Saturday, December 30, 2006

A New Year's Rhyme


Twas the night just before two thousand and seven.
Saddam had gone somewhere, I doubt it was heaven.
The village was quiet (some even said boring),
Though don't for a moment think the wolves are all snoring.

There's a mayor next door, who'd like to come woo us.
A supervisor just north, raising money to sue us.
And a sliver of Harriman is holding us down,
From becoming a lovely coterminous town.

Soon Republicans vote, for their local committee,
If Ralph loses his hold, would it be such a pity?
In November we decide on Mike A and Lorraine,
Will the Dems ever run folks who aren't insane?

Will Big John reenter the electoral chorus,
Or pack it all in and say "who needs the tsurus?"
How much is it worth - all that fuss and abuse?
It's really the Village that now has the juice.

So by foot and by car and by chopped motorcycle,
We'll head for Joann, Patrick, Neil and Michael.
We'll bring all the weirdos and nut-jobs and freaks,
And hand all the headaches to Berean-Weeks.

Happy New Year Your Honor!

Thursday, December 28, 2006

You Want It Rough? Uncle Betty Can Do Rough.



OK, we tried sweet and nice, and none of you gave a rat's ass, so, we'll take another tack.

KJ will probably announce an annexation bid this Spring.

Caruso's minions have been taking notes like crazy at village meetings in preparation for an assault on the village board.

A thruway exit north of Woodbury seems less and less likely.

And for those of you who hate dog parks, we're getting a dog park.

Happy New Year!

Monday, December 25, 2006

the baby in the story





Today is the day for a story about a baby who was born to bring peace and love, forgiveness and redemption.

And whether you believe that that baby is God or a man or an allegory; not one of us has too much peace and love, forgiveness and redemption in our lives.

And so, to all: Merry Christmas

Friday, December 22, 2006

Pieman Denounces Village Board

Photo News

Boring, efficient and without airs

That’s the early word on the Woodbury Village Board’s initial work,


By Tony Houston

Woodbury - Sometimes meeting in the Town Hall and sometimes in the Fire House, the Village of Woodbury is operational.

“We are moving slowly and carefully to do what is right for the community,” said Woodbury Village Mayor Stephanie Berean-Weeks in an interview this week.

Village Trustee Joann Stabile has been appointed deputy mayor, Rick Golden is the village attorney and Berean-Weeks is the budget officer. Woodbury Town Clerk Desiree Potvin has been appointed as clerk, treasurer and registrar for the new village. James Booth is deputy clerk and deputy treasurer.

“I think we will have settled on a permanent meeting place by the end of this week,” said Mayor Berean-Weeks.

Village meetings are scheduled for the first Tuesday of each month, with an additional meeting or workshop on the fourth Tuesday if needed. Meeting attendance has averaged nearly 30 people.

“The village will issue a tax anticipation note in the amount of $300,000 this week — hopefully,” said Berean-Weeks. This must be done because the village is unlikely to receive any tax revenue until next June.

The Village Board, as a committee, will speak to the Town of Woodbury regarding intermunicipal agreements. “We are not planning to change any services or jobs; we want to maintain services and employees,” said Berean-Weeks.

The village has until June 1 of next year to take over planning and zoning from the Town of Woodbury. “We will be done on or before that date,” said the mayor.
Its citizens seem pleased with the new village government.

“I have full confidence in their ability to do the right thing,” said former Woodbury Town Councilwoman Colleen Campbell. “I’m pleased with what has been done so far — including the appointments.”

Woodbury Town Councilman Michael Aronowitz is complimentary toward members of the new village board as well.

“They are doing a really good job and there is a great line of communication between the two boards.” He said. “The mayor attends the meetings of the Town Board and is good at strategizing; she’s up to the task and will do a great job.”

Jonathan Swiller is the chairman of Orange County: Equity Among Neighbors (OCEAN). His organization had opposed the creation of the huge new village, but changed to a neutral position prior to the vote on village incorporation. He has attended two of the meetings of the Village Board.

“The meetings are boring due to their efficiency,” said Swiller. “They want to get things right and they are doing the job well; the board is keeping everything in the budget as low as possible.”

Swiller appreciates the new Village Board’s close working relationship with the Woodbury Town Board. “This Village Board is a group of citizens that took on a difficult job because it had to be done — they don’t put on airs.”


OK, so he didn't actually denounce them, but he did say the meetings were boring.

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Ralph's Lament

I had a little village
I made it from my town
But, when I ran for mayor
I just got voted down
.
I'm told some folks don't like me
and claim I lie from time to time
It's just that I'm imaginative
Is that really such a crime
.
Some call me a mean bully
Now, that really makes me sore
I would never act that way
That's what Bob and Don are for
.
Roxanne kept me out of Goshen
Rich took my ZBA chair
No one will let me run things
And I don't think that's fair
.
You might think that I'm finished
'Cause all my plans were hexed
Don't be so quick to count me out
Just watch what I do next

Friday, December 08, 2006

Peace Reigns, Betty Flounders

In the absence of open warfare in the streets of Woodbury the Uncle has been reduced to writing about cell phone, gay marriage and dog parks.

While the nation and the world are in big juicy disarray, we here in the Village of Peace and Love are calm and serene and apparently hating every moment of it.

Caruso is nowhere to be seen (will he show up next week at his final ZBA meeting?). Swiller is wrapped up in Harriman and Thruway exits, the Town and Village boards are engaged in a love fest and Gedalye Szegedin is quietly planning his next annexation move.

Can we talk about Iraq, just a little, huh, huh?

Sunday, December 03, 2006

And Now For Something Completely Different or VERIZON SUCKS

Hi there!

Want a great new phone that can do almost anything?

The RAZR from Motorola is nifty and neato.

UNLESS YOU GET ONE FROM VERIZON!

With Sync Music you can download your own music library onto the RAZR.

By adding an optional microSD card, you can hold hundreds of songs.

And Motorola designed the RAZR to allow you to use any of those songs as ringtones.

AND VERIZON BLOCKED THAT FEATURE ON THE PHONES THAT IT SELLS!

Why?

So that you HAVE TO BUY RINGTONES FROM THEM!

So, you buy the phone, you buy the Music Connection Kit, you pay the monthly charges (higher than many other wireless services) and then you discover that they paid to have their techies to REMOVE CAPABILITY FROM THEIR PHONES just to screw their customers over.

Neat huh?

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

May The Turkey Be With You

And by turkey, the Uncle does not mean Caruso, Donnelly, Manny, or even Swiller, all of whom have been absent from the scene.

Last Friday the first village board meeting passed without incident.

Presentwere(amongothers and in random order) Don Siebold (and the Mrs.), CarolMullooly,theChief, Pete, Robin, Sandy, Maria (and the Mr.), the Conroyclan, the townboard(sans Aronowitz), Michale Amo (and the future Mrs.?),Ted Jones, DotMorris,and yours truely.

No fights, no name calling, no lawsuits.

Now that's reason enough to give thanks.

Happy Day All!

Thursday, November 16, 2006

The Uncle Cries Uncle

Okay, the Uncle mentions gay marriage and you folks wrangle over Woodbury. I raise the subject of national politics and you folks argue about Woodbury. I print a request for info about Harriman and (guess what) you folks debate Woodbury.

The Uncle's dreams of a blog that dares to pretend there is a universe beyond our borders are dashed.

Have it your way.

Dog Park, pro or con?

A Throughway exit north of Woodbury? Where?

Is a Downtown Woodbury possible? What would it be like?

What would you like to see at Nepera and/or Arden?

Monday, November 13, 2006

MISSING!

The People of Woodbury/Harriman





The Pieman has asked for our help.

If you live in the Woodbury section of Harriman (or the Harriman section of Woodbury) or know someone who does, or encountered someone who is related to anyone who once met a person who heard of a resident of Harriman/Woodbury, please let us know.

The pieman swears he will not injure them in any way.

Contact the Uncle at cuzzincookie@hotmail.com

This has been a public service to the Pieman.

Friday, November 10, 2006

The Uncle Continues to Attempt To Piss Everyone Off

President Bush has announced that he is sending the nomination of John Bolton back to the Senate. A year ago, after the failing to get Bolton approved as UN Ambassador, the President appointed him to the post by way of an interim recess appointmnent which expires in January.

You might recall that, at the time, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) responded: "If they make a recess appointment, then I have to say, it's a finger in the eye of the Senate. I think you'd find there would be an awful lot of repercussions from that."

Oops.

Our bad.

That's what he said in response to press reports that Bill Clinton was about to make an interim appointment to the Federal Bench.

He's OK with this one.

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Nemeless on Hudson

The village still doesn't have a name.

Yeah, we're the Village of Woodbury by default, but we have an opportunity here folks.

Come on you villagers, put on your thinking caps.

Also, where should village hall go?

What are the village's official motto, flower, tree, insect, micro-organism and flag?

Who is the official village idiot?

