You may call the Owego Pennysaver Readers’ Column at (607) 687-2378 24-hours a day, or e-mail comments to readerscolumn@stny.rr.com. We reserve the right to revise or reject any message.
For the voters in the Owego Apalachin School District, on May 19 please vote no for the library tax requested for the Apalachin Library. Some people do not even use the library. We should not have to pay this tax.
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Senior citizen looking for reliable handyman with reasonable rates, am able to pay. Please call 625-2971.
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I noticed that another corrupt Albany politician has been arrested and charged with corruption charges. You notice I said ANOTHER ONE. How many does that make over the last few years that have been arrested on corruption charges and/or convicted of them? In my opinion, this is just the tip of the iceberg up there. Albany is corrupt to the core however, that is nothing compared to Washington! Washington is even more corrupt than Albany is and I just wonder when we, the citizens of this country, are going to stand up and say this is it, we’ve had it! We have to do something to get rid of these people. We need major changes in our government structure. If people are guilty of corruption they deserve prison time, not just a slap on the wrist.
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I live on 305 Howard Hill in Newark Valley. I had some stuff out by the road for free and somebody had stopped on Saturday evening in a small grey car, had a white pit bull in the back seat, the driver was about 25 years old and an elderly gentleman. They both got out of the car and took a sweater. I had laid down my cane and went to the garage to get something with my scooter and when I came back my cane and sweater was gone. I need my cane, I am an amputee. I would really like to get my cane back. If they could please return it I would be very grateful.
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If you and your family are looking for a good time and don’t know where to go you should go to Thunder Mountain Speedway in Lisle on Saturday night. The owner is such a nice guy and they treat you like family. They put on such a terrific show – go early so you are guaranteed a seat.
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This is for the “tell your senator” buffoon who has no idea what Obamacare has done to the Medicare system. Remember nobama’s big lie/promise that you can keep your doctor and healthcare plan? Did this buffoon ever try to enroll in Obamacare? Good luck with that. Did anyone who works for a living get a cheaper and better plan than what you had as was promised? There are many ways to provide a superior “you pick it” private plan and I hope the Republicans are smart enough to offer one to give us a real choice next time.
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To the 3,000 tax paying property owners in the Tioga Central School District, now is the time to be heard. Vote Tuesday, May 19 from noon to 8 p.m. at the school in Tioga Center. A 30 percent increase in school tax is unacceptable. Money does not grow on trees. Vote no before we all end up in a homeless shelter!
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I would like to know if there are any fencing classes for kids and teens in the area.
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Here is a tip for Mr. socialism. Stop whining about what other people earn and do some research on high paying jobs. If you have the brainpower, educate and train yourself until you can compete for those jobs. For your edification, the socialist governments in Europe, like Sweden, have a higher income in equality than the United States. That’s a fact, get a life.
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The girls in Riverview Nursing home work very hard and I think they should get more money. They took great care of me during my stay. They really should be recognized and honored for how well they do their job!
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Dr. Lasco, a retired dentist from Sayre, please get unretired and be our dentist again. After 30 some years you became not only our dentist, but also a friend to me and many, many others. I am becoming afraid of going to the dentist again. Please, I’m not the only one that misses you.
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As far as Cal Harris there is no such thing as getting away with murder. His family knows the truth and so does he.
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The Tioga Central School budget is crazy. The Newark Valley School has a tax budget for $15 million with no tax increase. I think the school superintendent of Tioga Central School, Scot Taylor, should go back coaching sports. He’s over his head when it comes to school budgets.
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This year I hope everyone will come out and support the school budget. I know there’s an increase this for the first time in several years which really doesn’t amount to much. Don’t let the bullies of the community talk you into thinking that an increase for the first time in five years is something ridiculous and unthoughtful. Please vote yes for the school budget and help our students.
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I’d just like to urge the voters of the Owego Apalachin School District to vote yes on the budget on Tuesday, May 19. Our district is a wonderful district and we have not had an increase in six years, even though the naysayers say we have but we haven’t. It’s all documented. We have wonderful schools and now is the time to support them.
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Have you been watching closely and do you know this, there is not one shed of fear in that Cal Harris’s face. Where’s Michelle? Come on Cal, spit it out.
