Ben Johnson responds to McDonough

To the editor:

Thank you for your letter. I believe that I have addressed the concerns surrounding the recent election in a frank and open manner. I stated from the start that I and other local officials did nothing improper or illegal by speaking with the residents of the Narrowsburg Home. I gave the Times-Herald Record no response because that is what it deserved. The article alleged fraud, yet failed to lay the foundation for what the fraud was. The Tusten Democrats alleged fraud, only to find it was their own county official who let them down, not fraud or illegal procedures by the local officials.

I have endured the innuendo that they have presented and seen the letters that have been written, including one from one of our own board members. What amazes me is they all feel that the residents should not vote, and that, indeed, is sad.

I can only wonder if finding out that it was their own party commissioner that screwed up will put an end to this, and will they realize it was them that created this “toxic residue” that we can ill afford.

Like you, Kevin, I am proud of my association with the Town of Tusten government, and we can continue to be so.

Entitlement to destruction

To the editor:

In reference to the killing of an albino black bear cub reported in TRR two issues ago, I feel the need to continue to explore the deeper ramifications. I agree with the two letters of last week that the death of the cub was a “sad waste” and that “it wasn’t fair game.” Beyond that, this one selfish act is a graphic example to me of man’s attitude towards our natural world. Domination and possession are the driving forces; conservation and compassion are still relegated to the “tree huggers,” and are viewed as weak. This entitlement to destruction is deep in our psyche, going back to the dawn of man, when the struggle for survival favored the ruthless killer. If we as a species continue to channel and act on these primal impulses, the complete destruction of the natural world by our violence will be in short order.

That larger perspective having been said, yes, animal populations need to be controlled around human habitations?that’s where conservation management comes in. But in this particular case, rather than collecting dust in someone’s den, that pure white black bear cub should be alive in the wild and be cherished as a precious gift, for all who are lucky enough to catch a glimpse, that life on our beautiful planet is wondrous and infinitely inventive and as fragile and fleeting as our own.

Jousting at windmills

To the editor:

Isn’t it interesting that Mr. Walter is opposed to the ETC project as long as he gets no financial benefit, but when he proposes siting the turbines on his land, within 150-200 feet of his back door, suddenly all is well and he has no objections whatsoever? His concerns about safety and parts flying off are totally unfounded and baseless, not to mention self serving of his own pecuniary agenda.

ETC and Clough Harbour & Associates have gone out of their way to make certain that the structure is sound and meets all New York State engineering codes. Moreover, the turbines are not like the typical windmills, whose blades are moving at high speeds and must be sited at a minimum of 750 feet from the nearest dwelling due to low-wave frequency noise caused by those blades and the danger of toppling because all of their weight is carried 300 feet in the air. The ETC wind-turbine blades move at slower speeds, do not cut the wind, the cause of blade noise, and have no large mass perched precariously in the air. The ETC turbine is being set back from the road to allow visitors and researchers to study its operation safely and not create obstructions on the entrance road. Moreover, there are plans being discussed to bring other wind turbine technologies to Sullivan County Community College (SCCC) to make it the world’s first demonstration site where alternative wind technology can be studied side by side. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the front of the campus looking like a sculpture park, with all manner of new exciting technology on display. It can only be good for both SCCC and Sullivan County. And what better place than a site that is accessible, visible and relatively isolated from neighbors, the Walters not withstanding.

Monticello, NY

Next, they may come for you

To the editor:

“What a conundrum… It was a terrible nightmare, the most horrible one you could imagine,” is how the email started. As I read on, I became sad, angry and scared. It was a very offensive and hurtful joke that ridiculed people based on their ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, etc. We all get spam and those emails from around the world, but this was one from someone in my own town.

We all have the right to freedom of speech and can express our opinions. Every individual is certainly entitled to agree with the context of the joke, and I assume many people did because it’s been widely distributed thus far. I found the joke to be anti-American, hateful and discriminatory. America is a place where all peoples are created equal. Instead of ridiculing people for their differences, we should understand one another and show tolerance.

I strongly support our freedom of speech, but with our freedoms come responsibilities. Hate speech is intimidation and can also lead to violence. As Elie Wiesel said, “To remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all.” Indeed, silence is the welcome mat for hate in our community because it’s an affirmation of that message by everyone, including the offenders and the victims. So, please join me in saying, “Not around me,” and hit the delete key if you get that hateful email or another one like it. Someday, the joke may be on you.

A Wayne County Christmas story

To the editor:

Once in a while in our lifetimes, if we’re lucky, we have the privilege to work with a group of people who are givers—the kind who give unselfishly, lending support with a heart-warming smile, silently and anonymously. It is they who know and understand the meaning of true happiness.

These are the people who make the Wayne County Children’s Christmas Bureau our county’s own miracle.

Christmas 2007 was a reality for 227 families, 533 children. The Adopt-A-Family Program is a beautiful gift to give your neighbors. And to all of you who annually send checks, drop off cash-stuffed envelopes, push bills in our hands “for the kids”—what a generous gift to share with your neighbors.

Thanks also go to the Wayne County Volunteer Program volunteers; the shoppers in Wal-Mart and K Mart, scouring the shelves and racks; the sorters at the Armory; the amazing local businesses and banks who loaded our tables with toys and games, Highlights for Children educational materials and books; the senior sewing groups from Wallenpaupack, Equinunk, Hamlin and Hawley; the youth groups and families who carefully selected good clothing and gift donations to share with others on distribution day.

We also appreciate the support from our great local media, WDNH and Sunny 105 radio stations, The Wayne Independent, Weekly Almanac and the News-Eagle.

Please, remember us during the year when money is not a crunch for Christmas. We welcome donations anytime. Please send checks made payable to the Wayne County Children’s Christmas Bureau, Honesdale Jaycees, P.O. Box 583, Honesdale, PA 18431.

Carleen Faatz, Wayne County Area Agency on Aging

Thanks to Gary Batzel

To the editor:

The Sylvan Leibla Unit 1363 of the American Legion Auxiliary would like to sincerely thank Gary Batzel of Eldred for the beautiful Christmas wreaths that he made and donated for the two veteran’s monuments in the Town of Highland. We surely appreciate his thoughtful remembrance of those who served our country.