Joe Perrello—still my hero

To the editor:

When you are a child and someone asks you that very popular question, “Who is your hero?” your answer is always “my parents.” The funny thing about that is, it doesn’t change when you are an adult. If you asked me that very same question today, my answer wouldn’t change. My dad, Joe Perrello, is not only my hero, but he’ll make a great supervisor for the Town of Fallsburg.

With over 25 years of business experience, prior experience as a councilman for the Town of Fallsburg and years with his head invested deeply in the town’s success, you can’t find a more qualified candidate. Think about it: what more could the citizens of the Town of Fallsburg ask for? With my dad as supervisor you will have a man who is honest and completely dedicated to his endeavors. He will run the town as if it were his own business, will take every matter seriously, and will keep the interest of all of the town’s citizens at the center of his focus. It truly doesn’t get much better than that. So remember, on November 3 vote for “my hero:” Joe Perrello for supervisor.

Write in Palacek on November 3

To the editor:

Tina Palecek has done more for the Town of Highland in my 38 years residing and owning a business here than I have ever seen. Among other accomplishments, she went to Albany to reduce our taxes and made the State of New York aware of the Town of Highland; has been an active advocate regarding the impact of gas drilling and fought the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to protect the townspeople; and has created a town website to educate the citizens in town events, policies, information, clubs, etc. so we are aware of the happenings ( visit www.highlandnewyork.net ). She also initiated an assessment project to make utility companies pay taxes to the town for utility poles on private land—money received to offset property taxes. The program had been offered to Sullivan County over two years ago, and was ignored in Highland, costing the town a lot of money as it is not retroactive .

Attendance in the town meetings is up, Palacek started Town Talk, doubled comment time and keeps disagreements at a minimum. Come and find out for yourself at the next meeting on November 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the Eldred Town Hall.

Please, write in a vote for Tina Palecek in the election on November 3. Don’t let politics ruin our town.

Why I support the library referendum

To the editor:

Across the state, libraries receive an average of $16.34 per person in funding. By contrast, the Pike County Public Library is receiving only $4.49 per capita. The only way to increase funding for the library is by approval of the library tax on the ballot this November.

• It is a dedicated tax. $35 a year is a very small

part of my tax bill and this part cannot be used for anything else.

• It covers the entire county. We need to support a library system, not just one part of it. I know some feel they do not need one, will not use it, and therefore should not be forced to pay the library tax. I happen to support public funding for a number of things I do not directly use.

• Libraries are centers of community life. Libraries are not just about books anymore.

• It is a reasonable proposal. This tax will bring Pike County closer to the State average.

• It is an investment in our future. Good public libraries say something about who we are and what we value.

This issue is being debated in our community, which is probably good in the long run. My hope is we will see through it all and decide this is a good opportunity for Pike County residents.

Ed Brannon

Equal and balanced?

To the editor:

In a previous letter to the editor I cited a quote from the South Bend Tribune on the negative effect of cell towers on property values. This was in reference to the infringement on adjacent properties of the township’s authorized construction of a 194-foot Atco cell tower on Dr. Barbe’s leased acreage. As a rebuttal, Mr. Lagarenne, the Damascus zoning official’s response was, “In the same news article, another landowner is quoted as saying ‘We’re not sure if property values will go down’.” This was intended to refute my quotes regarding devaluation; however, the Tribune’s complete sentence and content conveys an entirely different message.

“‘We’ve lived here 30 to 35 years and we planned on staying here,’ Patnaude said. ‘We’re not sure if property values will go down, but all the information we have is that property values usually go down from five to 20 percent. If we wanted to resell, we’d have that to deal with.’”

Quite a difference between the township’s abbreviated quote, and what was actually said. Incidentally, the Tribune headline for the article from which the Township official was quoting was, “Granger cell tower triggers lawsuit/Neighbors fear health effects, reduced home values.”

Should the readership be interested in the entire article, it is the September 14, 2008 issue and may be accessed at southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080914/News01/809140364/0/ENT.

Ironically, Mr. Lagarenne then proceeds to cite his ability to “apply the law professionally, equally and fairly.”

