A heartwarming winner

To the editor:

The picture of the dancers on the front page of your October 2 issue is an award winner. What a wonderful image. The photographer and your paper should be congratulated.

This charming picture is such a heartwarming diversion from all the usual controversial issues that most often take priority.

Doris Dexter Roda

Otisville, NY

Not funny

To the editor:

I have been a subscriber to The River Reporter for many years. It certainly lives up to its motto, “The weekly newspaper that respects your intelligence.” In addition, the newspaper is fair and a part of the local communities.

However, the Dr. Punnybone cartoon in your last issue was in very bad taste. It makes fun of the elderly and the handicapped. We do not expect that from your paper.

Mildred Huberman

Highland Lake, NY

Frangipane not a true-blue Democrat

To the editor:

Denise Frangipane should not be on the Bethel Town Board. She is a member of Bethel First, Bethel Now, Keep Bethel Rural, Preserve Smallwood Country Life and the Delaware Highlands Conservatory. She works full-time for the Gerry Foundation and is married to the planning commissioner of Sullivan County. Although this is a large resume, it also prohibits her from voting on any matters that come before the town board involving Bethel Woods, the Gerry Foundation or any planning or zoning issues that need county approval. Her inclusion in some of these anti-development groups demonstrates a bias against development of all kinds.

In last year’s Democratic caucus, Frangipane had only been a Democrat for one day, and lost to Vicki Vassmer Simpson and Bob Blais, who are long-time Democrats in Bethel. She left the caucus and then filed and ran as an independent candidate, instead of supporting the two Democratic candidates that won the caucus.

In November 2007, the voters turned a 3-2 Republican majority into a 3-1 Democratic majority. The town board appointed long-time Democrat Ted Yeomans to the councilman vacancy, after a recommendation from the Bethel Democratic Committee. Because she didn’t get the vacancy, Frangipane has set out to vilify the Democratic Committee and the current town board and to split the Democratic Party apart.

A good Democrat would have waited until the next caucus, when two spots would be available that could have been filled by her and Yeomans. She had every right to load the caucus room and she won the caucus this year fair and square. But many good Democrats believe that she and her minions could have supported the incumbent officeholder, regardless of whether he was appointed or elected for the one-year term.

If you want Allan Gerry to own and run your town, and no development except for what’s good for Gerry, than vote for Frangipane. But if you want the town to continue to run in the right direction with a real Democratic majority and strong leadership, then vote for Ted Yeomans.

George Hathaway

Bethel, NY

Milford’s Tammany Hall

To the editor:

What recently occurred at the Delaware Valley school system’s district office demonstrates that the long-defunct political spoils system is very much alive in Pike County.

Taxpayers United, an organization with which several board members are affiliated, may very well have been a noble grassroots organization at its outset, but, like New York City’s legendary Tammany Hall in the late 19th and early 20th century, it has turned into no more than a political machine that dominates local decision-making. This became evident when the school board recently convened to replace John Wladar upon his resignation.

Among the community members who put themselves forward for the vacant position were former board members, passionate parents, previous candidates and even a recent Delaware Valley graduate. The candidate who garnered the majority of support after an unofficial 5-3 vote, however, was none of these, but rather a friend and political supporter of Taxpayers United’s boss, board president Bob Goldsack.

As George Plunkitt, one of Tammany’s legendary leaders, wrote, “When the people elected Tammany, they knew just what they were doin’… We stood as we have always stood, for reward-in’ the men that won the victory.” From arbitrarily changing board procedures and reassigning committees to appointing political supporters to open positions, Goldsack’s tenure has reflected this philosophy that “to the victor go the spoils”— much to the detriment of the public trust.

Moreover, the initial vote and deliberation on the candidates were conducted in a manner that violated the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, which requires that the public have notice and be allowed to observe any meeting that deals with the appointing of a citizen to public office. Neither requirement was met. In addition, the meeting when the official vote will take place will occur outside the 30-day window since the time of the initial resignation, contrary to the district’s own policy.

I urge concerned citizens and fellow students to show up on October 23 at Tammany Hall (Shohola Elementary Cafeteria, this time) and tell Boss Goldsack and the rest of the school board that the future of our community’s students is too important for political gamesmanship.

Nick Troiano

Milford, PA and Washington, DC

We need to know

To the editor:

McCain didn’t deliver the knockout punch he needed at the town meeting. He did bob and weave pretty well. Even in his preferred format he looked so “yesterday.”

McCain wants to be the oldest President ever. Yet, he won’t release all his medical records. When pressured to do so, he allowed a few hand-picked reporters only three hours to review 1,100 pages. These records were limited to the last eight years, with no way to know what was excluded. No copies, no cell phones, no Internet were allowed at the session.

We need to make an informed decision. When you and I apply for an important job, we have to answer all the tough questions, pass tests, prove that we can fulfill the requirements of the job. This man has high cholesterol, high blood pressure and he’s had every kind of skin cancer known to man. He’s on six medications for various problems—and that’s what we know.

Over 2,700 physicians have signed a petition for more information. We deserve to know. We need to know.

Carole Orleman

Lackawaxen, PA

Democratic Party on the wrong track

To the editor:

I have just reread portions of our late beloved governor Robert P. Casey’s book “Fighting for Life,” his autobiography (Word Publishing, 1996). Now, as another Presidential election is upon us, I am reminded that in 1992 and in 1996 governor Casey was denied the right to speak at the Democratic National Conventions because he opposed abortion.

