Just wanted to let you know what a great job you’re doing with riverrreportersports.com. I love the local sports news and your photo coverage of so many of the games. As scorekeeper for the Liberty Boys varsity team, I find it tough to take photos of my son while I’m busy jotting down game details.

Thanks for doing such a great job. I plan on subscribing.

Maggie Baxter

Tom Kane did a great job covering the Delaware Highlands Conservancy’s 9th Annual Meadow Party last week. He was most generous in recognizing the people who make this, our annual fund raiser, a big success.

I especially liked the photograph of Gary Hocker with his gorgeous Austrian mare “Moe” hitched up to an Amish buggy. Like so many others, Gary donated his time to provide a ride many of the children and adults who attended the festivities will never forget.

I would however clarify the description of how our non-profit land trust works to protect open space in the Upper Delaware River watershed region. I was quoted as saying, “We look for property owners who want to preserve a portion of their land from any kind of development and give it to us to keep it from being subdivided.” In truth, the landowner only gives us the right to subdivide, not the land itself. This allows the land to remain in private ownership and on the local tax rolls. The landowner is free to enjoy his or her land as before, and can sell or deed it to others. Our goal is to help keep the land unsubdivided so we, in effect, extinguish the donated development rights on that particular parcel forever.

We are always happy to discuss conservation easements with any interested landowners and to explain in detail exactly how the process works, how an easement is negotiated, and what benefits may accrue to the landowners. Anyone interested in this process should call our office in Hawley, PA at 570/226-3164.

Your editorial of September 8 was not only dead on but it was quite eye opening, and I hope that it enlightened those readers who are still wearing blinders, have not prepared themselves and will continue the status quo at the voting booths. I, on the other hand, had my eyes open long before 9/11 but was not prepared for the worst. After 9/11, I bought a rifle and ammunition (for hunting in case of disaster and for protection in the case of anarchy). I purchased a Jeep, three large plastic-covered containers which I filled with emergency water, non-perishable food, medical supplies and two backpacks filled with everything we would need for survival in the wilderness, if need be, which are always in my Jeep along with bottled water. Then I read several survivalist books from cover to cover including the “U.S. Air Force Survival Guide” and got myself certified in CPR and first aid as a first responder.

This all sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Many will say I am overreacting or even that I’ve lost my mind. But my friends and family have all said that if any catastrophe were to happen, they would want to be with me. Recent events in Louisiana only added to my doubts about our government’s preparedness to protect and provide for us in the case of any emergency. One of my bosses says that I am the best Girl Scout. I consider that a compliment but I know that there are hundreds of thousands of you out there who have been preparing for the worst too; you just don’t talk about it. It’s the rest of you who are not prepared that concern me. Just look at how horribly our fellow citizens in Louisiana—many faithful, God-fearing taxpayers among them—are being cared for by our government as a result of a catastrophe that the government knew was coming a week before Katrina hit. And then ask yourself how prepared they would be to help you and your loved ones after a terrorist attack they don’t see coming. Yes, we will all say our prayers, as always, but I’ll sleep a little better knowing I’m prepared. Wouldn’t you?

Mamakating needs a change

Fourteen years ago I moved to the Philipsport-Summitville area because of affordability of housing, taxes, and the serenity and scenic views. Unfortunately, the wave of growth that has spread through Rockland and Orange Counties is now heading for Sullivan County and Mamakating.

The past five years I have been a regular attendee at the Mamakating Town Board meetings and the last two years at the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals sessions because of the unacceptable Yukiguni Maitake mushroom project.

In those five years I have witnessed the board making weak decisions and kowtowing to new projects, ignoring their responsibility to the public they represent. It seems to me that in many cases they either don’t know the law or just refuse to apply it.

I believe a town official ought to follow our master plan and zoning laws, obtain answers to residents’ questions, and make informed decisions through research and expert professional opinions. The residents of the community have every right to expect that elected and appointed representatives have their interests at heart not someone else’s.

I have decided to do something about it by running as Democratic candidate for the town council in the elections on November 8 and hope that others who share my concerns will consider voting for me and others on my ticket.

What controversy?

How can you be so unethical to publish an article regarding a subject on which you are not fully informed, or perhaps you have a direct connection with the Bishop of Scranton? The headline itself makes assumptions.

You will note my name is signed to this letter. How do you even know that over 40 families have left St. Ann and transferred their attendance to neighboring churches? The parishioner asked to remain unnamed. Do your reporters base their articles on hearsay? Were names and addresses supplied?

Your paper should stick to reporting news, not vicious gossip. And who are you to say, “Diocese removes controversial pastor?” You must know more than anyone else… oh yes, the direct line with the bishop.

(Editor’s note: The article in question was double sourced. The fact that there are strongly conflicting views on the issue is evidenced by the disagreement between our sources, this letter, and last week’s letter from Marguerite Smith.)