The Goddess of Compassion and Mercy

Compassion and Mercy, our wish for the world for 2009 and beyond.

Joseph was Jesus Step Father

Only one brave person took a chance and voted in my latest poll, who was Jesus Step father.
I heard that phrase many moons ago when I was teaching CCD at St John's Church.
A more experienced teacher was doing a lesson that was explaining how Mary had a baby and Joseph wasn't the father. He was Jesus step father. Brilliant, says I !!!

Roanoke Va- Kroger

Gas prices are about 1.39 a gallon at the Kroger sponsored gas station here in Roanoke VA.
The special benefit of having and using a Kroger shopping card is that gas magically becomes
1.18 a gallon or less, depending on how much shopping you do at Kroger. We have fun running thru these regional types of grocery stores. Their organic sections offer different products, both fresh and pre packaged. Also, we are below the Mason Dixon line, so the regional foods are representative of local tastes. We came across the sweet tasting product that is a sister to egg nog-boiled custard
http://hootsbuddy.blogspot.com/2006/11/boiled-custard-recipe.html
According to our son, it is sweeter than egg nog. Since we were all feeling the holiday weight gain, we declined the opprotunity to try it. Follow the link above if you are curious about making some for yourself

The Christmas Child

That's the title of a song written by our choir director Dave Christi, c 1987. W e sang it along with many others at midnight mass last night.

Father George re read a homily, that still doesn’t make sense, even the second time around. He ended the sermon with “ Love Conquers All”
Toni Morrison, in an interview with AARP magazine about her new book, A MERCY, is quoted as saying
“ everyone knows that children don’ t feel any of this. ( racisim) You have to be instructed, told, It has to be reinforced.
Let me see if I can blend their thoughts together;

“A child is born on Christmas Day” “And if we only follow HIS way, we’ll see the light on Christmas Day.” LOVE CONQUERS ALL. Yes, all we need to do is love one another in the simple manner that Christ taught us to love one another. Not the romantic type of love that is known to disrupt our lives, but the AGAPE love, the love that a newborn child has for the humans that care for it during infancy, building trust and human love. Our little children learn to love- or hate. They are born with the ability to only love, adults teach little children to take the path to distrust and dislike.
“Traveling in the night from the plight of Herod’s men Three Kings close in on Bethlehem” our journey nears an end, and if we only follow HIS way, we will see the light, every day.

GOD and Christ, from my perspective, are one in the same. And, I also believe I worship the same GOD as my Jewish neighbors and my Muslim neighbors.
We are all searching for Good Orderly Direction
Merry Christmas

The Dove

This is my 2008 addition.
The Historical Society of Woodstock held a holiday fundraiser and one of the members took a lot of time to paint this beautiful little " dove"

Dove's represent peace, they represent hope, as they were sent out by Noah and came back with olive brances. This gave Noah hope that land was nearby.
Didn't Noah have great faith in GOD!

I just love this little tree. I decorate it with white lites, white snow flakes, sea shells and angels. The over all theme is green ornaments, most depict Irish characters. I branched out one year and bought a scottish gentleman and one or two ornaments that depict german and italian people. That rounds out the gene pool!

The tree is a symbol of my favorite hobby, genealogy.

We met at the Woodstocker Restaurant

What a wonderful place to work. Coffee was a quarter and the tip was a quarter. I was 18, working the 6 am to 2 pm shift. John was the cigarette vending guy who came in and sat at the counter, drank lots of coffee and read the NY Post, beginning at the sports section, and ending at the front section. I thought that was a little odd. We were never formally introduced, however, as we were to learn later, we caught each others eye.
Russ Roefs was the owner at the time, the restaurant was in the Bradley Meadows Plaza in the area where the Sunflower Natural Foods Store is now. The morning from 6-9 was the hopping with men, heading to work, making connections, planning their day. The waitresses were the entertainment as well as the servers of advise, sass and beauty!!

The pollsters are correct

Janine did not meet John at the Boiceville Inn. Though John did have a cigarette machine there and was known to frequent the popular Boiceville hangout, Janine was just 18 and new to the process of going out at night at that age. Woodstock had plenty of lively night time hot spots to hang out in during the early 1970's. The Jug, the Espresso, the Joyous Lake, the Pub, all pack to the door on a summer weekend night.

Are you still writing Christmas Cards?

I am. Each year I swear I am going to send less, save some cash and time. Most of the folks that we get cards from we only hear from once a year, at Christmas. I've been known to lament, that a relationship does not make. However, perhaps it does. Sending Christmas greetings is a way of sharing the love of Christ with others, and that is the simple action we are all called to do, each day we are on the planet earth.

Caroline Kennedy

Could we please have a New York Senate representative that is representative of all the people, not just the political elite. Where has she been all these years, cloaked in privacy, quitely living her life of privilege.
My advice to Governor Patterson, son of Basil Patterson, just say no thankyou to Caroline.
Advise her to run in 2010. Achieve the seat the old fashioned way.

Hanukkah begins tonight at sundown

The Jewish festival of lights begins tonight at sundown, and I wish all my Jewish brothers and sisters a very happy Hanukkah season.
Hanukkah, if I understand it correctly, is a story about miracles.
We need to believe that miracles can happen, even in this skeptical 21st century world we live in.

Snowy Sunday

I'm prepping for a busy two days with AVON deliveries. I posted on my blog list two sites that I have visited on a regular basis for the past 3 or 4 years. Danielle Bean's site is run by Danielle who is a homeschooling mom of a 6 kids, as far as I can tell. When I feel overwhelmed with my day, I visit her site and feel renewed in strength. St. Patricia is part of a Poor Clare Monastic Community in Oregon. She has a wonderful sense of humor, is very down to earth and very reverant at the same time.

Ceramic Nativity

I made this little set back in the mid 1980's. It's one of three that we have. I'm not sure yet where the other two will go.

Christmas is in celebration of the person we know as Jesus Christ's arrival on earth.

A little visitor that created quite a stir.

The Perfect Christmas Tree

This years small tree rates as one of the

best trees yet. I can't believe I placed

98% of the ornaments on the tree.

It truly is a charlie brown tree, the

back of it is bare, allowing it to fit up

against the wall.

Our newest ornament, the copper cactus from Arizona is in the center.

Hunger Grass in Winter

This really is the view from my kitchen window! We are having the first really big snow here in upstate NY. I love to look out at the birds flitting about in the feeders as the snow is swirling around the corner of our house. The blue switch grass, aka hunger grass in Ireland, reminds me of those who died of starvation in Ireland. The legend is, this type of grass grew up around the bodies where the people lay down and died. It's a terrible part of history that is re occuring today in other parts of the world.
The sedum, such a beautiful plant in the fall, also stands and holds it's own to the winter wind.

Soul Singing

A few years back, I decided I wanted to include singing in my life once again. I was a Kingston High school choir member for 4 years, standing in the upper rows on the bleachers during the performance. When my mom was alive, we did a fair amount of singing at the Pub, late at night, with Jimmy Barlow, my cousin Shelli and others. And, it's always fun, even today, to sing background for my dad when he strikes up an Irish tune.
A woman who I had just met through the Library board, Julie Kirby, announced that she was doing a workshop in soul singing. I signed up and spent a winter Saturday reconnecting with my singing energy. It's wonderful how the universe connects the dots for us if we let it.
I asked Julie if she would give me a few lessons, and she agreed. I had just joined the choir at St John's Catholic Church in West Hurley. I learned to gain confidence in my music voice from Julie.
Julie and Laurie Kirby have a web site associated with their group
Princes of Serendip They frequently can be heard playing at benefits for local people and local causes. Perhaps, also on Monday nights at the Irish jam and New World on Rt 212
http://www.princesofserendip.info/

Check the site out, they have a new CD out this winter.

