To the editor:

Several weeks ago I wrote a letter to you stating that the current Logging Law in Highland was ineffective and in which I erroneously stated that half of the law which had been written by someone other than Mr. McDonald’s committee, was the product of the National Park Service. He was quick to point out that this was incorrect as well as everything else I had stated. He was right about the incorrect attribution, and for this I apologize to the public for having misled them on such a vitally crucial point.

About three years ago, a group of us, who had been victimized by ugly logging off next to our properties, asked the Highland Town Board to give us a law so that this would never again happen. They gave us a law and since then there has been a case of ridge cutting and another of cutting down to the banks of the Delaware River. Both could have been prevented by a proper law.

We asked for adequate post-operation cleanup and proper buffering along adjacent property lines. We got neither. In defense, Mr. McDonald cites part of the law: “The intent of this law is to ensure that logging remains a viable activity in the township and is conducted in a manner that minimizes any potential negative environmental impact, and that if and when damage to town property (not ‘property owned by the town only’) and/or town highways occurs as a result of this activity, the permit holder is responsible to restore the property to its preexisting condition.” His parentheses were not in the actual Law. Property not owned by the town is private property. If that is what was meant, why wasn’t it explicitly so stated to avoid misunderstanding? Placing the words “town property and/or town highways” side-by-side would seem to indicate the town owns both. “Restore the property to preexisting condition” is a physical impossibility. The word “cleanup” is conspicuous by its absence, and this is possible!

As for “adequate buffering adjacent to neighboring property”, Mr. McDonald quotes another section of the law: “timber harvesting operations shall be restricted along property lines of the property being logged as specified an the New York State Timber Harvesting Guidelines” a copy of which is now part of the law. Talk about misleading! Nowhere in these guidelines is there a statement about buffering along adjacent residential neighboring properties!

Mr. McDonald states that his committee felt that such a buffering law would have been unconstitutional and unenforceable. In the guidelines, there are two required buffering zones: one for streams and ponds and one for major travel corridors. Are these unconstitutional and unenforceable?

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. It is obvious that the law as it is now written isn’t working, otherwise we would not have a case of ridge cutting and another of cutting down to the Delaware. I believe reading TRR that the town now has some money coming to help upgrade the logging law. But I may be wrong. Either way, it is time as the Town expands to write a Law that works.

Charles “Chuck” Traeger

Past Chairman of the Town Planning Board.

Yulan, NY

To the editor:

October goads the Upper Delaware Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (UDUFF) into action. Back in 1993 a member of the fledgling congregation commented that he thoroughly enjoyed the services and discussions, but that was not enough; he felt strongly that “we need to get out there and do something to help all those unfortunate people.”

Bud Rue had planted the seed, and the Walk for Social Justice to raise money for local charities took root. Sadly, Bud did not live to see the fruit of his dream. His death during that first walk was a tragic blow, and a decision was made to make the walk an annual event dedicated to his memory.

And that’s what Bud’s friends in the UDUUF are up to this month. Being too small a group to make much difference alone, we feel that by including others who also care about their neighbors, we may see good things happen. Last year, we were able to give $900 to each of five social service agencies. Now we have added another and we hope to do at least that much for each of them.

These are the groups that will benefit: Habitat for Humanity (both Wayne and Sullivan County chapters); Victims Intervention Program and RISE, its Sullivan County counterpart; Interfaith Outreach United, based in Callicoon; and Delaware Highlands Conservancy.

Since federal/state funding has been cut back for many programs, those who care and can give should do so. A mere few dollars does not begin to meet the needs of so many distressed people, but hundreds of offerings of a few dollars can do wonders.

All interested caring people are invited to join in the Bud Rue Memorial Walk for Social Justice on October 19. Assemble at the Berlin Township Community Center in Beach Lake at 1:00 p.m., ready to enjoy a five-mile hike/stroll through the autumn countryside, and return to the center for refueling with a luscious lunch. A relief car will be patrolling the route to pick up weary hikers.

Each walker needs a sponsor sheet to record pledges and contributions. Some UU members might be stationed at shopping places where they will be recruiting walkers, accepting donations, and supplying sponsor sheets. If you need a sponsor sheet or more information, call 570/685-2714, 845/252-6626, 570/253-2793 or e-mail Tlise22649@aol.com. Let’s see what we can do, working together, to improve life in our communities.

Grace Eno

Honesdale, PA

To the editor:

It was refreshing to read the letters of Herman Wiener, MaryAnn Burke, Marilyn Schein and Susan Conroy responding to the drivel of Ms. Connolly’s letters to the editor of September 11 and 25. The letters of the Smallwood residents accurately pointed out the many activities that the civic association engages in and provides to its members. Fortunately Ms. Connolly provided this forum so that the civic association could highlight these activities. 

I must point out that the civic association provided a special activity this summer regarding the upcoming election in Bethel. Eleven of the 12 major candidates were interviewed by a volunteer panel of Smallwood residents. The responses were collated and distributed to the General Membership at the August 2 meeting. All candidates were invited to the August 30 General Membership Meeting to explain their positions based upon the interviews. Many questions came from the standing room only attendees. This is the kind of activity that is needed in communities, whether it be Monroe, Montgomery, Callicoon,Roscoe, or Fallsburg, all recently in the news. Governments should be aware of the needs of their communities, and be responsive to the needs of their constituents.

Furthermore, it was good to note that Sheriff Hogue changed his position regarding the access road to Toronto Reservoir and is asking the town to fix Town Road 62 and 45, “currently riddled with potholes in order to provide passage for emergency vehicles to the Reservoir site.” Councilman Blais agreed, saying, “potholes on the road need to be repaired.” This was reported by Charlie Buterbaugh in the October 2 edition of The River Reporter. Making sure that Federal License #10482 is respected is one example of the civic association’s involvement in local government. The civic association will continue on many projects that will help enhance Bethel and Smallwood.

