He was outspoken, told you how it is or should be. He was extremely direct, with his information and comments. He had a love for children, many times he would say go home to the parents but leave your children with me.

His sense of humor was unforgetfull. He would talk to babies and tell them not to speak or they would have to get a job. He loved to talk to people and tried his life experiences to make them realize what not to do.

He was what we referred to as o.g., old gangster. A true legend.

He will be truly missed by all of us, here at Ellenville Community Action.

We love you, Mike!

Rosemary Melendez and Staff
Ellenville Community Action

The Tax Day tea party in Gardiner last week is the fourth such event in a year hosted by GardinersRight.org. While I appreciate press attention to patriotism, I find it unfortunate that the New Paltz Times chose to use a derogatory and homophobic term in this weeks article to describe what is simply a group of citizens expressing their first amendment rights to assemble peaceably, speak freely and petition the government.

The paper may have been feeling clever about their headline, and trying to parrot other liberal media, but I find their method of bias both distasteful and childish. However, I am proud of the 150 or so citizens who came out to show their unabashed love and concern for their country.

We will be sending the petitions signed at the event to our elected officials in D.C., where they will most likely be promptly round filed. No matter. We the people are not going away and will continue to speak with our voices and ballots in November.

Pamela O'Dell
Gardiner

At the April 20th Marbletown town board meeting, Mr. David Bolles, Ulster County Deputy Commissioner of Administration, presented the county's highway shared services proposal. Our board explained that the county's actual maintenance cost was critical for them to determine whether the county's offer of $6,700 per centerline mile would be advantageous to Marbletown's taxpayers, should the town decide to take over maintenance of the county roads. Mr. Bolles refused, telling them instead how to analyze the proposal. He said trust the county, the $6,700 figure would be advantageous to taxpayers.

As a county taxpayer I asked Mr. Bolles for the county's cost per centerline mile, every penny of which is funded by taxpayers. He refused, as if costs are a secret that taxpayers shouldn't learn. After all, who are we to know how our money is spent?

Then again, perhaps I should heed Mr. Bolles advice to "trust the county." After all, they're the folks who brought us the Ulster County jail.

William C. Oliva
Kripplebush