Peace on Earth

In 2006 we were inspired to create a luminaria peace sign on Mower's Field on Maple lane. Allan, Alexa, Janine, John and Colleen filled bags with sand, candles and placed them about in the familiar configuration made famous in the 1960's. Pop onto the woodstock fleamarket blog to view another photo.
Join us this year at 3Pm as we place the luminarias again, and offer silent prayers of peace for all sentient beings on the planet earth.

Photos of Santa in Woodstock

I will upload family photos over the weekend. Check back!!
I apologize for the late start on the show tonight. We had technical difficulties.
Many thanks to Ann Washington for appearing tonight.
Thanks to Johnny Mower the tech for his patience.

Records Management Coordinator

Jackie Earley, our town clerk, is the town of Woodstock Records Management, or Document coordinator. I spoke with her assistant, Lyn Sehwerert and she confirmed that there is not a program to digitize town documents at this time. According to Lyn, Jackie has made attempts to begin some sort of document storage, however each time she applies for the grants, the money dries up.

I will continue to develope reasons why it would be good to fund digitization of older town records. Perhaps it makes sense, as we are beginning to think about spending more money to investigate building or remodeling a building for town offices, to purchase digital scanners and programs to accomodate town records management.

Joe Holdridge Sr

Joe wins, he was the first Woodstock Santa!

Buy a digital scanner

I have a lot of thoughts on the conundrum the town board faces.
To buy the Elna Ferrite building or not to buy, that seems to be one of the questions.
To sell or not to sell the Old Town Hall building, that seems to be another question.

What seems perfectly clear this beautiful snowy morning, digitize digitize digitize.
Town records don't need to be stored in metal file cabinets in the 21st century.

They can be safely scanned into digital files, easily retrieved from a data base, not a brick and mortar building.

Tossing Shoes

Perhaps, Muntader al- Zaidi, in his anger, has a good idea.
Instead of warring nations killing each other, we could begin the
tradition of tossing shoes at heads of state to show our disapproval of a nations
policies.
The agreement would be, that then the national leaders would have to sit down and
talk to each other face to face, without the multitudes of weapons and soon to be
dead soldiers in between them for a cushion.

Do You Believe in Santa?

Yes, I've seen Santa twice; once at Macy's in New York City and many times on the Village Green in Woodstock NY. When I was a little toddler living on Ohayo Mt road with my grandmother I woke up one chilly christmas eve to hear Santa's sleigh bells
jingling. The big old farm house was quiet, the Christmas tree in the living room was brightly decorated and there was no one around. Under the tree were a few presents. Who left the presents?
This Wednesday night at 8 30 PM EST on CHannel 23 or via the internet at www.woodstocktv.org and the ustream link, I will interview Ann Washington, long time member of the Woodstock Christmas Eve program.
Add your Woodstock Christmas memories to the blog and watch us Wednesday night as we share ours!

Southwest Indian Foundation- Holiday Plea

We drove through the Navajo Nation lands this past fall, and the writer is NOT exaggerating. JM

Dearest Friends,The snow is falling and there is a stiff north wind hitting the reservation. I have been studying the weather patterns and reports. It is supposed to be a rough winter. I have had an aching in my stomach these past weeks. As you probably know, I am working fast and furious to put together our Christmas Baskets. I have committed to over 1710 families for Food Baskets over the next three weeks (there is talk of 415 more elderly we recently got a request for). I know this may just sound like an empty number. You don't know these families, and it is difficult for you to see the great need at that great distance. Every year I am asked what kind of families we help. I think it is vitally important for you to know just how dire the situation is for our families, and how much we need you. I have many families I cannot presently help! Let me introduce you to one family: Gena is a five-year old little girl who lives in a one-room hogan with her grandmother and her brother and sister. Her grandmother, Anna, has the daunting responsibility of rearing and educating these three children of five, seven, and ten years of age. If you walked into their Hogan, you would not believe it. There is a dirt floor with a kitchen table and one chair. They also have two cots where they sleep, which is all the furniture in the home. The children sleep in one cot, and Anna sleeps in the other. This is one of the poorest families I have ever met, even according to reservation standards. Anna's daughter, Sue, died during delivery of five year old Gena. The children's father has traveled out of the area to find work. He comes back occasionally to see his children, but Anna has the greatest share of the work. She raised her own family in the same conditions, and now she must take care of the next generation. Anna is one of those quite heroines you find occasionally. I have found her telling stories to her grandchildren of the old traditions, the old ways, and walking in virtue. I remember the last time I was there; Gena was sitting on Anna's lap. Anna was telling Gena about her mother, Sue and what a good woman she was. Anna was telling her of when Sue was a little girl and she used to put Sue on her lap. Gena starred at her grandmother with wide and wondrous eyes. Anna told me she makes due with just enough food to keep the children alive. We have helped them with a few things, but I get very anxious this time of year. The winter will be harsh, and their home will be cold. Don't you think we can provide at least one good fulfilling Food Basket a year, so Anna and the children can share the joy of the Christmas Season? Anna told me that she did not have any money for Christmas gifts. We have ordered 4,000 stockings for children like Gena. These will be filled with candies and small toys--and they will go to those children that will not have any gifts this year without these stockings. Looking at Gena and Anna sitting together, I could not help but think that even the most hardhearted person would not be genuinely moved. It is one little part to play. It does not seem like a lot, but it would make all the difference in the life of Gena and her family. Won't you please be as generous as you possible can? The cost of a full Basket is $58.60. Please follow your heart. Giving is what Christmas is all about. I can't imagine anyone more in need than Gena. There are thousands just like her living in poverty. Let us bring a little joy to their lives.What is in a Christmas Food Basket.Let me ask you one favor: Please, Please consider helping more this year, as we have been forgotten. Please consider giving more that you would have. If we could just recover a bit from our shortfall, then there would be some hopes. Let us get food baskets and stoves to these destitute families for the holidays. May God bless you and your family always, especially during this blessed season.God Bless You always,Deacon Dan Nez MartinP.S. For one small child sucha as Gena, her very world may be restored with hope by just having some act of love on Christmas morning, Please help me. P.P.S. You can give Two gifts in one. As indicated by our pledge card -- you can send a donation for a food basket. If you wish to give this donation in another's name, just mark the indicated spot. We will send you a beautiful card that you can fill out, and send it to a loved one notifying them that you have this food basket in their name for a Christmas gift. Everyone comes out a winner! Bless you! If you have any questions or comments, I am available at billy@cia-g.com. Wishing you the very best always. Bill McCarthySouthwest Indian Foundation505-863-2128 Take a look at these attractive items, and let us know if you are interested. You can order online at: southwestindian.com

Blind Date at the Steel House

What a hoot! I know I am getting old when I leave an event because the music is to loud.
We got to the Steel House an hour early and sat and enjoyed Woodstocker Eric Erickson
warm up playing guitar and singing light easy listening songs from the '60's. My kind of music, songs I can sing along with and bring warm fuzzy feelings within the words.
The cover band hired for the event, Blind Date, came along and Eric was dispatched back to the hills of Woodstock. Their music was fairly good. All the band members were engaged and the singer was doing her best to draw enthusiasm from the audience.
Back at the tables, we were using sign language, finishing sentances as each song ended, and generally trying to figure out what happend to us 50-60 somethings.
Back in the day, I would stand in front of the speakers and listen to Jerry Moore and the work band play at the Village Jug and be perfectly happy!

