Rochester Smoke Out

Before I forget: please attend the Rochester Republican Caucus, today, Monday, August 12, 6:30 PM at the Accord Firehouse.

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This caucus will mark about four years of having Captain David O’Halloran at the helm of the local Republican Party. If you ask me “is the Party better off than it was four years ago?” I would ask right back “What Party?” The Town of Rochester Republican Party was destroyed, courtesy of David O’Halloran and Terry Bernardo.

Even before he took over the town’s Republican Committee, O’Halloran fancied himself as the strongman of the Republican Party. One incident stayed with me since 2005, when O’Halloran forced Carl Chipman to end his run for a seat on the Town Board, openly threatening him: “If you want a political future in this town, stop running this year, do not challenge Tom Ryan.”

After O’Halloran took over the town’s Republican Committee, all he did was to kiss Bernardos’ collective ass, hoping to profit from their close relationship with Senator John J. Bonacic, the Chairman of the Senate Racing Committee, Wagering and Gaming. At the end of four years of being in cahoots with the Bernardos, O’Halloran had an induced epiphany, and these are his own words:

“Len & Terry are despicable people without convictions, ethics or any sense of integrity. My shame, I allowed their reign to grow because personal pride: having previously invested vast political capital in Len, I was too concerned of my political status.”

In a fluff article in this Sunday’s Daily Freeman, Paula Ann Mitchell (of Bernardo-on-the-trapeze fame) quotes O’Halloran:

O’Halloran also is active in local politics, heading the Republican Committee in the town of Rochester and serving on the Rondout Valley Board of Education. He resigned from the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency board this spring and recently stepped down as the vice chairman of the Ulster County Republican Committee.

“I’d much rather deal with the sharks in the water than the sharks in Ulster County politics,” he said.

Really David? Sharks in Ulster County politics? And you are not one of them? You recognize yourself more in the picture below? Have it your way!

Back to the caucus, I think it offers a perfect opportunity for O’Halloran to do the right thing. David, I’m asking you to resign from the Rochester Republican Committee. Enough is enough. If you need a refreshing course in why-you-should-resign, here are the first chapters:

Bernardo-O’Halloran mixed double racket

And the winner is… David O’Halloran

Who’s Who

David O’Halloran, the genius of Rochester

David O’Halloran, please don’t vote for Manuela!

David O’Halloran speaks out of both sides of his mouth

David O’Halloran… déjà vu all over again

Devil O’Halloran

David O’Halloran… one-man bullshit factory

David O’Halloran… isn’t he a gentleman?

O’Halloran-Bernardo twisted alliance

David O’Halloran, full of it

Quick question for David O’Halloran…

David O’Halloran doesn’t like the taste of truth

David O’Halloran’s best shot… O’oops!

David O’Halloran wants more resigning opportunities

O’Halloran-Bernardo alliance: the ups and downs

O’Halloran resigns as Rochester GOP Chair someday in May

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Reporters Kellie McGuire (Blue Stone Press) and Terence P. Ward (Shawangunk Journal) agree that one picture is worth a thousand words.

Town of Rochester Conservative Party held its 2013 nominating caucus Thursday, August 8 at the Accord Firehouse. Town Party Chair Gerry Fornino appeared to be much more at home in his skin than last time I saw him in action at the 2011 caucus.

There were two candidates vying for the position of Town Supervisor: the incumbent, Carl Chipman and the obviously uncomfortable challenger Tim Bunch. Both gave speeches. Tim Bunch read his talking points, mostly accusing Carl Chipman of imaginary faults, clearly on behalf of Terry Bernardo (does UPAC ring a bell?). In his passionate speech, Supervisor Carl Chipman made sense throughout.

For the position of Town Justice two candidates asked for the Conservative line. One of them, Mel Tapper, did not attend the caucus. Guess who got the nomination?

Nobody challenged Kathleen Sergio (Town Clerk) and Wayne Kelder (Highways Superintendent). It pays to do an excellent job!

For the two Town Board seats in play there were three candidates: Philip H. Davis II, Cindy Fornino, and Harold Lipton.

