Rochester Smoke Out

Blue Stone Press – November 2, 2012

Gibson is the bipartisan choice

To the Editor:

We have come together to write this letter in support of Congressman Chris Gibson’s reelection to the United States House of Representatives. Chris Gibson has a record of working in a bipartisan manner.

He worked in Congress to get an amendment passed with bipartisan support to save the federal broadband loan program even though the leadership of his own party was against it.

He worked with Kirsten Gillibrand on a needed intelligence agency efficiency proposal that supported nanotechnology funding and research in upstate New York.

He helped implement needed reforms to programs assisting returning veterans working with Democrat Peter Welch of Vermont.

He has voted for numerous bipartisan jobs bills. Chris has, and will continue to work with members of both parties to bring and maintain job creation here, and to protect our environment.

These are a few examples of why Chris is recognized as a leader who is willing to work with both parties to advance the best interests of his constituents.

We are tired of the negative ads and name calling in politics, and want a man who is going to represent the best interests of all Americans in the 19th district. That man is Chris Gibson.

Lewis Kirschner
(D) Ulster County Treasurer (ret.), Town of Ulster

John Parete
(D) Boiceville

Blue Stone Press – November 2, 2012

Supporting Congressman Chris Gibson

To the Editor:

I am writing this letter to express the basic and simplest qualifying points about Congressman Chris Gibson. First, to retire from the Army after serving over 22 years and attaining the rank of Colonel is an extremely honorable achievement. Second, to be deployed seven times, that means leaving a young family behind, and carrying out the stressful duties which are expected by a Colonel while having his men and himself in harms way, is truly amazing.

I would like to know how many politicians would be able to be ‘Selected and Directed’ like this, and leave loved ones behind, keeping in mind, he’s doing it all for his Country? If you said no one, you’re probably right.

Being a councilman in a Town from the 19th district, I have had the honor and pleasure to spend a great deal of time with the Congressman. Congressman Gibson and his wife Maryjo are not flashy people and have passed the test (by me) to be down to earth people who do not segregate but incorporate the needs of everyone. The proof of this: he could have spent the majority of time working in HIGH concentrated voting areas but he opted to spend a great deal of time and effort to help the small community of Prattsville, N.Y. get the help they needed from the devastation left by “Irene.”

Having served my Country for 32 years, and having the honor of becoming an elected official in the Town where I live, I consider myself to be a very good judge of one’s character and morals. Congressman Chris Gibson has what this Country needs in the worst way.

I ask everyone to get out Election Day and vote for Chris Gibson for Congress.

Robert K. Ryan
Proud American, Chief Petty Officer (ret.), United States Coast Guard, Rosendale

This letter was published in Shawangunk Journal – November 1, 2012.

Problems With Schreibman…

Among the many factors influencing the way we vote — for a certain candidate or another — I believe the strongest are our backgrounds and personal experiences.

As I’ve written before, living for 30 years under a Communist dictatorship equipped me with sensors for detecting propaganda, staging, mind manipulation, lies, brainwashing, a “leader’s” desire for control and power, the intent to take away people’s rights. When we detect these symptoms, it doesn’t matter if one is Republican or Democrat, Conservative, Independent or non-enrolled. We need to exit the comfortable zone of party affiliation and enter the realm of right and wrong; and doing something wrong — that affects the lives of many — destroys the TRUST we must have in a candidate or elected official.

Unfortunately, in 2009, four Ulster County party chairs — Len Bernardo (Independence), Mario Catalano (Republican), Ed Gaddy (Conservative), and Julian Schreibman (Democratic) — struck a dirty deal and all endorsed the SAME four candidates for four seats on ALL four party lines. Even today it sounds incredible!

Len Bernardo assured his wife’s election as legislator. What benefits Mr. Schreibman was counting on when agreeing to such deal? Now, Julian Schreibman is running for Congress, challenging Congressman Chris Gibson, and the TRUST issue comes into play. How can we trust Schreibman, who made possible a dictatorial-type of deal in our county, hurting candidates and members of all parties, taking away people’s right to choose? How can we trust him when as chairman he caused embarrassment to his own party because of the deal which has serious consequences even today?

Luckily, our choice in the 19th Congressional District is Chris Gibson, a decorated 24-year Army veteran from Columbia County. For those who didn’t read yet about Gibson: he earned a BA from Sienna College, a PhD from Cornell University and was a professor at West Point. He is donating his military pension back to the U.S. Treasury while serving in Congress. Focusing on local issues is exemplified by his fighting for Upstate priorities, including family farms, broadband and Lyme Disease prevention; also, leading the bipartisan storm relief effort to help our communities rebuild and recover. He is protecting Medicare, Social Security and programs for seniors and veterans and supporting legislation to grow the economy, create jobs and balance the budget.

Meeting and talking to Chris Gibson in person at Rochester’s Jennie Bell Pie Festival made me firmly believe he is the right choice for our district. Being in the audience during the debate in Kingston, I witnessed how — despite being continuously attacked — Gibson did not respond in a similar way but, to the contrary, showed how passionate he is about bi-partisanship.