Our Disinformed Electorate

I dream of the day when people spend more time critically thinking about issues involved in the democratic process
Below is part of an article from FACT CHECK. ORG
Let your voice be heard. If something doesn't sound right, say, WAIT A MINUTE!!

Our Disinformed Electorate
December 12, 2008
by Kathleen Hall Jamieson and Brooks Jackson
We saw more aggressive fact-checking by journalists in this election than ever before. Unfortunately, as a post-election Annenberg Public Policy Center poll confirms, millions of voters were bamboozled anyway.
More than half of U.S. adults (52 percent) said the claim that Sen. Barack Obama’s tax plan would raise taxes on most small businesses is truthful, when in fact only a small percentage would see any increase.
More than two in five (42.3 percent) found truth in the claim that Sen. John McCain planned to "cut more than 800 billion dollars in Medicare payments and cut benefits," even though McCain made clear he had no intent to cut benefits. The first falsehood was peddled to voters by McCain throughout his campaign, and the second was made in a pair of ads run heavily in the final weeks of the campaign by Obama.

One reason is obvious: Political ads run thousands of times and reach far more people than articles on FactCheck.org. On our best day, we were read by 462,678 visitors. By contrast, the Obama campaign aired two ads claiming that McCain planned to cut Medicare benefits a total of 17,614 times at a cost estimated to be more than $7 million – which is several times more than FactCheck.org's entire annual budget.There are deeper reasons as well. We humans all have a basic disposition to embrace our side's arguments and reject or ignore those offered by an opponent. Our polling reflects that. After taking differences in age, race, gender and education into account, Republicans were still 4.4 times more likely than Democrats to believe that Obama would raise taxes on most small businesses, and Democrats were 3.2 times more likely than Republicans to believe that McCain would cut Medicare benefits. Simply put, partisanship trumps evidence.This also helps explain why so many people accept the most preposterous claims circulated by chain e-mail messages and ignorant or irresponsible bloggers. Our poll found nearly one in five (19 percent) falsely think Obama is a Muslim, and even more (22 percent) find truth in the claim that he’s nearly half Arab. Republicans were 2.8 times more likely than Democrats to buy the Muslim claim, and just over twice as likely to swallow the half-Arab notion.This is "group think" in action. We humans tend to marry, date, befriend and talk with people who already agree with us, and hence are less likely to say, "Wait a minute – that’s just not true." Consultants also dupe us by exploiting our partisan preconceptions. People tend to believe Democrats are more likely than Republicans to raise taxes, so McCain was pushing on an open door when he repeatedly claimed Obama would raise taxes on ordinary voters, and not just the most affluent. By the same token, Obama found it easy to sell his bogus claim that McCain planned to cut Medicare benefits by 22 percent, because Republicans have a reputation as opponents of social programs.Voters aren’t highly knowledgeable about government to begin with. Our poll shows that nearly one in three (31 percent) think Congress or the president, not the Supreme Court, have the final call on whether laws are constitutional. Nearly one in 10 (9.9 percent) think Republicans still control the House of Representatives, even though they’ve had two years to catch up on results of the 2006 elections. And voters, once deceived, tend to stay that way despite all evidence. Nearly half in our poll (46 percent) agreed that Saddam Hussein played a role in the attacks of September 11, even though no solid evidence has ever emerged to support this notion. None of this bodes well for the future, in our view. Spending hundreds of millions of dollars on campaigns that systematically disinform the public can only make the task of governing harder for the eventual winner. But are we discouraged that our efforts didn’t prevent this? Not at all. If we hadn’t tried, it might have been worse.

Perry Como

" What a blessed place the world would be if we had that Christmas feeling all year"

Words from a song sung by Perry Como in 1985. I don't know the author at the moment.

What does the phrase Christmas spirit mean to you?

The Bishops Wife

A must see movie for the Christmas season. Cary Grant portrays an angel sent from heaven to help the Bishop ( David Niven) regain his footing in life with his wife portrayed by Loretta Young. The message is simple, angels walk among us, we just need to be open to being aware of their presence

Give the Gift of Local History this season

Fall- Winter 2008-2009

Dear Woodstock Friend and Neighbor,

Why, might you ask yourself, would you want to own a memoir of a local family?
The Woodstock that the founding families moved to and raised generations of families in has essentially evolved into something new. Descendants of the founding families are aging, memories and recollections are fading, the essence of “old Woodstock” is at risk of being lost to the rush of modern life. Let me introduce you to my latest local history book, American Tapestry, The Mowers of Maple Lane.

The book was self published thru ANAM CARA PRESS in 2007.

Copies are available thru me at $16.00 each. 845-679-6744, lifesjourney@hvc.rr.com. They can also be purchased at Golden Notebook, Lotus Fine Art, and Readers Quarry in Woodstock as well as Book Trader in Saugerties.
I also have copes of the Arcadia Publishing Images of Woodstock and Woodstock Revisited available for purchase at 20.00 each.

The story of a Woodstock family, 100 years of property ownership, and Mower’s flea market
selected excerpts:
#1 Post Civil War era Woodstock- Saugerties area is gradually becoming a summer get away for people living in the city of New York. Local historians have done a tremendous job of portraying the exciting times during which Noah and Mary Catherine were raising their young family. The great Catskill Mountain houses were being built on the southern and eastern most ridges of the beautiful mountain range. Any local person with an entrepreneurial eye could choose from a variety of service business to set up, with the hope of earning a living as a result of this influx of people from outside the Ulster County area. Noah continues to farm and work the quarries. The family attends worship services at Christ’s Lutheran Church, located high on the rock ledge just outside the village of Woodstock, near Chestnut Hill Road. Walter and Nelly were baptized at this church. Their little daughter Rachel’s passing at one and a half years old is recorded in Christ’s Lutheran Church records. Rachel, named after her grandmother, died at home; her cause of death was listed as teething. She was laid to rest on a beautiful June day in 1881, along side her Sitzer relatives in the Chestnut Hill Cemetery.
#2 Now part of the summer season ritual, John resumes his regular habit of stopping at the Maple Lane house to check for trespassers. Any local resident driving down Deanies Alley can see that the John and Esther’s gardens are now over grown, with the flowerbeds gone to seed. A stately deep purple lilac tree stands tall in the center of the field. It serves as a reminder of the shrieks of laughter and the gentle flow of country life that was once visible on Maple lane. At the time of Al’s death, in order to retain the property and the house, insurance money had been used to purchase it from the facility where Esther Jones Mower had been in residence for twenty years. The pressure to sell the property including the empty dilapidated building was mounting, and the taxes were due.
#3 A Memorable September, 1999 Storm: Hurricane Floyd
John was away in New Jersey attending a two day accounting conference the night that Hurricane Floyd, a category 4 storm, descended on the New York metropolitan area. No one gave the storm much thought other than it might bring some welcome rain to the Hudson Valley. The first indication that something was wrong was when a phone call came in from Maple Lane neighbor, Dorothy Telson.
“Janine there was a loud swoosh and crash on the property” said Dorothy.