And no, the Uncle is not backing away from pissing people off with subjects other than Woodbury. But we do have these loose ends to tie up.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Power To The People

Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

The elections are just about over.

(and the relection campaigns don't begin 'til next week.)

So now is a perfect time to take on the really important issues.

Like, who should be allowed to get married.

The obvious problem with the Defensive Marriage Amendment is that it doesn't go far enough.

Why do the American people only get to decide if gays should be allowed to marry?

A great many of us find the marriage of really ugly people to be offensive.

And what about old people?

Or just plain, annoying people?

We believe that all couples who want to get married should submit photos and bios to be displayed on a website.

A brief video might be nice.

Then the rest of us get to vote on whether they get a license or not.

As Admiral Poindexter says:

"Your Rights End Where My Casual Interest Begins"

That's the ticket!

Saturday, November 04, 2006

All's Quiet On the Western Front (and the Eastern, Northern and Southern too)

There is a new-found calm in Woodbury.

The streets of Brigadoon are strangely quiet.

No unexpected visitors in Highland Lakes Estates.

Nothing new has turned up on the garbage cans of Valley Forge.

The Greens, Timber Ridge and Country Crossing have nothing to report.

No one is standing outside the post office, forcing flyers into unwilling hands or rumors into unwilling ears.

Even the general election, still three days off, seems merely an after-thought.

The fever has broken, and the only immediate reminders of what we've been through are the "Thank You"s posted on the Community Party's signs.

You're welcome.

Friday, November 03, 2006

The Uncle's Post Game Show

(Note: after writing this piece I realized that it might be possible to misinterpret some passages as gloating. Therefore, in order to avoid any suggestion that the Uncle is "rubbing it in" I have removed those few parts of this posting)


.................wake up and smell yourself..........................
..............................................
.............................................................................................
..............................................................................................
.........................................................beaten by a girl...
................................................................................................
..................................................................................................
.................................................................................................
.................................................................................................
................................three time loser....
................................................................................................
...............................................................................................
.................one way ticket out of town................................
...............................................................................................
.......................................................combover.......................
................................................................................................
...............................................................................................
.............repeatedly shooting himself in the dick..............
.................................................................................................
.................................................................................................
.....................................tar and feather....
........................................best of luck in your next life.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Ralph: The Man, The Mayor, The Saint

Vote for the HONEST, ETHICAL, TRUTH-TELLING, GOOD, KIND, MERCIFUL, ALL-WISE,EVER-FAITHFUL, HANDSOME, WELL-DRESSED, ANTI-COMMUNIST, FREEDOM-LOVING, SUPER-POWERED, BABY-KISSING, TELEPATHIC, TIME-TRAVELING, NEVER-EXAGGERATING, ALWAYS-FORGIVING, OPEN-MINDED, SUPERIOR-BEYOND-HUMAN-COMPREHENSION, MANLY, VIRILE AND STUDLY, HYPER-VIGILENT, GOOD-TO-THEIR-MOMS, GODLIKE and MODEST Team.

The Preservation team never stoops to lies, fibs or exaggeration and no member of the team or any relative of the team or any friend of a neighbor of a relative of any member of the team has ever done any of that, ever, never, never, ever, ever. Never.

The Preservation team will not resort to name calling, unlike that evil, disgusting, terrible, terrible, pro-terrorist, gay-marriage, anti-baby, flag-burning, communistic Community Party that gets its orders straight from the Kremlin and not only wants to build apartment buildings in all our parks but wants to dissolve the village and the town and the entire state of New York and turn it into a radioactive waste dump and hippie commune.

We are for truth and good things and they want to let rapists out of prison.

So go out and vote for us.

Vote repeatedly ( we’ll tell you how - call 928-2059 and ask for Mayor Caruso).

The Hail Mary Pass

In football a Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary play is a forward pass made in desperation, with only a very small chance of success. The typical Hail Mary is a very long forward heave thrown at or near the end of a half where there is no realistic possibility for any other play to work, though the most famous were thrown at the end of a game. The phrase derives from the name of a prominent Roman Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary. The point is that the success of such a pass is so unlikely that it would need divine intervention to work.
From Wikipedia

KJ disavows campaign letter
Woodbury — Kiryas Joel officials say they had nothing to do with a letter circulating in Woodbury that purports to be an endorsement by their residents for the mayoral candidate Ralph Caruso."We're not taking any position in this election," Village Administrator Gedalye Szegedin said.The hand-delivered letter is on bogus Kiryas Joel letterhead and is addressed "to our Woodbury Neighbors." It praises Caruso for helping Kiryas Joel win grants through his work for state Senator William Larkin — a boast that presumably is intended to turn voters against Caruso.Caruso is one of four candidates for mayor running tomorrow in the first Village of Woodbury election. Eight other people are running for four trustee seats.
Chris McKenna

Caruso is down to his last few hours. Every little trick seems to have failed.

Skipping the public debate hurt him.

The closed-door debate he got the Record to agree to ended up hurting him.

His refusal to answer any questions about the contradictory and flat-out false material in his Preservation kits hurt him.

OCEAN's newletter warning people about last minute dirty tricks, along with postings on this blog doing the same, have made it very unlikely that trying to tie his opponents to KJ would work.

And so...

The Hail Mary Pass.

Suddenly there is a phony letter claiming to be from KJ's political bosses, supposedly backing Caruso.

An obvious forgery, we are told.

Who could have done this dastardly thing and why?

Since, it is reported to be an obvious fake, it isn't going to hurt Caruso.

So whom will it hurt?

Well, if we decide it was put out by Caruso's opponents, we have reason to be mad at Caruso's opponents.

But, considering all the damage that Caruso has already done to himself, why would his opponents take the risk?

Considering the clean campaign they have run so far, why would his opponents suddenly change to such ugly tactics?

Considering how competently and professionally they have done everything else, why, if his opponents chose to take the low road, would they create a tranparent phony that would be seen through instantly?

Is it too big a stretch to imagine that some campaign, Caruso's for example, in trouble, on the verge of losing, would attempt one last desperate act and ...launch a transparently bogus attack on themselves in order to tar their opponents?

Is that possible?

If not, is there any other explanation that isn't even less believeable?

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Dearest Ralph

The Uncle knows that you think that repeating the same crap endlessly somehow makes it true, but over here in Uncle Central we are getting a teensy weesy tired of you having your "***NEWS RELEASES***" posted again and again.

One at a time is really sufficient.

So at the risk of being denounced by you and the Ralphlings (omigod no!) as censoring you, I may end up deleting the second, third or fourth posting of the same bull.

After a while it's just spamming.

Have a good life and be sure to let us know your forwarding address.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

36 Hours and Counting

We're headed into the home stretch and the Caruso flop-sweat is running out of De Palma and creating hazardous driving down Ridge Road all the way to Route 32.

So, hold your breath, put on your life jacket and keep your eyes and ears open (and your nose plugged) as we await the first sighting of one of these:

The rumor that one of Ralph's oppnents is a paid secret agent of KJ.

The unsigned flyer claiming that developers/Satmar/Osama bin Laden are financing an opposing campaign.

KJ Mayor Wieder/Kim Il Jong/Son of Sam endorsing one of Caruso's opponents.

Word that one of Ralph's opponents is for gay marriage/against gay marriage/in a gay marriage.

Hey Ralph, come up with a new and more amusing smear this time, after all, it could be your last hoorah.

By the way, don't be amazed if the Uncle is knocked off line at the last moment. There have already been at least 5 cyber attacks. Some knocking us off for a few hours. A cyber attack consists of using software to make hundreds or thousands of visits a minute to a site, overwhelming the host computers. It happens to be a federal crime.

Cluster Development vs Caruso Cluster F*ck

Ralph Caruso wants to put an end to Cluster Development in Woodbury, because after all, Cluster Development is terrible...

...except for the minor fact that it isn't.

But why should actual information slow down Ralph?

It didn't get in his way (or into his brain) when he sold us his fully researched village. The one with the few little side effects - like threatening the town with insolvency.

But, obviously Cluster Development must be an awful thing.

Google "Cluster Development."

What you'll find are dozens of articles, such as the one below, from the University of Illinois Extension.

Every one that I've seen (and there may be an exception or two, but it hasn't popped up yet) has said basically the same thing. Cluster Development is the best answer to suburban sprawl. Planners say that Cluster Development preserves open space that sub-division development lays waste to.

Go look for yourselves.

(Except you Ralph, you're excused from looking, after all, you might learn something and hurt yourself.)


Cluster/Conservation Development
Introduction
Over the past fifty years, residential development has spread across the Illinois landscape, quite rapidly in some areas. As urbanized areas have grown, people have migrated to what have become known as subdivisions located in more suburban or rural areas on the outskirts of towns and cities. Much of this type of development has followed a traditional design, which some have described as checkerboard or cookie-cutter housing development. The residential zoning ordinances in most communities have encouraged such traditional designs by requiring minimum lot sizes, uniform road frontage and lot setbacks, specific road standards, and other standard requirements. In general, the only open space within such developments has been the yards between adjoining privately owned housing lots. In many cases, little planning went into preserving or improving the quality of the open-space areas or protecting natural features on the developed parcel.

