I was with my family doctor. He was the valedictorian of a local high school and he is about 65 years old. I asked him if any of his patients had asked him about the safety of the measles vaccine. He told me that he had had the measles because the vaccine was not available when he was young, and he wanted to tell me that for some people there were very unhealthy consequences to not having the vaccine. He was aware a tiny minority died, but a large group were affected for life for that one week they were home from school with the measles.

Here is the response I got from Google. “Complications of measles are relatively common, ranging from mild ones such as diarrhea to serious ones such as pneumonia. Others include bronchitis, acute brain inflammation and very rarely subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and corneal ulceration (leading to corneal scarring). In addition, measles can suppress the immune system for weeks to months, and this can contribute to bacterial superinfections such as otitis media and bacterial pneumonia.”

The parents, who do not allow their child to be vaccinated are playing roulette with the life of their child. I understand now why my doctor was so serious about the need for children to be vaccinated.

Since New York State stopped the religious exemption for parents, who do not want their children to receive the measles vaccine, some have threatened to home school their child or children. I have interviewed a few children, who were home schooled, and there were some disasterous stories.

It is my opinion, but what kid wants to stay home alone all day, while all their friends are in school and having fun in school. For these kids the best time of the weekday is when school is out and their friends are home to play with or socialize with. What kid wants to spend all day, home alone?

I think home schooling is a lousy idea, and the best for children to learn is in school with professional educators, their teachers.

Lanzetta is paying his salary in more than one way
Last week Town of Marlborough Supervisor Al Lanzetta and L Todd Diorio of Laborers Local 17 of Newburgh spoke to the Orange County Legislature about getting its approval for the construction of a new 550 megawatt Danskammer power plant in the Town of Newburgh, Marlboro School District and Orange County.

Both Lanzetta and Diorio live in Marlborough. Diorio’s concern was about construction jobs for members of his union, and Lanzetta wants the school district tax base to increase, and school taxes to go down. The legislature on a split vote agreed with them. I do too, and for another reason, which they likely support too, the Indian Point Nuclear PowerPlant will be closing and that lost electricity gap has to be filled. Central Hudson will do its part one way or another.

If there is no new Danskammer plant, electricity may have to be transmitted a long distance and that is costly and you will pay that extra price. It makes sense to have a local electrical source.

In the meantime Lanzetta is working to lease out town landfill space for a two megawatt solar farm. He is sending out “Request for Proposal” (RFP) to a lot of solar firms, who specialize in this business. If the town gets a response to the RFP the town would get over $8,000 in new revenues, from a property, which just a few years ago, was in no towns revenue pipeline.

The town board and Lanzetta are ahead of the curve on this project.

Trump wants to cut food stamps for Ulster
More than 16,000 Ulster County residents qualify for and receive Food Stamps. Of them 45 percent or 7,443 are children. Trump wants to slash the program. This is a program for the poor; including poor children. Trump will maintain the subsidies for the oil and gas companies and farmers, and keep the huge Trump tax cuts for the super wealthy.

As for the children, Trump got a cost estimate for trenches, where alligators and snakes, especially a hungry alligator, can snap up a child or baby. The choice of Latinos is that they are not White.

Of those 7,443, who are old enough for school, will qualify for free or reduced priced breakfasts and lunches in our nine school districts. Many of these students come to school to eat as these may be the best meals they have all day. More than 40 percent of Highland students, and 39 percent of Marlboro students come from economically disadvantaged families. There will be a lot of families and students, who will be hurt by these cuts. Most of the people, who work in the school lunch rooms, live for our students.

Besides students, other large groups, who qualify for Food Stamps are senior citizens and the disabled.

Who would want to hurt them? Trump.

Massachusetts schools underspend Ulster
The average state of Massachusetts school district spent in 2018, $15,350 per pupil. This is a little more than half of what Ulster County school districts spent.

These are the Ulster County School Districts, followed by many of the spending districts of Massachusetts.

Ulster County: Onteora, $38,587; Rondout, $32,107; Ellenville, $29,465; New Paltz, $27,878; Marlboro, $27,571; Kingston, $27,323; Saugerties, $25,106; Wallkill, $24,090; and Highland, $23,617.

The highest in Massachusetts is Cambridge at $27,569 followed by Exiter, $25,883 and Cape Cod Regional $25,449. The State of Massachusetts has a per capita income of $67,630 and the counties where most of the highest spending districts are located have a far higher per capita incomes than Ulster County. They are: Norfolk, $86,746; Middlesex, $79,714; Suffolk, $73,909; and Barnstable (Cape Cod), $70,430. Ulster’s is $48,811.

The question is: how can Ulster Schools outspend Massachusetts Schools? This does not make sense.