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Resident: Charles Livingston
CHARLES
LIVINGSTON
I am a resident of Angelica Village, having returned here
after an absence of thirty years. I am saddened to see how
the Village has changed in my absence.
I first met the Voiths and their children about two years
ago, when I was driving by their home and saw what appeared
to be a S.W.A.T. team of Village Police, State Police and
Sheriffs Department vehicles in front of their home. This
meeting was on or about June 18, 2001.
I stopped and
approached the front door of the house to see what the problem
was. Linda Voith answered the door, her eyes filled with
fear. I stated that I was a friend and she asked me in.
Both she and her husband and three children were visibly
upset.
They explained that this trouble had come down upon them
because they had a cow and her calves boarded at the Cairns's
farm across the Street from their property up on High Street,
and that they wished to bring these animals to reside on
their own property.
They
were unable to obtain an animal permit because two of their
neighbors disapproved of the animals coming to their property
to reside.
The Police where
there because Stephen Voith was holding a Hare Krishna style
protest, which I witnessed.
That
night, I attended Village Board where the outcome of the
Voith’s animals was discussed. I witnessed a few paranoid
citizens influence the Village Board to arbitrarily deny
the Voiths’ a farm animal permit.
I
subsequently attended a Public Hearing about the Voiths’
cows. These same two neighbors were the only ones to speak
against the Voiths’ cows. Their concerns were far
fetched to say the least.
One of these neighbors lives adjacent to the Cairns’
farm, on which twenty to thirty cows roam with a large herd
of goats.
The other neighbor
lives adjacent to a field owned by the farm, which houses
the farms Breeding Bucks.
The
Voiths sin is that they practice the Hare Krishna religion
and so proclaimed by a large sign in front of their home.
The
Voiths leased property at the end of High St and lead their
cow and her calves a short distance down High Street to
pasture.
The
Voiths have told me of their concern for the safety of their
family members during these trips to pasture down High St.
A few times they asked me to escort their family and cows
between their owned and leased properties with my car, which
I did do on more than one occasion.
I
have visited the Voith's home several times a week since
our first meeting for a piece of homemade bread and a glass
of fresh buttermilk.
I
have walked their property several times a month and have
been in close contact with their gentle Jersey cow and the
young ox, which they have trained to pull a small cart.
They once delivered milk to my home by ox cart.
There
is a small well-built barn and milking parlor at the back
of their property. It is clean and filled with fresh hay.
The manure is promptly collected and composted.
The average passerby
on Main street or High Street would mot be aware of these
animals.
October, 2002
Charles Livingston
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