Signed copies are available from the author for $ 16.00 each.
845-679-6744, lifesjourney@hvc.rr.com

Mike and Mike in the Morning

Tired of listening to the reports of murder and mayhem on the drive time news? If you have a even a small interested in sports, change over to ESPN once in a while from 6 am to 9 am and watch Mike and Mike in the Morning. http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/show?showId=mikeandmike

The 7AM chat topic today is filthy rich ball player salaries. The NY Yankees brought C. C. Sabathia into the corral with a $40 million dollar ( annual salary) carrot. Mike Greenberg put up the stat that the average American median income is $ 50,238. C. C. will work for 1/2 an inning and earn that figure. It's no wonder that you have to mortgage the farm to go see a professional baseball game. We prefer the AA and AAA ball games, you can see them locally and there is less of the celebrity circus atmosphere. Just baseball and fun, for a quarter of the price.

Is there a comparison between a ball players salary and a GM CEO salary? Is it a situation of equitable pay for equitible work?

http://www.directorship.com/gm-ceo-comp

Do ball players manage their money better than GM?

Who else knew about this culture of bribery?

FBI Says Illinois Governor Tried to Sell Senate Seat
Blagojevich Charged With Bribery, Conspiracy
Video

Illinois Governor Arrested on Federal Charges
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been arrested on federal charges. Prosecutors have been investigating Blagojevich's administration for at least three years.
» LAUNCH VIDEO PLAYER

» Links to this article
By Carrie JohnsonWashington Post Staff Writer

Woodstock Fire Company Commissioner vote

With approximately 500 people voting, incumbant Jim Brunner won the right to remain a fire commissioner, besting Jim Hanson by 5 votes. 247-242.
Fire Co. # 5 Representative, Mike Lourenso succeded in beating incumbant Steve Dallow and Duncan Wilson 263-220-62 votes garnered respectively.

The quotation is from the article written by Brian Hollander in the 12-11 Woodstock Times.
"And though there was some grumbling in the room that the commissioner election process had been "politicized" this year by candidates approaching the Woodstock Democratic committee seeking endorsement (the committee eventually sponsored the non-partisan meet the candidates event) most seemed pleased with the townspeople's response. "I'm glad to see a big turnout," said Howard Shultis, lead teller for the election, as he announced the results. "This was the biggest one I ever have been to. It's really good for the community to come out and vote."++"

In my opinion, the fact that the Woodstock Democratic committee was approached to be involved is another sign of how much the social structure of Woodstock has changed. To support Howard's comments, it is very positive to have such a large number of people be involved in the democratic process of electing fire commissioners. In the past, the number of voting participants was generated by the interest within the members of the fire company and their families.
I wonder why the Chair of the Woodstock Republican committee wasn't contacted to see about Republican participation in the "non - partisian " candidates night>

Zimbabwe- Cholera and Yo Yo Ma

Cable TV is wonderful isn't it? In the comfort of our home, with our feet up on the couch, snuggled under blankets, we watched BBC America News and learned about the Cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe, caused in part by the terrible leadership of Robert Mugabe. This human catastrophy is not caused by global warming or natural drought, but by human greed. The water purification process plants have been closed, leaving the citizens of the area to dig for water in
areas were the ground water is contaminated.
Just to lighten up the evening a little, we switched to OVATION! Yo Yo Ma is a blessing to the planet earth. The show followed him as he recorded music with people from all over the globe, with the theme of their music- JOY

Can we invade Zimbabwe with JOY.
http://www.yo-yoma.com/

My Irish Christmas Tree- Put Christ back in Christmas

I started the tradition of setting up a small Christmas tree in our kitchen 4 years ago, because I wanted to see bright lights in the kitchen area, not just in the living room. I decorated it with white lights and green and white ornaments, angel ornaments, and Irish ornaments, with a sampling of Italian and German decorations to round out our family genealogy.
Four years later, it is now a tradition, and a tree that I look forward to decorating. I've left it half decorated this morning, as I have to finish my AVON Christmas order and get off to work in Kingston. I'm going to try an experiment this year, I'm going to wish Christians - Merry Christmas and people who are Jewish, Happy Hanukkah. Christ belongs in Christmas a little more, I believe. Jesus is after all, the reason, for the season.

Pearl Harbor Day- do you recall where you were?

excerpted from the draft biography of my dad, John Fallon.

It was a typical winter day in Syracuse New York. The cold air and overcast sky held promise of snow for later in the evening. – Students transferring to Syracuse from other regions had to acclimate themselves to the primary color of winter, gray. The green grass along the sidewalks traveled by the students was now winter brown, a light dusting of snow, created by the moisture of Lake Ontario blanketed the campus. Onondaga Lake, whose shores were home to Syracuse manufacturing plants, was considered unswimable, her waters being terribly polluted. It was a setting in which one might find it easy to feel gloomy, even more so if you weren’t doing well in your freshman classes. Many of those students who enjoyed the long central New York winter climate would occupy their free time with skiing or other winter sports. Unless one sought out something bright, something cheerful, you might find yourself in a rather down mood most of the time.
Nineteen year old Jack found himself in just such a down mood. Maybe varying the routine would help. As part of their scholarship responsibilities, both young men worked serving and cleaning up after the “pay their own way” students in Sims Hall. When they were done working in the kitchen, washing and drying other student’s dishes and silverware, it was customary for Jack and Shimmy to sit together and eat their free meal.
It was Friday; classes were done for the weekend, so Jack’s friend,
“Shimmy” Maynard Schermerhorn, and he decided to grab a late afternoon bus downtown for dinner. Shimmy was a football guard from western New York, near Binghamton NY. A brisk walk down off the hill and dinner in a real restaurant would make the day more pleasant. Their dining destination was a Schrafts restaurant on Salina Street, eight or ten blocks east of the Syracuse University complex. "Schrafts" was the moniker for a chain of restaurants run by the Schrafts Candy Company. It wasn’t the fanciest place to dine, but it was warm and welcoming and the Jack and Shimmy had an enjoyable meal and conversations about school and football.
They provided themselves with a break from their dining hall routine and a chance to get away from the tensions of studying. Adding to their pleasure was the enjoyable dinner music that was piped in over the restaurant’s sound system. They were relaxing at the table after completing their meal, especially enjoying a musical piece played by Freddie Martin and his orchestra. It was one of Jack’s favorites. He knew the song from its Americanized title, “Tonight We Love; and could sing, in his Irish tenor voice, its English lyrics. The melody was from a classical concerto called Piano Concerto in B Flat.
Abruptly, the music stopped. Jack and Shimmy paused, wondering why the music suddenly went quiet, the song not yet at its conclusion. After some static, a man’s voice apologized for the interruption and the announcer stated that it was felt that the patrons should be told the news that Japan had attached the United States fleet at Pearl Harbor on this day, December 7, 1941.
Shimmy and Jack looked at each other in disbelief. They were both wondering how this event would affect their futures. Shimmy was already a cadet in the Reserve Officers Training Corps. (R. O. T. C.) He let Jack borrow his uniform one time to dress up and clown around for a snapshot. Though it didn’t fit right the effect was fun. Jack wasn’t in R. O. T. C. but he was aware that he would be faced with making a decision about his status under the Selective Service Systems draft provisions.