As concerns over issues such as urban sprawl, open-space preservation, environmental protection, and farmland loss have increased, some home buyers, developers, and community officials have started to question whether the traditional development pattern provides the quality of life that many homeowners now desire. To help address these issues, a rather new concept in development, cluster or conservation design, has become predominant in many communities. Although still somewhat new to many Midwestern areas, the cluster designs have been used for some time in parts of the eastern United States and are beginning to show up in Illinois.

What Is Cluster Development?
The most common name for this new development approach is cluster development, but conservation design and a number of regional terms are applied to the same concept. Regardless of its name, the main objective of cluster development is to allow residential, or even commercial, development while still protecting the area's environmental features, allowing for more open space, and protecting farmland and the character of rural communities.

Cluster developments differ from traditional developments in several ways. Cluster developments usually site homes on smaller lots and there is less emphasis on minimum lot size. However, the total number of homes, or density, on a given acreage does not necessarily increase over that allowed in the traditional subdivision designs. The same number of homes is clustered on a smaller portion of the total available land. The remaining land, which would have been allocated to individual home sites, is now converted into protected open space and shared by the residents of the subdivision and possibly the entire community. (It is important to note that there is flexibility on the 'homes per land area issue: some incentive-based ordinances allow for development of more homes in exchange for providing other non-required features that are desirable to the community.)

In most cases, local ordinances and regulations must be updated to facilitate building conservation development subdivisions. Road frontages, lot size, setbacks, and other traditional regulations must be redefined to permit the preservation of environmentally sensitive areas, rural architecture, historical sites, and other unique characteristics of the parcel of land being developed. Developers often cite local regulations as the primary reason more innovative designs are not used. More flexible regulations does not mean anything goes, however. Traditional codes must be replaced with new design standards that address the goals of conservation development, such as open space preservation, etc.

Monday, October 30, 2006

From The Record's Secret, Backroom, Hidie-Hole, Deep in the Cave, Stay Out -That Means You Debate

"Caruso, who led the charge for the village formation and has been a combatant in recent development battles, made clear he regards the election at least partly as an opportunity to settle scores with a Town Board that until now has held all the cards. "

Okiedoke, so much for a close working relationship between the village and the town.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Best Satirical Writing Of The Week

Vote for Caruso Ralph Caruso has always been one of those very special community leaders who runs because he believes in servant leadership; because it's his right as an American; because he loves his community; because he is a champion for rightness.

He deserves to be elected because he is true. Caruso has helped many others get elected countless times. He is deeply involved and knowledgeable in the running of local government. It's time for the best to be elected. We need his skills and temperament in an elective calling that many believe is seeped in vanity.

Vote for Caruso. We need an honest, astute leader with demonstrated effectiveness who is brave enough to take on the special interests. I urge all of Woodbury to turn out the vote for Ralph Caruso.

Dr. Roberto Calderin
Highland Mills

Friday, October 27, 2006

Demand Answers

Would you go to a doctor, a dentist, a car mechanic who refused to answer your questions?

Would you buy a tv, a chain saw or even a pound of hamburger meat from a merchant who refused to answer your questions?

Would you hire a house keeper, a dog walker or a gardener who refused to answer your questions?

A political campaign is an extended job interview. The candidates are asking you to hire them. You are the boss and you should demand answers.

So far Ralph Caruso has ducked having to answer questions in public. When his one-on-one answers have been quoted, his anonymous supporters denounce the quotes as lies.

If any of you run into Ralph question him.

He can't duck all of you.

Here are some questions that demand answers:

Why does his first "Preservation Kit," the one he used to convince us to vote for a village, state repeatedly that he would not change zoning while now he says he would "tighten zoning" or change "vague" parts of our zoning law, or, to quote one of his running mates "tweak" it? Why didn't he mention "tweaking" the first time around?

Why does he still insist today that the village can pay $1 a year for town services even though we now know that, by the end of 2007, his village will get the lion's share of the revenue that now goes to the town?
Since he touts how well he researched the village, why didn't he let us know about that before hand?
Why has he still refused even to acknowledge that this is happening?

Why did he suggest that creating a village would somehow prevent annexation when state law is clear that the procedure hor annexing land from a village is exactly the same as the procedure for annexing land from a town?
If he claims that "if you read what I said carefully you'll see that I never claimed annexation couldn't happen" ask him why it was necessary to "read carefully?"
Why does a candidate rely on fine print and weasel words instead of telling us the truth clearly and openly?

Ask him why, at the fire company's forum at the IBEW, when the fire company legal specialist explained how the fire company would be dissolved, did Ralph again and again and again say "No you're wrong" without quoting facts, without quoting laws? And if he says, as some have reported, "afterwards the lawyer came over to me and said that I was right." ask him how that was possible when we all saw the lawyer leave long before the forum ended or Caruso ever left his seat? Ask why he won't say that in public, where he can refuted?

Ask him why he refused to go to the debate before the voters at the high school, and if he claims that OCEAN was biased against him ask him about the Times Herald Record's repeated assurances that the Record was in complete control of the format and the content. Why was this good enough for all three other mayoral candidates, but not good enough for him. And if he doesn't trust the Times Herald Record, why did he ask for a hidden debate, behind closed doors, attended only by the Record's editors? Is it OCEAN he is afraid of or the public?

If he says that he just didn't know any of this, ask him why every time that someone tried to explain it, Ralph loudly and repeatedly said they were wrong? Why didn't he listen and check things out instead of blindly stumbling forward, never once doubting his own certainty? Is that how he would act if he were mayor? Is that the way he "researches" the law?

Ask him if he'll put his answers in writing.

Let us all know what he says.

Post his answers here - if you get any.

And if he slides around the questions, if he changes the subjects, if he talks but says nothing, if he says he has no time, tell us that too?

Would you hire a mayor who won't answer your questions?

Patent Pending Revisited

The Uncle has gone to the vault to resurrect this Golden Oldie from November of '05. Some things are eternal new.

Is Ralphie as dependable as clockwork, or what?

Here it is, the day before the election, and what pops into mail boxes all over town?

Sugar plums?

Lumps of coal?

Nope.

The patented Caruso, always on time UNSIGNED LATE HITTING LIE.

And what a magnificent big stinking turd it is.

Dare I quote, or will Ralph sue for copyright infringement?

Town of Woodbury Town Board Members Voted Thursday Evening November 3, 2005 at a Hastily Called Regular Town Board Meeting – ok let’s pause here and admire the phrase "hastily called regular town board meeting."

Honestly, could any of you have produced such a work of art as that?

The Uncle (who in his youth attempted to pass the occasional whopper, learned the hard way, that lying, like wing walking and bear baiting, is a pursuit best left to the trained professional) could never dare dream of creating such an exquisitely bald faced lie.

It’s as if Ralph anticipates the reader will see this mutant flamingo of a statement and say –"Naw, it has to be true, it’s so, it’s so,…obviously self-contradictory that no one would make it up."

Yes indeedee, that’s how the human mind works. Show it the impossible and it will invent an explanation.

So, we have this HASTILY CALLED, REGULAR TOWN MEETING. And were there refreshments? Jumbo shrimp, perhaps?

Nope.

We are told that it "was Originally Scheduled as a "Work Session" Meeting."

(yes, of course it was, since every other work session is on Monday night, this mutant one was due on Thursday just so Sheila could be sneaky and turn it into a regular town meeting just like every other Thursday Town Meeting and oh my head hurts, but please, Ralph, continue)

"and Approved The Largest Zoning Change in Woodbury’s History!"

Woodbury’s history?

Just Woodbury’s history?

Don’t wuss out on us now Ralph. It’s an obvious typo. Has to be. I’m sure it was meant to say: The Largest Zoning Change In The History Of The World!"

And that’s only one side. Turn the page over. I dare you. "READ THIS ARTICLE" aha, John Burke has shown up.

Ralph was far too subtle, only captitalizing the first letter of every goddamned word.

None of that for big John, a hearty, well pompadored fellow, with capitalization to match – and yes, time for another pause while the Uncle draws yours mind's eye towards this happy band of warriors.

See them now, prancing in tights through Sherwood Forest.

Spry, young Robin - no other than Ralph, a leader among men, an object of yearning among women, steady as a rock and twice as humourless.

And Little John, quite obviously, the largest, most fearsome of the group: Carol Mullooly. A woman, yes, but manly in so many ways. A veritable walking rump roast of a warrior.

Friar Tuck – Burke himself. A man of the material world with just enough of the spiritual to get him into the Abbot’s wine cellar.

