Open letter to the DEC

To the editor:

Your latest draft scope shows that you are not ready for a Marcellus gas play using high-volume hydro-fracturing. Where’s all that toxic and possibly radioactive waste supposed to go, when nobody seems to have the facilities to process it? And as for the gaseous and liquid contaminants that strike fear in our hearts, you have not explained how you will prevent accidents, violations and leaks when no other state has been able to do so. It’s hard enough to find a leak in a roof. How are 17 inspectors going to trace and fix leaks in 27 counties?

Those of us who are sitting (cowering, I might say) atop the Marcellus Shale—I won’t include the privileged few who have leased land for drilling—sure as hell are not ready for the gas play. So, in the midst of a national gas glut, what’s your big hurry?

We know it’s the money. But I’m shocked to learn how little money our well-being is being exchanged for. You have published, on pages two to six of your new draft scope, estimates of the economic benefits to be realized from 10 years of gas drilling in the Binghamton area. Only $11,120 per well in state taxes? Only four full-year jobs? Hey, I ‘m sure my neighbors and I (well, probably not the Massachusetts resident whose parcel next door is leased to Chesapeake) would gladly pony up that amount if it meant 10 more years of clean and quiet air, safe drinking water and beautiful surroundings. Saving our property values alone would make this a win-win. Deal?

Narrowsburg school sale a serious matter

To the editor:

I do hope that all of us taxpayers/homeowners in Tusten read Tony Ritter’s recent My View (September 24 issue) and fully grasp the potential problems if this school building falls into the wrong hands.

It is the only building of all of the Sullivan West facilities that sits on one of the main town thoroughfares. We paid millions of dollars just five short years ago to renovate that beautiful structure. They have had an appraisal done on the building, and are considering putting it up for sale for $700,000. We still owe, it is my understanding, in excess of $3,000,000 on it.

I hope that sounds as ridiculous to you as it does to me. They are also going to put our ballfield up for sale, the last place that teens can play baseball or soccer in our town. In short, the district is about to take away everything that we were told we wouldn’t lose when the merger took place and the Lake Huntington facility was built. We were duped on the merger and the building at Lake Huntington, and now they want to take the last vestige of our part of this merger away from us—a merger that would not have been possible without the funds of the Narrowsburg school system. No attempt has been made, according to the school superintendent, to lease this building to an institution of higher learning, something that would be most advantageous to the people of the river communities. If these properties end up in the wrong hands you will see your property values drop like a lead balloon. It will devastate our beautiful town. I do hope that this prompts every citizen of Tusten to let the school board know your views on this most serious matter.

Money for jails, not libraries

To the editor:

You mean to tell me that Pike County’s Commissioners can find the money to build a new administration building, a new jail, a newer, bigger jail, and a new courthouse, but can’t come up with a way to fund their own library?

In political circles, the story about Pennsylvania is that in the east we have Philadelphia, in the west we have Pittsburgh, and in between we have Alabama.

Sounds to me like a place that’s being run by a prison warden. What we have here is a failure to communicate.

A practical vision for Callicoon

To the editor:

In the current Callicoon election campaign, it is clear that the “A” team, consisting of Supervisor Babicz and town council members Schadt and Gieger, offers the best leadership for our town.

It was particularly distressing to watch the town council reject the solar project proposed by Babicz. Opponents on the board would have us think that they saved us money and prevented us from disaster. They say that solar panels are not good sources of power in the Northeast, that the panels are subject to continual damage and that the savings are not substantial.

We disagree. Two and a half years ago, we installed on our property in Callicoon Center two poles of solar panels that run power to our house. The system works flawlessly. Even accumulated snow during a blizzard quickly falls off the panels. The system produces electricity most efficiently not on hot summer days, but on clear but bitter cold winter days.

When we saw the stunning savings, we decided to draw on our own generated solar electrical power to partially heat our house during the winter, leading to a one-third reduction in our consumption of fuel oil. During the summer months, our power feeds the grid.

Curiously, although the system is visible from the road, and countless strangers have stopped by to ask about it, not one member of the current board other than Babicz ever bothered to inquire about it. Had they done so, we would have gladly showed them the system, how it works and our electric bills.

We are not bunkered-down survivalists. We’re on the NYSEG grid and your brownout or blackout is ours, too. Electrically as well as socially, we’re part of the community.

The opinion of Mr. Bose and his fellow team candidates to the contrary, the more solar energy we get in the Town of Callicoon, the better off we’ll be. The candidates on Team “A” combine a sense of fiduciary responsibility with a smart vision for the future.

Frangipane best for Bethel

To the editor:

The Town of Bethel couldn’t ask for a better candidate for town council than Denise Frangipane. Denise strives to be a driving force in Bethel’s vision for the future, to advocate for a community that has a sense of place with a vision that’s founded on smart growth and a sustainable future. Her vision successfully combines conservation of our cherished natural resources and community character with sound and meaningful economic development. This vision of the Town of Bethel acknowledges our collective strengths while empowering us to work harder to improve the quality of life for those who live here now and for future generations.

Denise works for us by seeking out and implementing innovative new strategies; she asks questions and researches ideas. She has advocated for better policies that protect our future, processes that are appropriate and fair; and professionalism that the community should expect from those in public service. She believes in open communication, reaches out regularly and is responsive to individual inquiries and concerns.

I believe the Town of Bethel is a better place thanks to her selfless hard work and professionalism. The Bethel town board needs Denise Frangipane’s uncompromising voice for honest, professional, transparent government and a well-planned future.

Fine would benefit Cochecton

To the editor:

I recently had to hire an attorney and really didn’t know where to turn. Fortunately, a friend referred me to Craig S. Fine. It was a pleasure meeting him and getting to know him. Through a very difficult process, he never once lost his compassion or his professionalism. Fine is asking for your vote for town justice, and his knowledge, attention to detail and sense of fairness would benefit the township of Cochecton.

Based upon my experience, I feel that Fine would serve the Cochecton community honorably and in a professional manner. Vote for Craig S. Fine for Town of Cochecton Town Justice.