To the editor:

Highland Physicians Ltd. wishes to thank all of the kind neighbors, patients, volunteers, firefighters and others who helped us during the unfortunate fire on Saturday, July 15, 2000 at the Delaware Medical Center in Narrowsburg. Through skilled and rapid response no one was hurt. We all have profound respect for the professional manner in which we were treated and look forward to providing full medical services again as soon as possible.

Dr. Jon Sternburg

Highland Physicians, Ltd.

Narrowsburg

To the editor:

Who are volunteer fire department members?

We are men and women who at any time of day or night through rain, sleet, snow or hail even ninety degree weather risk our lives to help the lives of others. We may be responding to a non-threatening call or a life-threatening call. We may be be having dinner with the family or just sleeping. But when our beepers go off we do not decide if we should go or not. We are not personally paid and we do lose wages from our jobs occasionally. However we still feel propelled to help out our neighbors.

Our heroes are the other members who put their lives in jeopardy to save a home or rescue some one from a totaled vehicle after they have had too much to drink or have driven too fast. A lot of the time we are the ones comforting family members. We help land helicopters for the medical emergencies putting our lives in danger.

If we do not make enough money to support our stations we put our personal lives on hold to hold fundraisers. We take pride in our volunteer work and we defend our stations to help our communities be safer.

So next time you see a coin drop or a advertised fund raiser remember we are all trying to help our community. Do not condemn us for taking a little longer then you would like or because we do things you do not understand. We are regular people just like you. Remember volunteers are the heart of all communities! There are many places to volunteer from fire stations to schools. Being a volunteer is very rewarding.

Written by a volunteer fire department member who cares.

Margaret Myers

Hawley

To the editor:

The Sullivan First Steering Committee would like to commend Supervisor Tony Cellini and the members of the Town of Thompson Town Board for committing $1,000 to support the work of the Sullivan First Regional Groups of Monticello and Rock Hill. Other noticeable signs of the board's intent to improve the appearance of the Town of Thompson include the flowers decorating welcome signs at every entrance to the community and the much-improved exterior of the Town Hall Building. Thank you for demonstrating how much we all care about the beautification and betterment of Sullivan County.

The Sullivan First Steering Committee

Jerry Skoda, Jonathan Drapkin, Robert Ernst, Martin Handler, Denise Frangipane, Gene Walkowiak and Gay Donofrio

To the editor

Summertime is a wonderful time for children to explore new and exciting experiences. On behalf of Morry's Camp, we would like to thank all of our terrific neighbors and friends for welcoming us back into your community for a second year.

Our campers are inner-city children who are visiting upstate New York through a non-profit, full scholarship program. Located in Glen Spey, Morry's Camp has greatly benefited from your generosity of spirit in sharing summertime joy with our youngsters, counselors and staff. It is very gratifying to know that people will go out of their way to help our children learn and grow.

Each summer, over 200 children from the New York Metropolitan area leave their urban homes for four weeks, free of charge, to enjoy outdoor adventures. Camping offers children positive core values, increased social skills, enhanced self-esteem and a greater sense of personal responsibility. In addition, Morry's Camp supports youngsters through a year-round learning curriculum.

Thank you for allowing our young campers to get to know the beauty of Glen Spey and the surrounding areas, along with the wonderful people who live here.

Sincerely,

Teresa Younger

Executive Director

Morry's Camp

To the editor:

Thank you for your July 6-12 reporting of a few of the highlights of Green Party candidate Ralph Nader and Green Party U.S. Senate candidate Marc Dunau. It was very enlightening.

Also thanks for my "surprise" photograph of my Dalmatian "Max" riding on the Hortonville Fire Truck at the Callicoon Fourth of July parade. On the second parade through Callicoon he rode on the Equinunk Fire Truck.

As the 98th Assembly candidate, I marched.

William A. Brenner

Grahamsville

To the editor:

The recent disclosure that controversial BOCES Superintendent Martin Handler is on the committee to interview and select a new county manager has raised many eyebrows in Sullivan County.

It was on Mr. Handler's watch that the disputed 1999 DVC school merger vote occurred which led to widespread charges of vote fraud and a protracted legal appeal to the state education commissioner.

Many people still feel that Mr. Handler and his state education department colleagues were asleep at the switch with respect to the security procedures necessary to protect the integrity of that vote.

Even worse is the fact that in his newspaper column of May 18, 1999 Martin Handler stated, "In addition, the state will pay 95 percent of the cost of renovating the existing school buildings and building any new structures made necessary by the merger. A new high school is proposed in the merger plan."

This promise of a virtually free new high school was enough to sway many undecided voters. Months later, the public found out that the promise was bogus and the new Sullivan West school district was only going to get 67 percent in state aid with local taxpayers being stuck for the rest.

No wonder cynicism in the district is at record levels.

Martin Handler has never publicly apologized for this debacle, yet now local taxpayers are supposed to trust his judgment in selecting a new county manager who will exert enormous influence over the Sullivan County budget and the tax rate. What a joke.

Rather than meddling in county affairs, it would be better if BOCES Superintendent Martin Handler spent his time lobbying the state education department for the extra state aid money he personally promised us.

Need I say more, Mr. Handler?

Noel van Swol

Long Eddy