Maid Marian: Bubbles Reveille, sitting side-saddle atop a prancing roan (OK a large, prancing roan).

Alan a Dale and Will Scarlet: Henry(Hank) and Bo Amidee Haviland (or is it Bo Haviland Amidee?) The Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Brain-Dead of Woodbury politics.

And, off in his keep, humming "shoo fly don’t bother me" the mad Sheriff of Nottingham: Don the Ankle Biter.

And what brings this band of merry men together?

Why, it’s page two of the patented Unsigned Late Hitting Lie.

Ralph, exhausted by his labors on the first side ("Hastily," remember? "Regular," remember?) lies spent, in a coagulating pool of his own grey sweat.

And so John Burke, and all his capital letters, stolen, one at a time, from the Board of Ed (along with a lifetime supply of chalk) takes over:

READ THIS ARTICLE THE LAWS THAT WERE PASSED WILL PERMIT "HIGH DENSITY HOUSING" ON ALL THE LANDS LEFT TO BE BUILT IN WOODBURY!

Obviously the work of a lesser talent. "High density housing" indeed?

That one was already done to death.

Yes John, one house per acre John, high density John, sure John. Oh, ho hum! All the lands left in Woodbury. Oh fer sure fer sure. OK, OK.

I’m hard on John. But what he lacks in wit and originality he makes up for in productivity. A mere 14 words, and he has crammed in three whole lies.

We already know about High Density. But then there’s the little idea that this applies to all the lands left to be built on in Woodbury. And what backs this up? Why "read the article."

I’ll give John this, that last one is subtle. "Read the article" isn’t exactly a lie, because it doesn’t state any facts – all it does is imply.

And what does it imply?

That if you read the article, everything that Ralph and John wrote will be backed up, and by no less an authority than Chris McKenna.

Now give these boys credit. There’s the article, right on the same page, out in the open, for anyone to read.

And that’s the beauty part.

The article doesn’t say a blessed thing about any of this.

But they know no one is going to read it.

High density? – not in the article.

Applies to all the lands left to build on in Woodbury? – not in the article (except in Mike Erroneous’ fevered imaginings).

Hastily scheduled…originally work session…largest zoning change??? Nope, nope and nope. Not one blessed word about any of those in the article.

And they know you won’t read it.

Wanna sneak a peek?

Don’t tell anybody..shhh – here it is:

November 04, 2005Woodbury board OKs housingBy Chris McKennaTimes Herald-Recordcmckenna@th-record.comWoodbury –

The Town Board met last night at the Woodbury senior citizens center and adopted a package of laws allowing developer Bill Brodsky to proceed with plans to build 451 homes on land previously zoned for 148, off Dunderberg and Nininger roads.

All the votes were 4-1, with Councilman Michael Aronowitz casting the sole dissenting vote.

Supervisor Sheila Conroy and councilwomen Geraldine Gianzero, Lorraine McNeill and Colleen Campbell voted yes.

It was a strangely muted conclusion to a controversy that has stirred fierce opposition at town meetings. The crowd of about 100 was silent after the votes. Several spectators later rose to speak, but the board wouldn't let anyone talk about the project without the developer or his representatives there to respond.

Afterward, Conroy reiterated what she has said all along were some of the project's chief merits, including the donation of more than 100 acres of open space to the town and the inclusion of age-restricted houses."The thing I feel bad about is it was turned into a political issue from the beginning," she said.

Aronowitz, who has repeatedly urged the board to hold off on the votes until it finishes updating the town master plan, said afterward he was concerned both about the Brodsky project and a cluster-housing law just adopted that affects other large land parcels in town.

"To me, it's not just one project," he said.

Brodsky's proposal still needs Planning Board approval. That board has already begun reviewing the project, even though the Town Board had not yet adopted the required zoning modifications.

By the way, the Mayor of Las Vegas wants to cut the thumbs off graffiti artists – how come we never get to do fun stuff like that in Woodbury?

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Tonight's The Night

Tonight we get to bombard the candidates with questions. So be there or be square.

It starts 7 PM sharp so be in your seats by then.

Monroe Woodbury High School auditorium.

Show up, pay attention, ask questions, bring a warm coat (it's going down the the 30s).

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Love Letters In The Sand

Let's open up the Uncle's mailbag and see what there is to repond to.

"ub you like the idea of requests?"

Sure, why not. Some folks request a picture, some request that I stick it where the sun don't shine. To quote any number of ex-convicts: It's all good.

"Why dose it matter how long the supervisors term is or who the supervisor is since we have a new higher government with this new village board?? Did they talk about this extension before the village created or when it was talked about being created? "

Highway Super matters because, until the village decides to pull the plug, the town highway dept will take care of the roads. As to Town Supervisor, the town board will have a job to do, even though the village can choose to overrule them on most issues if it wants to. The subject came up before the vote on the village.

"lets see the written documentation where Ralph said it would prevent annexation!"

Bart Bloom, the lawyer whom Caruso brought to his phony forums, specifically claimed a village would prevent annexation. Ralph was cannier, the first annexation kit created the impression that the village would prevent annexation and surrounded it by weasel words so if he was challenged (like now) he had deniability (like now). Bottom line is he printed (I quote from memory - feel free to post the exact words):
"Can a village annex land from another village simply by asking for it? No." This was followed by those weasel words. If Ralph really wanted people to understand the issues he would have said the truth "annexing land from a village is exactly the same procedure as annexing land from a town."

"All of you need to grow up! You are a bunch of preschoolers with the pictures! you are all obsessed with Ralph! You all wish you good be him! You admire him! Just admit it! Thats the only reason you keep it up with these stupid pictures! Also, you know Ralph looks good no matter what suit he has on and that bothers you! Get over "

OK, I admit it.

"I heard a rumor that Geri Gianzaro is moving out of town soon and resigning from the town board! I think thats the best move she can make!"

How interesting. I myself heard a rumor that you are a bedwetter, sleep with your mom and eat dog feces.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Request Night at the Uncle's


It's not a bad look for him.

The Emperor's New Clothes

A number of posters seem to find fault in Ralph's Wardrobe.

Here at Uncle Headquarters we are always responsive to our readers' requests, and so we offer two possible makeovers.

More shall certainly follow, but darn, we are getting tired of using and reusing Ralph's official head shot. If any of you fine folk have photos of our friend please send them off to cuzzincookie@hotmail.com.

Attack of the Flying Monkeys


Two different sources have told us that this blog was cyber-attacked last weekend.

It was so successful, the Uncle barely noticed.

Gee, who might want to attack the sweet loveable Uncle?

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Over The Transom, Attached To A Garbage Can




Woodbury Self Preservation Team
Endorsed by the Woodbury Self-Preservation Team
Vote for us please, please, please, please, please, please.
We know where you live
Your Questions Danced Around
QUESTION
What would you do about zoning?
ANSWER
We would not alter zoning in any way unless, of course we do, but we're not going to, probably, yet, now that I think about it, neh, I'd leave it alone, I guess, except for changing it.
QUESTION
You have said that the fire district wouldn't be effected, but attorneys say that's not so. You have called for a referendum on zoning, but the town attorney points out that that is illegal in New York State. You have said that the WP3 project violates the Master Plan, but the Master Plan is clear that WP3 is within its guidelines. You have led people to believe that a village protects them from annexation, but state law makes it clear that it doesn't. Please explain.
ANSWER
I'm right. Everybody else is wrong.
QUESTION
You say that the village can be run for a under $150,000, but insurance alone will be more than that. Then there are huge legal bills, and the ongoing expenses of rental, salaries, etc. Explain.
ANSWER
I have been a full time resident of Woodbury for 35 years.
QUESTION
That doesn't explain your budget numbers.
ANSWER
I am an aide to State Senator Bill Larkin.
QUESTION
What does that have to do with my question?
ANSWER
Oh look, a kitty!
QUESTION
I just want an answer to my question.
ANSWER
I've spent as much time with you as I can, there's a campaign going on you know. We'll have answers for you right after the election.

Friday, October 20, 2006

Want Honest Elections? .......... Then Work For Them!

The Uncle has heard some stories.

Are they true?

Dunno.

But I sure as hell want to know.

So, you're all deputized. Have you heard anything about these stories. The Uncle wants to hear who is saying what.

There is a lie making the rounds that Stephanie Berean-Weeks is pro-KJ. That is to say, according to this bull, that she would sell out Woodbury to Szegedin and Weider. This sounds like pure Caruso crap. But is it being said, and if so, by whom?

If you have heard anyone repeating this lie, please drop the Uncle a line at cuzzincookie@hotmail.com

The second story is a somewhat differently colored horse, but again, the Uncle is looking for confirmation.

Fact, at the Fire Company's forum at the IBEW, the attorney who was making the presentation, Frank Simeone, attempted, repeatedly, to explain village law to Ralph Caruso. Simeone, quoted from legal statutes, Caruso didn't care, Simeone, gave specific cases as examples, Caruso, didn't care. Caruso kept saying that he was right and the law was wrong.