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Vote no on the 30 percent budget increase for Tioga Central. They always say it’s for the kids. If this is true why are they getting a pay increase? Somebody said last week they pay 20 percent of their health insurance. Where in the real world do part time workers, as many of the employees are, even get benefits? Sign me up. I work more hours in the healthcare field with zero benefits. Time to say no with all their wants.
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My husband and I have lived in the area for over 45 years, raised six children, grandchildren and now great grandchildren in the Owego Apalachin School District. We have never voted against a budge and we never will. We are active in our church and community and we choose to remain in this community as long as we can. If it got to expensive for us to live here then we would find alternative housing in another community. We have always believed in paying our good fortune forward. Our children and grandchildren have received an excellent education and have had caring teachers. In the last several years, especially in the post flood economy, the district has done their best to keep the tax increases to around 1.3 percent as this community reeled and then healed from its losses. The district has also made significant staff and budget cuts to maintain its fiscal responsibility in the face of severe cuts from Cuomo while still trying to maintain its educational integrity. However, there isn’t much left to cut and if there were at what point does one begin to sacrifice the quality of its programs and the academic opportunities for students? As Americans and Christians, it’s our civic responsibility to raise strong and intelligent citizens and that’s what public school does. Besides, would you like the alternative? Quality and integrity come with a price and the proposed tax increase is a small price to pay for a school that has done so much for my family and community. Actually I’d like to think of it as an investment in our future so I’ll be in line voting yes to the budget on May 19 because it’s the right thing to do.
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Why do all the cemeteries around look nice until you go to the Glenwood Cemetery? It looks like a bomb went off. They don’t take care of that for anything. The village is supposed to take care of it, but I guess but they don’t do anything with it.
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Follow the news. The next time you hear the Washington politicians crying out to reduce the deficit, cut spending on entitlements and food stamps, ask them why they don’t read their mail. In its monthly report the Treasury Department says that the April surplus now totals $157 billion. It’s the largest surplus since April 2008. Deficit cutting? Who are they kidding?
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I’ve decided to call in and voice my support for all the employees that work in the Owego Apalachin School District. I can’t believe the amount of lies that are told week by week by Mr. Chartrand in this paper. It truly baffles me and scares me to realize that many in the community blindly accept his work as truth. Our school district isn’t broken, our students are receiving an excellent education, are taught by outstanding and dedicated teachers, and go on to do well at the college or profession of their choice after graduating. As a parent of students in the Owego Apalachin District I know first hand how caring, dedicated and hard working the employees of the district are. Everyone gives 100 percent and then some. They truly are there for the students and it is because they care. Yes, it is a job and the employees of Owego Apalachin should be fairly compensated. Luckily, for those of us that have students in the district, the employees love their job and provide students with an excellent education. This does not come for free and we all need to do our part in paying for this just as we do for all the other taxpayer-supported jobs. Please vote yes for the Owego Apalachin School budget on May 19.
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This is in regards to the Tioga Center School budget. According to the letter we received in the mail today, the budget is 2.41 percent higher than last year’s budget. Why do we need a 30 percent increase in taxes for a 2.41 percent budget? Also, it is not right for the teachers to be telling the children the school will close, no more hot lunches and much more negative things. If their parents do not vote yes for the budget, most of it is not true and it is threatening the children, which is not ethical. Why are we, the taxpayers, paying Tioga County Country Club so some students can play golf? It does not benefit the majority of the students. Most of district is very low income, retired people and low paying jobs. We just cannot afford a 30 percent increase in our taxes.
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I’m calling to urge people to vote for the O/A school budget this week. After six years of rising costs, yet not increases in our taxes, we have to know the district can’t cut any further. Too many teaching and staff positions have been cut already. It is time to start restoring the programs that benefit our children. Please vote yes!
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Recipes wanted from Twin Tiers foodies. Relay for Life is composing a fundraising cookbook and we need your help. Please write down your favorite recipes, hints or inspirational items to share. Please make note on your recipe if you are a caregiver, survivor, or relay team member. To submit recipes email tiogaturtles@outlook.com or send recipes to American Cancer Society, 13 Beach St., Johnson City, N.Y. 13790, ATTN: Team Turtle or bring to the next American Cancer Society meeting on May 20. One lucky person will receive a free cookbook and a gift card from a local grocery store. The deadline is June 1.
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Tioga Central taxpayers, get out to vote on May 19. The 30 percent tax increase is not about education it is about GREED of teachers and coaches. They will still get their raise no matter what! There are retired teachers coaching five students and getting paid $5,000. Is that about the students? Schools need to learn to tighten their belts and cut the waste like all the rest of the taxpayers do. VOTE NO ON MAY 19.
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I have six very nice bearing rhubarb plants that I will give to anyone who wants them. You have to dig, I am not able. They are in Owego. Please leave your phone number in this column next week and I will call you.
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In the 2007 – 2008 school year, in the Owego Apalachin School District the cost per student was $17,017. Now, if voters approve the 2015 – 2016 budget on May 19, the cost per student will be $20,645. That is an increase of 21.3 percent or $3,628 per student! The school district says they are committed to keeping taxes low. It doesn’t seem to be true! Now they want $589,134 more. Is this what they call keeping taxes low? OACSD is in the top 2 percent in the nation for property taxes paid compared to income. I guess it will never change as long as the schools continue to want more and more from the taxpayers. Please vote NO on May 19.
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Relating to the Owego Apalachin School Budget, the newsletter says they reduced the expenditures by nearly $2 million. Really? Then why did the budget go up $1.3 million? Mathematically this is impossible. I guess they must have added another $3.3 million of expenses after they reduced the budget by $2 million. Another example of the school administration trying to spin the truth and not tell us the whole truth. Please come out and vote NO on May 19.
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In their Budget Newsletter, the Owego Apalachin School District said the reason they needed to increase our taxes by $589,134 was because of the decrease in Best Buy’s PILOT payment (a decrease of $526,470). I don’t buy that and neither should you. Look at the school’s revenue – they got an additional $1,623,854 from the state this year. That is not enough to cover the decrease in Best Buy’s PILOT payment? The way I look at it, it more than covers it and I will be voting NO on the budget on May 19. The Owego Apalachin School District keeps wanting more and more from the taxpayers who are already over taxed.
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Thank goodness for the Tax Creeps, right? They are here to protect you! So in YOUR name, taxpayer, these are the actions they have taken: One individual shrieks incessantly in school board meetings to the point where some meetings have had to be terminated. Another writes weekly emails, pages long, to district employees calling them horrible names and threatening them. Another has cost the district THOUSANDS of dollars in FOIA requests, not to obtain information but to be a nuisance. Another demanded that we ban special education students from Owego schools because they cost too much to educate. Another suggestion was made to replace the teaching staff with computers. They have enjoyed a ZERO tax increase for SIX years, and they are complaining about a modest increase this year. Don’t let them cheat your children, and do NOT let them speak for you. Vote yes on the OACSD school budget.
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I think the trial tactics in Schoharie are unbelievable. Those poor jurors have been at it way too long. The defense lawyers have caused a great many distractions with the jury off to the side, twittling their thumbs. The judge should understand what “deadlocked’ means. It sure is discouraging for all future jurors.
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Why does the Apalachin Library continue to want more money from the taxpayers every year? This is the 3rd year in a row that they have asked the taxpayers for an increase. There has not been any explanation as to why they need more money or what it is going to be used for. So, why would the taxpayers approve more money for them when there is no accountability for its use? I suggest we vote NO on this proposition. The taxpayers should not give them more for no reason! When will these increases ever end?
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In the OA Budget Newsletter, the school said the Owego Apalachin’s tax increases have not begun to keep up with the increases in social security. The Administration is totally out of touch with reality if they want seniors to pay more out of their social security to support the school’s wasteful spending! There are many studies that have been done stating that social security beneficiaries have lost nearly one-third of their buying power since year 2000. Many retirees are already struggling to get by and the school uses social security as a reason to raise taxes. This is a new low for our school administration. There is a huge difference between a 2 percent increase for a teacher making $70,000 a year and a person on social security getting a 2 percent increase on an average of $1,200 a month from social security!
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Looking for a few individuals to assist Relay For Life survivor dinner attendees carry plates and deliver drinks to the tables on Friday, July 24. Dinner starts approximately 6:30 p.m. Call (607) 659-7734 and leave message.
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Looking for a dancer or few dancers to perform at the Relay For Life survivor dinner taking place on Friday, July 24 at the Owego Free Academy. Dinner starts at approximately 6:45 p.m. Call (607) 659-7734 if interested.
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As the school budget approaches, I encourage Owego Apalachin voters to vote YES! Over the past six years we have had a ZERO percent tax increase and this year will be very low. Please help keep what we have for our students! It is unfortunate to have certain people constantly be so negative when it comes to anything to do with out district. Vote YES!
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I am a taxpayer, parent, and teacher in the Owego Apalachin School District. I strongly urge you to vote yes for the budget on May 19. I moved my family to this district specifically for the education and the opportunities that I knew my child would receive. I have not been disappointed. This is the first tax increase that we have had in six years, and that increase will benefit CHILDREN. Vote yes!
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This year is the first year in many years that our school district is asking for a minimal increase. Over the last few years we have seen a zero increase. Don’t let this year’s school budget or the complainers sway your vote. Our students deserve the best competitive education that they can have. Please vote yes to our students’ future.
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For the first time in more than 50 years, the federal government has recommended lowering the level of fluoride in drinking water. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) suggested that public tap water contain no more than 0.7 milligrams per liter (which is the same as 0.7 parts per million, or ppm). It’s best to use fluoride topically (e.g. brushing your teeth with toothpaste), as opposed to swallowing it and subjecting all of the body’s organs to the chemical. But it’s best to not ingest it at all. Towns and cities should stop adding fluoride to public drinking water. The announcement comes as no surprise; the DHHS first proposed making this change in 2011, and most large cities have already lowered their fluoride levels accordingly. Studies published this year have suggested a link between fluoridation and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as an underactive thyroid.
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I am responding to the person who is looking for light housekeeping. I have a certificate in Housekeeping through Best Western. I work at the Candor High School and I have been looking for a job to do through the summer and after school during the school year. I am not afraid of using elbow grease to clean. I used to help a friend of mine clean a home in Steuben County. My number is (607) 659-5582 if you would like to talk to me.
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On May 7, the Tioga Central Choral and Band “Pride in America” Concert left our community feeling so proud of these boys and girls as they honored our local military families. Mrs. Coddington, you left us speechless and our heart’s swelling, and Mr. Steidle, “Dry Your Tears, Afrika” made us cry. Academically, go to the school website and view the Buffalo Business First, a business journal that does an annual ranking of the 432 school districts in the 48 counties that comprise upstate New York. Their analysis is drawn from data obtained from the New York State Education Department. The analysis looks at academic, fiscal, and socioeconomic factors of the 432 districts.
We ranked from one to six among the forty districts that comprise the Binghamton-Elmira market. And as for our teacher salaries, this is stated; Teacher Salary #335/432 Upstate Rank #21/40 Market Rank Tioga teachers are in the bottom 20 percent in upstate. This is the GOOD, I am not here to post the why’s or how’s of how we got here to be asking for this tax levy hike; Mr. Taylor, our Board of Education and Finance Director have done their part well informing all of us. Now we need to do our part. Please show your support for the best teachers, staff, and STUDENTS any parent could wish for on May 19.
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Interesting and concise article by John Stossel in the Press this morning. Made me relive several things about the Clintons. Talk about buyer’s remorse with Obama, as I am sure thousands of voters have now. What about the history of the Clintons from A to Z? Talk about Al Gore “inventing” the Internet, (which due to mankind’s proclivity for all things sleazy has evolved into one big porn site), what about Hillary and Bill inventing the most slippery form of Teflon since it was first formulated? Why would any serious, thinking American voter even consider voting for them – again? She is lying openly about things that are immediately checked and found to be false! That she thinks we are that stupid that some would disregard the truth and vote for her is the height of arrogance. We are collective idiots in their eyes and they will continue to ride our stupidity out until they hoard enough money to be able to buy their way out literally anything. Unless we don’t elect her. Please read historical accounts of them. Don’t have such short memories. Again.
