[The following letter was sent to the Tusten Town Board and submitted for publication.]

Dear Ben and Honored Town Council Members,

My son Martin dreams of becoming a Narrowsburg firefighter. Both of my sons like to be outside and so do we. Narrowsburg is a friendly and beautiful place to be. As residents we serve the community as active church members and in the fire department.

What is upsetting, however, is the prevalence of burning plastic, plastic coated cardboard food packaging and Styrofoam that we smell on a weekly and often more frequent basis throughout the town. In the September 2 issue of The River Reporter I made an appeal for a ban on burning in the hamlet. It makes sense that where people live in close proximity such a dangerous and contaminating practice should not be allowed.

We want to stay in Narrowsburg, but we struggle with this issue that would threaten the health and quality of life standards of most families with small children. As it stands, my children, and those who attend the Narrowsburg School play in places where they are frequently subject to drifting gasses so horrendous that the U.S. military has banned them.

On Wednesday last week my wife and my three-and-a-half -year-old son smelled poisonous gas for a few minutes while riding a bike and walking on Third Street. Later, when my wife went to pick up our older son in front of the Narrowsburg School, they smelled the gas of yet another local barrel burning plastic. Thursday, we took the boys out to ride bikes after supper and smelled more burning waste. To smell noxious burn barrel gas in the hamlet is, unfortunately, not an atypical experience. We smell it often, and in many locations.

Please study the issue for yourself. Please pass an ordinance to end waste burning in the hamlet. NYS law gives town governments like ours the power to do that. If that is not a viable option then please, let the people who live in the hamlet vote on the issue of a ban.

I hope Martin can become a Narrowsburg firefighter. But if he can’t, it may be because inaction on this issue has caused us to leave and that will break all of our hearts. Thank you for your attention in this matter.

Respectfully,

Responsible burning is a safe option to garbage removal

To the editor:

I am writing in regard to the recent campaign against the use of burning barrels. I do agree that some people burn things they should not, however, that is not the case for all.

I live on the flats in Narrowsburg and a majority of people use burn barrels. The implication that anyone using burns barrel is burning “trash” or “household garbage” is extreme and offensive. I have receptacles for “refundable garbage,” “recycling garbage,” “non-burn, non-recycling garbage,” and “burn garbage.”

I have had notes and brochures taped to my door for over two years. I recently had visitors to my home while we were burning and the next morning we found another letter stating that the smell of plastic burning caused the neighbors to have to close their bedroom windows due to prevailing winds. This is interesting because there was only paper and cardboard in my burn barrel. Quite frankly, there were no prevailing winds as my guests did not even realize we were burning.

I resent the false picture, as well as the misinformation and message used in an attempt to get an immediate ban on backyard burning in the hamlet of Narrowsburg.

Why is it that one newspaper prints an article stating that pollutants are derived from the combustion of fossil fuels, yet another assumes cows are grazing where burn barrel pollution has fallen and may produce milk with higher concentrations of contaminants? Incidentally, I believe that fossil fuels create these same risks. I don’t use fossil fuels to heat my home. Everything I use is electric and I have elected for my power to be generated by hydropower. We do care about our environment as we suffer from severe allergies, asthma, and migraines. I do not believe that most of my neighbors are burning “household garbage.” I usually see leaves, twigs, branches, paper or cardboard being burned. While I am sure that there are people who burn everything, we are not one of them. I think my neighbors are nice, we just don’t agree about the use of burning barrels, the eating of meat, or the cutting of tree branches causing damage to my property (including interfering with my electric service). All of which are choices we are entitled to make, neither being right or wrong.

Hold DEP responsible for flood damage

To the editor:

For the record, Friday, September 17—the day leading up to the flood of 2004—the main stem gauge at Barryville, New York stood at 3.3 feet and the West Branch Delaware River gauge was recorded at 3.0 feet via the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Both of these levels are considered normal levels.

During the late afternoon of Saturday, September 18, the main stem Upper Delaware River at the USGS at the Barryville gauge crested at 24 feet.