OK, so far no big whoop. That's just Ralph being Ralph.

But, now, it is reported that Ralph Caruso has told a number of people in the senior center that after the after the forum, the attorney came over to Ralph and said "My mistake, I was wrong and you're right."

This part NEVER HAPPENED. In fact, if you were there you know that the attorney left before the forum ended.

So, the important question is: is Ralph telling people this story? Is Ralph actually claiming that the attorney (who had already gone) said to Ralph "You're right, I'm wrong."???

If Ralph never told this whopper to anyone, then that should be made clear.

And if Ralph really is spreading this manure - everyone ought to know so that he can be exposed.

Please, have you heard this story? If so, from whom?

If your town (and now village) matters to you, make sure that people know the what's true and what isn't.

Send all info here to Uncle Central, once again, that email address is mailto:csuzzincookie@hotmail.com

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Foundering Father

Pardon Me, Mr. Caruso, Um, There Seems To Be A Problem

New village faces finances
Complicated budget issues for Woodbury
'October 17, 2006
By Chris McKenna


October 17, 2006Times Herald-Record
Woodbury — Residents here who voted in August to create a village with boundaries nearly identical to their town's gambled that their elected leaders could work through any future complications that might arise.

But just weeks before residents return to the polls Nov. 2 to elect the first Village of Woodbury board, town officials are getting a glimpse of the tangled financial issues that lie ahead as they enter what are largely uncharted waters in New York.Among the questions: Which government — town or village — will pocket the sales-tax and mortgage-tax income that Orange County sprinkles among its municipalities to help them meet their expenses?

Woodbury got roughly $2 million from those two sources in 2005. But now, as town officials prepare their budget for next year, they don't know if they can count on sharing the county's largesse any longer, because the new Village of Woodbury might get those checks instead.An even bigger issue: who will collect and spend more than $10 million in Woodbury property taxes? State law dictates the town relinquish its revenue to the village on June 1 — which raises the question of how the town will continue to pay its employees and meet its other obligations.

One possibility is that the village hands its money back to the town. But whatever the solution, some are blasting the activists who told voters before the village referendum that it would be as easy as "leasing" the police department and other town services for a token $1.

"I just think it was incredibly irresponsible," Councilwoman Geraldine Gianzero said yesterday. "Now the town is having to scramble to get answers to all of these questions."

Supervisor John Burke, Gianzero's Town Board colleague, holds fast to the optimistic view that he and other village advocates put out before the referendum: everything will work out in the end."I'm very positive about it," Burke said. "Since 2,100 people voted for a village, we must make it work."

Steve Gross, a spokesman for Orange County Executive Edward Diana, said yesterday that it might take weeks for the county's lawyers to decide how future sales- and mortgage-tax payments to Woodbury will be made."We wish we had the answers for that right now, but it's a complicated issue," he said. "This is an issue that nobody in the county has dealt with before."

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Name Calling

SO, as things now stand, we have just created the Village of Woodbury.

Only problem, it's kinda been done.

In Oyster Bay there is the Hamlet of Woodbury. Add to that our very own, non-coterminous Town of Woodbury and now the new Village of Woodbury...things are going to get just a tad confusing.

Orange County (the one in New York, as opposed to the one in California or the one in New Jersey or the one - say, did you know that Orange is the most popular county name in America? Honest. There's one Florida, Indiana, North Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Lord knows where else) what was I saying? Oh, yeah, Orange County already has the Town of Newburgh and the City of Newburgh, the Town of Monroe and the Village of Monroe ditto for Chester, Goshen. There are the Town and Village of Montgomery - as well as Fort Montgomery. And Warwick(Town and Village)which already gets confused with Walkill and Walden and whathaveyou. We've also got Highland Mills, Highland Falls, Highlands and Highland (well that's Ulster, but close enough).

So, why does the village have to have the same name as the town?

It doesn't!

But what should we call it?

Central Mills?

Highland Valley?

Harriman Junior?

Woodbury Commonwealth?

Newer York City?

Grenitch Village?

Village of the Darned?

Kiryas Ralph?

What say ye all?

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Friday, October 06, 2006

Meanwhile, In Another Part Of The Universe

Congress has just cut funds for research into traumatic brain injuries (one of most devestating injuries suffered by our troops in Iraq) from 14 million to 7 million. At the same time they have voted 20 million to be used for a (future) celebration of the successful completion of the wars in Iraq and Afganistan.

Just thought that you'd want to know.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

U.S. Sues Rockland Village For Denying Variance To Orthodox Group

wnbc.com


POSTED: 4:48 pm EDT September 26, 2006

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- The federal government accused a village of religious discrimination Tuesday for denying a zoning variance to a residence used by Orthodox Jews so they can visit a hospital on the Sabbath without breaking their law against driving.

In a lawsuit filed in White Plains, the government said that in denying the variance for a Shabbos House, the Rockland County village of Suffern was violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000. It requested an injunction against enforcement of any village laws that would burden the group's religious practice.

"This lawsuit enforces Congress' determination that local zoning regulations must give way when they unlawfully burden religious exercise," U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said.

A village attorney, Terry Rice, said that while he had not seen the lawsuit, the agency that requested the variance "did not claim it was a religious use."

"The zoning board applied New York state law and had no choice but to deny" the variance, he said.

The lawsuit says that from 1988 to 2004, Bikur Cholim Inc., an Orthodox Jewish service agency, provided meals and lodging for Orthodox Jews on the Sabbath and other holy days in a Shabbos House on the grounds of Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern. That allowed followers who wanted to visit or transport patients to avoid driving to or from the hospital on the Sabbath.

Believers would drive to the Shabbos House on Friday, before the Sabbath began at sundown, and then could walk to the hospital during the Sabbath and drive home afterward. The closest hotel is 3 1/2 miles away, Bikur Cholim lawyer Paul Savad said.

The Shabbos House also helped residents comply with other Sabbath prohibitions; for example, lights were on timers or left on throughout the Sabbath so the Orthodox would not have to use electric switches. The housing is free, so there is no money to be handled.

In 2004, when Good Samaritan expanded, the Shabbos House moved across the street from the hospital, into a newly built house in an area zoned for single-family homes. The village denied a building permit and a zoning variance that would have allowed use of the house by up to 14 people, the lawsuit says.

Savad, who represents Bikur Cholim in its own lawsuit against Suffern, said that under the Religious Land Use act, when a zoning variance is requested for the practice of religion, the municipality must show a compelling reason not to grant it. He said because the Shabbos House is on the fringe of a residential area and all cars would be parked at the hospital, the village has no good reason not to grant the variance.

"It's the same as if a couple had 12 people over for dinner and they stayed the night," he said.

He also said that Good Samaritan, a Catholic hospital, supports the Shabbos House.

Rice said it has not been established that such a "hotel-type" use is a religious use, but Savad said visiting the sick is a strongly held religious practice for Orthodox Jews and prayers and services are conducted on the Sabbath at the residence.

Despite the zoning decision, the Shabbos House is still operating pending court decisions.
© 2006 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Bella Donna

James Skoufis said...

The Donna Colombo for Mayor campaign and the CommUNITY Party issued a joint press release this morning stating that Donna has dropped out of the mayoral race and endorsed the entire CommUNITY Party slate of candidates.

I can say that Donna got well over the required number of signatures to get on the ballot and already has hundreds of supporters - through her ballet school, from door knocking, and from being a neighbor in Highland Mills for a dozen years. Despite this, as many of you have rightly pointed out, she feels it is more important that she unite behind another candidate so that others, who may have personal agendas and motives, do not get elected, and that people who have the best interests of the village in mind do.

I speak for myself when I say that, as a political novice and without going into specifics, I was astonished at the first-hand and third-hand politicking and under-handedness that I experienced in our small town in the short few weeks that Donna was on the campaign trail. I know that Donna entered the race in large part because she didn't want to see a "politics as usual" attitude to the new village and wanted to offer an option to vote for someone who wasn't involved in any political circles. I feel that we successfully shrugged off any attempts by the politicos to influence - often times adversely - our campaign. Despite this, I know Donna was extremely disheartened by the lies and underhandedness that she personally experienced while campaigning. She feels she could have won and I certainly feel she would have won, but it is in the best interest of the village that she step down and support the CommUNITY Party which both she and I can honestly say is made up of thoughtful, honest, and good-willed people. Thanks everyone and lets make sure the right people win in November.

You'll be able to read more about the endorsement in the THR and Photo News later this week.

Monday, September 18, 2006

A Plurality, not A Majority or..... How Ralph Can Win While Losing

A majority means more than half the votes.

A plurarity means more votes than anyone else.

In a two way race they are the same thing. In a three, four or more way race, they are very, very different.

There is no way that Ralph Caruso can get a majority of the votes in his run for mayor.