Vince Gill and Amy Grant

What a beautiful concert they gave at Eisenhower Hall, West Point last evening.
2 1/2 hours of Christmas music, both traditional and Christian.
Amy had the audience stand and sing Silent Night and Oh Come all Ye Faithful.
Magnificant.
The US Military wants to know that you are on the base. Each vehicle was stopped twice,
once to show your formal id and the second time to scan the drivers license.
We recalled 20 years ago when we attended football games, there was free travel about the campus with out showing id.

Give the gift of history

This is one of my favorite family photos, Hazel Mower Riseley and her husband Maurice Riseley.

I didn't know a thing about them until I began researching the Mower family 20 years ago. Their family story has been recorded in my latest book, " American Tapestry, the Mowers of Maple Lane"

Give the gift of Woodstock History this season! email me at lifesjourney@hvc.rr.com.

A great kick off to the holiday season

We all had a wonderful time shopping Woodstock last night.
Everyone was in a joyous mood.
The ice carver infront of Chez Grandmere produced an ice
tree and an ice candle in a traditonal holder.
Frosty the snow man was wandering the streets handing out candy to the little children.
My granddaughter caught a glimpse of him taking his head off!
She had quite a puzzled look in her eyes.
I purchased an Irish Santa hat in preperation for my next favorite holiday

Traffic and Parking

At the Woodstock Library this weekend,
0:00a -1:00p ANNUAL HOLIDAY BOOK SALE
10:30a Story Hour
1:00p -3:00p TEEN Manga
5:00p LIBRARY FORUM: Traffic & Parking in Woodstock: Opportunities and Challenges. A talk by Georges Jacquemart


http://www.woodstock.org/

The Forum on Traffic and Parking sounds interesting, unfortunately, I'll be out of the area.

Yeah! it's Friday

My neighbors have started putting out their outdoor Christmas decorations. Though it is pitch black out, I can see little sparking white, green and red lights on the next street over.

THE DAILY MOTIVATOR
Friday, December 5, 2008

Your thoughts show
+++++++++++++++++++

Thoughts can feel like they are private and hidden deep
inside of you. Yet they have an influence that extends far
beyond you.

What if others could know what you were thinking? Would it
change the content of your thoughts?

In many ways, other people can and do know what you are
thinking. Because your thoughts are faithfully expressed by
the life you lead.

The Author is Ralph Marston and the rest of the essay can be found on
http://greatday.com/

A cloudy dreary day in Woodstock

Perfect for sleeping in.
Perfect for putting a few Christmas decorations around the house.
Perfect for filling a bag full of clothing items I no longer use.
Less is BETTER

Women Children and Climate change # 5

The event was opened by Doris Schapira LWVUS Observer to the UN. One of her roles is to advocate for issues of concern to the LWV, speaking with government delegations about these issues and works with the coalitians of NGO representatives on issues of mutual concern, especially the NGO Committee on UNICEF- Working group on Girls.

• I got the sense a focus of this group was human traffic-ing and the sex trade involving young girls.

The first speaker was Rachel T. Harris the campaign coordinator of the Women's Environment and Development Organization ( WEDO website) Her organization is working to promote both adaptation to and mitigation of climate change living environment changes.

• As I was listening to Rachel, my first thought was, are women the only agents of change for our planet?

1.3 Billion people in the world live in the deepest level of poverty and 70% of them are women

Developing countries, or underdeveloped countries, live in a fragile balance and as climate change effects crop failure, fuel shortages ( wood gathering) clean water, disease spread, displacement and civil war as a result of unrest- women and children live - or survive- in conditions that result in the changes brought about.

• What was missing in her remarks was Where are the men and boys?

The second speaker was Maaike Jansen the United Nations Environment (UNEP) Programme officer

Maaike spoke of the need to put women's voices back into the solution equation. She spoke with frustration about the progress of the Kyoto protocol and the USA lack of participation.

• Those of us who live in a developed country are very isolated from the disease spread that occurs as a result of heavy rains and flooding to areas not accustomed to such weather.
• The young, the elderly and the infirm are subject to dengue fever, malaria, diarrhea, malnutrition- all which can cause death.
• www.un.org/climatechange
• http://www.unfccc.int/

Africa is the hardest hit of developing countries and contributes to the global warming climate change problem the least.

• Missing in this discussion was: the role played by each countries government in helping to solve the health problems.

The last speaker was Michele Ferenz the United Nations Children's Fund Senior Consultant

Michele was advocating for a human rights based approach to the problem helping children in the climate change agenda arena. Her organization is working to inform and educate the developed countries about how climate change amplifies the current problems.

• I agree, each human being has the right to food, shelter and safety. What is missing in the conversation again is what role each country's political leaders play in making their home country's situation better or worse.

3.5 million deaths last year due to malnutrition and 1/3 of those deaths were children under 5 years old. Those of us who have little children or grandchildren, just imagine what its like to watch a loved one starve to death.

As the other speakers mentioned, vector borne disease is increasing, for example

Malaria in sub saharan Africa, 2000 deaths a day, children under the age of 5.

All groups have linked climate change to increase in behaviors such as child abuse and human trafficing.

A statistic was given that more that half the worlds children live in areas of Urban poverty in 2008. This lead the group to speak to the devastation by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and the number of people who were living in poverty before the disaster and who now live in worse conditions.

We left the conference and as we drove back to Ulster county- thru the streets of one of the most important cities in the world, New York city, I was struck by how vulnerable we all are.

Many Americans are living one pay check away from financial disaster.

In order to not feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problems we face as humans on this wonderful planet, I seek out a small local problem and do my best to help it come to a resolution. I'm sure that there are many others out there that do the same.

Historical Society Display and Holiday Sale

Plan your weekend shopping around this wonderful first time event.

http://www.woodstockhistory.org/

Holiday Exhibit and Sale
Join us at our newly renovated building decorated for the holiday season. There will be an exhibit of Christmas cards from the Historical Society Archives as well as baked treats, ornaments, and books for sale.
Saturday, Dec 6 2008, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Eames House, 20 Comeau Drive.

Women- Climate Change # 4

Organizatons that sponsored the UN Briefing on the Impact of Global warming on Women and Children around the world.

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/

http://www.aauw.org/

http://www.zonta.org/site/PageServer

http://www.lwv.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

http://www.weact.org/
http://www.gfwc.org/
http://www.lwvny.org/
http://www.un.org/
http://www.unep.org/
http://www.unicef.org/
http://www.wedo.org/

Women- Children and Climate Change # 3

We are picked up by Garnette at 9Th Ave and zip over to the UN. There is a very convenient parking garage across the street. With the car safely stowed, we walk over to the visitor enterance of the UN and proceed through the security screeners. When we pick up our security badges at the conference table, we spend a little time walking around the public gallery.

• World Poverty
• Climate Change

The buffet lunch in the Ambassador Dining Room was magnificent. We sat at tables along the outer edge of the dining area with a view across the river of the 59th street bridge and Queens.

