to offer a budget with that amount of increase. It's refreshing to anticipate a county budget which will be affordable. Don't be too hard on Central Hudson they contribute to our high quality of life and our area's desirability as a Business/Trade Center.

Jack Hayes
Gardiner