That is an increase of over 20 feet over a 24-hour period!

Even with the six inches of rainfall that the Sullivan/Delaware county region received in a short time during the night of September 17, I submit that much of the damage to both personal and municipal property throughout the Delaware River Valley and its tail waters could have been prevented if those in charge at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) had begun to release water from the bottom of Cannonsville and Pepacton Reservoirs throughout the summer in a timely manner.

In 1955, there was no reservoir on the West Branch of the Delaware River at Deposit, NY to contain any water on the West Branch of the Delaware River. This reservoir is maintained by the New York City DEP and it was constructed in the mid-1960s.

Thus, the West Branch Delaware River prior to 1966, was free flowing north of Deposit/Stilesville, NY— where the Cannonsville Reservoir is now located—with nothing to hold back rising water into the main stem at Hancock, NY from storms spawned from late summer/early fall hurricanes.

The peak flow of the main stem of the Upper Delaware River recorded at Montague, New Jersey by the USGS during the flood of 1955 was close to 250,000cfs. [Source:USGS]

The peak flow during the flood of 2004 was 170,000cfs at Montague during the night of Saturday September 18.

Those in charge of the New York City reservoirs should be held accountable since they lacked the foresight in releasing water from the bottom of their reservoirs throughout the mid- to late-summer months of 2004 as a precaution in advance of the remnants of Hurricane Ivan.

The facts were there.

Our region had experienced over 15 inches of rainfall prior to this storm from mid-July through early September.[Source: NYC DEP] The ground was waterlogged with no cushion for additional water to go. Additionally, New York City’s water capacity was 20 percent above their normal reserve before the 2004 flood in early September. [Source: NYC DEP]

Even with those facts, the West Branch Delaware River water levels were running at or below normal for July and August 2004—from 2.2 feet to 3.2 feet—since very little water was being released from Cannonsville Reservoir by New York City authorities.

It is my hope that our township officials, Upper Delaware Council delegates, commercial businesses and residents throughout the river valley will question these facts and the aftermath of this flood through an organized forum.

Question: Why wasn’t more water released by the NYC DEP from their reservoirs during this past summer as a precaution to what has now happened to many in the Catskill/Pocono region this past weekend? And, how can we prevent this tragedy from happening again in the future?

Fond memories of the Long Eddy Hotel

To the editor:

My husband and I just spent a wonderful 10 days in your lovely county and did a variety of activities. Much to my surprise, one of which was eating at The Long Eddy Hotel. I have to say the food is out of this world class. We entered into the bar area, which reminded me of being in Cheers. After a short wait we were led to a back room, which is the dining area, much like my grandmother’s dining room. Carol, who served us, was most gracious (and did the cooking too). It was truly a lovely experience and we cannot wait for our return next summer. You should not keep this place a secret.

Eldred—a lost paradise

To the editor:

Eldred was once a beautiful place to live, an oasis, a paradise ... until now.

I have seen wonderful changes to our town over the years, with the influx of down-staters and locals alike. You can see the “pride” in everyone who lives in Eldred.

So what gives The Eldred Preserve the right to remove acres and acres of beautiful trees and landscaping on Steges Road (just off Route 55), erect a yellow circus tent and decide to conduct loud public events and loud private parties on the once sacred registered nature preserve grounds. It’s a disaster!

Where are those who enforce the local laws and ordinances?

This past weekend they hosted some sort of public benefit that attracted 1,000+ ATV riders! They raced around from the crack-of-dawn until almost 10:00 p.m. They were everywhere—you couldn’t get past The Eldred Preserve’s property and the noise was out of control.

Does the Department of Environmental Conservation know what they have been up to? Probably not, otherwise this mess would have never occurred. Do the Town of Highland officials know?

Those at The Eldred Preserve, who are responsible for ruining our quality of life, need to step forward and give us back our trees, remove the God-awful circus tent and give us back the life that all of us in Eldred once enjoyed.

Heather Lander goes to Washington

To the editor:

I’d like to thank several local organizations and businesses for their support for my recent trip to Washington, D.C. for the Presidential Classroom Leadership Conference.

