Open letter to Newsweek

To the editor:

Your recent high school ratings placed our regional school system here in Pike County, PA, among the top six percent nationally “based on how hard school staffs work to challenge students with advanced placement college-level courses and tests,” as your website states the criterion you used. Our district is displaying your rating on a sign facing the highway where the school is located.

Some in the community are shocked, nay aghast, at your rating. Many of us have been working for decades to improve education here, which has historically been below even state averages in Pennsylvania. Over the last five years, for example, we have goaded and embarrassed the administration into improving SAT scores, to the point where they are now at least hitting Pennsylvania’s mean. I say “at least” because Pennsylvania is ranked fifth from the bottom among states with high SAT participation. And last year our district, which you rate so highly, failed to bring 125 elementary students up to the state’s admittedly low standards on its PSSA (standardized achievement), which is administered to all public schools in the Pennsylvania.

In 2010, of our graduating class of 478, we are sending exactly one student to an Ivy League universit —all eight of which are, incidentally, within virtual walking distance of our high school campus. Over the last 15 years, we have sent four graduates to those schools, and one of those students washed out after a year. Our normal placements, to Penn State satellite schools, are regularly compelled to complete non-credit courses because they are not prepared for college-level work.

The plaudit you served, not based on objective criteria, is functioning to fluff the egos of a thoroughly mediocre, entrenched administration and counseling staff. They will be encouraged to do more of the same. You have done more harm than good.

I expected more of a prestigious national publication such as yours.

Let’s move forward together

To the editor:

Few would disagree with your Independence Day editorial that in addition to the benefits natural gas drilling offers us—creating local jobs, stimulating local economies, cutting the carbon emissions and cost of coal-burning electricity plants with gas conversion and supporting national security with energy independence—preserving our locally treasured lands must be paramount. Those who oppose natural gas drilling fear that it threatens our local lands and water. Those who support natural gas drilling are not less patriotic about land and water preservation.

So to the parting point of your editorial, how do we move forward together? Bringing all the facts to bear would help. Renewable energy alternatives, mainly wind and solar, are often touted as a better way forward, but the facts do not bear this out. Wind turbines require 45 times more acreage than natural gas wells to produce the same amount of energy,* not including land required for standby coal or natural gas power in case electricity demand surges or the wind isn’t blowing, which is about 70 percent of the time. Solar has similar issues (the sun doesn’t always shine). Moreover, wind and solar power farms require permanent land-use conversion, to a forest of manmade windmills or solar panels. Imagine that along the Delaware River and throughout our rural lands.

The lands tapped for natural gas will be preserved, with few visible signs of the operating wells or past drilling. As to water-quality risk during the relatively brief natural gas drilling period, the record shows that gas drilling can be and largely has been done to preclude such risk.

Getting the Delaware River Basin Commission to complete its drilling regulations would also help move us forward. Fear of damage to our local lands and water is not a bad thing if translated into a viable plan that assures it won’t happen. Further delay sends a message that the commission does not agree with those who believe that preserving our locally treasured lands is paramount.

*The sources of these facts are the Nature Conservancy’s 2009 study on “Energy Sprawl or Energy Efficiency” and Robert Bryce’s well researched book, “Power Hungry,” which I recommend to anyone engaged in this debate.

A little piece of heaven

To the editor:

I live on an old family farm of 49 acres. My grandchildren are the sixth generation to walk on this soil. It is not a working farm at this time. The fields are grown, the barn is empty. All the old family pioneers have been put to rest. I alone live here now because the young could find no way to provide for their families.

They come back to hunt the familiar woods, fish the streams and breathe the pristine air. They come back to our little piece of heaven. They come back to swim in the pond. The water comes from an artesian spring that has flowed on its own since our home was built in 1962, natural springs where great-great grandfathers watered their cows. They come back to Forestburg; they come back to the farm.

Just the other day I walked with my three youngest grandsons—they are 11—and a pair of five-year-old twins. We picked wild ferns, learned how to tell the difference between a white pine and a hemlock tree. God has blessed me with the ability to love nature and find the smallest of his creatures beautiful: the moss, the lichens, the nuts and frogs.

Now all of these wonders and so many more not mentioned here are in danger of disappearing due to something called “fracking.”

I saw “Gasland.” I pray our state and county leaders stop, look around and see what a disaster is lurking. Have we learned nothing after the horror of the Gulf? The Delaware watershed supplies water to New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. That’s a whole lot of people.

Please, please don’t destroy the God-given gift of water, the source of all things living, and the deep spiritual connection to all things on this small planet we all share. Please think of your offspring. What will it matter if they have all that money you sold out for with out pure water?

God bless all and grant us the wisdom to do what means life.

A local’s view, then and now

To the editor:

For as far back as I can remember, coming to the country has been the most special thing in my life. Memories of the woods, the peaceful beauty and seclusion. The smell, the solitude of the pure beauty of God’s creation is something that can only be appreciated by the people who have chosen to live here.

I have been coming here since 1960, the year I was born. Later on in life, I decided to come back here to raise my children so they can experience it as well.

Recently something that threatens all that came quickly and without much warning. The fact that big corporations are going to rip apart this beautiful untouched land and defile the place that was most precious to me is unthinkable. That they might not only pollute the land, but that they would go anywhere near the pristine Delaware is more than I can bear. Does anyone care about the land?

It seems that some people are blinded by dollar signs and don’t see clearly what will happen to their future or that of their children. Do they really think these big corporations care about us? Are they and their families living next to a drilling site that is pounding around the clock with loud noise? Or are they living in an area suffering the horrific after-effects of drilling? I think not.

Even if there are government regulations in place, does the government really care about our protection? The history of well drilling sites in other states suggests not. Unfortunately, money seems to be the priority not only for big businesses but for local landowners. Hopefully, local officials will take more interest in protecting our area. Remember, “the love of money is the root of all evil.”

I pray that there will be an awakening not only physically but spiritually, so that there will be no polluting of our beautiful home that God as given us on loan while we are here to posses it. Let us fight to protect what we still have before our home becomes a wasteland.

Thanks for Narrowsburg’s Fourth

To the editor:

This year the Narrowsburg Chamber of Commerce worked together with the local community to organize a spectacular Fourth of July celebration. We set out to give the community the best celebration possible while maintaining the true mission of a chamber. We take pride we have supported many local vendors and establishments while planning this wonderful day.

We are happy and inspired to say we were also supported 10-fold by our local community. With that said, we would like to extend a special thanks to the many contributors who helped us give a fireworks display like no other. We are extremely grateful for your generous donations and support.

It took a large number of people to execute our vision. Thank you for your generous contribution of time, product and support. We would like to thank Catskill Farms, Fort Delaware, Peck’s Market, Waste Management, Pack 87 Wolf Den, Margolis Method Actors Studio, Nancy and Barry Yoder, Cass Collins, Debbie Reimer, Cathy Barnes, Bill Nordenhold, Tracy Gruebel, Sandi Jay, Michelle Seidel, Jane Morris—River Lights B&B and yoga center, Jane Sloyer, Maya Grady and of course our security team.

Lastly, we would like to thank our committee. We appreciate all of your many hours of hard work and dedication. We are grateful for all of your accomplishments, devotion, time and sacrifices. Thank you is not saying enough.

Jane Luchisinger—Blue Hills Farm, Will Geisler—Narrowsburg Roasters, Barry Becker—River Gallery The Art of Living, Michael Eurey and Stanley Harper—Narrowsburg Fine Wine and Spirits, Joelee Motichka—RentEquip, Joanne and Michael Geraine—Bake You Happy.