However, if, say, five people run, it is easy to see Ralph's hard core followers (and those who vote for him because they vaguely recognize the name) getting perhaps 25% of the vote, while no one else gets over 22% or 23%. That's a plurality.

So what? You just have a run off between the two top vote getters.

Un uh!

Not in New York.

Outside of NYC, election law doesn't allow for runoff elections.

One election only and whoever gets the most votes wins, even if it isn't a majorty.

The more people who run for mayor, the greater the chance that Ralph can swoop in and have it all.

And may God have mercy on our souls.

(An avuncular thank you to the Pieman for much of the above info on election law)

Friday, September 15, 2006

An Invitation Over The Transom


Swiller has struck again.


An Invitation


To The Candidates For Woodbury Village Board
and
To The People Of Woodbury


The slates for the Woodbury Village Board are taking shape. Pending sufficient petition signatures, three mayoral candidates have been announced as well as eight trustee candidates. There may be others.


Some of these people are well known, some are not.


Who are these people?


Where do they stand on the issues?


How do they intend to accomplish their goals?


OCEAN invites all candidates who will be on the ballot to a question and answer session.


We invite the public to come and ask those questions.


The date and time will be worked out with those candidates who agree to come.
The place will be announced once we have a date.


The candidates owe it to the people of Woodbury to answer all their questions.


The people of Woodbury owe it to themselves to know as much as possible about the candidates.


Contact us at info@NYOCEAN.org
or at 845-928-9273

Good One Ralph. But Seriously, Who Are Your Candidates Going To Be?

Candidates line up for Woodbury Village elections on Nov. 2
Highland Mills
-

Two slates of candidates announced this week their plans to run for mayor and trustees for the new Village of Woodbury.The elections are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Woodbury Senior Center.

The new 37-square mile village consists of the entire Town of Woodbury except its portion of the Village of Harriman, part of which is in Monroe. About 10,000 people are estimated to be eligible to vote.

Previously, Donna Colombo of Highland Mills, the owner of Studio 32, announced her independent candidacy for mayor.

The candidates who announced this week and their affiliations are:The Citizens For The Preservation Of Woodbury unanimously endorsed Ralph Caruso for mayor and Adrienne F. Fuchs, Benjamin L. Meyers, William F. Mullooly and George Pedersen for the four trustee positions, according to a press release.

“This well-qualified team is committed to a village government that is responsive to the residents,” Caruso said in the press release. “They are solidly in support of the continuation of present town services, as we know them today, and will vigorously fight any attempts to annex any land from Woodbury, along with reviewing the present zoning codes, to identify areas in need of tightening.
“This team brings with them, broad backgrounds in management, government, planning, zoning, labor relations, education and common sense,” Caruso added.

Meanwhile, a second new political organization - the CommUNITY Party - has announces its slate: Stephanie Berean-Weeks of Highland Mills for mayor, Joann Stabile of Highland Mills and Patrick Kinney of Central Valley as the two trustee positions for the term ending April 2009 and Neil Crouse and Michael Kling, both of Highland Mills, for the term ending April 2008.

Members of the CommUNITY party also have elected Maria Hunter as chair, Clifford Weeks as vice chair, James Booth as secretary, and Carol Herb as treasurer.

In the group’s press release, Hunter said: “The experience and background of the CommUNITY Party leaders and slate of candidates will assure a smooth transition, and quality leadership for our new Village.

”Meanwhile, Booth said the party is in the process of creating a Web site for its candidates and their platform.Candidates must file petitions at the Woodbury Town Clerk’s office by Sept. 28 to be on the ballot.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Come Home Little Ralphling, It's Time For Your Meds

Anonymous said...
"What's a friendly annexation ? Oh I know the answer. That's when KJ petitions the town for our land and Lorraine Mcneil, Gerry Genzaro, Mike Queenan and Mike Aranawitz all vote yes and John Buke votes no. "

Okiedoke.

Does this one even make sense?

We know Ralph hates Gerri and the Mikes because they don't listen to him in the adoring way that they used to before we had they kidnapped and deprogrammed. And they hate Lorraine on general principles (she's so sassy!).

But, at least make the accusations sound slightly plausible.

Like working for al Qaeda.

How about aiding and abetting the Lindburgh baby kidnapping?

Loitering, vagrancy and mopery?

Lese majeste? (Which is Ralph's real complaint.)

In point of fact, the danger of annexation would have been greater if the Brodski property had been put on the market (and you know who was lurking in the shadows to snatch it up).

And the only board member who voted to force Brodski to sell was, guess who, John Burke (or is it Buke?).

Friday, September 08, 2006

We're Gonna Keep Doing This Until You Get It Right

Does forming a village prevent annexation?


a)
yes


b)
sorta


c)
kinda


d)
a little


e)

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Is Swiller Getting Soft?

Nothing like a little shared outrage to bring enemies together.

For almost two years now, any public forum in Wood-bury has brought out a battle-hardened crowd of activ­ists, divided roughly in half and pounding away at each other over the Brodsky development proposal and other matters.

Never has there been a more fractious place. But a curious thing hap­pened last Monday. Town Hall filled up withpeople, and they were all on the same side.
Everybody wanted to quash a tax break for the soon-to-be-built Hampton Inn.

All differences were cast aside, at least for this occasion.The harmonious mood was evi­dent as Jonathan Swiller listened thoughtfully to his sparring part­ner, Ralph Caruso, who stood at the lectern and administered a few lashes to theproposed tax break. And when he finished, Swiller applauded.

(Times Herald Record, Sunday, September 3, 2006)

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Late Word From Planet Caruso

Letters to the editor for August 30, 2006

August 30, 2006
Thanks to voters
Thanks to all our residents for the creation of the Village of Woodbury on Aug. 10. The voter turnout was great, with almost 80 percent of the voters who turned out (a 4-1 ratio) supporting the creation of the Village of Woodbury.I thank the residents for taking the time to vote, when in many cases it caused a late start of a vacation, cutting a vacation short and, in some cases, completely delaying a vacation to another time. We all realized that our families, our homes, our quality of life and our community are most important to us.
Many thanks to the members of the Citizens for the Preservation of Woodbury and the volunteers for their dedication and hard work, assuring that our residents received accurate information.
We are now on the right road, with the election of the Village Board members not too long in the near future.
As time gets closer to this election, the Citizens for the Preservation of Woodbury will participate in the process to assure that the proposals as presented to the residents in the preservation kit will be fully adhered to, fulfilled and implemented.
If there are any questions,
I remain available at 928-2059.Ralph Caruso
chairman, Citizens for the Preservation of Woodbury

Rut roh!

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

The Uncle Fesses Up

It's confession time folks. It's time that you knew the sad truth about Uncle Betty.

The Uncle is physically incapable of lying.

This is a rare condition called, ortholalia. It is due to the underdevelopment of the part of the brain, the Islets of Caruso, which allow a healthy human being to fib, mislead, prevaricate and fudge the facts. All normal, fun activities, denied to the Uncle.

Some doctors theorize that the stunting of the Islets of Caruso is due to excessive intake of hot chocolate by the expectant mother- Fetal Ovaltine Syndrome.

Be that as it may, the result is a damaged human, one who is unfit for many lucrative careers - law, politics, journalism.

I am letting you know this about the Uncle because I have absolutely, totally, completely nothing to hide (other than my identity).

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Late News From The Sea

Swiller just emailed this to the Uncle:


Stop the Ripoff of the Monroe-Woodbury School District

Monday, 1 PM, Woodbury Town Hall

On Monday, August 28th, at 1 in the afternoon, there will be a hearing in Woodbury Town Hall, held by the Orange County Industrial Development Agency on whether to grant a tax abatement to the new Hampton Inn hotel being built behind Kohl's Department Store.


This abatement would cost the Monroe-Woodbury School District as much as $1,500,000 a year.


Here are some main points:

* When the Hampton Inn made it's presentations before the Woodbury Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeal at which they asked for and received approvals and variances, they made no mention of seeking a tax abatement.
* The OCIDA's own requirements for eligibility for tax abatement specifically exclude hotel's, but the Hampton Inn is trying to slip through a loophole for "Tourist Related Industry."
* OCIDA's abatement program exists to lure desirable industries, such as those in high tech, that pay high salaries. Hotels create low paying jobs such as cleaning staff, bell hops, etc.


This hearing ought to take place in the evening. Most of you work during the day, and so attending a meeting at 1 PM on a Monday is not possible. But if you can be there, please show up and let the OCIDA know how you feel.


If you can't come, you can send your views by email to OCEAN at info@nyocean.org and we will deliver them at the meeting. Please do this before noon on Monday.


The County has already deprived us of our fair share of revenue from The Common, don't let it happen again.



Friday, August 25, 2006

Bo Knows

Bo knows that the village election was a vote of no confidence in the town board. How this piece of information was revealed to him has yet to be made public, but Bo knows (and Nike spent Millions a decade and a half ago to drum that into our heads).

