What will the Town of Bethel do if 10,000 people show up? Arrest them? Who will pocess them? If they refuse bail where will they house them? In one of Sullivan County's many bankrupt hotels? Feel free to print the enclosed. By the way, most of the people who come to celebrate this anniversary are normal, hardworking people, who spend a lot of money in Bethel. DR LUV tenthtee@warwick.net

It's hard to think of anything to add to the never-ending fracas over the Woostock concert site. As a former resident of the area, I just hope it can some day be a greater benefit to Sullivan County than it is now. But hey, it's already a great place to go for a nice walk and to catch some Jimi vibes.
Steve Gelsi sgelsi@mail.forbesdigital.com

HI! I think Mr. Gerry would make out like a champ if he used the land for a UFO search every summer, charging the UFO seekers for the privilege! ;) I'd pay to camp out and watch, and I think he would be far better off in switching over. The UFO buffs are quite, and can't afford to drink any alcohol or use any drug, they need to be able to focus! :) 'just my idea!
Peg,

Mr. Gerry has one outstanding issue which gives him the right to decide what to do. He owns the property. It is not a right of citizens to freely roam his property. He put up the money. He will decide. Of course the public has an interest in how he develops the site, but the public doesn't own it, he does. Mr. Gerry should look to Tanglewood to see how a site could succeed with musical presentations. What the area needs is to attract people to the area who will infuse cash into the hotels and stores in the area, not large crowds of people crashing in one site for a large concert. Mr. Gerry, develop something that will make the drive to the Catskills as rewarding and appealing as the Berkshires. If you build it, they will come.
SKIBUFF

We've heard the doves are becoming frustrated and there are WoodSharks mulling around Bethel, NY...

Its all starting to unfold again, the same old "speak with fork tongue" approach coming out of Sullivan County relative to the recent arrest by two onder dove devotees of the Woodstock Nation and this years new site rules and regulation....
Mike DiTullo is quoted as saying "this wasn't the way Gerry wanted it" refering to the arrest of Abigal and Daniel. If it wasn't the way he wanted it, then why did Mr. gerry sign the trespassing papers to have the "Stormers" leave peacefully in the first place? There is a direct contradiction in terms here. Its never to late to drop charges after a few days of contemplative relection from the gang up there in Sullivan County relative to ones hasty decisons and actions.......

A few simple, responsible things could be done that come with the notorieity of owning such a property as the original 1969 Woodstock Concert site. If the owner is concerned about liability factors and he is not insured for this years reunion and are allowing people onto the site from sunrise to sunset then why doesn't he erect signs stating something along these lines.......

"By entering this property you agree not to hold the landowners, their associates, families or relatives or anyone else connected to the site responsible for any liabilities in any form, manor or fashion, what-so-ever.

If you disagree please respect the mutual rights of others and peacefully leave the properties. We are sorry for any inconvenience at this time and we hope in the future to be able to extent more hospital accommodations. Signed Alan Gerry, Granite Associates, owner."

Its that simple!

Respect works both ways, its called mutual respect. To allow privately owned property for public use opens doors to many cross-cultural lifestyles and opinions, especially the Woodstock Generation. Mr. Gerry should be prepared to deal with all the divergent philosophies that are coming to his open visitation rites for this years annual pilgramage to the site and deal with them on a more intimate understanding, instead of trying to place a freer generation into bondage and oppression.

I am wondering how this will all be handled when the topic of "eminent domain" comes into play when all the pilgrams try to ease their rights of prescription of tradition onto the site and have no other place to go.....What type of hospitality will Sullivan County extend and offer then?

Its inevitable that lots of people are coming....... It happens year after year. You do not even have to do extensive advertising, mostly just word of mouth communications..... It starts out small and grows day by day, so why not deal with the current "storm" intelligently and rationally and enjoy the whole thing as being part of a harmonious community coming together in celebration of love, peace, music, health foods, and harmony year after year.......
Richie Suraci rs7.fap@mhv.net

Alan Gerry of Granite Associates, current owner of the original 1969 Max Yasgur Woodstock Concert site has initiated a legal arrest against Abigal Storm and her husband, Daniel Eggink for trespassing and setting up a tent on the concert site property. The "Storms" have been there for the past week protesting Gerry's ultimatum of not allowing camping or vehicles on the property for this years reunion celebration.

As of this report Gerry will be allowing people to visit and walk on the site from sunrise to sunset during he anniversary dates in August but no camping or vehicles are allowed on the site.
Mike DiTullo, spokesman for Gerry has been quoted as saying "we're real serious about respecting the pirit of Woodstock." Hummmmmmm??????

