Time for talking trash

To the editor:

As your February 28 editorial stated, the issue of waste disposal must be addressed with some urgency. Where my backyard ends and yours begins is only about surface, an illusion at best. There is no “over there” when all is connected through air, water and soil.

A 200-mile-deep living skin of air, water, and soil supports the biological life on this planet. We are custodians of this earth commons and certain of our management protocols need revision. Packaging should be high on the list.

Most of our daily trash is the shell of consumable items. We pay dearly and many times over for packaging: in the purchase price of the item; in the cost of disposing of the packaging; in the environmental cost of landfills; in the adverse effects of leaching toxins and chemicals; in the drugs and treatments to counter the poisoning of our bodies; and in the suffering ill health brings about.

Why do we accept this? Since we pay for packaging anyway, why don’t we let industry and business know that we want efficient, minimal, disposal-friendly packaging? We will pay for that as well, but at least our wellbeing will be factored into the design at inception. As Gene Weinstein, vice president of Special Protection of the Environment for Sullivan County wrote in his recent letter, the viable options are prevention, minimization, exportation, reuse, recycling and composting. We can’t afford to wait for the “other guy” to work on these issues. I suggest a local campaign of education, information, and communication with industry and community. For a start, get the word out to all that “good things come in small packaging.”

Barryville, NY

A big day coming up for Liberty

To the editor:

March 18 is Election Day in the Village of Liberty, NY. It’s time to elect new representatives of the people, but how many know the date or the place?

The people are kept in the dark about a lot of things. Are you tired of seeing the drug deals going down on Main Street? The growing concerns about gangs? Why isn’t there an alternative for our children like a youth center? And where is the skate park that was promised? Why is there a sign law that will restrict what you can display on your private property in the residential districts? Is the water really safe? What about the taxes, the garbage fees, the water bill? I also read the new zoning law—you’ll have to get permission and a permit to cut a tree on your lawn.

Isn’t it time to fire the current village board and elect new representatives? Ones that will protect the people and the Constitution of the United States of America?

This is where your vote counts. Get out and vote for Richard Winters and David Simon on March 18. Registered voters that are village residents go to the municipal building (next door to the police station).

Rue is the best candidate

To the editor:

Carmen Rue is the village trustee candidate in the Monticello, NY election on Tuesday, March 18 who has experience. She has given more years to public service than any of her opponents, and understands Monticello.

She spent 10 years on the Monticello Human Rights Commission, two terms as chair; was an incorporator, co-founder, and charter board member of Sullivan County Habitat for Humanity; was a board member of CACHE; and volunteers for numerous local charities.

Carmen has faithfully attended village board meetings for 15 years, seeing many trustees and mayors come and go—a tireless taxpayer advocate. She has helped countless local people in very concrete ways, often without public recognition or reward. Carmen can be trusted to listen, respect the public and remain honest.

With 38 years of her adult life as a full-time Monticello resident, taxpayer, and small-business owner, my wife Carmen is the mother of three Monticello High School graduates. We have three grandchildren. Carmen’s family has a history of public service. Her grandfather, with whom she was especially close as a child and young woman, was a national Supreme Court justice in her native Peru. Until recently, her cousin was that country’s vice-president. Her father was a union president.

Carmen has been true to these values and traditions, and Monticello has benefited. I am proud she is my wife. She will make Monticello proud as an elected trustee. I ask village residents to take the time to “vote the bottom line” (Line D or Line B) for Carmen Rue on March 18, and for Gordon Jenkins as mayor. Visit www.gmanline.com if you would like more information.

Conservative concurs with Binder on taxes

To the editor:

I agree with legislator Leni Binder on her idea of allowing Sullivan County residents to pay local taxes in installments. Given the state of our local economy, combined with the rising costs of gasoline and home heating oil, it’s almost impossible for some local families to afford to pay their taxes on time. If the county legislators and local governments were to join in and institute a way for property owners in Sullivan County to pay their taxes more than once a year, it would greatly help the families who normally cannot make that one large, lump-sum tax payment. This would help ease the financial burden on many local families now and in the future.

Narrowsburg, NY

A sad anniversary

To the editor:

It’s hard to believe, but Wednesday, March 19 is the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq War, the war the Bush administration lied us into. There will be many demonstrations around the country to remind us that the dying still goes on every day. In our area, an event will take place on that day, Wednesday March 19, in Central Park in Honesdale, PA. At 3:00 p.m., Waynepeace will begin a solemn reading of the names of each of the fallen U.S. soldiers, some 4,000 of them. We expect the reading to last about four hours, making it possible for people who are at work to participate later. We welcome all of you and encourage you to come; it is a moving experience. Hot beverages will be offered.