They can find a use for these buildings

To the editor:

Is there any practical or economic reason for Sullivan West to leave empty and unused two schools that have cost that district between $12 and $15 million in the last few years to repair and bring up to snuff? The district is still shelling out money to heat, plow snow, cut grass and do all other maintenance in addition to supporting that white elephant in Lake Huntington.

With cramped quarters at town government buildings at Tusten and Delaware, couldn’t these buildings be sold to said townships? If not, perhaps they could be sold as private buildings, such as nursing homes or professional offices to once again be on the tax rolls. Maybe this would take another monkey off the taxpayers’ backs—or am I going against the tide? Once these buildings sit empty for a few years, the cost to bring them back to code would be more than building another white elephant.

Glenn Swendsen Sr.

Busing will be available for SW summer school

To the editor:

I want to put to rest the fear Mrs. Wingert expressed, in her letter “SW summer school won’t work for all” in the April 19 issue of The River Reporter, that summer school will only benefit children and parents in the Jeffersonville community. I’m sure Mrs. Wingert is unaware that at the last board meeting it was announced that busing would be provided for students enrolled in the summer school program. I hope this information puts to rest any worries for concerned parents.

Flow plans inadequate

To the editor:

As a fisherman and flood victim, I feel compelled to comment that Trout Unlimited (TU) National and TU New York again get a grade F for their “flow solution.”

There is no truly significant effort in their plan to aid in flood control. In fact, they call for full reservoirs at the same time we experienced the last two devastating floods, and as I write this letter may experience another. They do not care about the hundreds of millions in economic losses nor the pain and suffering of down-river communities from Deposit to Philadelphia.

From a fishing standpoint, TU (in spite of constant advice to the contrary) vehemently backed the ill-fated previous plan of a 225 cfs flow level at Hale Eddy, and down-river temperature goals they were convinced would maintain a substantial level of environmental support. This plan was so ill conceived that it was abandoned within months of its implementation.

Now it appears that they have formed an “alliance with scientific experts and have spent thousands of hours of comprehensive analysis.” Their plan calls for a 50 percent increase in release and a 73 percent increase in fish habitat.

These are impressive numbers unless you put them in perspective. If a baby requires a minimum of 10 ounces of milk per day to remain healthy, and he gets two ounces, and that two ounces is increased to three, he is getting a 50 percent increase in nutrition—but still starves.

There are many reasons why decisions should be delayed, the fact that our reservoirs are swollen at a very critical time not the least of them. I urge the communities in the Delaware River Valley to reconsider any hasty choices and take part in an effort to make well-thought-out decisions and to help those that truly have their best interest at heart.

Dishonorable conduct

To the editor:

The Zimmer for Judge Committee and I would like to thank the many people who called over the weekend to express their outrage at the vandalism that occurred to some large signs for my campaign. Four signs at different locations throughout the county were either spray-painted or ripped. Additionally, some smaller lawn signs were stolen. The defaced signs were in front of Owl Chrysler-Jeep, on Route 652 in Beach Lake, in Hamlin and on Farview Mountain.

It’s disappointing to see something like this happen because this is a race among gentlemen. I am sure neither of my opponents had anything to do with these actions. I urge the public to please respect this race and not to destroy candidates’ signs. As district attorney I learned that a public official who makes difficult decisions must be prepared for actions such as this. Being judge will be no different. Cowardly acts like these are simply to be endured and overcome.

Anyone with any information about this crime is urged to call the Pennsylvania State Police at 570/253-7126.

A buckle-up bumper sticker

To the editor:

Now that we know that even the Governor of New Jersey does not always wear his seatbelt, we can admit that some of us do not, either. And while teaching teenagers to be safe and responsible drivers is a difficult task, teaching them to use a seatbelt is simple. You do it by example.

If a teen knows even one driver who doesn’t buckle up, that young person will feel free to follow that one bad example. Some of the young people who have lost their lives in car accidents would still be with us if they had been wearing a seatbelt, regardless of whatever else they might have been doing wrong.

The Delaware Youth Center is going to encourage everyone in the community to buckle up by making bumper stickers available to every organization, school or individual who is willing to use them. The pictured design is our best effort, but we are hoping for suggestions. If we use your idea we will give you great praise and a nice present. Please send your suggestions to the Delaware Youth Center, P.O. Box 354, Callicoon, NY 12723 as soon as possible. In the meantime, please buckle up and be safe!