There seems to be a contradiction here about what they are saying and what they are doing....It looks like this zealous act of aggression against the Storms is not in tune with the community spirit and love of the Woodstock Generations multidimensional philosphies.

Do the Granite Associates Group have any real idea of what this celebration, reunion is all about? Are they going to become the new June Gelish?

Hey guys how about lighting up, unloosen those ties and stop asphyxiating your kundalini flow to the brain from a tunnel visioned power trip of pragmatic, dictatorialism! Is this any kind of way to treat future tourists and Woodstockian devotees?

Show some respect for your brothers and sisters out there who could be lining yours and many others pocketbooks in Sullivan County in the future. For this annual gathering its very easy to waiver any self imposed restrictions created by any town board and understand what the PEOPLE want.

Reasonable and agreeable guidelines can be met and thoroughly understood by all parties involved if alot of our egos and political obsessinations of the towns rules and regulations for the annual reunion, celebration be rationalized and redefined, instead of incessantly officiated.

You really don't have much of anything else to offer the community or world, so for a weeks time why blow it again! Put out the real Woodstock Generation Welcome Mat and really mean what you say......
Richie Suraci rs7.fap@mhv.net

I understand the town of Bethel is suing Granite Associates in order to stop an upcoming concert at the Woodstock site.

My wife and I have had a weekend home in Sullivan County for six years now, and the astonishing stupidity of many of the local public officials here never ceases to amaze us. Third-world countries have better government than this......
Brian Tracey Wurtsboro, NY

So whats everybody else doing to get ready to set the mood at the "field stage" for this years reflective fantasy farm celebration in Bethel, NY?

I have heard people are charging their guru beads, tightening up their drum skins, washing their tie-dye and designer T-Shirts and jeans and looking around for related items to bring to this years groovy happening up there in "GerryLand" in Sullivan County.

Its that Woodstock Spirit that moves you and it looks like the basic vibration has been set by the "millionaire wizards and Robyn Hood." I hope all is well and they are ready for this annual invasion of the Woodstock Generation and their revisitation rites!

So will everyone be chanting...."Get Back, Get Back, Get Back to Where You Once Belong, telling all traveling stardusts, you are golden and cruise on over to this years "Magical Mystery Farm" to share in the celebration, August 14 - 19, 1997 dubbed "Back to the Garden at Bethel, NY FANTASY FARM'97 ????"
Richie Suraci rs7.fap@mhv.net

I crawled under my portable copper colored pyramid, the one with the big crystal on top, along the sweet smelling grass from where I was laid out on my back watching the full moon. I settled into a comfortable lotus posture on my mauve zafu cushion. I did some deep breathing exercises and relaxed and grooved by listening to a Yoga Nidra sitar recietal.

After awhile I started to have flashes of thoughts pass by my third eye chakra.....whole earth catalogs, groovy dancers, people handing out flowers, mystic musicians, drum circles, fire pit dancers, men in suits walking on a bowl shaped field handing out bundles of money, naked swimmers, mud people, this wildly lit stage, the aroma of all types of herbs and incense in the air, colorful painted vehicles and make shift living structures, body painted people, flashing lights, tents, health foods, etc......

I new I wasn't dreaming. Finally after a few more streaming flashes I realized I was in a astral plane meditation, which could have been triggered by the intense session I had earlier in the day from watching one of my computer screens of the live 24 hour mars transmissions from NASA. No it could not have been this, could it?

Anyway everything came back into perspective and all of a sudden my kundalini energy exploded and I had more flashes......I knew I wasn't pregnant. I kept thinking about those guys in suits, possibly some silicon valley nerds or computer geeks handing out oooodles of money on a bowl shaped field and realized, hey this must be Max Yasgurs old farm and those guys must be the new owners, the Granite Associates Group....

Hey, this is great !!!!!!! Then all of a sudden I remembered reading a headline in a local newspaper that people where coming to Bethel, NY for the annual reunion, social to reflect, fantasize, share, plan and celebrate about the Woodstock Generation again this August 14 - 19, 1997. Wow! This is for real......

Then everything just stopped. I sat there in quiet for about three minutes and then I began to feel the warm energy of bright white light surround me and heard an Indian Yogas voice speak softly to me as I realized I was channeling him.....

He said with his tumeric voice... we are contacting you from the the astral plane and want you to relay this message from all of the departed performers from the 1969 Woodstock Concert.......They have instructed me to tell you that they want to see this celebration become a yearly reality for all peoples to share the love, music, harmony and peace again and again which is the true spirit of the Woodstock Generation. They are now cosmicly working with the new "Joan of Arch" of the Woodstock Nation, Abigal Storm to try and see if she can convince the new owners to allow camping for all the peaceful peoples to commune together for this years FANTASY FARM so everyone can plan together for the 29th and the big 30th Anniversary Concert at the site.