I’m also rereading portions of “Life Unworthy of Life: Racial Phobia and Mass Murder in Hitler’s Germany” (Basic Books, Harper Collins, 1997), by Professor James M. Class at the University of Maryland. Professor Glass points out that in Hitler’s Germany, those deemed to be genetically unfit were unworthy to live. Hence, forced sterilization and abortions were performed by midwives. Between 1934 and 1945 at least one percent of the German population was sterilized. Thus, the medical profession supported the Nazi Party’s racial policies.

Today, portions of our medical profession support abortion in America. That’s a shame, and what a mistake for the Democratic Party to

support abortion rights.

Barack Obama, the party’s nominee for President, reminds me in many ways of President Kennedy. However, President Kennedy in his inaugural address reminded us of the origin of human rights: “The world is very different now, because 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 forebears 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.”

The Democratic Party has forgotten it big time.

Virginia M. Sullivan

Hawley, PA

A concern for life that ends at birth

To the editor:

I am appalled and ashamed by the report in last Sunday’s New York Times that Bishop Martino of Scranton, PA, had directed that his letter accusing pro-choice candidates of supporting homicide be read at all masses at “Respect Life” Sunday. As a practicing Catholic, mother of eight daughters, one son, and grandmother to 17, I believe that abortion is a poor answer to a real problem, but absolutely will not accept any mother’s being imprisoned due to an abortion. I personally know Catholic mothers who have had abortions because they couldn’t emotionally and financially support an additional child. It is very obvious that American Catholic mothers are limiting their numbers of children. Are they all to be condemned?

According to Bishop Martino, he apparently has no problem with torture, no problem with the deaths of many thousands in Iraq and Afghanistan, millions of refugees, thousands of men and women with horrendous physical and emotional damage. The damage to hundreds of thousands of children is just horrifying. I see this campaign against abortion as a distraction from the real-life problems that we are facing everywhere today and for years to come.

Mary Ann Burke

Smallwood, NY

Instigating fear and hatred

To the editor:

This is a wonderful country, one that has traditionally set an example for all to follow. We have many important issues that need to be addressed and that should be debated by the candidates. Instead, we see a conscious attempt to lower the discussions to a level that plays on prejudice, fear and potential hatred. It is going to take a long time to deal with the issues and the emotions being raised. John McCain’s inability or unwillingness to control his potential Vice President and the people around both of them totally disqualifies him for this office.

Mike Uretsky

Damascus, PA

New global crises demand a new style of leadership

To the editor:

Finance ministers of the G7 nations met with President Bush to devise a global economic stabilizing plan. United effort is critical. Future situations (terrorism and global climate change high among them) will mandate that world leaders collaborate for success and survival.

Which presidential candidate can do this best? Obama and McCain’s opposite leadership styles were compared in an October 9 USA Today article. Highlights include:

Fred Greenstein, author of “The Presidential Difference,” says McCain is impulsive, emotional, and “breaks a lot of china along the way.” Ronald Heifitz, leadership professor at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government says McCain uses collaboration only when he has to swallow the pill of being with people he doesn’t like. He fires senior people, gets into altercations and feuds, has a confrontational style and tries to control his erupting anger. Senator Chuck Grassley (R) IA says McCain didn’t talk with him for two years after a disagreement on a bill; three yrs for Senator Bob Kerrey (D) NE. Senator Trent Lott says their differences were sometimes close to “mortal combat;” that people allow McCain’s style because of his former POW status and as president he would be “unpredictable. It’ll be a wild ride.” Senator Orrin Hatch says, “He gets on some people’s nerves because he’s so aggressive.” Conservative columnist George Will calls McCain vehement rather than coherent.

Recently McCain has been counseled to tone down his divisive campaign rhetoric that has gotten the crowds yelling “traitor”, or “kill him.” And we saw McCain’s bristling style in the debates, even calling Obama “That one” in a derogatory tone.

By comparison, Heifitz says Obama would bind and repair relationships among Americans and the rest of the world which is a “practical foundation for governing.” With trust and respect people “can withstand the forces of division as conflicts break out… They look for creative solutions… and compromise.” After the loss of America’s standing in the eyes of the world we desperately need that.

Kenneth Mack said Obama, as President of the Harvard Law Review, was “good at heading off controversies before they got started. He got us doing the things we needed to do,” even though it was a contentious, politically and racially divided time. Brad Berenson, Republican White House counsel, said Obama won trust by being “fair, a good listener, inclusive, and by not aggressively taking sides.” Hillary’s strategist Garin, says, “In a business that is notorious for internal fighting, he has been able to keep his campaign focused on the common purpose.” Nicknamed “No Drama Obama,” he called lawmakers and financial advisors from behind the scenes to make the rescue plan work for regular people. Obama demands a lot of himself and others, requires us all to be responsible in our dealings with each other and to work together for success.

The choice seems clear to me. I hope it is for you as well.

Vina Miller

Honesdale, PA

Thanks to Fresh Air Fund hosts

To the editor:

This past summer, children from New York City found out just how special summer is in the Sullivan County, NY area. Thanks to the dedication of Fresh Air Fund hosts, volunteers and supporters, inner-city youngsters experienced simple summertime pleasures in your community.

None of this would be possible without Elizabeth Ruebman, your local Fresh Air Fund volunteer leader, who works throughout the year to make sure summer magic happens for host families and children. Elizabeth’s generosity and commitment is an inspiration to us all. I invite you to join Elizabeth and the local Fresh Air Fund committee next spring and summer to help spread the word about the wonderful opportunity of hosting. With your support, more inner-city children can benefit from a Fresh Air experience next year.

The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to over 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. For more information on how you can help to continue this tradition of volunteering, visit www.freshair.org or call Ruebman at 845/482-5669.

Jenny Morgenthau,

Fresh Air Fund Executive Director

New York, NY