After careful deliberation, the Conservative caucus nominated the following candidates:

Carl Chipman – Town Supervisor
Kathleen Sergio – Town Clerk
Wayne Kelder – Highway Superintendent
Vinny Nigro – Town Justice
Cindy Fornino – Town Councilwoman
Harold Lipton – Town Councilman

Congratulations to all nominees, especially to the 87 years young Harold Lipton. His enthusiasm almost made me forget this 2009 article:

Four vie for two seats on Rochester Town Board
Published: Friday, October 16, 2009

ACCORD — Democratic incumbents Tony Spano and Lynn Archer, Republican Elbert deJager and Conservative Harold Lipton are vying for two seats on the Rochester Town Board in the Nov. 3 election…

Lipton, of 1769 Berme Road, Kerhonkson, is a retired restaurant owner who served as Rochester supervisor from 2000 to 2003 and as town justice from 1970 to 1982.

Lipton declined to provide his age or information about his educational background but said he served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-45 and is a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8959.

Lipton said there were no tax increases during two of his four years as supervisor but that he is not familiar with current town spending.

“I haven’t been involved (in) about four years now, and to ask me what’s going on there, I have no idea,” Lipton said. “I was asked to run, and I’m running.”

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Subliminal. The word means not obvious, and is often used in reference to a particular way of messaging found in advertising. For instance, a product is placed where your eyes see it, but you don’t really think about it. Next thing you know, you are craving that product and you have no idea why. Using these subliminal promotional messages is considered a deceptive business practice in some jurisdictions.

Here are a few examples of subliminal messages (thanks Google!):

Does this make you thirsty for a cold beer? Turn this ad upside-down and you might think twice before drinking that brew . . .

Disney seems intent on putting their logo in as many places as possible. The Pirates of the Caribbean logo looks a lot like your favorite cartoon mouse.

You might not notice it when you watch it on TV, but the AT&T ad sneaks the image of their signal bars into every shot!

Look at the placement of the ‘S’ on the candy on the middle of the bag. Innocent mistake?

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I got a thank-you-postcard from Terry Bernardo who was pleasantly surprised that I signed her Independence Party designating petition. I wonder why, because I’m not against anyone running for office – as long as the person does not benefit from dirty deals.

The front of the card takes us back to the headline: Bernardos’ subliminal message. Read the vertical type. The chosen vernacular expression contains the name of the candidate who will challenge Rochester Supervisor Carl Chipman at the Republican caucus. The Bernardos are strong supporters of the challenger. Aren’t they clever?

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Blue Stone Press – July 19, 2012

Rondout Valley School Board elected Breanna Costello as its president and Wayne Beckerman as its vice president.

The other members of the School Board are:

Kent Anderson
James Ayers
James Blair
Kevin Cothren
Michael Redmond Sr.
Rebecca Versace
David O’Halloran

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

On July 20 the Rochester Democratic Caucus nominated the candidates to join Councilwoman Lynn Archer on the November ballot.

Here is the Town of Rochester Democratic slate:

Lynn Archer – Ulster County Legislator, District 21
Carl Chipman – Town Supervisor
Tony Spano – Councilman
Sherry Chachkin – Councilwoman
Kathleen Sergio – Town Clerk
Paul Shaheen – Town Justice

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Here are the candidates for Ulster County Legislature. Nine of them are enjoying free rides, and the people in their districts have lost the right to complain of anything.

There will be two primaries, but this could change if signatures are successfully challenged.

In District 19, Kevin Hines and Manna Jo Greene will vie in a primary election for the Independence line. I don’t believe that winning this primary would make a difference.

In District 21, the outcome of the GOP primary race between Terry Bernardo and John Dawson will decide the number of candidates in the November elections. If Bernardo loses, she is still guaranteed a presence on the November ballot on both the Independence and Conservative Party lines. If Bernardo wins, no more competitive swimming for Town of Rochester Republican Committee David O’Halloran: Dawson will hang forever around his neck.

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

I don’t know where and when I bought these postcards, but I remember my thoughts years later, when I put them side by side. Let’s look at them together…

At left is a postcard published in 1903, showing Our 25 Presidents. The portraits are framed in gold, each is identified by name and the years the president served. George Washington – our first President – commands the larger, central place, surrounded by the American Eagle and American flags. It is a pleasure to look at this beautiful, informative postcard. The publisher’s mark – MB in a horseshoe – is only one eight of an inch.

