Adam Saunders, of the Ulster County SPCA should fact check before speaking when he says, referring to the town of Ulster, "She (meaning me) killed her way through that village and the cats simply returned."

This is false. It was the Woodstock Feral Cat Project that trapped, neutered and released cats there in 2014.

Despite Project Cat being called in by the town of Ulster in 2015 after neighbors complained about cats to the Ulster County Department of Health, we were unable to do anything because of a few uncooperative neighbors. Complaints continued, the problem worsened, and new litters of kittens exacerbated the problem. The Ulster County SPCA offered trap, neuter and release again in 2017. Same problem, same non-solution, and none of it involved Project Cat. This can be verified with town officials.

Dr. Julie Levy, a neuter-and-release advocate, concluded in her Florida study that cats are not territorial, stating: "Free-roaming cats do not appear to have sufficient territorial activity to prevent new arrivals from permanently joining colonies." Feeding outdoor cats attracts new cats. Trap, neuter and release works to perpetuate outdoor cat colonies by keeping them out of shelters. Claims of low euthanasia rates mean the neediest of cats are turned away at the "no-kill" shelter's door and die elsewhere.

Cats that are trapped, neutered and released only receive one rabies vaccination, requiring a booster to provide full immunity. Two rabies-positive cats were documented by the Ulster County Department of Health in May 2017.

Reduce cat homelessness by reducing abandoned cats through owner responsibility via enactment of ordinances that treat companion cats like dogs — license, identification and containment or control by the owner. Our cat companions deserve nothing less.

Gail Mihocko, Director
Project Cat
Accord

Over the last four and half years, I have listened to many residents of Ulster County complain to me how the costs associated with their prescription drugs have skyrocketed. Specifically, several residents suggested to me that the Federal Government should step in and regulate the over-propagation and over-saturation of television-based advertising that is used to promote prescription drugs, because this advertising contributes to the exorbitant and prohibitively excessive prices of prescription drugs. In the May 2017 edition of the AARP Bulletin, the cover page chronicles their feature article on why prescription drugs cost so much. The article describes in great detail how numerous factors contribute to the excessively obscene costs of many prescription drugs.

Some pharmaceutical drug companies that are well established earn a much higher profit margin relative to other industries throughout Corporate America. For example, the seven top earning pharmaceutical drug companies carve out profit margins that are between 15.1% and 42.6% with six of those companies having profit margins over 26%, (and keep in mind, this is after tax write-offs have been utilized for the depreciation on buildings, manufacturing equipment and all other equipment and resources).

Several factors contribute to this corporate phenomenon associated with the excessive profit margins within the pharmaceutical drug industry. United States Patent Laws allow pharmaceutical drug companies to seek and receive additional patents on pre-existing medications that have been slightly altered from the original formula in order to preserve the continuance of their monopoly on such medications.

In addition, Federal Insurance Laws prohibit Medicare from being able to negotiate for lower prices that would benefit elderly consumers of pharmaceutical drugs and those who simply cannot afford the costs associated with their medications. In 1996, when Congress was debating the current form of Medicare Part D, lobbyists from the pharmaceutical drug companies stepped in and exerted pressure on Federal Legislators to not allow for Medicare to be able to negotiate for lower drug prices, as they argued that it would create unfair price controls within the industry.

It is well documented how much money pharmaceutical drug companies spend on overall marketing costs associated with television and print advertising along these aforementioned lobbying efforts. In 2015, pharmaceutical drug companies spent $ 6.4 Billion on direct advertising to consumers while spending $24 Billion on direct marketing to doctors. In 2015, American spent $457 Billion Dollars on pharmaceutical drugs and from 2008-2016, the costs of well-prescribed drugs increased 208%. And with the median income of Chief CEOs being $ 14.5 Million along with far too many middlemen contributing to the sales, marketing and distribution of prescription drugs, the industry is in need of honest reforms. Who will have the integrity and courage to accomplish this in Washington?