We all want the Granite Associates and their friends to bankroll the events with totally interest free loans, meaning you never have to pay them back, Wow real sixties style!!!!!!

We want some of this years underlying theme to be the "Ultimate Reflection", which we define as everyone should come Back to the Garden at Bethel, NY August 14 - 19, 1997 visit the site and fantasize, write down your fantasies and send them to Granite Associates planning committee for future events.

We will give you this basic Guideline for day to day reflections......

Arrive at the site just before sunrise and start meditation precisely at sunrise. At precisely 7 AM on each day a gong should be struck and OM chanting should begin and end at 7:30 AM.

From 7:30 - 8:30 everyday we expect everyone to get in shape for a long day of reuniting, so do one hour of hatha yoga/exercise.

From 8:30 - 9:30 feast together on natural grains and fruits and have lots of cool or cold water on hand ready for the days distribution....

From 9:30 - 11:00 clean up the site/do all the daily chores/wash.
From 11:00 - 12:00 break for light lunch or siesta.

From 12:00 - 5:00 Interact, socialize, party, play, massage, dance, skinny dip, feast, picnic, drink, talk, let it all happen.......

From 5:00 to 7:00 prep for the evening and prepare for the next day.

From 7:00 to sunset reflect with the ones close to you, enjoy what is in front of you and get your ideas prepared to send to the right office.

After Dark ???????? We only work during the day and did not go to night school!!!!!

Then all of a sudden he disappeared and I found myself in front of a computer screen writing this..........Hummmmmm was this for real???????
Richie Suraci rs7.fap@mhv.net

Quality or Quantity ?

I have traveled the world and attended concerts and venues from a large majority of the "Quantity Concert site architects" with mixed feelings, and a loss of pocket cash.

The Quality, of Mr. Gerrys choice(s) as to my original site favorite, would be an original 1969 concert stage with era equipment, simple museum, a "Groovey Highway" with vintage vendors offering only pre 1970 retail and lastly, plenty of soft grass.

The a joining landed sites could be developed for camping, R.V. and K.O.A. "Kamping" cabins for the family;s without the equipment/budget, as well as food and hygiene services.

I am sure the venture capitalists will consider a "Theme" park, motel/hotel complex and I can't wait for the Hippy Dippy amusement park ideas that will develop. It kind of reminds me of Disneys failure in Virginia with the civil war environmentalists, when all is said and done...who really wins?

Historical preservation & the 1960's cultural education of the now and future American and International population = Quality...

Cash flow, personal ego's, promoters and site modernization =Quantity...
Benjamin Kelly bfranklin4u@juno.com

as a summer resident of the town of bethel and property owner for 25 years, i say who cares what gerry does with the site! I am a college graduate who has a normal 9-5 job in nyc and works hard.(i live in the city when not in bethel.) i also have a thr mail subscription. i find that the locals(a. storm, d.eggink and their ilk) are just a bunch of leftover hippies who contribute nothing to society. they get welfare and hardly work. i know this from being in the area and reading a record feature on them this past winter .i wish i had all the time they have to hang out and lay around for days on end. if they had a normal life and decent job maybe they wouldnt have the time to bother all year long about woodstock. i was there in 69- so what. i notice they are bringing up a daughter to be just like them. another generation of takers.
BARRY1 BARRY1@prodigy.net

what does the town of Branson have that we haven't got, go for it alan, we're all behind you here in the Hudson Valley!
alan vacca alanv@geocites.com

Alan Gerry should do what ever he wants to do with his property because it belongs to him and he pays the taxes on it:)

I would like to see something that will help the economy of the area. I would like to see the area in which I live thrive instead of die like it has since IBM pulled the plug. Some sort of 3-4 seasons theme park would be nice but I don't think that Gerry can pull off a Disney type park without the resources of a public company.
Good luck Mr Gerry.
Regards, Scott Teilhaber Jazz Communications, Inc. New Paltz NY jazzcom@worldnet.att.net

The "STORM" family and friends from Woodstock, NY, in defiance to this years announcement by Alan Gerry of Granite Associates, current owners of Max Yasgurs Farm of NOT allowing camping, cars or music on the original Woodstock concert site are already staking out, erecting a 34 foot green army tent on the field in hopes that others coming for this years reunion, socia celebration will follow them.

They plan to camp there until after this years reunion, social. Gerry's camp has stated that "everyone is welcome to visit the site from sunrise to sunset."

Speculative estimates are between 10,000 to 150,00 people may converge from all over the world for this years annual Aquarian Age bacchanal reunion of peace, love, music and harmony in the spirit of the Woodstock Generation.