At right is a postcard published in 1964, showing Presidents of the United States of America. The random-sized portraits are unskillfully silhouetted and conveniently numbered. Conveniently for the manufacturer, not so much for the people that must turn the postcard over to see who’s who. As Grover Cleveland – our 22nd and 24th President – is counted only once, all the Presidents serving after him are identified in a really confusing way. Take a look: President John F. Kennedy, number 34 on the postcard, was in fact our 35th president. Not to mention the position and size given to then current President, Lyndon B. Johnson, or the manufacturer’s busy credit line: “Lusterchrome” REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. MADE ONLY BY TICHNOR BROS., BOSTON 15, MASS.

Call me crazy, but comparing the two postcards I consider the newer one a visible expression of quite a few societal ills: dissing the past, amplifying the present, an anything goes attitude, chasing after easy money… A few minutes spent on Google gave me more ammunition:

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Happy Birthday America!

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Dear Editor:
 
There has been some recent controversy about an email from the Rosendale Town Supervisor that I forwarded to my colleagues on the Town Board to keep them in the loop.  The forwarded email related to the proposal to share municipal services with the Towns of Marbletown and Rosendale at the site of the former Rosendale Elementary School and contained a cost estimate provided by David O’Halloran from the Rondout Valley School Board.
 
I erroneously sent this email to Fawn Tantillo, the deputy clerk of the Ulster County Legislature; she is part of the staff of Chair of the Ulster County Legislature.  Immediately after sending the email, I contacted her office to indicate that the email was sent in error and asked her to delete it.  I was completely shocked that the email was forwarded to others and even more shocked when the email became the subject of a political flyer.  Ms. Tantillo’s behavior represents a breach of ethics, and just plain bad manners.  To contemplate that this was done without the consent of her boss is unfathomable.
 
The proposal to relocate some Town services to the Rosendale School is just a proposal that the three town boards are considering.  The proposal presents the opportunity for more space and considerable operating and capital expenditure savings, but also presents significant challenges in the greater distance that many of our townspeople might have to travel to enjoy services that are now provided in Accord.  The Town Board does not have the information to prepare a full financial analysis and is certainly not in any position to make a decision; indeed, no decision has been made, contrary to the spurious allegations that Ms. Fantillo and her unethical colleagues are spreading.  Before the Town Board does make a decision about whether or not to participate in the shared services agreement (which will only be adopted if there are tax savings), you can be assured that a full and transparent discussion with all residents and stakeholders will take place and that all facts will be honestly presented.
 
Sincerely,
Carl Chipman, Supervisor
Town of Rochester

Steven Lance Fornal (left) and Jon Dogar-Marinesco – both pictures taken in 1973.

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“It sucks to write a book only to see it ranked at #9,023,651.” Yes, I wrote that in a post dedicated to Steven Lance Fornal, and I’ve shown where the number came from:

Steven answered with a ‘splaining comment:

Steven Lance Fornal says:
June 9, 2013 at 7:52 AM

BTW, Jon… With 45.5 million book titles for sale by Amazon, my books’ rankings puts them in the top 25 and 20 percent respectively of books sold…

Top 25%… Wow! I am really impressed Steven, please accept my apology. Now I understand what’s wrong with me and my family: we never calculate the percentages. Would you be so kind to help us? Thank you!

Let’s start with this book – Comicologia – printed in 1975:

Allow me to direct your attention to the highlighted sentence on page 459. I don’t trust your Romanian, so here is the translation:

The period following the World War I favors the black humor, first through the Americans (Chas Addams, J. Thurber), then through the Europeans (Topor, Ion Dogar Marinescu).

Please, Steven, help me with the percentages, I would like to know where I stand. Or would you rather help Manuela?

It should be a piece of cake to calculate Manuela’s percentile – after all there were only 628 entries from United States and Canada. Please Steven, help!

Wanna stick to books? How about this one?

“Even before the Contemporary Cover Contest 2009, people were talking about the cover that finished in first place, Vision in White by Nora Roberts, Berkley – Penguin, Artist/Photo by Claudio Marinesco.”

I have no idea how many books were published in 2009, but I trust you Steven to calculate my son’s percentage before you click here to see his portfolio.

OMG Steven! Look at the top of the page, then look below… While I wrote this post you went down another half a million places on Amazon’s best seller ranking:

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco