Mailbag

To The Editor:
First, they claimed their proposed development would bring “more jobs/lower taxes.” Now that it’s generally known that Emerson’s employment record isn’t exactly unblemished and the fact that mega-development always results in higher taxes due to increased services and inflated land prices, Crossroads/Partners is using fear as their latest weapon to move their flawed plan forward.

To The Editor:
As noted in a News story last week, Whitman Electric, Inc. has filed a lawsuit against a long list of organizations here in Shandaken. This matter has been a long-standing contractual dispute in which Whitman says it performed according to contract and we say they did not. We thought this matter had been settled out of court. When given an opportunity by Mr. Braman to comment we declined, on the advice of our attorney, because we thought it was settled. That would have been to the advantage of everyone named in this case.

To The Editor:
As you reported last week, I am involved in the attempt to protect and safely recover the baby bison and, as an animal-welfare advocate, I am very upset with the senseless slaughter of the bison cow with a calf at her side. Because of the unnecessary and hasty killing of the mother bison, we as a community must now ask ourselves what shall be the fate of her calf who was last seen roaming free across the countryside.

To The Editor:
The Bovina Town Board recently approved spending $800,000 for a highway garage complex on a one-half acre parcel on Main Street in the historically designated hamlet of Bovina. In light of intense community opposition and a petition that would have forced a successful vote against the plan, the board has now rescinded proposal 2008-85.

To The Editor:
Irony, sweet irony! The Delaware County Board of Supervisors gave approval for an auditing firm to oversee the financial activities of the Child Support Collection Unit and this firm failed to notice a discrepancy to the tune of more than $52,000. The majority of the board of supervisors clutch at their hearts and rush to a “smoke-filled” back room if the treasurer’s office misplaces a paper clip. Bev Shields and her treasurer’s office have never once been touched by a scandal or failed to pass state audits with flying colors, but the treasurer is treated with the same amount of respect by Msrs. Eisel, Donnelly and others as an axe murderer or a member of the Jersey mob!

To The Editor:
I have been saddened by the negative letters pertaining to Margaretville Central School that have appeared in the Catskill Mountain News in the last couple of weeks. The event that took place at school was serious and unfortunate; however, it is very unfair to put blame on the teachers and staff for being negligent and uncaring.

To The Editor:
Here we are between the calendar’s benchmarks of patriotism and still in the center of a continuing civil war. There is so much negative energy and personal vendetta swirling around these Catskills, we can’t separate our own bullying selfishness from the real needs of the community as a whole.

To The Editor:
In rebuttal to the recent speculation of Ms. Rubin and her associates in the Catskill Mountain News' Letters to the Editor, questioning our intentions concerning our property, on which the proposed Fleischmanns water tower is to be built, I would like to state for the record once and for all, that we are not city people wanting to ruin the landscape of the area.

To The Editor:
Brian Sweeney’s editorial about the recent incident with second-graders at MCS contained some inaccurate statements. I do not wish to dwell on it or to interfere in anyone’s political domain, however such inaccuracies could lead to bad results and should be addressed.

To The Editor:
I am writing on behalf of the proposed eminent domain issues being faced by one of our area’s businesses. Susan and Jim Kelly, of Susan’s Pleasant Pheasant Farm, have created a wonderful bed and breakfast business in the Town of Halcottsville. It’s all the things that people think of when they envision the quintessential country home. The pristine lake surrounded by rolling mountains, the waterfall, the tiny church on a hill and the small art galleries that dot the landscape of this quaint village.