Chris Allen, Ulster County Legislature
Saugerties

The proposed Heartwood glamour camping resort on Route 44/55 in Gardiner would include a lobby building, a public restaurant, a catering hall, a pool, a spa and 70 free-standing luxury cabins. The developers claim to "practice impeccable environmental stewardship" yet 40 of their cabins will be in old growth forest bordering the Shawangunk Kill to "minimize the need for air conditioning." Impeccable environmental stewardship indeed.

They also claim to be using the "most ecologically responsible construction techniques available" but all 70 luxury cabins will have plumbing. Water lines require four-and-a-half-foot-deep trenches, and miles of such trenching cutting through tree roots is not ecologically responsible. In addition, the well stress test conducted by the developers was apparently conducted on only two wells, and immediately following one of the wettest Junes in memory. Their predicted usage of 12,600 gallons a day will be a very different matter during a typically dry August.

It must be said that the developers are following the letter of the law: the cabins will maintain the required 150-foot setback from the river, and the well test was "legal" in that the DEC requirement that tests be conducted "during a time of average or below average seasonal stream" only applies to wells drawing more than what Heartwood estimates they will draw. Nevertheless, sticking to the letter of the law hardly equates with the "impeccable environmental stewardship" they claim for themselves.

Carol O'Biso
Gardiner

David Scarpino, president and chief executive officer of HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley, should not receive any benefits, support or anything from residents of Ulster County and the government of Ulster County until HealthAlliance understands this is not Westchester County.

We need to have HealthAlliance and our county representatives know this, understand this. Many locals who have lived and worked in Ulster County for generations have been left with no local hospital, while BlueCross BlueShield since the end of May 2016 remained without an agreement with the hospital. (Editor's note: A new, tentative agreement was announced July 31, 2017.) HealthAlliance slammed the doors and locked out those of us who work and have retired from law enforcement and other civil service professions, state county and local, and call Ulster County home. Many county residents with insurance in the private sector also have been affected by the loss of local hospital services.

What is really a shame is Westchester Medical Center Health Network, HealthAlliance's parent company was assisted in the takeover of Benedictine and Kingston hospitals by County Executive Mike Hein and the Ulster County Legislature.

United Health Insurance, that many of us have, is accepted in Dutchess County and other surrounding county hospitals. But because of possible greed, it is not accepted at HealthAlliance in Ulster County. My wife, our three sons, myself, as well as many other family members were all born in Benedictine Hospital. My family (five generations in Ulster County) has used Kingston and Benedictine hospitals since they were built in the 19th and early 20th century. Now, being shut out by a corporation from outside Ulster County is revolting.

Seeing Scarpino speaking and soliciting support for their medical village is just sickening. And worse is that our county executive and legislators encourage the expansion at the expense and hardship of county residents having to travel outside of the county for medical outpatient treatment.

Ray Bryant
Accord

So, Trump thinks he is the most "presidential" president but for Abraham Lincoln? Truth is, his shallow mind and expansive ignorance is overwhelming and dangerous. How dare he put himself above the numerous, great presidents that this country has elected and embraced since 1789?

There were many great leaders who proved to have courage, conviction, compassion, integrity, honesty and strategic thinking. They were true patriots who served their country and its citizens, not their egos, their financial empires and their families. They represented both parties - figuratively and literally. They were "presidential." And they did not admire ruthless dictators.

Trump, you, sir, are a "so-called" president.

Hopefully, his time at the White House will be extremely short. His lies, possible treason, ignorance, thoughtlessness, out-of- control ego, insecurity, unethical and embarrassing behaviors (and perhaps illegal ones), bullying, misogyny, delusion, tweeting and narcissism are nauseating. I watch and wait. I know there are Republicans who have ethics, common sense, dignity, compassion and integrity. Where are you? Your silence is deafening. Is your party (and the power it now wields) truly more important than the nation and our people? Our nation's safety and security is at stake. Our military members are at risk. Our standing in the world has been diminished. Basic human, equal and civil rights are being trampled. "Presidential?" Not. I can tell you that. Bigly.

