Action!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coumcilman James Skoufis; Action Alert!

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

We in Woodbury are continuing our strong push to make the Route 32/Thruway improvement project happen and happen on time but we need your help. It is critical that our state and federal representatives hear from as many residents as possible about just how important this is to our quality of life here in town so please call the elected officials below and spread the word to your friends to do the same.

When you're done, please fill out this quick response form so I know how many people called and what the response you got was: Survey

When federal and state reps hear from many local residents, it makes a *huge* difference - so, if you're fed up with the traffic on Route 32, please call the list below. And thank you very much for fighting for a better Woodbury for us all.***

Senator Chuck Schumer: 914-734-1532Thank the senator for coming to Woodbury yesterday and fighting on our behalf and encourage him to do everything he can to pass Senate Bill 1813, also known as MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century) and get Albany the funding to begin our improvement project in 2013, not 2017.

Congresswoman Nan Hayworth: 845-206-4600Encourage the congresswoman to introduce a version of Senate Bill 1813 in the House. It's believed that passage in the House will be difficult so it's important you explain to the congresswoman's staff how important this project is to you and Woodbury.

Senator Bill Larkin: 518-455-2770Encourage the senator to do everything he can to lobby the Department of Transportation to put Woodbury's improvement project back on the 2013 schedule and make it a priority.

Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun: 518-455-5441

In today's news, we found out that Assemblywoman Calhoun is working against our interests and is pushing for an alternate improvement plan that a) would start us back at ground zero in a process that has taken us a decade to get to where we are and b) has already been looked at by the Department of Transportation and deemed unfeasible. Tell her to back the plan that every local official is supporting and not go on a renegade mission that stands no chance of becoming a reality.***

If you need some background information when calling these offices: After about a decade of work, the Department of Transportation approved a plan that would construct a ribbon loop out of Woodbury Common directly onto the Thruway, eliminating the need for Common traffic to exit onto Route 32, eliminating the need for those left hand turns, and eliminating a number of traffic lights. This work had long been planned to start in 2013 until, just recently, we found out that the DOT has slated to push it back to 2017 due to lack of federal funding. Given the tremendous amount of sales tax both the Town of Woodbury and Woodbury Common generates for the state, this is simply unacceptable and we residents deserve better.

Again, when you're done, please take the very quick time to fill out the survey so we can track how many people have called and what kind of responses we are getting: Survey

Yours,

James

Unle Betty Presents...

ASAP's Fables

A fox wanted some grapes, but because they were unavailable he disparaged their quality.

Cold!

Lowe's has just dropped out as sponsor of NBC's annual telecast of Frosty the Snowman.

They were acting in response to a letter they'd received from the Freedom Families for Democracy and Diligence Association of America.

The FFDDAA had objected to FtS's "slanted depiction of snow as a happy friendly substance while ignoring the countless deaths due to blizzards, avalanches and hypothermia."

Lowe's's CEO, who asked not to have his name used, stated that the company was not taking sides on this issue, but was merely interested in not offending their customers.

A Reverie On Ralph

That dear, dear Ralph.

That small, grey man, with small, grey desires; slightly bent physically, spiritually somewhat more so.

What have you gotten up to now?

We have just heard from the Pieman that the councilmen's debate, sparsely attended though it may have been, almost didn't take place at all.

It seems that Ralph contacted the charming and delightful Ms Kathy Finnerty at the school business office to object to the use of the elementary school auditorium.

Why would Ralph choose to do such a thing?

Perhaps his reflexive desire to keep the electorate ignorant of anything and everything got the better of him.

After all Ralph, rats and roaches all do their best work in the dark.

But perhaps I am too harsh.

Is it Ralph's fault that he is so unlovable and thus so unloved?

Probably it is.

But we must all do what we can to give him one more shot at redemption.

The next time that you see Ralph, give him a hug, lean in close and whisper "God loves you, even if no-one else can."

The Uncle Throws His Head Into The Ring

Ralph Caruso, the aging don (oops, dean) of Woodbury politics, somehow forgot, once again, to put up a candidate to run for Supervisor.

Doesn't he realize how being ignored in such a way must hurt John Burke's feelings?

And so, out of respect for Big John and the office that he holds so tenaciously, the Uncle has agreed to run as a write-in candidate.

So write in Uncle Betty for Supervisor.

Do it for John.

Won't that make Burke's inevitable victory so much the sweeter?

Fear the Pepper

Happy All Hallows Eve!

Arctic Life

If memory serves, we still had snow on the ground in April.

That means we'll have had four snow-free months this year.

Bring on the polar bears!

It's on

The Pieman informs us that there will be a debate among the four Town Council Candidates on Friday, November 4th, 7:30 PM in the auditorium of the Central Valley Elementary School.

He mentions that it's sponsored by OCEAN and the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce.

He says nothing about putting together a mud-wrestling match between the two candidates for Highway Superintendent.

With Gadhafi dead...

we may never learn how to spell his name.

Elsewhere On The Menu

I seem to recall that one or two opinions of the upcoming contest for Highway Superintendent have already been posted.


So let us now turn our attention to the rest of the ballot.


The powers that be (Ralph and John perhaps) have decided that we shouldn't trouble our pretty little heads worrying about Town Supervisor.


So, for the moment, lets focus on the councilmanic (or is it manic council?) elections.

Incumbents Carlton Levine and Bo Haviland will be facing off against Tim Arone and Marilyn Prestia.

So, what say you?