On Sunday, May 19, the 30th annual Ellenville Run Like the Wind races were held. A turn out of 145 participants took to the streets of the village. The rainy weather conditions made for a tough day for the spectators but great for the runners.

The race could not be a success without the many volunteers. A great big THANK YOU goes out to the Ellenville Police Dept, the Ellenville First Aid Squad and the Ellenville Street Dept. The safety of the participants was assured by the fantastic job done by these organizations. Also a great big thank you to the many sponsors who year after year donate to make the race a success. With today's economy it amazes me that so many village businesses are able to support the race. Another great big thank you to all of the volunteers who make the race something the community can be proud of.

The race raised $2,000 which will be distributed to the food banks right here in the village. I hope many more residents of the community will get involved in this great event next year.

Rob Baxter, Race Director
Ellenville

After more than six years of being involved in Rochester's political life, I realized that it's impossible to have an open discussion with my fellow committee members which is not staged by David O'Halloran, the committee chair.

I don't like deals made behind closed doors, so I decided to communicate with you through this open letter which would be read by many and appreciated by few.

Being a member of the 2007 winning team, I?served as a Town of Rochester Councilwoman (2008-2011). As most of you committee members never attended a town board meeting during my four-year term, or came to any of the town events I did attend or promote, please allow me to highlight some of my activity — before, while and after being an elected official.

I am proud of...

— being the record-holder in attending town meetings and events;

— helping to create BusyRochester.com, the first and still the only business directory of our town (where a chamber of commerce does not exist);

— succeeding to establish the town board's open interviews policy;

— being a member of a team which healed the town, and solved the problems in the fire department and assessor's office;

— being the only town board member attending grievance day in the last 40 years (as I was told by Bruce Schoonmaker, God rest his soul);

— being part of the team which never increased the town taxes;

— never missing a crucial meeting as town board liaison;

— having a proven record of non-partisan voting;

— never allowing to be pushed when voting on the town board (there were only two such instances in four years, one request coming from Rochester Republican chair David O'Halloran, the other from fellow legislative candidate John Dawson);

— being instrumental in finally finishing the Rochester Veterans Park, by following up — as town board liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission — on the seven-year project;

— fighting to keep Rochester whole during the redistricting process (as opposed to having the town chopped up for 10 years between legislative districts to favor the incumbent);

— being the only town board member attending the Annual Association of Towns meetings and training sessions in the last six years;

— participating hands-on to activities of the Youth Commission (where I am a member and secretary);

— promoting town events, especially those organized by the Recreation/Youth Commission, via letters to the editor and photographs sent to newspapers;

— making sure, as a then member of the Ulster County Tourism Advisory Board, that what's on the covers of the Ulster County travel guides helps creating and maintaining the Ulster County brand.

Despite my record, all I hear is "how can we get rid of Manuela?" The question, especially asked by outsiders, is "why?"

Until somebody provides a better answer, here is mine: You want to get rid of Manuela because she is outspoken, Manuela hates deals, Manuela really desires to serve, Manuela wants true town representation at the county level, Manuela cannot be manipulated, Manuela is fair and non-partisan, Manuela cares for all the people, Manuela is not self-serving, Manuela refuses to let politics change her...

In 2009 I told the Ulster County Republicans that the selection of legislature candidates should not be based on the Catalano-Bernardo deal. I was dismissed and threatened, but I was right, and those dirty deals permanently scarred our county — no matter if you accept it or not. My 2009 candidacy symbolically offered voters a choice: I won the Republican primary in Rochester and I won the Republican line in the general election by 415 votes.

The appointments made by Terry Bernardo as chair of the Ulster County Legislature proved that I was right when I told you — in 2011 — that the Republican party was hijacked by the Bonacic-Bernardo people. Ignoring the weight-voting required by the Election Law, chairman O'Halloran engaged in pretend-voting over the phone, more than ten days after the interviews of legislative candidates took place. The incumbent got the nod, but many of you don't even recall the 2011 vote that was never recorded in the minutes of our committee. Again, I offered voters a choice in the legislative race. Unfortunately, as all other candidates in town were running unopposed, not many people bothered to vote that year.

Today there are three Republican candidates for one legislator seat. On April 17, at our meeting before the interviews, I explained "why I'm running" (that little speech is on my blog at BeingManuela.com/why-am-i-running).

