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To the editor:
We are writing regarding The River Reporter's recent coverage of the proposed Weiden Lake Subdivision in the Town of Tusten. While we appreciate, as homeowners whose land abuts the proposed subdivision, the newspaper's giving voice to community concerns about the development, we regret the manner in which -- in Denise De Vines' reporting on last week's planning board public hearing -- these concerns were depicted.
For the record, the issues and concerns which were read aloud by Brett Berk at last week's public hearing were not ours alone, but rather the unanimously held opinions of a group of nearly a dozen residents whose properties abut the proposed development, many of whose families have called the area home for generations. The list of concerns -- along with proposed suggestions for solutions -- was jointly created, signed and included in the public record by all of the aforementioned residents. These concerns were presented in the spirit of creating an open dialogue between a group of town members whose lives will be greatly impacted by the proposed development, and the town officials whose given responsibility is to assign thought and credence to such concerns.
We feel it is unfortunate that, in her dismissive and inaccurate reporting on these concerns, De Vines did not take the time or care to elicit the opinions of any of the area residents. Moreover, we regret that she found it necessary to single us out, and to take cheap and personal pot-shots at us, our newness to the area, and the small house we have chosen to call our own in this community.
Brett Berk
Tal McThenia
Tusten, NY
To the editor:
A recent issue of TRR (May 20-28) announces that "May is National Bike Safety Month." The short piece that follows suggests that parents teach safety measures to their children: always wear a helmet, look both ways when entering a street from a driveway, ride on the right side of the street with the flow of traffic ...
I would also encourage adults to set an example for their children by following safe bicycle habits themselves. While we are at it, adults might also become role models for an active, environmentally-kind lifestyle by using bicycles as transportation whenever possible. The townships and boroughs can aid and abet these efforts by setting aside bicycle and pedestrian lanes on a network of roads in each community and placing prominent signs advising auto drivers to share the road.
Mort Malkin
Waymart, PA
To the editor:
Our family lives the greatest distance from the Delaware Valley Central School (DVCS), in the Goulds area above Rock Valley in Delaware County, and we would like to correct the misinformation that was written by Tony Wayne in his letter to the editor.
We are exactly 15 miles from the school, however because of the poor bus routing, our kids must ride an additional nine miles on the bus. When they get to the Basket Bridge on Rt. 97, they are forced to head away from the school for 4.7 miles and then turn around and come right back. This is why the trip takes 30-35 minutes. And Tony, there is no way that it would take 35 minutes for a bus to drive the 13 miles from DVCS to Lake Huntington. These buses go about 50-55 mph not 40, even on county roads.
If we had better bus planning and a few more buses, I'm sure that the trip to Fosterdale or Lake Huntington wouldn't take much longer than it does now. And even if it does, it would be time well spent for what the kids would get in return.
In addition, the school has had to hire a bus monitor this year because of the behavior of some of the older kids on this run. We need to separate the high school kids from the young children as they are being influenced by the foul language, smoking and other obnoxious behavior of these kids.
Another correction Tony: our son played on the varsity basketball team which only had 10 players and one was a JV player that was moved up to the varsity level, so there are already a lot of kids who don't play basketball. And there are no other sports for these kids to play.
We went to all the games in Jeff and Narrowsburg and they didn't have too many more. We already share some sports with these schools because there are not enough kids to man some teams. With a merger and all the other sports and added curriculum, all of the kids will have an opportunity to participate.
The biggest sports problem is that six teams have to share the only gym and the varsity team has to start practice at 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. I don't like sending my child back to school after a long day of school and homework to fit in their practice when they are really too tired to drive or play basketball. Talk about extra time, gas and mileage.
With a merger these teams could have normal practice times right after school and funding for late buses like we used to.
The real issue here is better education. I don't know one student yet from DVCS who has made a living professionally from sports. Lifetime jobs and careers come from a good education, which would be improved with the many choices that we could offer all students of all levels in a merged school district. And we are more than willing to drive the few extra miles in order to get it.
Kim and Mike Darder
Long Eddy
To the editor:
There are times when a simple twist of fate changes everything, and so it was this week for me, I have decided not to seek reelection to the Sullivan County Legislature due to extended family responsibilities. I am ambivalent about my decision because of the close working relationships I enjoyed with the people of District 6 over the past four years. There is interest by other candidates to fill the position and that is a positive development in what has proved to be a rather sterile political arena.