To be on the safe side of this annual reality of Woodstockian invasion we are asking all the grass roots organizations or anyone coming to respect the land, keep it spotless, clean up after yourself and others at all times, come prepared for your safe and healthy survival, share with your new and old friends in peace, love and harmony and have a real goodtime.

The Gerry's are appreciated for their future plans of a possible 30th Anniversary Concert and respected for their open invitation of allowing all people onto the site relative to their wishes from sunrise to sunset, August 14 - 19, 1997 for this years celebration dubbed "Back to the Garden at Bethel, NY FANTASY FARM '97."

Hopefully the 29th Reunion and the 30th Anniversary Concert will become a reality if we all work together. Hope to see you there.
Richie Suraci rs7.fap@mhv.net

Woodstock Ideas: I believe that Mr. Gerry should consider supporting a folk/rock/popular music camp for children and young adults - similar to the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. Artists, teachers, performers, composers, etc. would be gathered to provide instruction and present (professional & student) performances in jazz, rock, folk, and/or country music. American music! This could begin as a six or eight week summer camp that involves highly talented young musicians from around the world and culminate in a Woodstock Celebration in August. I believe that the cultural heritage of American music deserves this kind of place, if only to propogate and ensure that indigenous American music is around forever. I'm sure there would be tremendous interest from Universities and conservatories of music, as well as musical "stars". Already, a number of them (Yanni, Wynton Marsalis, and Richard Dreyfuss for example) are committing themselves to the musical education of young people. Let Gerry provide the setting where we can build on this fantastic trend! Thanks,
Ray Pettit u1001794@host.warwick.net

To Whom it may concern:

I think that the last thing that should be done with the Site at Bethel is a Peforming Arts Center. That sort of commercialism takes advantage of the orginal meaning of the first event, and it is an obvious ploy to make big bucks. Thats all we need to see while driving up Rt. 17 is a huge billboard sponcered by Pepsi. Personally, I believe that the best thing to do with the land is not to do anything at all with it, but that certainly not what Mr.Gerry has in mind since his before his investment.

Thank you--
Michael Nilsen Middletown, NY maykul@magiccarpet.com

Of course, this is completely his decision; obviously it wasn't OUR money that paid for the land. But it would be really cool to see a museum built there commemorating not just Woodstock but the 60's in general, complete with a background soundtrack of music from back then. He'd have to charge an admission fee to keep up the place. And a museum gift shop complete with love beads and John Lennon sunglasses would finish it up. Oh yeah, and in theback, a concert facility. Don't foget the snack bar selling granola bars and home made bread. A total 60's experience; (remember "Total Recall?) I am NOT kidding, by the way. Thanks for asking! This was fun.
Carol Ryan csr@zelacom.com

According to recent releases from the new owners of Max Yasgurs Farm they have stated that "visitors will be allowed to walk onto the field between sunrise and sunset, but no cars or camping will be allowed onto the field." They are asking people coming for the 28th anniversary of Woodstock a chance to "enjoy their own personal reflection amidst the quiet of the 37 acre amphitheatre."

Signs will be posted saying "Welcome to the site of the Original Woodstock Music Festival....Town of Bethel Code Section 57.3 Prohibits Overnight Camping....Our Goal is th Respect and Nurture the Spirit of the Land. Help Us to Preserve This Unique Environment... Your Cooperation is Appreciated.

Great!!!!!!! But what happens if 10,000 to 150,000 people decide to show up for this years open casting call to walk on the site???????

What preparations are being made by anyone to accomodate any or many visitors to this Woodstock Generation tourist attraction that will come to socialize and celebrate at the site?

Who is going to clean up the mess, take care of anyone who gets sick, what emergency medical preparations are being considered, who will help the disabled who want to come and visit, what about sanitary needs such as toilets, latrine or toilet paper, peace patrol, injuries, water, tourist information, dumpsters, traffic control, showers to cool off in, broken down vehicles, internet, phone, fax, cellular, satellite communications, child care needs, rain, sun, mud relief, health foods and the list goes on.......

Since no one knows if the owners are prepared to help anyone we are asking all the grass roots people who come year after year for the reunion to "enter with love and respect in your hearts for the new owners and be thankful for the enormous investment they are willing to share." Help them get prepared for anything that may come up and cooperate with the local restrictions or ordinances, positively face the developing reality and pool together with eachother through peace, love, music and harmony of the spirit of the Woodstock Generation for this years August 14 - 19, 1997 social, reunion, celebration dubbed "Back to the Garden at Bethel, NY FANTASY FARM '97.

"Please show your gratitude to the new owners" keep the peace and environment spotless and lets all have a good time!!!!!
Richie Suraci rs7.fap@mhv.net