The River Reporter Online - Letters to the Editor

[EDITOR'S NOTE: The River Reporter welcomes letters on all subjects from its readers. They must be signed and include the correspondent's phone number. The correspondent's name and town will appear at the bottom of each letter; titles and affiliations will not, unless the correspondent is writing on behalf of a group.

Letters are printed as they are received, or at the discretion of the editor, and without correction to grammar or spelling. It is requested they be limited to 500 words; correspondents may be asked to cut longer letters. Deadline is 1:00 p.m. on Monday.

I hope you had a chance to drive around Narrowsburg on Christmas Eve to see our fourth annual luminaries lighting the way. It was a spectacular sight. We would like to take this time to say Thank you to the many volunteers and the fire department who helped make this happen. Without each and everyone’s help, it would not of been such a success. The sight was breathtaking. Thank you again very much. We would also like to say “thank you” to the Tusten Lions Club and the Narrowsburg Chamber of Commerce for their support and donation of over 3,000 candles for this great project.

All the best for a happy and healthy new year. Thanks again from Maureen and Emily. If you are interested in adding to our lumination for next year, call me at 845/252-3675, or Emily Hallock at 252-6656.

The members of American Legion Post 1363 of Eldred, NY are both heartened and proud of the outpouring of patriotism our area has shown since the September 11 tragedy. Most especially, it is heartwarming to us to see so many flags being displayed. We ask that you continue this display while showing the proper respect for the flag of our nation. If displayed at night, it should be illuminated and care should be taken that it be removed and replaced when signs of fading and weathering become evident. Torn and faded flags may be given to any legion member or left at the Eldred Town Hall during regular working hours. We will properly and respectfully dispose of them at a ceremony on Flag Day, June 14, 2002.

The political witch hunt in the Sullivan West Central School District continues unabated under the pretense of an appeal to the commissioner designed to overturn the appointment of Jeffersonville-Youngsville Principal Margaret Tenbus to the principalship of the proposed high school on a legal technicality. It is a study in hypocrisy.

What follows is an extract from my prepared statement read at the November 29 school board meeting.

“Margaret Tenbus is being treated as a political football to be kicked around by the administration and some board members with respect to this matter. Two weeks ago, we heard eloquent statements about the great administrative team the Sullivan West school district has, yet this administration and four board members are going out of their way to destroy her reputation and/or career. This is most unfortunate. After all, Ms. Tenbus is a member of the administrative team.

“Based on his comments in the press, Mr. Johndrow is widely believed to be supporting the board minority’s appeal behind the scenes at the expense of the majority on this issue. If this is true, I hope the majority members remember this incident when they do Mr. Johndrow’s evaluations or renegotiate his contract.

“All this activity has diverted attention from the single most important issue the board now faces: what to do about the disclosure of the Tenbus traffic incident and allegedly other confidential information that had previously been discussed and suppressed in executive session.

“This board must quickly move to reestablish trust in the executive session process and the confidentiality of personnel records by taking disciplinary action against SW board member Donna Sauer-Jones [who disclosed this information.]

“I have in my possession a print out that I obtained from The Times Herald Record library of an article dated Thursday, May 20, 1999 entitled `DV Board Sanctions Milk For Letter.’

“Three DVC board members (Robert Sturdevant, Richard Sandler and Donna Sauer-Jones) voted to sanction fellow board member and Town of Hancock resident Gloria Milk for breaking with the board majority and publicly opposing the merger in 1999 during her successful reelection campaign.

“Of course, subsequent events, including the broken promise of 95 percent state aid for the new high school and its inevitable downsizing proved Gloria Milk was right. Today she is considered to be a heroine in this district because of her honesty and courage.

“I would submit, however, that this sanction which was tolerated by Michael Johndrow and voted for by Donna Sauer-Jones and Richard Sandler, is now a precedent for the Sullivan West District which is the successor school system.

“Mrs. Donna Sauer-Jones has allegedly committed a serious violation of her duties as a school board member. She has never denied it and sits here defiantly to this day.

“I therefore urge the Sullivan West school board to publicly sanction Donna Sauer-Jones for her behavior in the Tenbus matter.

Osama, Osama, what have you done?
You’ve sealed the fate of your countrymen!
You’ve blown up our towers, infected us all, it’s our turn, now.
We’ll give you a call!

So, you really believe that the Taliban’s right?
That we’re all infidels; sinners; untouched by God’s light,
We’ve been patient with you, for so many years.
But, now we’re seething, with anger, grief and tears!

We don’t beat our women, for a veil that may fall.
We don’t stone them, either; we respect them all.
Our men, we don’t cut off their hand, for a slight,
For taking bread, to restore body’s might.

God’s commandments we keep, 10 in all!
“Thou Shalt Not Kill!” Is that Al Queda’s Law?
I doubt that it is, ‘cause look what you’ve done!
You’ve wrecked havoc on us! Is this your brand of fun?

I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes, when God calls.
Can you justify the hate, murder and all?
It’s just the beginning retribution, when the bombs start failing.
Taliban, Al Queda, bin Laden,
We’re calling!