How Sad - No Woodstock Reunion This Year

by: Bill Liblick

It appears the Bethel Town Board has achieved their goal they have put Roy Howard and Jeryl Abramson out of business. There will be no planned Woodstock reunion this year on the famed Yasgur farm site.

It has been a wrongly fought battle by elected officials to halt a yearly celebration of a part of Sullivan County’s past. No, make that part of our country’s history. But, what would you expect from a town board which approves moratoriums on construction, instead of looking at each project individually.

The town board should have worked with Howard and Abramson on holding a yearly event, just like they have done with projects like Bethel Woods.

Instead they continually did was present the Hippie generation couple with nothing but lawsuits, threats of huge fines and even incarceration if they violated their court order to prevent a yearly Woodstock Festival .

Does all this mean that the town will halt people from coming to remember their time in history? No, probably not, they will still gather whether the town likes it or not. It is what people from that generation have done year in and year out. After all, they just want to celebrate a time of peace, love, and rock and roll.

Let’s face it - Woodstock had an enormous impact on many people for varied reasons. Some want to gather to relive a time from their past, others look at it as a sign of the future. Whatever the symbolic reasons, people want to commemorate that special time in history.

The arguments against permitting the annual event from happening are wrong. Especially with Bethel Woods now open, there should be a spirit in Sullivan County to encourage the annual Woodstock reunion.

Bethel Woods is even holding several concerts which coincide with the Woodstock era. That makes it all the more reason why a celebration should be allowed on the Yasgur Farm.

Bethel Woods is probably the single best thing to take place in Sullivan County in years. What Allan Gerry did for our county single handedly is absolutely amazing.  

This does not take away from the fact that our county and state are spending huge amounts of monies in Sheriff and State Police patrols at the concert venue.

All Howard and Abramson were asking for was one weekend out of the year to hold a gala observance to commemorate the Woodstock era, is that so wrong?

If permits are in place there will be no illegal camping. Proper security measures will be guaranteed. There are orderly measures to control the crowd so people can enjoy the music just like at Bethel Woods. And, Sullivan County’s economy would be stimulated.

Let us not forget the original message of Woodstock - love, peace, and music. It is not too late for the Bethel Town Board to approach Howard and Abramson on organizing an event. Wouldn’t it be nice if they were the ones seeking such a gala instead of rejoicing that the towel has been thrown in?

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