June 11, 2008: Negative energy is hurting progress   To The
Editor: Here we are between the calendar’s benchmarks of
patriotism and still in the center of a continuing civil war.
There is so much negative energy and personal vendetta swirling
around these Catskills, we can’t separate our own bullying
selfishness from the real needs of the community as a whole. All
during the “development controversy,” we have heard and read
about the damage that will be done to our natural resources.
Granted, that is a valid concern. However, as we shoot down
growth, we are also destroying our people, their livelihood, and
very possibly, the big hand that feeds most of this region:
Belleayre with its positive spirit and welcoming countenance.
Many of us have been depending on that mountain economically,
recreationally and socially for generations. Has it ever
occurred to those opposed to the Belleayre Resort that the
current Agreement in Principle, which is supported by many
groups who also have passionate environmental conce