An era ends

Last week the region lost an icon.

Having had the pleasure of knowing Dave Chant for over two decades, I join the many who are mourning the loss of this truly great man.

I first met him in 1999, having only grown up seeing his name seemingly attached to every piece of “for sale” real estate all over the area.

Anyone who knew him knows from the first moment you meet him that he was someone very special, a person who could go into a room where two parties were at an impasse and would find a compromise.

When it came to the true art of the deal, to me no one was better than he; no one.

He was a master class in so many ways, with extensive knowledge of numerous subjects and a charm that would make any conversation one you didn’t want to end.

Dave was a mentor to many of us, and it was a privilege to be able to pick up the phone or shoot him a text about an issue or problem, as you knew no matter how busy he was you would always get a response with some very creative advice.

His impact and legacy on this region will forever live on, and I’m a better person for the positive influence he had on my life.

Rest in peace and thank you, Dave!

Ned Sader
Wayne County, PA

Radio Catskill wants to hear from you!

My name is Pete Madden, and I’m the new chairman of the community advisory board for 90.5 WJFF Radio Catskill. Community feedback and support mean everything to us, as a listener-supported public radio station, and I’m writing to ask that you play a crucial part in our future planning by participating in the attached survey.

This is an exciting time at the station. We are expanding our local newsgathering operation and increasing efforts to engage with our listeners and supporters as we seek to make 90.5 WJFF Radio Catskill the region’s go-to source for reliable information and cultural connectivity. Your feedback on this survey is priceless as we set goals, make decisions, and determine next steps. 

If you’re a regular listener, we want to know what you like, what you don’t like, and what you think might be missing. And if you’re not a regular listener, we want to know what might make you consider tuning in. 

We’ll deliver the results of the survey to the station’s board of trustees, and use the data we collect to make recommendations to the station’s leaders throughout the year. Your input truly matters!

As a small token of our appreciation for your participation, your response to the survey will enter you into a drawing to win one of the following: 

$50 gift certificate to One Grand Books.

$75 gift certificate to use at one of the Foster Supply Hospitality restaurants (The DeBruce, Kenoza Hall, Piccolo Paese Ristorante Italiano and others).

Two tickets to a 2023 mainstage production at the Forestburgh Playhouse.

Two lawn tickets to a 2023 pavilion concert of your choice at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and two tickets to the Museum at Bethel Woods.

Thank you in advance for your participation and support, and thank you again for listening!

Pete Madden
Yulan, NY

This should be edifying

Can all Tusten property owners who have received a building permit from the Tusten code enforcement officer within 48 hours of submitting your building permit application please raise your hand?

Brendan P. Weiden and Kathleen M. Weiden, owners, the Narrowsburg Union
Narrowsburg, NY

One-acts at the Tusten were as good as it gets

The recent production of “All In the Timing” by the Act Underground Theatre at the Tusten Theatre was an unqualified success. 

It is not easy to pull off small-town theatre, given life’s constraints for actors and the director. But Kyoshin Lohr, the director, has managed to do just that. Imagine the challenge of simply getting actors together for rehearsals! 

Acting in five different plays on the same stage is a challenge. The actors in this production needed to shift into different characters quickly and to take on a wide range of roles. 

This challenge was most apparent in the play titled “The Universal Language.” It was amazing to see how the actors managed to learn lines that were mostly made up of gibberish. Only actors who are as engaged and as dedicated to their work could make the performance seem as natural and effortless as it was. (It was an effort for the audience to simply follow the “language” in that act.)

Finally, the set design was clever. A spotlighted cartoon focused the audience for each of the plays. The cartoonish figure allowed us to see the humorous perspective of each act. This humor allowed for the more important messages of the acts: mortality in “Trotsky,” optimism vs. pessimism in “Philadelphia,” meaning in life in “Words,” and, above all, running throughout all the acts, the search for connection with others.

Sullivan County is lucky to have such quality artistic work.

Ross Robak
Glen Spey, NY

Focus on restoring the earth

A recent letter to the editor supported the idea of spending less time and money on home restoration and instead appreciating the earth, which “restores itself for free.” 

I would reframe that idea: work less on your home and more on restoring the earth, because our choice of non-native plants, our use of poisonous sprays and our farming practices are destroying the soil and the pollinators we depend on. 

One step you can take to begin to undo the damage would be to email or call your New York State legislators to support the NY Birds and Bees Protection Act (A7429A/S1856). This act would eliminate 80-90 percent of neurotoxins from our state.

Saving pollinators is not some abstract ideal; the American bumblebee population is down 89 percent countrywide, 99 percent in New York—and they are 100 percent gone from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island. 

Email shrathas@nyassembly.gov, maherb@nyassmbly.gov, or GuntheA@nyassembly.gov in the Assembly, and hincheym@nysenate.gov or oberacker@nysenate.gov in the Senate.

Doris Chorny
Wallkill, NY 

Sullivan PBA endorses Cawley

The Sullivan County Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) announced its endorsement of Republican District Attorney candidate Tom Cawley. In a vote open to all members, Cawley easily bested his Democrat opponent Brian Conaty, carrying 67.5 percent of the vote.

“I am very grateful to the hardworking members of the Sullivan County Patrolmen’s PBA for their support of my campaign,” said Cawley. “I am a life-long supporter of law enforcement and I have had the pleasure to work with PBA members while in the district attorney’s office and the county attorney’s office. I promise that when I am elected, rank-and-file police will have no better friend than me.”

The Sullivan County PBA represents the interests of working police throughout Sullivan County and serves as the lead negotiating entity on labor contracts and disputes.

“I’ve known Tom Cawley for many years, and I can tell you that with three decades of experience, he is the right man to lead the district attorney’s office in Sullivan County,” said Jack Harb, Sullivan PBA president. “Law enforcement officers need a leader in the DA’s office and not someone who needs on-the-job training. Tom Cawley will prosecute criminals to the fullest extent of the law and do so professionally and forcefully. Our members are proud to stand with Tom and support his campaign.”

The opening for Sullivan district attorney was created when Meagan Galligan resigned from office to accept a Supreme Court Judgeship. Tom Cawley is the only registered Republican running for district attorney.

Sullivan County Patrolman’s Benevolent Association
Sullivan County, NY

Endorsing Ashley Zimmerman for magistrate

It is with great pleasure that I write this endorsement letter for Ashley Zimmerman, who I believe would be an excellent choice for magistrate.

As a resident of Pike County for many years, I have had the opportunity to observe Ashley’s dedication to the community firsthand, and I have no doubt that she would serve the people of this county with distinction. 

Ashley is a compassionate and hard-working individual who places a high value on public service. As a lawyer, assistant public defender and hearing officer in the court system, she has a deep understanding of the legal process and the importance of upholding the law, while also being fair and just. There is nothing that would come before her as a magistrate that she has not already seen or could not manage handily. 

These are our tax dollars being put to work, and we need to get the absolute best possible value for those dollars. Additionally, Ashley is committed to being accessible to all members of the community and ensuring that their voices are heard. 

Ashley’s leadership skills and ability to collaborate with others make her an excellent candidate for magistrate. She has shown an unwavering commitment to working with individuals and groups from all walks of life, and her ability to listen and find common ground is an asset to any team or organization. She has a proven track record of bringing people together to achieve common goals, and I have no doubt that she would do the same as a magistrate. 

I strongly endorse Ashley Zimmerman for magistrate, and urge you to vote for her in the upcoming election. Her dedication, experience and leadership skills make her an ideal candidate for this position, and I am confident that she would serve the people of our townships with integrity and professionalism. 

Roger Saumure
Shohola, PA