Dear Editor:  
     Spurred by President Bush and his corporate and international friends, there has been a vast cry to begin drilling for off shore oil. The unsuspecting public believes that this will bring down the price of heating oil and gasoline.  They do not understand why none of the current proposals for drilling will reduce the price of gasoline or heating oil either now or in the future.
     There is a process that must be initiated before drilling can begin. First there must be an auction during which international conglomerates as well as large oil companies have the right to bid on specific parcels to be drilled. This means that blind corporations which are owned by countries like Dubai, Saudi Arabia, China and India may win the bids at the expense of the people of the United States. Through this legal process, and the power brokering which is inevitably involved in such processes, the American people may be deprived of the natural resources necessary for our survival. 
     It has been reported that it costs around $60 to $70 dollars a barrel to drill off shore wells as opposed to $19 a barrel to drill on land. This is due to the time required to build and deliver the equipment to the well site as well as the cost of people and machines to do the job. It takes three to five years to develop a well site and another three to five years to get the oil out of the ground, not to mention the refining process and the related costs of getting the final product to the consumer.
     There are almost six million acres of leased land by oil companies which have not been developed. These parcels were bid on a number of years ago by American owned companies. Why weren’t they developed? Every effort has been made by American corporations and the oil industry to prevent the development of alternative energy and it is this refusal to allow the development of alternative energy sources that has placed our citizens in harms way.  
     Today we are faced with the possibility of large numbers of people going hungry and being unable to afford to heat their homes during this and subsequent winters as a result of  the failure of our elected officials at all levels of government and in both parties to take action on behalf of their constituencies.
     Federal, state and city governments have generated energy policies which benefit high population centers at the expense of our rural populations; however over 80% of our state footprint is rural. New York State is one of the most prolific agricultural states in the country and as much attention must be paid to the needs of those in rural areas as those in urban areas. The energy needs of this important segment of the population, in terms of the production and delivery of food as well as other essential goods and services, must not be overlooked. 
Richard Franklin
Red Hook, NY

News Release from the Office of the DC Executive
Dutchess Democrats kill seven open space preservation projects to save 1,000 acres
excerpt from the release...“It is especially disturbing that Legislator Mansfield has abandoned support for the additional 100 acres to be saved in the Red Hook “bread basket” where the county partnership matching local Red Hook money has been such a tremendous success and where Red Hook residents have been so committed to saving local farms,” said Steinhaus. ...
CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE RELEASE.

Picking the right kind of wood is "essential. You want seasoned hardwood, wood that's been kept dry outside six months at least. You want wood that burns with the least amount of smoke and the least moisture content, because that prevents buildup in your chimney, and that's what tends to catch on fire with a wood stove."
     Safer woods include oak, hickory and ash. Do Not burn pine and cedar. Any wood can create dangerous sparks, causing the flames in the house. It is important to have a screen in front of the stove.
     Be sure and have a flame-resistant carpet in the area. Move everything away from around the stove that can catch fire. This includes including furniture, toys and draperies. You want to have a good, clear space around your wood stove.
     Keep a fire extinguisher close by, and putting a carbon monoxide detector at least 10 feet away. A gate to keep kids and pets away is also a good idea.
     Wood stoves have hot surfaces so there's a real risk of a contact burn, so just as you protect your stairwell if you have toddlers in the home, put up a gate around this hot surface too."
     But the biggest wood-stove hazard is Chimney fires. Byproducts from the smoke can build up inside your chimney and ignite. She urges consumers to "get a licensed professional to come inspect your chimney and clean it once a year or when needed."
     Families must get the facts about wood stoves before a tragedy occurs.When it does, it happens so quickly, you don't have time to think."
     Do have a professional install your wood stove, or have it inspected if you do it yourself. Dump the stove's ashes in a metal bin with a cover, outside, away from any wood decks and your house. Ashes can remain hot up to a week after they're created. And don't burn artificial logs, trash or wrapping paper from the holidays in them.

NEVER USE GASOLINE TO START A FIRE PERIOD!!!!

The following are very important links. Please go to them and read them very carefully. The last one has to do with correctly building a fire.

Dick Franklin

http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/home/home_nov05_w001.aspx
http://www.iii.org/media/publications/brochures/woodstovesafety/?printerfriendly\=yes
http://www.csia.org/
http://www.fireplace-chimneystore.com/page/page/1580350.htm?gclid=CNXRn7WU25MCFR\Jaxgod1DZ-gg
http://www.chimneys.com/burning_secrets/chapter_2.html

There is going to be a State of the State presentation by the Economic Development Committee this Coming Tuesday, June 10 at Red Hook Town Hall. It is in everyone's interest to be there, and I recommend that you bring family and friends.

We are facing tough times, and you need to understand where we stand and the impact of the economic issues on our taxes as well as our daily living.

Dick Franklin

Join Us: VFW Chicken BBQ - Sunday, May 25
What better time to have our first outdoor-cooked BBQ than Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend? If you are home for the holiday, bring your family and friends to enjoy our full chicken dinner cooked outdoors. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
- Tickets are $10.00 per person ($8 for Seniors), serving from 4:00pm-7:00pm at the VFW Post, Elizabeth Street, Red Hook, New York.

Calling all Vets: Memorial Day Parade - Mon., May 26
Sponsored by Red Hook VFW Post 7765 - assembly at 9:15am at Red Hook High School parking lot; parade kicks off at 10:00am. Observance Ceremony immediately following parade at Red Hook Memorial Square across from Red Hook IGA. ALL VETERANS ARE WELCOME TO MARCH WITH THE VFW - Come one, come all.

For details, visit the post web site: http://www.vfw7765.org and read the post newsletters.

On Saturday, May 31, 2008, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, S. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Route 9 in Red Hook is inviting all our friends and neighbors to a free "Nooks and Crannies Tour" of our church buildings
     The "Big Red Church," on Route 9 in the Village of Red Hook, is on both the National and State Historic Registers. The Gothic exterior of the church does not hint at the remarkably beautiful interior with its old wood, stained glass, vaulted ceilings and inclined floor.
     For the first time we will have our large, "High Victorian" Parsonage open for touring as well. Beautiful woodwork, stained glass windows and formal rooms will all be opened for the tour.
     The Church Hall on the corner of Fisk St. and Route 9 was originally built as a Lecture Room then it was converted to be used as a "Chapel" and then altered again to be used as the Church Hall. Just by walking through the different areas it is easy to "read" the history of this building.
     There will be mounted displays of papers and pictures in different areas and guides posted in all the buildings to help answer questions about the history of the properties.
     Those who have toured the buildings will be offered free coffee and cake in the Hall afterwards.
     For "history junkies" or home town curious, this is a great opportunity to tour these historic buildings.
     For more information please call (845) 876-1910

Today I went to the recycling center and the only person attending was Raymond as usual. The so called volunteers only came in at the last few minutes (Irene and Elizabeth). It was raining. I believe they are still accepting donations but the public is not allowed into the goods exchange building and of course "Volunteers" can take and do take whatever they want to. Raymond is to be commended on his service - no matter what the weather he is always nice and helpful to the public. And the boy scouts are never ever there to accept deposit bottles from the public. Why not??? What about the other childrens groups such as girl scouts, 4 h and sunday schools? Some people prefer NOT to give their bottles and cans to the boy scouts and so they toss them into the comingled bin but the town "volunteer" retrieves them and sometimes keeps them for herself and sometimes puts them in to the boyscout can. The manager takes metal for his own resale. Now couldn't that be theft of funds from the town???

Crystal Nelmes of the army has returned from Iraq with her husband Chris Rangle. They are currently stationed in Texas.   John Armstrong has returned from Baghdad and now has been disengaged from the Air Force after 6 years service. Crystal is a Germantown graduate and former Red Hook /Tivoli resident. John is her uncle from Tivoli. For any further info call Bobbie at 757-4471. Nobody gave my son or my grand daughter any welcome back!!!