During the same debate, the issue of trust was painfully obvious: How can we trust somebody so obviously partisan in his attacks towards Congressman Gibson to miraculously change and become non-partisan in Washington?!

Judging only by his 24 years of military service, four Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart, I’m convinced that Gibson genuinely desires to serve. I’m happy to give my vote to a true hero, somebody we can trust.

Manuela Michailescu
Kerhonkson

October 27, 2012

Dear Rochester Resident,

By Sunday afternoon we will be feeling the effects of Hurricane Sandy. This storm is huge and slow-moving and its effects will be felt for a longer period than those of last year’s Tropical Storm Irene. Current forecasts for our area call for tropical storm force winds with heavy rain possibly sometime Monday through Wednesday. The water table is fairly high from recent precipitation. So flooding of rivers and streams as well as localized flooding can be expected. What we don’t know is how severe the flooding will be. We also know that areas known to flood will also flood during this monumental weather event. When and how severe the flooding will be is going to be determined by the amount and rate of rainfall that we receive over the next few days.

We strongly recommend that you consider evacuating your residence if it has been known to flood in the past and finding safe shelter with family or friends before storm conditions and flooding make it impossible for you to leave your residence safely.
Widespread power outages can also be expected with this storm. Residents with medical conditions requiring electrically operated equipment should also consider evacuation.

Current plans call for the following locations to be staffed by 8pm on Monday to accept those residents in need of temporary shelter:

• Accord Firehouse located on Main Street in Accord
• Kerhonkson-Accord Rescue Squad Building on Rte 209 in Kerhonkson
• Alligerville Firehouse located on County Rte 6 in Alligerville
• Rochester 2 Firehouse located on Samsonville Road in Kerhonkson

We can not guarantee that we will be able to evacuate you if conditions become too severe and ask that you seriously consider leaving early for you and your family’s safety and for the safety of our dedicated emergency personnel.

Keep a watch on conditions and do not wait until the last moment. I will do my best to keep you informed as we plan to staff our Emergency Management Command Center located at the Kerhonkson-Accord Rescue Squad Building by 8pm on Monday or earlier if need be. Please call me (845)-389-0615 or email me at cmc102988@yahoo.com if you have any questions or concerns. We will try to keep our website townofrochester.net as well as my Facebook page updated with pertinent information as best as possible. Emergency requests should be directed dialing 911.

Sincerely,

Carl Chipman
Supervisor
Town of Rochester

A very serious storm is forecast to affect us late this weekend and possibly into early next week. A very strong Hurricane is currently of the coast of Florida and is forecast to move up the eastern seaboard. The exact track if the storm is uncertain and will a play a major role in how bad the weather conditions will be. We will be monitoring the storm closely and will brief you with the latest information as we receive it.

• For safety’s sake, don’t touch or approach any downed wire. Assume it is energized and dangerous. Call Central Hudson immediately Electrical Interruption/ Emergency Phone: 845-452-2700 or 800-527-2714 on the situation, you may also want to call State Police or the Sheriff’s Office to divert traffic until an Central Hudson crew arrives.
• Maintain a distance of at least 50 feet from downed wires and anything they are in contact with including puddles of water and fences. Supervise your children so that they are not in the vicinity and keep pets on a leash.
• If a fallen wire is draped over a car, do not approach the car and make rescue attempts. Remain a safe distance away, and try to keep the occupant of the vehicle calm. If possible, emergency personnel should handle the situation.
• Stock up on non-perishable food, bottled water, manual can opener, baby supplies and pet food. Set your refrigerator and freezer controls to their coldest settings. Fill the bathtub with water.
• Have emergency equipment within reach – portable radio, flashlights, candles and matches, spare batteries, first aid kit, cell phone and important medications. Update your personal list of emergency phone numbers. Keep Central Hudson’s toll-free number 1-800-527-2714 near the phone to report power outages.
• If you experience a power outage, don’t assume that Central Hudson automatically knows about it or that someone else will report it. To be sure the outage is reported, please call Central Hudson toll-free at 1-800-527-2714 to let Central Hudson know what happened. The more information you can provide, the more Central Hudson can help you. 
• Remember, if the base station of your cordless phone plugs into the wall, your phone will be unusable during a power outage.
• If a family member relies on electrically operated medical devices, secure a portable generator or make alternate arrangements for care.
• Keep at least a half-tank of gas in your car. Consider having extra cash on-hand, in case ATM machines don’t work.
• Listen for storm alerts on the radio. In case of power outages, Central Hudson will keep the stations updated on repair progress.
• Learn how to manually open and close any electrically powered garage door, security door or gate.

Please monitor the website townofrochester.net as well as my Facebook page.

I can be reached by email at cmc102988@yahoo.com
My cell number is (845)-389-0615

Let’s be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.

Thank You,

Carl Chipman
Supervisor
Town of Rochester

Wendy Long is finally getting a chance to debate Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand one on one!

This Wednesday at 7:00 PM, watch as Wendy engages her opponent in how to improve the economy and bring more jobs back to New York, the phony Democrat “war on women” scare and more!

The debate will air live on YNN, NY1 News 12, and CSPAN.