Stephanie Hunter Lesky
Warwick

Congress doesn't agree on much, but they should be able to agree on a law that specifies that postings on social media are the opinion of the poster, and do not reflect official policy.

Any claim otherwise is contrary to the rule of law, and is an impeachable offense.

Bill Tuel
Rosendale

For now, we have respite from the trench warfare that has become our nation's health care battle. But insurers are still claiming uncertainty about the status of the law going forward and the government's commitment to uphold all the provisions of the Affordable Care Act. The President continues to threaten to withhold funding of the premium subsidies. His minions continue to feed the false narrative of a "death spiral" for the current health care law, an event that, if it does occur, will be a direct result of deliberate, affirmative actions on the President's part to make it a reality.

Premiums for many will continue to climb, but not because raising premiums is necessary to make sure the insurers don't go bankrupt. Take note: since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, insurers and pharmaceutical companies have been posting robust quarterly earnings. Those profits are going to stock dividends paid to their shareholders and six figure salaries paid to the insurance CEOs. The only people losing money are the millions of Americans and small business owners who struggle to keep up with steadily rising health care costs.

One of the many advantages to a single payer health care system is that the money paid into the system does not go toward enriching the investors; it serves the people who need care.

Deidre J. Byrne
Saugerties

Regarding recent letters suggesting real Christians should abandon our educational systems and the possibility that peace in the Middle East might bring about Armageddon: If one is accurate, the other is irrelevant.

Pastor Moore really means business about the upcoming Armageddon, scheduled to begin Sept. 23, date certain. Once events are set in motion and the astrological signs line up like tumblers in a combination lock, events will follow as predicted in the Book of Revelation — the attack on Israel, the Rapture, the Antichrist, the Second Coming, all in short order. One supposes this is the kind of lesson available to the home-schooled Christian child that is not available in public schools.

One may wonder why not. It's the secular conspiracy, of course, promoted by homosexuals, layabouts, artists and abortionists. Thus, humanity has fallen to such a low point that it must once again be destroyed by a loving God. Apparently, the USA is the real worry here, the rest of the world be damned. Only the righteous who have been home schooled will be redeemed. Even the nicest atheist like me can just forget about it.

So, it has been written, and the religious right has been trying all these generations to save us from our sinning selves. But we are fated. If you want an explanation of the meteoric rise of Donald Trump, there you have it. He is God's preordained instrument.

It may not be too late to get right with God, but put on your tin foil hat.

See you on Sept. 24.

Henry Cavanagh
Lomontville

It is with no hesitation at all I am proud to announce my endorsement of Reverend Julius Collins for Ulster County's 15th Legislative District. After Julius was named the 2008 Ellenville Citizen of the Year, he continued to selflessly serve his Ellenville community through numerous volunteer events. However, it is none of these things that solidified my support for Julius. It was the type of character I saw in Julius upon meeting him. Julius values compassion towards all people, respectful dialogue with anyone of his community or elsewhere, and making thoughtful decisions in the best interest of the Ellenville community. In early July, I took a day out of my own campaign to help get Julius on the ballot by getting him petition signatures in Ellenville. I was amazed by other people's words about Julius. Every single person I spoke to in Ellenville who knew Julius had amazing things to say about him. It became clear to me he is respected by people of all ideologies and backgrounds. I heard endless stories that day of kind things he had done for people in Ellenville over the last 25 years and I realized this is someone we can count on to faithfully serve his community. If you are someone who knows him personally, then you need no convincing. If you are someone who has never heard of him, I urge you to reach out to him. I believe in Julius and I trust Julius. On the September 12th primary, I will be supporting Julius Collins for Ulster County's 15th Legislative District and I hope you will too.

Andrew Zink, Candidate
For Ulster County's 14th Leg. District