Mailbag

To The Editor:
In your last edition, Jerry Fairbairn and Howard Mandell both wrote letters about the Belleayre Resort Proposals. Mr. Fairbairn’s letter expressed his genuine concern about storm water run-off and his fears that engineers and builders will not deal with those issues effectively. While we disagree with his opinions, we respect his concern over a real issue and will continue to look at it very, very closely.

To The Editor:
The Shandaken artist studio tour on July 18 - 20 was a great success. I had over 80 visitors over the weekend and sold almost $800 worth of art. Many other artists also did very well. Visitors were from Kingston, Woodstock, Hunter, Windham, even far away lands like Poland, Florida and New York City. No one expected to find so many fine professional artists working in these hills. There were over 40 painters, sculptors, printers, photographers, fine furniture and clothing makers, even high tech electronic and video artists. Too many for anyone to visit in just two days.

To The Editor:
This letter is to all journalists, reporters and media who covered the tragic events of April 2007. When State Trooper Brinkerhoff was accidentally killed during the shoot-out with Travis Trim by friendly fire it was not necessary to name the officer involved. First and foremost, this officer is a human being who will have to carry that day with him for the rest of his life.
To all that covered the tragic events of that day, could care less about the families, the officers in your fact finding mission, the blatant abuse you use, all in the name of Freedom of Information Act.

To The Editor:
I stand and applaud last week’s editorial on the unnecessarily contentious situation that has evolved over the Halcottsville bridge reconstruction and the current threat of eminent domain.
I challenge the county to come forward and explain why it continues to threaten a business, a local tourist attraction and historical landmark in the face of viable alternatives.

To The Editor:
If you live here, were visiting here, or had occasion to be here after the fact, you probably heard about the mini-flood that occurred on July 23. This event was just a little more than a heavy rain. Our rivers, streams and their tributaries were full and chocolate in color. The professionals call this “storm water.” This storm water carries tens, if not hundreds, of tons of soil and other debris. This can’t be good for the people at the other end of this water supply who expect a clear potable water coming from their taps!

To The Editor:
As a lifelong local resident, I have followed closely the public dialogue regarding the proposed wind farm for the towns of Stamford and Roxbury. I think it’s important that all residents and our elected leaders be well-informed and knowledgeable about wind energy before taking a position on such a significant development project for our community.

To The Editor:
Once again the bamboozlers of “blow up the mountain,” aka “Partners for Profit,” “Partners for Progress,” “Crossroads Ventures” and a host of other aliases have mailed local residents a piece of purely self-serving propaganda that seems to ignore or belie the fact that many people here live lives of peaceful contentment and comfort rather than the abject poverty that the developers would lead readers to believe.

To The Editor:
As a longtime resident of Margaretville, I am deeply concerned about the proposed Family Dollar Store that the village planning board is currently considering. At the board’s meeting on Tuesday, July 15, a considerable number of residents raised their concerns and questions regarding issues including traffic, water drainage, potential flooding and the socio-economic impact it will have on our village.

To The Editor:
Some time ago I wrote a letter to the Catskill Mountain News. I was hoping that this letter would make people more aware of their driving habits, but I was wrong. The people who speed on Dry Brook don’t seem to care or are oblivious to the fact that they are speeding. The posted speed limit of Dry Brook is 35 not 65.  If you are driving up Dry Brook, the speed zone ends after Benjamin Brothers, after the big turn and half way up that hill.

To The Editor:
I could not believe what I received from Partners for Progress (PFP) addressed to Postal Patron. What a shameful, false and misleading advertisement. The return address read PFP but was covered by a blank mailing label. The postage was paid by nonprofit permit #773. The same permit number used by Fleischmanns First’s mailings which is sponsored by the MARK Group.