Paying the piper

To the editor:

A proposal regarding the DEC gas drilling regulations:

Every landowner who allows gas drilling on their property should be required to accept personal financial responsibility (equal to at least the amount of money they receive for drilling rights and royalties) for all costs resulting from any environmental damage and clean-up, including damage to town and state roads from hundreds of trucks per well site, damage to neighboring property and property values, pollution and contamination of drinking wells and waterways and all other related costs.

Doesn’t this approach sound fair? It’s a purely conservative approach that is all about people taking full personal responsibility for what they permit on their private property. Of course, this might make drilling seem less like a bonanza. And, faced with this reality, landowner groups might act accordingly.

The true long-term costs and risks of drilling in the Upper Delaware outweigh the benefits to anyone but the gas companies (who must also be held accountable for all potential costs, something proposed regulations and enforcement seem unlikely to accomplish.)

With all due respect, if drilling is such a profitable deal for lease-signers then let’s clearly insist they accept financial responsibility for its increasingly well-documented negative effects on everyone else.

S. Feinberg

Damascus, PA

Open waste pits

To the editor:

Your article “Mixed reviews for DEC regs” states that gas drillers will not be allowed to store wastewater in plastic lined pits. That’s true, but only under certain circumstances.

A DEC press release states “Operators choosing to store flowback on-site must use steel tanks to protect the environment.” That sounds fine; but read what comes next: “If an operator proposes using a centralized impoundment (centralized flowback storage) to serve multiple sites, it must use a double liner system….” The draft regulations go on to describe these open waste pits as occupying a full five acres and holding 16 million gallons of fluid.

Now let me see if I understand: small waste pits are prohibited because they threaten the environment, but gigantic open pits containing 16 million gallons of toxic fluid are OK. Am I the only one who’s confused?

Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy

It’s no joke

To the editor:

As a dedicated reader and subscriber of The River Reporter I was shocked, annoyed and offended by Cass Collins’ recent article about “weekenders.”

What’s unfortunate about Ms. Collins’ article is that she seems to have forgotten she was once a “weekender” herself, a fact painfully noted in many past articles. I find it hypocritical of her to lump all “weekenders” into the same boat, labeling them as ungracious and lazy people with “easy jobs.” It’s also reckless of her to assume that locals feel the same way she does. I too am a “weekender” turned local. I personally have yet to experience any of the behavior or feelings she mentions. I suspect she knows better, shame on her.

The unique blend of people, both locals and weekenders, is what truly makes this river community great and one of the reasons I choose to leave New York City. Ms. Collins’ article, I’m afraid, only perpetuates anger and resentment, adding fuel to a fire I suspect only she wants to start. If driving a wedge between people and communities is her motive then I can hardly consider her a local or even my neighbor. I can only assume by the tone of her article that it was not meant to be funny.

So Ms. Collins, who next on your ugh list? Gays, lawyers, and the checkout girl at Peck’s who didn’t sell you the winning lottery ticket? Clearly you’ve already decided who can and cannot vote here. I suggest Ms. Collins examine her own life before pushing her jealousy and animosity onto this amazing community. Perhaps Ms. Collins should find a new place to live where everyone is as angry, bitter and hates diversity as much as she does? But don’t worry Ms. Collins, I won’t be there to greet you.

Kudos to Siptroth and Peifer on gaming funds

To the editor:

I would like to thank Representatives John Siptroth of the 189th District and Mike Peifer of the 139th District for fighting to protect the interests of Pike County and its residents. Over the last year, Pike County received $1.7 million dollars in grant awards from the Pennsylvania Gaming Monroe County Local Share Account, commonly called “Gaming Funds.” This year, applications from Pike County to this program are estimated to exceed $5 million.

Last week, Rep. Mario Scavello offered an amendment in the Pennsylvania house that would have capped the proceeds from gaming money going to projects in Pike County and other counties bordering Monroe, which hosts Mount Airy Casino, at $1 million, with any remaining funds going back to Monroe County. Representatives Siptroth and Peifer went to bat for the residents of Pike County by standing up to Rep. Scavello, and organizing the vote to defeat the amendment. This was particularly difficult for Rep. Siptroth, as the majority of the 189th District lies in Monroe County, but he stood fast to protect our interests. They deserve our thanks and support.

Currently, Rep. Siptroth is working on an amendment that would better distribute the funds to counties contiguous to Monroe such as Pike by limiting its access to counties without their own source of gaming funding. Keep up the good work.