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!

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!

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

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.

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

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?

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?