There seems to be a reluctance to run for office in Sullivan County, particularly for the Legislature. It is almost time to begin the process of soliciting signatures for petitions and only the incumbents have announced their intentions to run. Incumbents have the advantage of name recognition and surely every day that passes without a challenger favors their reelection.
One potential candidate called me for some detail about how much time legislative duties require. I responded that anyone who runs for the Legislature should be in the position to serve as Chairman. When time constraints limit the level of participation and responsibility a candidate is willing to perform, they short change the people of their District. I think he hung up on me!
Finally, It has always been my intention to provide through participation, a high standard of ethical government. I will continue to serve in that capacity by doing radio commentary, writing editorials and forming an Ad Hoc committee on local government practices which will serve to witness government process for the public.
Richard Levine
D-6 Sullivan County Legislature
To the editor:
We of the Beach Lake Volunteer Fire Company wish to thank you and the staff of The River Reporter for your fine community service and cooperation for publishing our press releases regarding our annual fund drive. I believe the response may have been lower than received if it were not for your publication giving notice of our need.
Again, we of this volunteer fire department thank you.
Thank you from our volunteers.
Ramon V. Lockier
Fund Drive Chairman, Beach Lake Vol. Fire Co.
Beach Lake, PA
To the editor:
How many children must die or be seriously injured by guns so that the NRA members can maintain their possession of guns? That's the question no one is brave enough to ask. The solution is obvious but everyone's afraid to say it -- we must outlaw all guns for everyone but police and the armed forces. All guns. Nothing else will be enough.
The Second Amendment to the Constitution does not guarantee the right to own guns for recreation or protection. It is very specific in its purpose -- to allow citizens to own guns BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR A STANDING MILITIA. But today, we no longer need a standing militia. Today we have professional armed forces. The Second Amendment is no more relevant to this debate than are the lyrics to "Old McDonald." And the NRA knows it.
Our children are dying and the NRA is worried about hunting. Who's going to be brave enough to stand up and do what's right? And how many of us are going to sit idly by and do nothing?
Scott Miller
St. Louis, MO
To the editor:
An open letter to Senator Charles Schumer, US Senate:
Guns have been around since before the first settlers set foot on this continent. Yet, high school shootings are almost exclusively a phenomenon of the last decade -- a decade when gun control reached an all-time high. Why is this?
The answer is that, over the last ten years, the media and unsavory politicians have perfected the art of exploiting tragedy in order to try to implement a gun control agenda.
Just recently, thousands of disaffected young people have learned from the liberal media what it will take for them to vent their anger and gain national attention.
And thus, it is no surprise that copycat incidents have sprung up all over the country -- and in Canada, which has total gun control. In the Canadian incident, where massive gun control failed to stop a school shooting, government officials threw up their hands and conceded that there is nothing government can do about these incidents.
More than 19 gun laws didn't stop the two killers in Littleton, Colorado. And I am willing to bet that passing more gun control is not going to make a difference either.
I understand that the Senate will resume voting on the anti-gun crime bill (S. 254) this week. Please vote against any and all gun control amendments; and please vote against this crime bill if it contains any gun control in it -- which it currently does.
I would also request that you do everything in your power to encourage the Senate leadership to pull this anti-gun bill from the floor. If S. 254 passes, it will be "Christmas in May" for President Clinton and Sarah Brady -- as it gives them many of the things they are currently seeking.
Please let me know what you intend to do. Thank you.
Alan G. Eisen
Yulan
To the editor:
Congressman Gilman should be encouraged by readers of The River Reporter to support gun restrictions when the matter comes before the House of Representatives in the very near future. The congressman, who in the past has sided with the NRA, should support provisions that would require background checks for all gun transactions at pawn shops and all handguns to be sold with trigger locks. In addition, Mr. Gilman should support background checks for internet gun purchases and holding parents criminally responsible when their failure to secure firearms results in violence by a juvenile. The recent school shootings in Georgia and in Colorado highlight the need for the congressman to provide leadership on this matter. Gun restrictions could reduce the possibility of violent school acts occuring in the future.
