By Stefan Spezio "It's not final until it's final."

Sounding a bit like Yogi Berra, those were the hesitant words of Mr. Joe Tso, the managing member of the Napanoch Valley Mall's ownership group when asked about his deal with Wal-Mart that went public nearly three weeks ago.

However, the Journal has learned that Mr. Tso is now in possession of a contract, drawn up by Wal-Mart, which Mr. Tso must sign and return to the big box giant within ten days. If Mr. Tso signs the contract, which he says he will, Wal-Mart's arrival in Napanoch would be, conceptually, a "done deal".

However, Mr. Tso was very cautious about speaking of the deal as a reality. He explained, "At any point, even after the contract is signed, they [Wal-Mart] could pull out. If they have a problem with the survey of the property, if they have a problem with the [Town of Wawarsing's] planning board they could pull out. I don't call the shots. They call the shots."

Mr. Tso said he will be reviewing the contract over the next few days but the clock is ticking. His ten day window of opportunity began on Monday, December 4 and he must make his decision regarding this move to bring the world's largest retailer to the Ellenville-Wawarsing area.

Mr. Tso cited the amount of money he has spent on taxes and upkeep, saying that the rental income he earns is not sufficient to sustain the mall complex. Tso said that he might consider changing some of the conditions regarding the $5.5 million deal and reiterated the fact that the deal was not complete. But this seems to be a major step forward.

* * * The very day that Mr. Tso received his contract, a movie titled "Independent America: The Two Lane Search for Mom and Pop" was screened for an audience of about thirty community members at the Ellenville Public Library's Community Room. The film was shown and publicized by Ellenville Village Trustee and Ellenville Journal contributor, Steve Krulick.

The 80-minute film was a documentary done by a husband and wife news team that went on a cross country trip to learn about the possibility of sustaining small local economies without the benefit (other would say encroachment) of national or international chains. The documentary offered a number of perspectives on the relative benefits and negatives that a large retail chain offers.

After the film, several conversations ensued about what the arrival of a Wal-Mart would do to businesses in the Ellenville-Wawarsing area.

Pat Peters, of Peters Market, said that people who have said that Wal-Mart would not affect her business are, "naïve." She went on to say that the arrival of Wal-Mart would force her and husband Dick Peters to, "reinvent ourselves."

Film organizer Steve Krulick spoke after the film saying, "I don't want to start an "anti-thing. I don't want to get bogged down in that. But I do want to get focused on positive alternatives."

Mr. Krulick, when asked about others thinking that Wal-Mart will create jobs and stimulate the local economy, said, "Well, I can say that I think that the tooth-fairy leaves quarters under your pillow. That doesn't make it true."

More than anything, Krulick said that he is concerned about educating people and that his main goal is ensure that people weigh all of the effects, both positive and negative, that come with any major local economic development.

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