When I received the invitation to pay $ 40.00 for my lunch, there was a note that the Dining Room had a dress code. NO JEANS. No PROBLEM. There were visitors from all over the planet in the dining room. As many ethnic populations that you can imagine there are inhabiting planet earth, a representative was dining at the UN, properly attired, on food fit for kings and queens.

I paused for a moment as I started to eat the slice of red velvet cake, and had an image in my mind of the picture in the public gallery of little Palestinian children playing in their refugee camps.

• I had a visitation from my dear departed mom, Winnie. I heard her voice, put down that damn fancy silverware and march right out of here. This opulence will never be seen by women and children in third world emerging countries! I chuckled at the thought, sent her blessings and stayed put.
• It's ironic. It takes people of financial means to help people who don't have the financial means.

Women Children and Climate Change # 2

We entered into Manhattan via the Lincoln
Tunnel, and I was reminded about all the traffic one encounters during the morning rush hour. Climate Change, as the UN Briefing would remind us later, is brought about in part by an increase in greenhouse gases. (human causes vs natural causes ) Vehicle emissions are a large contributor to the increase in carbon in the atmosphere.
( someone correct me if I got this wrong)
My mind drifted for a moment as we entered the tunnel

• I'm on public transportation.
• I caught the 7 AM bus that arrives at Port Authority at 9 35AM
• I still haven't gotten to my destination- the UN
• The United States and China are said to be the biggest contributors to carbon emmissions
• How are we going to change the habit in the United States of people using their private cars for transportation to work?
• Whose going to tackle the Chinese government and convice them they need to stop using outdated industrial manufacturing methods that contribute to air pollution and water pollution?
• Where is the DAVID that is going to take on GOLIATH

Women, Children and Climate Change

Where do I start?

• The trip on the Trailways bus- public transportation- convenient, $ 25.00 one way.
• The conversation on the way down with Irene Miller, AAUW member and passionate worker for NYS Clean Money Clean Elections was stimulating. The general idea of clean money clean elections- public funds raised by NYS through fees or taxes would be earmarked for candidate election expenses, thus bypassing the donations made by weathy individuals and corporations who may then expect favors from the elected official. The NYS legislature is not fully on board with the idea yet, and the push back is, according to Irene, incumbants don't want to let go of their special interest money.
• I like the idea for the following reason. Clean money would be available for independant individuals who wanted to run for office. New people with fresh ideas in our democratic style of government, a sure way to bring CHANGE.

UN visit with the AAUW

I'm very excited. Today will be my first visit to the United Nations. I will be attending a conference at the UN with other American Association of University Women about Global
Warming and its effects on women and children around the world.

We had cloudy skies inWoodstock last night, I missed the conjunction of the moon, Jupiter and Venus.

New York Times Article - the power of the Clintons

New York times article quote- Nov 29, 2008 written by Peter Baker http://www.nytimes.com/

"The former president’s web of business and charitable activities raised questions about how he could continue to travel the world soliciting multimillion-dollar contributions for his foundation and collecting six-figure speaking fees for himself from foreign organizations and individuals while his wife conducted American foreign policy."

"Mr. Clinton has never revealed his contributors, but among those whose identities have become known over the years are the Saudi royal family, the king of Morocco, a foundation linked to the United Arab Emirates, the governments of Kuwait and Qatar and a tycoon who is the son-in-law of Ukraine’s former authoritarian president."
"For his speeches, Mr. Clinton could command as much as $425,000 for one hour, often paid by foreign companies or individuals who might have an interest in American foreign policy. He gave at least 54 such speeches last year for a total of $10.1 million. Even as his wife was first approached by Mr. Obama about the State Department job this month, the former president was heading to Kuwait to speak at an economic symposium sponsored by the National Bank of Kuwait."


I do consider myself something of a student of human nature.
The press indicates that Hilliary Clinton will be annouced today as the Secretary of State for the Obama administration.
The article lays out the background work that was done to insure that her hubby, the former President, Bill Clinton, provided transparency with regard to one of the foundations that he created, to help solve many of the worlds problems. Obama's lawyers and Clinton's lawyers worked to make sure that the names of over 200 contributors was made public.
I find it hard to imagine that Bill and Hilliary Clinton will be viewed by the world as
seperate entities. I was hoping for CHANGE, moving away from participation by the Clinton family and the Bush family in our national government.

My Favorite Woodstock Event

http://www.woodstockchamber.com/

This Friday, Deceber 5th is the annual Woodstock Holiday Open House. All the shops are decorated with bright shining lights. The display windows are part of a decorating contest and the visitors get to judge which shop window has the greatest appeal. All the shop keepers and their staff are in a joyous mood, welcoming hundreds of people thru their stores from 5-9 PM This is the one event that many locals come outto and visit their home town shopping center.

Perhaps I'll see you there!

Flurries in Woodstock

When a little light snow falls from the grey sky at this time of year, those of us in the northeast may have a touch of excitement about winter and a traditional white Christmas. I am reminded that I live in a small part of a larger world and this morning I am thinking about the souls who lost their earthly lives in Mumbai this past week.
My son once said, " since tomorrow is not a given, kindness is necessary today"

That's the place that I challenge myself to live. In a world of kindness.

Feeding the Squirrels- Buried Fuel Tanks

As I looked out my kitchen window this morning, I was reminded that the cracked corn in the squirrel feeder was gone. They are much happier when it's full, as are the blue jays and the other little ground feeders.
Near the squirrel feeder, I can see the intake pipes to our buried fuel tank.
We are allowed by law in the state of NY to have a residential buried fuel tank, if I recall correctly from my real estate course, as long as it's under 1000 gallons.
I and others have been assisting Councilman Jay Wenk's subcommittee to contact property oweners in my neighborhood who have buried fuel tanks, to determine the potential risk to the town water supply. You see, 55 years ago, when the Bearsville Gardens was created on land once farmed by the Harder and Yerry families, the houses were placed close together, ( .2 acres) and the developer decided that the best way to manage the asthetics of fuel tanks, was to bury them.
Unfortunatly, there are a number of homeowners who have chosen not to remove or replace the original tanks, and they may pose a potential risk to the municipal water supply. The question at the moment is, how to convince or pursuade the owners of the original tanks to
address this potential problem.

What a great American Tradition!

3 million people, in a great spirited mood

What a wonderful experience

Off to work, most nurses work a 24/7 world

See the world thru the eyes of a child

Wise men tell us to view GOD's world with the innocent eyes of a child.
We are going to do just that today. We are going to ignore the Al Quieda threat on the subway system of NYC and head down by car to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
It's 3 AM EST and the teapot is steeping Lipton Tea, the washing machine is going and I am
excited - visualizing us sitting in the bleachers along 71st street and watching the floats go driving by, the bagpipe bands, the songs of happiness! What a great way to celebrate life.

Woodstock 2009 Budget

Our general fund will rise by 3.6 % over last year. Now, mind you, I and many others haven't had a raise in 3-4 years, so, though this increase in modest, I can't get that excited about it.

The size of local, state, and federal government budgets seem to be on the verge of getting larger, and where will the money come from to fund the increases? Organizations like the Woodstock Library and local School districts become the target, because their budgets are voted on by the public.
The Woodstock Library is now going into their second year without a budget increase. They will enter into 2009 at the same budget level as they had in 2007. ( I'll write more about the Woodstock Library in a future post.)