Paul Feiner
l998 Democratic nominee for Congress (20th CD)
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
To the editor:
I would like to commend the SEC for its actions against Internet securities fraud and urge Senate Banking Committee Chairman Phil Gramm to hold hearings on his "Online Investor Protection," which aims to crack down on Internet fraud.
I applaud the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for their diligence and innovation in tracking down and taking action against cyber scam artists. It's never been easier to commit securities fraud than it is today. Con artists are taking the old scams and simply applying them to the Internet. With almost no start up costs, they can reach innumerable investors. And without a swift and severe counterattack, these frauds will spread like wildfire.
In addition, I have urged Senate Banking Committee Chairman Gramm to hold hearings on legislation, which would fight Internet securities fraud by:
Doubling the monetary penalties for Internet fraud and increasing the ability of the SEC to combat fraud by raising the authorization for the SEC Office of Internet Enforcement by $350 million over 5 years; and
Requiring online brokerages and investment advisors to provide Internet links to investor education and fraud prevention web sites.
It's important that the penalties for perpetrating this fraud reflect its greater potential for harm to investors. The best way to stop fraud is before it happens. This legislation would double the penalties for all acts of Internet securities fraud and authorize more funds for the SEC's Office of Internet Enforcement. My legislation will require all investment advisors and online broker dealers to provide a link to the SEC's investor education website and ensure that investors can access broker dealers' disciplinary records online.
I am happy to report that the SEC endorsed my effort, stating in an April 23, 1999 letter that providing records online would help investors make informed decisions. Working together, we can make sure that all New Yorkers don't fall victim to old scams hidden in a new medium.
Charles E. Schumer
United Sates Senator
Washington, D.C.
To the editor:
Planned Parenthood seeks Vatican expulsion from UN
Catholics are outraged by International Planned Parenthood Federation's (IPPF) announcement of its massive campaign to have the Vatican's permanent observer status at the United Nations (UN) revoked (Zenit News Agency, 5/14/99).
The IPPF campaign is a reaction to Vatican criticism of IPPF's move to have condoms, contraceptives, abortion-inducing pills, IUD's and "field equipment" for abortions distributed to the Kosovo refugees.
Dr. William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said of IPPF, "Only an organization driven by fanaticism would think that the men, women and children in Yugoslavia who are being victimized by Slobodan Milosevic are in dire need of condoms. What these people need is precisely what Catholic Relief Services offers, namely, food, clothing, shelter and medicinal supplies." (www.catholicleague.org)
Catholics, and others, can counter IPPF's anti-Catholic campaign by writing to their public officials asking them to stop funding Planned Parenthood with tax dollars.
Edward Szymkowiak
Vice President of Delaware County Right to Life
Hancock
To the editor:
Congress is currently debating legislation that would allow dairy farmers in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania to charge more for milk. Farmers in these states would be allowed to join the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact, a federally sanctioned cartel that sets minimum wholesale prices for milk.
PETA thinks milk producers deserve jail, not bail, because the way they abuse animals and mislead consumers is criminal.
On today's farms, cows are treated as nothing more than milk machines. Cows have been genetically engineered to produce thousands of pounds of milk every year, and most arc given growth hormones -- which have been banned in other countries -- to even further boost output. But in order to produce any milk at all, cows must be kept pregnant. Their female babies are added to the dairy herd or are slaughtered for the rennet in their stomachs (which is used to make cheese); the males are sold to the notoriously cruel veal industry. The suffering endured by these animals is enough to make any caring person lactose intolerant.
Some of the extra income dairy farmers are vying for should be used to clean up the waterways fouled by animal waste. One dairy cow excretes 120 pounds of waste every day -- the same amount as two dozen people. In California alone, which produces one-fifth of the country's total supply of milk, the manure from dairy farms has poisoned hundreds -- perhaps thousands -- of square miles of underground water, rivers, and streams.
Sadly, many people have been duped by the dairy industry into believing that they need to consume cow's milk to stay healthy. But researchers have conclusively linked consumption of dairy foods to a variety of illnesses, including heart disease, some types of cancer, and even osteoporosis -- the very disease milk is supposed to help prevent.
It's time to take milk off its pedestal and put it and other dairy products out to pasture. Readers who would like more information about healthful and humane alternatives to dairy foods are welcome to contact PETA at 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510.
Paula Moore
Norfolk, VA