George Pedersen knows that "you, with your vote in overwhelming numbers, spoke loud and clear that zoning and master plan issues should be decided by vote." Again how he knows is not known. Nor does he know that a referendum on zoning is illegal in New York State.

The Uncle hasn't heard from Ralph Caruso for a while (my, I hope that doesn't mean that he's miffed with me) but I'd hazard a guess that if you asked Senator Larkin's aide and 253 year full time resident of Highland Mills, he'd say that he knows that the vote was a vote for him and his Committee For The Perversion Of Woodbury to take hold of the reins of power.

He may also know , but not say, that most of the residents of Woodbury wouldn't let him anywhere near those reins and so he's probably prepping his proxies to hold them for him.

We're still waiting to see if Ralph heads his slate with the Polysyllabic Prevaricator, the Boring Baron of Bullshit, none other than John (The Plodder) Baranowski. Runner up in the betting is Bob (Mr. Bubbles) Reveille.

But back to what everyone knows.

Here's what the Uncle knows:

The Uncle knows that the vote was one more piece of proof that, as a motivator, fear works every time.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

The Public Has Mumbled

Well, the public has spoken, or not spoken, as the case may be. The few of you who did speak seem to be far more interested in Swiller’s finances than in my own and the Uncle takes no small umbrage at that. (By the way, if any of you hear tell of a missing small umbrage, remember I said that I didn’t take one.)

But, on the whole what you seem to be saying (and not saying) is that most of you don’t really give a rat’s nether region if the Uncle puts up ads or not.

I’ll take that as an overwhelming "YES!"

Hell, if Bo can decide retroactively that the village vote was actually a referendum on how the Town Board was doing its job, I feel at liberty to interpret this poll in any way I damn well please.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Does The Uncle Sell Out?

The Uncle has been plastering his blather (and your counter-blather) onto the internet for almost 10 months now. And in that time you folks have shown up nearly 40,000 times.

Holy Babbage, that's a lot of hits.

If the Uncle were a more mercenary sort, he'd sell ad space on this blog and make a very minor fortune.

But the Uncle doesn't do things that way.

He sees you, dear readers and commenters, as friends, as family - and one does not make money exploiting friends and family.

Well, the head of the Woodbury Republican committee might.

Bill Larkin's Aide might.

But the Uncle?

No way!

That being said, allow me to point out one thing:

THE UNCLE IS A FRIPPING IDIOT!

Mother of Lulabelle! There's money to be made here.

See how far you can get on the pension of a retired Central American dictator.

The Uncle didn't even think to negotiate Dental when the junta was banging on the Presidential Palace door.

So....

How disgusted, horrified and just plain pissed would you folks be if the Uncle let an ad or two creep onto the damn blog?

This is a democracy. Scare me enough and I'll keep things as they are.

But demonstrate the apathy that Woodbury is known and loved for and LONG GREEN - HERE I COME (say, didn't Long Green star on Bonanza?).

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Seeing The Light

Much as I hate to admit it, sometimes the Uncle is just plain slow.

I watched the last town board meeting. Fully prepared for "the show" as John Burke calls it.

I had my buttered pop-corn, my Diet Dr. Pepper, my cat, all the things that one needs for full enjoyment of our own, home-grown version of "Mad TV."

I loved seeing Bo explain that the village vote was a referendum on the Town Board and that there was 90% turnout in the last presidential election.

I ate it up when Caruso explained that he’d challenged the voter registration of all the Jews on Milval and Serpi because those are "summer bungalows".

I was thrilled to see the Rump Roast, just for old times sake.

But I didn’t quite get the whole "Seasonal Dwelling" thing. Obviously something was going on. Obviously Swiller was on one side and the Ralphlings were on the other. But what exactly was the issue?

So, the Uncle sent out the nieces and the nephews to snoop around a little.

Here’s what it’s all about (near as we can decode it).

Swiller lives in a place called Raananah Park. It was built about 70 years ago as a summer community; what was then called, generically, a "bungalow colony".

Well, there are no bungalows there now. Over the decades the houses have been rebuilt and it’s now one of the most beautiful communities in town - substantial homes (with not a bi-level in sight), huge lawns, and a humongous number of trees. Trees everywhere. Tons of trees.

No wonder KJ’s clear-cutting ways don’t sit well with Swiller.

And, the residents there pay full taxes.

But, once upon a time it was called a bungalow colony.

And that’s what Caruso and Donnelly are trying to use to get Swiller’s place called "Seasonal."

Because...

If it’s "Seasonal" no one can live there after the "Season." That would be from June 15th to October 15th.

It seems the whole point of the Seasonal Law is to keep summer cabins without heat or winter water or insulation or proper leech fields from being used year round.

Those homes in Raananah Park are no summer cabins. Each one is a hell of a lot nicer than Caruso’s shack (which looks like a mobile home).

But, there were Caruso and Donnelly and Mullooly and a brand new Ralphling named Mary Beth King, all trying to get Swiller thrown out of his home.

You gotta hand it to Ralph. Just when you think you know how scummy he is, he shows you that he was just warming up.

If he can’t beat you politically. And he can’t get you to buy his lies. And he can’t scare you. And his smears don’t work. He’ll just try to get you thrown out of your home.

What a fine human being.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Cincinnatus Speaks

(The Uncle received this email, signed “Cincinnatus.” )

There are those men to whom the rest of us are merely background, or pawns, or, worse yet, prey. Lacking in empathy, they are willing to do or say anything to advance their goals. The truth or a lie are of equal weight, whichever comes first to hand will do. And what happens to those of us damaged by their actions is of no consequence at all.

It seems that two such men are Ralph Caruso and Gedalye Szegedin. Each to the other, a face in the mirror.

In front of them they extend their fingers – for Ralph, there are Donnelly and Siebold and Baranowski and other such – for Gedalye, there are Wieder and Felberman and Witriol and more. Some are merely blunt instruments and some are used for finer work, but they are no more than tools, and liars all.

And behind these two men, deeper removed into the shadows, there are other men. For Caruso there is Larkin. For Szegedin there is Hirsch.

But let us keep our gaze on Caruso and Szegedin. Through conspiracy or merely confluence of interest, they have now achieved a shared goal. Woodbury is a village.

Caruso’s lust to have this come about is evident, but do not doubt that it was Szegedin’s goal as well.

These past two weeks, every action taken in the name of Kiryas Joel moved us toward a Village of Woodbury:

...Attorney Lynch’s announced (but barely felt) appeal to halt the vote.
...The sudden appearance of 200 new voters – the greatest number deciding that the bungalow colonies were their primary residences, while Brooklyn was a mere vacation venue.
...The formation of a brand new homeowners association (presided over by Kiryas Joel’s own Director of Public Safety – a President who did not even know that his members live on Milval and not Melville) with the announced intent of registering 300 disgruntled (we are told) residents.
...And, most telling of all, an astonishing letter from our neighbor, Mayor Abraham Wieder, telling us that he is such a fine and unassuming neighbor and begging us to vote “no.”

And every one of these events frightening the Woodbury folk into voting yes.

How remarkable.
How unforeseen.

Could Szegedin ever have imagined that all these actions might actually result in a “yes” vote?

Without a doubt.

How fortunate for Ralph, that when his fortunes ebbed; that when the united might of the town employees and the firemen and the policemen all seemed poised to kill this Village of Woodbury scheme, once and for all – that suddenly the powers that be in KJ act, and act again, and again, and a fourth time – and every action taken in the name of Kiryas Joel moved us toward a Village of Woodbury.

How lucky for Ralph.

How unlucky for the rest of us.

And now we must look back and ask why.


And we must look forward – and this time think past our fear and act wisely

Friday, August 11, 2006

Village Of The Damp

Okiedoke
So, the Village of Woodbury is created. The vote is 17 gazillion to 3 (it seems that someone other than Booth and Swiller voted no).

Now what?

Well first, if the number of challenged voters is greater then the margin of victory the machines will be sealed and the official announcement of the vote will be held in abeyance pending resolution of the challenges.

It aint.

Next, the New York State Secretary of State is given official notification of the creation of a brand spanking new village.

Then KJ Mayor Wieder denounces everybody and threatens to sue someone.

Next Town Clerk Desiree Potvin appoints Desiree Potvin as Village Clerk.

Next Village Clerk Desiree Potvin places a notice in the Town's Newspaper of Record announcing an opening for a village idiot.

Then our taxes go up, the village goes bankrupt and we hang Ralph in effigy or in Strawtown.

Damn, Schenectady is a long way to go for a beer.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

What About That Other Village Slouching Towards Woodbury To Be Born

OK, the Uncle has told us a horror story about the Village of Woodbury, but if we vote no, what about the dreaded Village of KJ jr?

It could happen.

That is so.

The Pie Man claims that he has an Up-against-the-wall-If-All-Else-Fails-What-the-hell-we're-all-doomed-anyway Plan that's crazy enough that it might just work.

