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Just Who is "Stashia Rose?"
I am anxiously waiting for the information that I recently requested through FOIL regarding work done at the Mt. Marion School, as well as information with respect to the number of "Notice of Claims" filed against the District in the past five years. As I've indicated in my prior article, the Administration forces me to wait the full 20-days (the maximum time allowed under the law) for each and every FOIL that I file. They will attempt to justify the holdup by saying that due to the volume of information requested, it takes that long to gather the material. While I can easily accept that reason under some circumstances, I just can't accept that same tired old excuse when I have to wait the same 20-days for one single piece of paper. To me, it falls out of the realm of a "time to gather" problem, and becomes plain old spite work. Indeed, I was told some time ago (back when I first started making FOIL requests) that Rhau had given the directive, "Let Heidcamp stew for 20-days." Then again, Rhau is widely know for being on the spiteful side. I reiterate, Richard Rhau is a "Johnny-come-lately" to the Saugerties area, arriving from New Jersey as a well-polished, shrewd individual who knows all the tricks of the trade. Still, as "sharp" as he thinks he is, or may be, the people of Saugerties were not taken in for long by the "snakeoil-salesmanlike-pitch" he brought to town. Indeed, it didn't take long before they had "his number."
33-Weeks, No Answers Over the past 33-weeks I've furnished the public with a wealth of factual information on how our taxpayer dollars have been spent–and in many cases just plain wasted–by the Saugerties School District, as well as the unethical conduct of certain board members and members of the administration. I have also provided overwhelming documentation to support my contention that the board is in violation of the law (as it relates to conflicts of interest) by allowing Board member Bob McCaig's brother to continue as the Internal Claims Auditor. Now I understand that my complaint has sparked some "subterranean" activity, and they are scurrying to change that job title...an orchestrated maneuver designed to keep McCaig's brother in that otherwise forbidden position. Watch for that move. I have also supplied documentation to show that Rhau violated not only his contract, but possibly the law. With the hope of gaining answers to my complaint, I personally wrote a letter to each board member to request that each discuss these issues with me. It has now been a full 104-days without any meetings having taken place.
33-Weeks, Many Comments Over that same 33-week-period, ‘though, I have received a copious number of e-mails, letters, and telephone calls encouraging me to "keep up the good work." I've even posted a question on the Watchdog web site asking people to vote whether or not The Heidcamp Report should continue. The results were staggering: 94% said "Yes," while only 6% said "No." You don't have to be the proverbial rocket scientist to figure out who that 6% was; I doubt that I need to name names. I must admit, however, not every e-mail or letter is in support of me. For example, reprinted here, in full, is an e-mail I received Saturday October 28th at 10:19 a.m.:
"Dear Mr.Heidecamp [sic], Stashia Rose" "Stashia Rose," what an unusual name. Curious to find out if "Stashia Rose"is a real person, I checked the obvious: voting rolls, telephone book. Nothing. Then I checked a little on the internet and found only one person in the entire United States with that combination name. If that is the person who sent me that e-mail, I am extremely impressed that she is reading The Heidcamp Report–after all, that person lives in Norman, Oklahoma! I made an attempt to communicate with the author of the e-mail by replying to it but received no response. Since the name Stashia, itself, even without "Rose," is such an uncommon name, I checked to see how many people in the United States have that name. What I found, is that only 43-people in the entire country have the name "Stashia," and guess what? One of them is Richard Rhau's daughter, Stashia Rhau. Evidence also suggests that this e-mail originated in Medford, New Jersey, coincidentally the home of the Richard Rhau family. Hmmm Read the message again and you be the judge. Could it be? I wonder if Stashia ever votes on Watchdog poll questions?
Coming Attractions Stay tuned for a follow-up on Joe Dziadik and what the interview committee knew about his past employment. The truth will be revealed.
George D. Heidcamp, Sr. November 2, 2006 |