I am extremely grateful to all organizations that helped me on my venture. I’d like to thank the Western Sullivan United Teachers, Tusten Lions Club, The First National Bank of Jeffersonville, Lang Industries, The River Reporter, Peck’s Supermarket, Callicoon Kiwanis Club, Sullivan West Student Council and the Jeffersonville Lions Club for affording me to experience Presidential Classroom.

I attended the July 3 to July 10, 2004, Presidential Classroom Scholars Program in Washington, D.C. I met more than 450 other high school juniors and seniors from 47 states, Australia, Brazil, Guatemala, Nigeria, and South Africa. I spent the week discussing key political issues and observing the federal government at work. I also attended several seminars by well-known politicians, government officials, and media personnel. Some keynote speakers included presidential candidate Ralph Nader, ABC News White House Correspondent Ann Compton and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta. I visited government representatives on Capital Hill, attended Fourth of July celebrations, and attended a performance by the political satire troupe, Capital Steps.

I sincerely would like to thank all organizations, local businesses, and most of all John Ogozalek, my sponsor and social studies teacher, for all of their support and for allowing me to experience Presidential Classroom.

Livingston Manor flooded with role models

To the editor:

As President of the Livingston Manor Chamber of Commerce, Main Street merchant and property owner, I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank so many people and their tremendous efforts on Saturday morning, September 18. The fire and emergency personnel were incredible. Mrs. Lynker and Jan Carlson kept the displaced comfortable, warm and safe at the Livingston Manor Central School. And many friends, citizens, business and property owners, reacted quickly to help get the inventories, equipment and supplies in all the stores raised up high enough to be safe from the impending waters. Thank you all.

As the Sullivan County Democrat acknowledged just last Tuesday, September 14, in its editorial, “What truly makes a hamlet stand out is its people...and Manor has a definite corner on the market of friendly, helpful and community-minded citizens.” I’m proud to represent the Livingston Manor business community, I proud of the people of Livingston Manor and I agree—Livingston Manor is “Sullivan County’s Role Model.”

Thank you all.

Raising funds to end domestic violence

To the editor:

On behalf of the staff, board and volunteers of Victims’ Intervention Program, I would like to thank everyone in the community who participated in our annual chrysanthemum fundraiser. Whether you bought them, sold them, unpacked them or delivered them we thank you.

It is the community’s support and generosity that enables us to still provide high quality services at no cost to victims of crime in Wayne County. Your support allows us to continue our work to end violence in our community—thank you.

Special thanks are extended to Top Notch Distributors for the use of their loading dock, warehouse and staff. Diann Welsh donated a truck and driver to make a round trip to Bloomsburg. We also would like to thank the volunteers coordinated through the Area Agency on Aging and other volunteers who donated their time for flower delivery.

And a special thanks to our dedicated board member, Larry Witt, for making all of this possible.

Sandy Oxford is a different choice of senator

To the editor:

A group of stalwart friends of Sandy Oxford for State Senate met at Fibbers Restaurant at the famous Concord Hotel’s Golf Course last Tuesday evening to meet the candidate and show their support.

Hosted by Ron Hiatt, Sullivan County Democratic Legislator from District 8, and Sam Wohl, District 9, Ron introduced attending dignitaries Chris Cunningham, legislative chairman; Jim Barnacle, Mayor of Monticello; and Tim Hill, Sullivan County Democratic Party Chairman.

“Sandy is our candidate,” said each of the speakers in turn as they described their respect for Sandy for her fresh views, years of experience in public service and knowledge of the issues at hand. Sandy is the Working Families Party candidate, Row E on the ballot, but her support comes from numerous factions and community organizations that acknowledge the need for change in state government. Change that will support a responsible growth of Sullivan County and the region included in the 42nd Senatorial District, while meeting the needs of citizens, for economic development, education and environmental preservation.

With an easy and intimate speaking style, Sandy addressed the assembled supporters describing her platform of the four “E’s,” the first being Row E on the ballot.