Bob Barrett, Corresponding Secretary

Civic Association of Smallwood

Smallwood, NY

To the editor:

They’re at it again! Special interests and their allies in Washington are pulling out all the stops to get their hands on Alaska’s wilderness. They are trying to win over key members of the U.S. Senate, who have previously voted to protect the Arctic Refuge from drilling, by loading up the energy bill with measures that would benefit their states. This includes proposals to increase the use of corn-based ethanol in the nation’s gasoline supply, and boost energy assistance to low-income families for heating and cooling. These are important issues that deserve to be addressed and passed on their own merits, not used as lures or bait in exchange for opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling.

Let’s hope our senators see through this ruse. It isn’t an either-or situation—our lawmakers do not have to trade away the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in order to bring jobs back home, or supply Americans will clean, affordable and reliable energy.

Susan J. Miller

Honesdale, PA

To the editor:

A recent investigative story by a local newspaper supports what casino opponents have long known: that legislators who negotiated the impact costs of casinos are our version of The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight or the original Mets (“Don’t nobody here know how to play this game?”) 

The negotiators were, and are, deceitful blunderers who now have a tiger by the tail and can’t let go. If they remain in charge, taxpayers are headed into ever-deeper financial danger.

Now, as it begins to dawn on the legislature that the negotiated impact fees are terribly inadequate, their “partners,” the Mohawks, expressing the standard casino interests’ line, complain those fees are “arbitrary” and too high. They got it half right. They’re arbitrary and too low.

Of course, our blundering legislature swallowed the bait and locked the county more tightly into the inadequate original figure when Leni Binder defensively replied that they could justify the original figures. She also said the agreement was not open to renegotiation. 

It should be renegotiated, in an upward direction, as a thorough and competent examination of the costs would reveal. 

Now, the legislature must convince taxpayers their costs are covered (which will be difficult since they are, most emphatically, not covered, and the legislature knows it, though they’ll spend another $35,000 taxpayer dollars to have a consultant say they are.)

The consultants were probably given limited data and asked to address limited questions. They, in turn, will probably express carefully muted criticism of the legislators so that their report can be hailed as “balanced.”

At this point even pro-casino people should wonder about the wisdom of retaining our incumbent legislators. But fear not. Our attorney, the redoubtable Corneilius Murray, will clear things up for them in a year or two by kicking their butts when the issue reaches the U.S. Supreme Court. All the rest is just noise.

Lee Karr

Forestburgh, NY

To the editor:

Since this is the time of fall clean up, many area residents turn to their burn barrels to get rid of their garbage.  Burning plastics is one of the most dangerous things humans can do to themselves, their family and friends.  The burning of plastic is a major source of dioxin pollution posing a serious health threat, especially to our children.

Dioxins accumulate in the fatty tissues of our bodies and are extremely difficult to biodegrade. It takes about 12 years for the dioxin particles to biodegrade and so have a tendency to build up in our bodies. Virtually all life forms are contaminated by dioxins simply by breathing and by eating. We breathe the airborne dioxins as they burn and are carried into the atmosphere and we eat the plant and animal life that ingest the dioxins.

Dioxins cause cell and tissue damage including, but not limited to, abnormal fetal development, impaired fertility, and cancers. Dioxins are one of the most toxic, cancer-causing groups of chemicals known to man.

Many plastics can and should be recycled. Those that can’t be, should be put in the trash to disposed of safely. Do yourself and your family a favor by not burning plastics in your burn barrel, barbecue, wood stove, or campfire.

Joann Morsch, Secretary

Wayne/Susquehanna R.E.S.C.U.E.

Nicholson, PA

To the editor:

When President Kennedy was killed, an editorial writer in The Commonweal: A Weekly Review of Public Affairs, Literature and the Arts, said in the December 6, 1963 issue:

“...we grieve not only for him but for the nation, and for the possibility that his murder was not an isolated act, but rather an expression of the irrational forces eating their way into American life.”

Ten years later, 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States declared in Roe vs. Wade that it is a woman’s right to abort the child in her womb if she so desires. Irrational forces had certainly eaten their way into American life.

Kennedy warned in his Inaugural Address about our rational place in history: “The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary belief for which our forebears fought is still at issue around the globe, the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God. We dare not forget that we are the heirs of that first revolution.”

I’m happy for President Kennedy that he did not live to see his beloved Democratic Party embrace the irrational idea of infant murder in the womb. At the recent Pro Life Convention in Scranton, we were told that all ten candidates for president in the Democratic Party support a woman’s right to choose abortion.

What a betrayal of their martyred president.

Virginia M. Sullivan

Hawley, PA

To the editor:

I am writing today to ask the residents in the Town of Liberty to show their support for the Democratic candidates running for office. I totally support and have great confidence in all the Democratic candidates, but in particular for Lynn Killian who is running for Town Council.

The Killians have lived in Liberty for generations. As a granddaughter of a past Town Supervisor and a past Village Mayor, Lynn Killian was taught the value of hard work, and caring about the community and its future. Lynn is not only an active member in our community, but also executive vice-president, past president, and past secretary of the Liberty Chamber of Commerce; a charter member of the Liberty Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and the Main Street Revitalization Committee. Lynn Killian believes that we must draw from the strength of our diversity, our common values and aspirations to forge Liberty’s future. I assure you that Lynn Killian will get up every morning and work hard to strengthen our community, and broaden our horizons so our children will be able to continue to grow and develop to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

Vote for Lynn Killian, Town Council, November 4 and I promise she will work for YOU and for Liberty’s tomorrow.

Kathe Farrand

Livingston Manor, NY