Finding our way toward peace

To the editor:

Most of us are probably feeling fear, possibly anger, and sadness from hearing about the massacre on the Virginia Tech campus. There have been larger massacres in our history, like the 300 Sioux Indians massacred by the U.S. cavalry at Wounded Knee, SD in 1890. Yet that was a long time ago and what happened at Virginia Tech happened just last week.

The impact on us is immediate and frightening and very troubling. We all want to live in a country and community that is safe and where life is harmonious. Now another event of great violence has occurred, and you know another one is waiting just around the corner. Ours is a country with a long history of violence at home and violence that we have afflicted abroad on other innocent people.

To deal with my discouragement and at times hopelessness in the face of our ongoing violence, I take action giving what I can to shift our society toward nonviolence and peace. The most effective and satisfying means for me are supporting the Department of Peace legislation in Congress, and being mindful of being peaceful myself. Among many other areas of concern, the Department of Peace legislation would address violence in schools through research and application of nonviolent known ways of preventing violence. Please search thepeacealliance.org to find out the details of the bill and let me know if you want to help.

Thanks to all for murder mystery fundraiser

To the editor:

The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce recently held its 15th annual fundraising murder mystery, “Murder in the Emerald City.” This year was another successful event. There were so many people working together to make it happen, for instance, Gail Tucker, who writes and directs the mystery with her husband Ben. Then there are all the characters who never say no, and go all out to make the evening fun: Deborah Bailey, Gary Beilman, Vince Benedetto, Sandie Grandinetti, Ray Hamill, Karen Houschultz, Toni Lehutsky, Marty Robbins, Fred Stanton, Ben Tucker and Mark Zimmer. You have to visualize them as the Tin Man, Not-So-Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow, to name a few, which are not their usual roles. The casino dealers also did a great job.

Thanks to all the sponsors who stepped up to support us, and everyone who contributed prizes, including Heidi Blade-Hewlitt for program layout and Spencer Printery for fast courteous service, Ehrhardts for the great food and cooperation as usual, and to Art’s For Him. A special thank you to Sandi Grandinetti for costume design. The costumes were just great, and so was the DJ Tom Emanski and the set designed by Leslie and Pat Dennis.

Thanks to the committee, Helen Piorkowski, Donna LaBar, Treva Day, Aimee Holevinski and Amy Griffith, who really worked hard to make the event successful, and to the chamber staff who kept things moving along.

Last, but not least, on behalf of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce we would like to thank everyone who came to support us. I have said it many times that we are so fortunate to live in Wayne County, because people are always there for you.

Our next event is “The Little Engine That Could™,” coming June 8, 9 and 10. See you all there and thanks again to everyone.

It’s time to take our freedom back

To the editor:

This administration used the World Trade Center disaster to justify invasions of foreign nations and the passage of the PATRIOT Act, which removes every previous right a citizen or immigrant may have had. A police state has been formed by this act, and don‘t let anyone kid you otherwise.

Now, after more than 3,300 U.S. troops have died in vain—yes I did say died in vain—in a war based on lies, the U.S. Congress is beginning to realize that a plan to form a dictatorship has been in the works for six years or more. But they are still bogged down by diehards who want to stay the course.

Our U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights have been tossed into the garbage by this administration’s executive orders, carefully composed by the U.S. Attorney General, a figure who has been aiding and abetting Bush to circumvent the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights instead of doing his job—to protect them.

Congress must now grab back whatever power they still have as a democracy, or else whatever freedom still left may soon be gone, as we witnessed in Nazi Germany.

Impeachment for all persons who have moved to overthrow our U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights must be applied. Last week’s testimony by U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was a start. The President and Vice-President should also be impeached, for they are the ring leaders of the attempt to establish a total monarchy, and impeachment is necessary to halt future leaders attempting to set themselves up as kings.

We people must learn that freedoms given up for security will lead only to the loss of both freedom and security. To remain free, we must be aware that the worst enemy is one from within government ranks. This was a fact well known to our founding fathers, so our Second Amendment, the one that gives us the right to bear arms, also became a part of this holy parchment in order to give the people the ability to protect themselves from a tyrannical government.