Typo makes my point

To the editor:

Thank you for your typo last week, a change that underlines my point (see letter “Dedicated to Mediocrity?” in the January 15 issue). When you made my “Stanford” into “Stamford,” you underscored the idea that people in this community are not only not upset that Delaware Valley didn’t send one graduate to the West Coast top-10 powerhouse, but they probably don’t know the difference between a world-class university and a small city in Connecticut that doesn’t even have its own college—or, indeed, that such a difference exists.

We need to do something to change this situation. Things are getting worse: Delaware Valley is boasting that while college admissions are down, military enrollments are up.

No anti-solar faction

To the editor:

I would like to express my disappointment in your coverage of the meeting of the town board of the Town of Callicoon on January 12.

Two issues bother me a great deal. The first is that I don’t believe there is an anti-solar faction as to the issue of solar installation. I believe that there is a group that wants to have all the necessary information before jumping into the situation.

The other issue is whether the photovoltaic system will mean the saving of a great deal of fuel. The photovoltaic system will only generate electricity. Fuel will still be needed for operating vehicles and for heat.

There seems to be a faction that wants this system regardless of cost and other inconvenience.

Proposed sand pit is legal

To the editor:

As the attorney for Little Joseph Realty, Inc., I am writing to respond to inaccuracies contained in Craig and Gary Winglovitz’s letter “Stop sand pit from scarring the byway” and the related article that appeared in last week’s issue.

The proposed project is not an illegal mine. After several years of review, on July 31, 2008 the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) issued a mining permit to Little Joseph Realty, Inc. Thus, it is a permitted mine.

The Winglovitz family is aware of this, as they opposed the NYSDEC permit. To reduce the potential for impacts on the Winglovitz residence, the NYSDEC required that the mining plan be modified to include a visual and noise berm. The remainder of the Winglovitzs’ objections were considered and dismissed by the NYSDEC.

Despite the fact that both the slope and setback issues have been fully addressed by the board and its consultants, the Winglovitzes continue to claim that the application is “illegal.” The NYSDEC trumped local regulation of mining just to avoid the conflict that the Winglovitzes are trying to create: when local regulations differ from state mining requirements, which one controls? State law makes clear that local setbacks and other regulations are preempted by state regulation.

But don’t take the law or my word for it: both the planning board’s attorney and a NYSDEC spokesperson, as quoted in this newspaper’s article, confirmed that the NYSDEC’s mining requirements control. The board’s engineer also confirmed that, regardless of whether it’s preempted, the proposed mine complies with the town’s slope requirements.

Lastly, it is important that the preempted local setback is not 500 feet, as mentioned in this newspaper’s article, but rather 250 feet. The NYSDEC imposed a 100-foot setback, but the limits of the mine will be over 250 feet from the Winglovitz residence.

Given that all issues and requirements have been

addressed, we ask that the planning board grant the application for a special-use permit at the board’s January 29 meeting.

Obama and America

To the editor:

I am quite confident that what took place on Tuesday, November 4 was not God’s will. America was offered a clear choice between moving further toward protecting the unborn or further away, between a Supreme Court that would move toward honoring God, life and morality or away from it. The stakes couldn’t have been higher nor the cost greater. As a nation, we put on blinders concerning Barack Obama’s background, beliefs and practices. In doing so, we took another step away from God and His plan for America and another step toward judgment.

I don’t know from where the unbiblical belief comes that a nation can live any way it pleases, reject God and His ways?even mock Him?and receive not His judgments. I am not suggesting that God is going to intentionally and directly hurt people. Much judgment is simply the absence of God’s protection and provision, caused by a rejection of His laws and ways.

I have heard the argument that God cares as much about social justice issues (such as poverty and racism) as He does abortion, making the vote for Obama okay. I certainly believe that God puts a very high priority on caring for the poor and I, too, have wanted to see equality demonstrated through a minority President. But to equate having a better income or the desire for a first Black president, regardless of his position on abortion, to the issue of killing 50 million babies, is not justice; it’s a gross distortion of justice.

For African Americans, I can easily see how it could bring healing to have a first black President, just as it would be for Native Americans or women to achieve this. I am only saddened that the price for this healing ended up being Barack Obama, a man who will set back the cause of life and, most likely, our God-given destiny as a nation so drastically.

Linda Hensz

Helping the ambulance corps

To the editor:

I am a member of both Livingston Manor and Roscoe volunteer ambulance corps and I am still involved with the dormant Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Advisory Board. Many Sullivan County volunteer ambulance corps have the problem of too few volunteers and no day crews. I have thought and prayed about solutions.

The obvious one is expanding paid EMS; but who would pick up the bill for stationing a rig and crew in the more rural areas?

Another option is having the ambulance corps and fire departments work closer together or merge, providing more trained volunteers and more interest in becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT). But even in this case, the job of trying to organize a schedule of volunteers with coverage round the clock all year would be monumental.

If time is an issue (and I have been on three-hour ambulance calls), then disbanding the local ambulance corps and changing over to fire department or similar first responders may be a viable option. In this case, the EMT would go directly to the scene of the injury or illness and provide medical care until the transporting paramedic ambulance arrives.

The other options are merging ambulance corps or having ones in the same town or in proximity work together more closely. This would mean individual corps would have to swallow their pride, share equipment and offer incentives, such as paying mileage.

The solution is that each person in each community must ask themselves whether they would want their spouse, child, parent or neighbor lying on the ground injured or sick and nobody coming quickly to their aid. Jesus told us to deny yourself and love your neighbor as yourself and to do unto others as you would have done to yourself.

If we work together and each person brings their skills and talents to the local ambulance corps and fire department, we can become better organized and have all the shifts covered, even if it does mean paying career EMTs for the day calls.

Livingston Manor, NY

Where’s my bailout?

To the editor:

It is with great interest that I pen this letter regarding the government bailout of businesses. First, it was the insurance companies, which apparently turned out to be a disaster; then came the major auto companies looking for support of their million-dollar salaries and bonuses and their company limos; and now it’s the banks, not just the big ones, but also the regional and local banks.

This brings two questions to my mind. First, what kind of year-end bonuses were handed out to the key employees and the directors? Second, how can poor people like me find an application for a bailout?

P.S. Whatever happened to the idea of people working a little harder for a living?

Phil Mullen