I have the personal, professional and political qualifications that make me the best candidate for the position of District 21 legislator. My character, determination, and fairness, my expertise in marketing/communication, my involvement at county level in tourism issues, my experience and dedication as Town of Rochester councilwoman and Youth Commission member, are all beyond question.

I appeal to each of you committee members (except Terry Bernardo, of course) to vote — when unofficially nominating one of us — based on our records. Not based on our pets, wrinkles, husbands or nieces, but based on our records; please vote based on facts, not on rumors, friendship or deals. Please vote your conscience as one day your vote would tell more about our town and this committee than about the candidates.

We've all witnessed the wrong being done to the people of Rochester and Ulster County in the last four years. As I said at the April committee meeting, I would never be part of the problem; and you can bet your bottom dollar that I'm willing and able to right the wrong.

UPDATE – May 23, 2013: I'm glad I wrote this open letter asking for a vote based on candidates' record. Last night, at the Rochester Republican Committee endorsement meeting, the "result" of my open letter was that I was not even nominated. Moreover, out of three candidates, the person with no record whatsoever received the nod. Thanks to the committee members for confirming my expectations. It was my choice not to play this mad game. I would follow my own path to the November ballot.

Manuela Michailescu
Rochester

As an Ulster County business owner and employer in solar technologies, I understand the importance of community collaboration and regional job growth. That's why I support the sale of Central Hudson to Fortis Inc.

This merger provides additional resources to help retain and attract jobs right here in the Hudson Valley through an infusion of $4.5 million to enhance Central Hudson's economic development programs.

As important, decisions on how these funds are used will be from a collaboration of Ulster, Dutchess and Orange counties together with Central Hudson and the state Public Service Commission. This is a great example of a public-private partnership working together to serve the people of our region.

The merger brings other benefits, as well, including $35 million to mitigate future utility rates and investment capital by Fortis to bolster our utility grid. At the same time, the deal leaves Central Hudson as it is today, with the same name, employees and community involvement.

The Hudson Valley is a leader in New York and the Northeast for private solar installations, thanks largely to Central Hudson's highly successful net metering program to connect solar panels installed by residents and businesses to the grid. This program will continue, together with its effective energy efficiency programs.

Decision-making will remain local, and Central Hudson's board will transition to one with higher representation from New York and the Hudson Valley. I see this move as helping to support our local economy and create more opportunities for our residents and businesses. This is a merger that should be approved.

Kevin Brady
Saugerties

Now that the deficit is cut in half thanks to higher taxes on the wealthiest and Obamacare lowering medical costs, it's time for the government to spend money, which is at a very low interest rate, and replace our infrastructure and create millions of jobs and strengthen the middle class to boost the economy.

It's time for John Boehner's House of Representatives, which only worked 51 days out of 138, to stop its ridiculous votes to repeal Affordable Health Care and stop lying to the American people about focusing on jobs when it hasn't introduced one bill in that regard.

It's time to stop the campaign of hate for Obama, get over the fact that the president handily won re-election and work to achieve the will and prosperity of all the American people.

Everyone knows that the recent spate of so-called "scandals" aimed at the administration is just overzealous hyperbole engineered by a Republican Party that favors hate over governance, ignorance over intelligence, falsehood over truth and obstruction over a clear path to common sense.

Nick Kitt
Shady

In a legal context, a Chilling Effect is the inhibition or discouragement of the legitimate exercise of a Constitutional Right by threat of legal sanction. America is witnessing a Freezing Effect. The Obama administration has turned the dogs loose on any form of dissent. Top military leaders have been fired for attempting to perform their duties. News journalists have been investigated and identified as terrorists by the US Justice Department. News journalists and sources have been the subject of overly broad and secret monitoring. Not-for-Profit Constitutional Rights groups have been attacked by the US Internal Revenue Service. In New York State, county sheriffs have been threatened with the abolition of their position if they do not cease to criticize gun control legislation. These are not the actions of governments in a democracy; rather this is textbook jackboot totalitarian doctrine. This is not a partisan issue. This is the survival of American Democracy at stake.

The Congress and the Supreme Court must intervene to insure checks and balance are initiated on the arrogant and abusive use of executive power.

Jack Hayes
Gardiner

Congressman Eric Cantor, R-Va., and is GOP minions voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act for the 36th time.

Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Nancy Guski
Red Hook