One of my favorite hobbies

http://www.nationaldayoflistening.org/

One way to preserve our nation's history is to talk to our family members. The holiday time
can be one of those opprotunites to LISTEN!!

Warm yellow glow around the street light

Part of the view from my window looks out on one of the main development streets nearby, and the area is lit by a street light. The rain has been falling all night, and at 2 Am the glow of the light revealed fog and rain droplets making the view a little fuzzy.

There was a big pot bust here in Ulster county last week. The police,who the pot growers are quoted as saying " this is the govenment making war on people and the Constitution does not give them the right to do that" say they confiscated over 45 lbs of " 100 percent organic, chemical free" product ( Woostock Times Nov 20 2009 page 18)
Long story short, the two gentleman are claiming they are growing the pot for medical use.
Which brings to mind the movement by National ORganizationto Reform Marijuana Laws ( NORML) and others who are trying to repeal the Rockerfeller Drug laws here in NY State.

After 30 years of nursing practice, I am beginning to wonder what the fear is about people using
Marijuana as a drug for pain relief. Prescribers so casually write out scripts for chemicals that may not relieve the chronic or terminal pain we experience with illness.
My guess is this idea won't move forward till a lot of the social stigma associatied with pot use are put aside

Woodstock Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service

What a great lesson in how to sing with other voices!!

The Pastor of the Woodstock Reformed Church, Joshua Bode, gave the lesson for those assembled.
My interpretation, We let the way we think people should act or behave toward us, or life, get in the way of experiencing the grace and gratitude that their actions bring us from God.

Does that ring a bell with anyone?

As I'm reflecting on the evening of song an prayer, I am thinking of my dear cousin who
reminds me to live in the moment and accept the moment, as the moment is all that we have.

I liked Pastor Bode's comment on how the brain can process Gratitude, or Anger.
Only one emotion, but not both at the same time.

From the folks at Christian Foundation for Children and Aged

Please pray:
Accept, O God, our thanks for all the blessings of this life. For our families and friends, for food and a warm place to live. Thank you also for all the things we take for granted in our daily life. Help us to see your son, Jesus, in the poor of the world and serve Him by serving them. Amen. Blessings,CFCA Prayer Team


http://www.cfcausa.org/howyoucanhelp/pray.html

4 days till Thankfullness Day

I'll make a public confession, the holiday season is not one of my favorite times of year.
Give me New Year's Eve any day!!

My best advice, be thankfull in the moment for the people in our lives now.
Say no, think out of the box, the celebration doesn't have to take place on the traditional day,
( wasn't the first Thanksgiving feast said to be 3 days long? )
take a walk outside in nature, kiss a child, watch an old movie, put real whipped cream on all the pies, pray for PEACE!

Non partisan candidates night

A history making night, hosted by the Woodstock Democratic Committee and moderated by
Woodstock Town Supervisor and member of the Woodstock Democratic committee, Jeff Moran.

Tues Dec 2 at 7PM at the Woodstock Community Center.

This will be the first ever candidate nights for Fire company elections.

Honesty is the best Politics

We stayed up way past our bed time last night and watched Laurel and Hardy in " Sons of the Desert" Well worth the time as it was good clean fun, and the moral to the story- Honesty is the best politics.
How did it come to past that when we speak of polititians, we talk of people who we believe we can't trust?
I ran for office in 2007 as a moderate Republican, and I have to be very careful about not using that phrase " can't trust polititians". If I do, I am referring, in some ways, to myself.
What happens to a person after they are elected into office, that then makes them untrustworthy?

We will probably all live to be 90 years old

That's my standard line with young 70 year old women who are discouraged because they have to slow down in life. I met just such a woman yesterday at work. I would not have guessed she was 70. She was feeling a little down because of back pain, foot pain, knee pain, ( and I work in a mammogram center!) All the doctors could offer was pain pills, which she didn't want to take because, ( you guessed it) she didn't want to be addicted to pain medication.
But, I say, you must do what you need to do to be able to continue your active life!!!
Have you tried massage therapy? Stretching, patience, aromatherapy, periodic rest, re adjustment of your schedule, ask for help?
As it turns out, the woman was struggeling with the idea that she was beginning to feel like her elderly aunt, who she had to counsel to slow down.
We left the conversation with the agreement that - safety first, use hand rails, be mindful of where she was walking, stairs, outside, stay away from stools, was the priority to prevent more falls. Consider alternative pain management, cause it's not likely to go away magically, use the pain medication as needed and LIVE LIFE TO IT"S FULLEST.

Look, the deer are in the field

There is no flea market today, 30 degrees is a little to cold to do outside selling. We are awake anyway, and while standing at the kitchen sink, waiting for the water to boil for tea, I notice the deer in field. The early morning sunlight makes it possible for me to see the deer, grooming each other. Licking ears, chest, back, I don't believe I've ever seen this behavior before. After I pour the tea water, I notice 4 deer, no bucks, all doe foraging in the field.

Thank You Ujjula

Many thanks to Ujjula for being a guest on my tv show on
Channel 23 Woodstocktv.org
The tape will be on the carousel at random times for the next two weeks.

Unionism

It's funny, the things that are on your mind as soon as you wake up. I didn't even have the tea kettle full of water and my early morning thoughts are full of the the Kingston Teachers Federation.
http://ktf781.tripod.com/
My dad and I are working on his thoughts of his union organizing work in the 1960's and 1970's.
He had the job of traveling throughout New York State, visiting school districts and assisting when votes were taken to join the Empire State Federation of Teachers. Details to follow.
I grew up in a union household, but I'm not sure I'm in favor of Unions. Each time I look at my school tax bill, I do see the teachers union and pensions mixed in the tax bill total in many ways.
I'm faithfully going into the process at Benedictine Hospital. Registered nurses voted 2-1 to join New York State Nurses Association. Contract negotiations will begin at some point, and then my
union dues will come due- as far as I can tell- roughtly $900.00 will be my fee.
http://www.benedictine.org/index.php
Registered nursing is a great rewarding job, and it is also demanding personally and professionally. If you are looking for a good paying career with crazy work hours, become a
registered nurse. The science is facinating, the patients- customers need nurses to be their
advocates, work is available all over the country!!

Spiritual Friendship

I received an email from a woman who I consider a spriritual friend. We've only met three or four times, over the past 5 years, but we click in an interesting way. I'll paraphrase Alison's email;
Three things in life, once gone, never come back
Time, Words, Opportunity
Three things that can destroy a person
Pride, Anger, Unforgiveness
Three things to never lose sight of in life
Hope, Peace, Honesty
One thing that is constant in life
The Great Spirit that we can reach thru
Prayer.

Prayer and meditation are an important part of my daily life
Thank you Alison for being an angel and reminding me to
stay on track

Morning Quiet

The only noise is the hum of the hard drive and the tick of the clock. It's so cold out, even the
birds and the squirrls are tucked away in their little nests.

Thanks to Ujjula from the Oncology Support Program at the Benedictine for driving up to Woodstock and being a guest on my TV Show. The phone number to reach the Support Progam is 845-339-2071. I look forward to joining the Senior group for socializing and community building. We are so very fortunate to have the Oncology Support group here in Ulster County!
Support the SUPPORT GROUP.

Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service Nov 24th

Have you ever been to the Shady Methodists Church? If not, this is the perfect opportunity to
visit and spend an hour with friends and neighbors in prayer and thanksgiving.

The church building is beautiful and dates back 100 years or so. Many local residents attended the one room school house that stands next to the Church building

Monday November 24th at 7 :30PM. If you like to sing, there is choir practice at 6 15.
Copies of the music is available from your local choir director.
Refershments will be served after the service.

Fire Commissioner Vote Dec 9th

Tuesday Dec. 9 at Fire Co # 1 there is the annual vote for Woodstock Fire Commissioner.
Fire Commissioners are elected by Woodstock voters and are responsible for setting the budget that oversees the greater Woodstock Fire Company Budget. ( a master budget for all 5 companies)
Current members are Stewart DeWitt, Aj Rose, Donny Allen, Jim Brunner and one set is vacent as a result of the death of Bill VanKleeck.
Running for relection, Jim Brunner is being challenged by Jim Hanson. Steve Dallow and Mike Lourenso are running for the open seat.

Take a moment and give each of the canditates a call, ask them why they want to be fire commissioner- what their thoughts are on paid firemen, how soon do they think we will have a paid crew ready at Fire Co # 1 to respond to our fire needs. Ask them, now that we have paid paramedics, how soon they think we will have a paid crew at Fire Co # 5 ready to dispatch the ambulance. Ask them what their philosophy is on woodstock dispatchers. Do they expect that we will continue funding 24 hour dispatch, will this role be transfered to county 911, even if the dispatch is transfered to county for the midnight shift? Each of these items plays a role in how the fire tax is affected.

There is also a challenge to the Fire District Treasurer- Karen Shultis. Judy Peters has mounted a campaign to unseat the incumbent.

Oncology Support Program at Benedictine Hospital

CAll 845-339-2071 for further information about
Women's Cancer Support Groups
Daytime, EVERY Thursday 11 amd - 1 PM
Evening , EVERY other Thursday from 6-7 30 PM
Nove 20- Dec 5 Dec 18
As they say, Any stage, any age.

also, yahoo support network
midhudsonwomen@yahoogroups.com

CAll the support program for further information- 845-339-2071

Because, as they say, YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Gas prices in Roanke Va

I have it on good authority that the price at the pumps
is $1.79 a gallon.
Now, at Getty in West Hurley this morning, the price was $ 2.29
Could it be an additional 50 cents of our price goes toward
transportation and state tax?

Which is worse?

I was in a great discussion last night with a group of friends, and we were talking about how to
raise the awareness of Woodstockers who are in need due to the economic downturn. I admit to not having first hand knowledge of people who can't pay their utilitiy bills or their mortgage.
I found myself wondering- what's worse, losing your home from a financial disaster or a natural disaster, like the fires in souther California that are blazing this week.
I'll bet it's easier to process through to emotional recovery from the natural disaster.

I do know that Woodstockers have access to a well stocked Food Pantry( in the basement at the Reformed Chruch on the Green) that is open on Thursdays 10 AM. Please don't be shy this month, St. John's Roman Catholic Church is the sponsor and Father George tithes the tithe and goes shopping at Aldi's each week to make sure the pantry is well stocked.
There is also the delicious soup kitchen, serving on M- W- and F, I think at 4 PM from
Christ Lutheran Church.

Yes, I am a member of St. John's Roman Catholic Church. I sing in the choir at 8 am Mass most
Sundays. I agree with Father George- who ever sings, pray's twice. I did decide to vote pro life this past election day. I find it puzzling to know my fellow parisioners who, with great excitement, decided to vote for the candidate who says he intends to make abortion a right
under the United States Constitution. I've had the opprotunity to ask them about how they can be so very pro life at church, but vote in opposition to the philosophy.
They assured me that they don't believe the constitutional change will ever happen.

Only time will tell on that issue.

Early morning moon light

Most mornings find the alarm going off at 5 AM. This morning, the moon, the waning full moon, was shining brightly behind a few dark grey clouds. The stars/planets twinkle in the distance.
The air is chilly, crisp, quiet.
We watched President elect and Mrs Obama on 60 minutes last night. This is a historic moment for so many reasons. During the interview, they come across as solid, down to earth people. Part of the discussion was about keeping their young daughters in a normal routine. A routine that will include, probably, a daily trip to a private school. Mrs. Obama was very adept at deflecting an answer to the question, will you send your daughters to a public school in Washington?

Kingston Freeman contributor Cal Thomas had an essay about just that topic. I agree, it doesn't make sense to send children who may be in harms way to a public school. Cal Thomas was questioning whether or not the Obama administration and Democratic controlled House and Senate would take away the parental choice of private school. If I read the essay correctly, that would be unless you had the private funding to pay for it.

Kingston Freeman contributor Leonard Pitts chided all African Americans for not supporting
gay marriage legislation. His rationale, American blacks suffered similar discrimination as gays, therefore, American blacks should be more supportive. I've often wondered, along a similar train of thought, how American descendants of Irish could act with prejudice against another human being, knowing the history of terror their family members experienced in 17th and 18th century Ireland.
How does that song go - " When will we ever learn? when will we ever learn?"

Time to go pack some of my AVON orders!!

HIstorical Society Event

John and I attended a lecture given by Glenn Kreisberg at the Historical Society Museum today ( aka the Eames House) at 20 Comeau Drive. Glenn spoke passionately for an hour and a half about quarried, cairn fields, chambers , megaliths and solstice alignments in the Hudson Valley.

The Historical Society will have an Exhibit and Sale on Saturday Dec 6th at the Eames house from 10 - 3. I have it on very good information that my friend Kathy Anderson will be baking tins of delicious cookies, and I highly recommend attending the sale and making a purchase of one of her cookie filled tins. Kathy makes the tastiest cookies I have ever had!

The town historian, Richard Heppner, will have a book signing on Tues Dec 9th at Barnes and Noble at 7 PM . He has edited a collection of Woodstock essays, Remembering Woodstock, and it was published as part of AMERICAN CHRONICALS, a History Press series.
The book is lovely, and will be welcome under every Woodstockers holiday gift tree.

The Historical Society can be reached at wdstkhist@yahoo.com
www.woodstockhistory.org

Program for Wed Nov 19th 8 :30 PM EST

Our view on life is framed by what we hear and see every day.

Announcements: TV show live on Woodstock Cable Channel 23 or streaming live via ustream
at http://www.woodstocktv.org/

Ulster County Mended Hearts meeting Thurs Nov 20 3:30 ASB at Benedictine Hospital

CYO Fundraiser Pancake Breakfast Sunday Nov. 23 830-11AM
St. John's Church Holly Hills

Craft Fair Sunday Nov 30 1-5 PM St. Johns Church- Centerville

Family of Woodstock- Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Thursday Nov 27
1-4PM Free and Delicious call 845-679-2485 to volunteer food or time
All are Welcome to the feast

Wed Dec 9th Fire Commissioner Election, Woodtsock Fire Company

Special Guest
Ujjal Schwartz of the Oncology Support Program at the Benedictine Hospital
105 Mary's Avenue Kingston NY 1241 845-339-2071