The other three Es are providing local jobs with living wages, small business empowerment and affordable housing as the economic plank; relieving property taxes from education funding, and preparing students for future success as the education plank; and smart growth, guarding against urban sprawl and protecting the natural beauty of the Catskill Region as her environmental plank.

As someone who has worked with Sandy for the past several years, I am sure of her ability to accomplish her goals and to rally the support of like-minded citizens to move this community toward a future of their choosing, rather than as pawns of a party machine that emanates from Albany, Long Island, and points towards Texas.

For more information on Sandy Oxford’s platform and ideas, visit oxford2004.com, or write: Friends of Sandy Oxford, P.O. Box 67, South Fallsburg, NY 12779.

Kerry headquarters now in Honesdale

To the editor:

I would like your readers to know that there is now a Kerry for President Headquarters at 519 Main St. in Honesdale, PA. It is the first time in 40 years that a store front office has opened up to support the Democratic presidential campaign.

Support for this project comes from local citizens, peace groups, and all who are concerned about the direction our country has taken and want to get rid of Bush and his misguided regime.

Visitors to Kerry headquarters can learn about Kerry and Edwards. Excellent literature about every conceivable campaign issue are available, as well as pins, bumper stickers, and lawn signs in support of John Kerry. A good film is also being shown.

As you perhaps know, Pennsylvania is a swing state, which means that winning in Pennsylvania is crucial to win the election. Residents of Pennsylvania and people from neighboring states who want to help are encouraged to sign up at the headquarters. Much work needs to be done and I can assure you that the people there are friendly and welcoming. Phones will soon be installed, but in the mean time the number to call is 570/470 5781. We are on the south end of town and are open every day at 10:00 a.m.

GOP is right of center

To the editor:

As you doubtless know, the GOP conducted a recent nationwide grass-roots policy survey dubbed Ask America. Its goal (I quote Dennis Hastert) “is to give the leadership of the Republican Party an in-depth understanding of which issues are of greatest concern to the American people.”

I’ve made a point, all this year, of returning every franked envelope the GOP has sent with a request for funds—my small effort toward reducing their indecent war chest. Back in the Eisenhower era, I tended to vote Republican but changed my registration when the GOP veered into radical extremism. Needless to say, I’ve made no contribution with my dozens of responses this year; in fact, I usually scribble insult evaluations of the party’s performance across survey literature they send.

I did much the same with their elaborate, highly touted Ask America form, but when they demanded a modest processing fee from any respondent who didn’t enclose a contribution, I complied. Thus, in their astonishing inefficiency, I became a treasured participant, qualified to receive the report on the “Classified Results” of this survey.

I’ve just read through it and am appalled. Much was made in the press of the fact that the delegates to their convention were well to the right of rank-and-file Republicans. This report—which surveys the latter—indicates otherwise: The “rank-and-file” is every bit as self-righteous, chauvinist and totalitarian as those delegates proved to be (wildly approving the most outrageous party platform in recent history). A few examples:

Most striking to me is the direct contradiction between the strong belief that the federal government should be reined in (and kept out of our private lives) and their repeated call for much greater federal restraint of the people they disapprove of gays, women seeking the right to choose and all immigrants. One comes away from this confidential portrait of party voters with a chilling new realization that these sour, paranoid, muddled and hate-filled folk must be defeated in November.

Right to life is of utmost importance

To the editor:

John F. Kennedy said it in his Inaugural Address: “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 forbears 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.”

We are about the elect another president of the United States. By what criteria shall we choose him? Foremost among them is the candidate’s commitment to the preservation of the rights of man from the hand of God. Thus, John Kerry, who voted for abortion 59 times, including the Partial Birth Abortion Act and against the Laci Peterson Bill, is not a viable candidate for president. He and the Democratic Party have betrayed their own principles by supporting abortion, that deadly medicine predicated upon the same principle the Nazis employed to eliminate the Jews: the principle which held in the “generosity of the state of Nazi Germany” that some human life was unworthy of life.