But that's no guarantee.

So, how likely is a Village of KJ jr?

The Uncle, the Pie Man and the mysterious Mr. Zed all say "It could happen, but don't count on it."

Why not?

Szegedin's first choice is annexation.

A nice big chunk, right into his hands.

A KJ jr wouldn't exactly be his.

Remember, Ralph Caruso got one Woodbury Town Board member elected after another.

And, once in office, one after another escaped his clammy grip.

KJ jr would require it's own board. The village and it's board would owe their existences to Grampa Gedalye. But, little by little, they might just find their own way in this world.

Grampa might hold back on Jr's allowance. He might order Jr to bed with no dinner. But he can never be absolutely sure that Jr won't climb out the bedroom window, keys to the family Chevy in hand.

Not only that. A village, Sr or Jr, needs well disciplined voters to keep things going the way Grampa wants.

Back home he sees his majority becoming thinner and thinner. The dissidents are growing. Some say an honest vote would show they are the real majority already.

How many trained and disciplined voters can Szegedin spare to hold the natives in check in the new village when things at home are already so tenuous?

And, none, none of these problems would be confronted with a nice clean annexation.

So, is a KJ jr impossible? Nope. But it sure isn't choice number one.

A Bedtime Story

A few years back, if memory serves, when John Karl first ran for the Monroe Village Board, the folks who run KJ hated his guts and wanted him to lose.

So they endorsed him.

Now, everything that KJ's bosses are doing -

announcing a suit to stop the Village of Woodbury vote -
suddenly registering 200 new voters -
having Moses Witriol (KJ's head of Public Safety) announce the formation of the specious South West Woodbury Home Owners Association -
writing a letter to people throughout Woodbury begging them to vote no

all of that has had one single effect:
to scare a great many Woodburians into voting yes.

Think that's not what they intended?

A few weeks back one of the Uncle's favorite pen pals (I won't say who, but pie comes to mind) emailed the following scenario - the Uncle has been hoarding it until this very night.

Let us say the Village of Woodbury is created.

And let us say a group of people all answerable to one man (Ralph Caruso for example, to pick a name at random) is elected to run the Village of Woodbury.

And them some little time later, the Village of Kiryas Joel submits an annexation request for a humongous portion of Woodbury.

Well the boards of the Village of Woodbury and the Town of Woodbury will both say no, of course.

The powers that be in KJ might well threaten to take the matter to court.

Now, someone looking out for our interests, perhaps one such as Ralph, might well say "court is expensive and you can never tell how they'll decide, can't we work something out?"

And Messrs Szegedin and Wieder will respond "We are reasonable men. Of course we can work out a compromise. Instead of this humongous portion of Woodbury, which we see that you are loathe to part with, give us only ACE Farms (and a bit around it) and the Banda properties on Acres Road and Bakertown Road and Blueberry Lane {which by the way has access to Cromwell Lake, Woodbury's back up water supply}, and Milval (which we enjoy calling Melville) and Serpi and Schunemunk and Amdur Park and the Bungalow Colonies on Owen and a little of this and a little of that."

And, Mr Caruso, or whomever, might well say, "Gee, you already own lots of that, so why not? But do you promise never to come back and ask for more?"

"We most surely do," they will reply in unison.

"Done deal!"

And, one expects, the Village of KJ Board will vote yes, and the Village of Woodbury board (under the wise guidance, perhaps, of Mr. Caruso) will vote yes and all eyes will turn to the Town of Woodbury Board.

And many voices will plead and cajole and argue with the Town Board to say yes.

Do not be surprised if Mr. Baranowski and Mr. Reveille and Mr. Donnelly and Mrs. Mullooly and Mr. Haviland and Mrs. Gerard and Mr. Siebold and Mr. Ungerer and Mrs. Fitzgerald and Mr. Sullivan and Mrs. Reveille and Mr. Seyferth and Mrs. Ungerer and Mrs. Gross-Ferraro -- that is to say all the wise and independent voices that so often try to lend us their wisdom and their independence--will importune the Town Board to say yes.

And Mr. Caruso might well ask the same.

And our Town Supervisor, wisest and independentest of all, might ask the Board "What say you?"

And, perhaps, the Board will remain unmoved and they might very well say no.

Then What?

Then back to court. The very thing that Caruso (perhaps) tried to steer us from at the start. But now the court will be told "Look, your honors, the Village of KJ says yes, the Village of Woodbury says yes, and only the mean and obdurate (look it up, it's a word) Town of Woodbury says no.

"But" say the lawyers "The Town of Woodbury Board is led by a man who has put into print the view that Woodbury must protect its "HERITAGE" from the black garbed men of KJ."

"HE SAID WHAT?" screams the court.

"Just as we have told you, and he has said they pose the threat of creating an 'Imbalance of Voting.'"

"BIGOTED SNOT!" yells the court, "We will have none of it. The annexation is allowed!"

Now it's past your bed times, so turn off the light and go to sleep.

HYDE PARK

Want to post your vote, do it just below at "ONE WORD ONLY"

Want to comment on the vote?

Do it here.

One Word Only

Yes or No?

That's all the Uncle is asking.

If you live in Woodbury and want the world to know how you will vote, say it here and say it now.

Here are the rules:

1) You must sign in using your real name.

2) you must type one word only, either "yes" or "no".

3) you must live in Woodbury.

ALL ANONYMOUS POSTS WILL BE DELETED.
ALL POSTS WITH ANYTHING MORE THAN "YES" OR "NO" WILL BE DELETED.

NON-WOODBURY FOLKS, PLEASE POST AT HYDE PARK ABOVE, NOT ON THIS THREAD.

If you want to comment, explain your vote, yell and curse- you have to do that at some other entry on this blog. Feel free to go to the entry just above this one, labeled "HYDE PARK." and vent to your hearts content or explain 'til your blue in the face - but not on this one thread.

This entry is for ONE WORD ONLY.

Use a phony name - it will be deleted.
Say "Yes, but.." or "No, because..." - it will be deleted.

If you see your name falsely entered by someone else (now who would do that?) email the Uncle immediately at cuzzincookie@hotmail.com .

For those of you who don't know how to comment:
you have to hit the word "comments" immediately below this entry,
type "yes" or "no" in the box,
choose "other" (NOT ANONYMOUS),
type in your full name - first and last,
you can ignore the line for "your web page",
type in the strange looking letters that appear above the box labeled "Word Verification."
If you mistype those letters you get as many more chances as you need, don't get flustered.

If you have questions send them to cuzzincookie@hotmail.com

Ralph, If You're Trying To Screw Me, At Least Buy Me Dinner First.

Some fun facts from tonights forum at the IBEW:

John (let the public speak) Burke was asked by the Fire Commissioners (who put together the forum) to broadcast it on channel 22. Big John's response "Absolutely not!" What makes this most interesting is that Burke doesn't have the power to make that decision - it's up to the whole town board - and Burke had since last Thursday to get their views - only it sorta slipped his mind.

Ralph (Committee for the Perversion of Woodbury) Caruso was whomped upside the head repeatedly for putting out his fact-free booklet. Seems he couldn't quite explain how he could claim to know exactly what the possible future village board would choose to do and exactly how much those imiginary decisions would cost.

Jonathan ("you're on your own") Swiller said that he couldn't tell anyone else how to vote but he was voting "no." Is that sorta, kinda, maybe like a hint?

We all learned one hell of a lot about fire departments, fire companies and fire fighting volunteers, only the Uncle couldn't follow most of it (nor could Ralph who kept confusing a coterminus town and village with a coterminus village and fire district).

We heard that a new village might well have to spend $200,000 a year just on insurance. We're not quite sure where that would fit into Ralph's total $140,000 village budget. (And that doesn't even begin to include the gazillion dollars in legal fees it would cost to set up the damned village).

No one asked about the rest of Ralph's wierd numbers like a projected $7500 a year for village clerk. Village clerks in even the most stripped down villages have full time, day to day responsibilities like recording village board actions, handling FOILs, keeping the village records, etc, etc.. They also have to run village elections which includes registering voters, receiving and verifying petitions, creating poll books, overseeing election day nicities like poll watchers and voting machines and such like, tabulating and reporting results. All that and more for $7,500 a year? Wow!

It turns out that Joe Ferguson is still alive.

Bob Reveille and John Baranowski were not visibly present. Rumor has it that Caruso's mind meld was wearing off so they had to be locked in a basement somewhere until they could be re-reprogrammed.

The Toad, the Rump Roast and the Ankle Biter were present and took turns confusing everyone.

Bubbles and Bo were AWOL.

Bubble's whereabout were unknown.

As to Bo, legend has it that during the full moon he turns into a normal person.

McKenna was there for the Record, a cutie named Caitlin was there for the Photo News and Channel 12 was there - hey wait - Channel 12 was allowed to have its cameras there, but the Town of Woodbury wasn't?