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.
Last week a reader wrote, “I can’t believe the amount of lies that are told week by week by Mr. Chartrand in this paper.” Perhaps it would be more constructive to point out just what lies you believe were told. I have checked the facts and haven’t found anything that was not factual. I have never read anything where he ever said that Owego Apalachin schools haven’t provided a good education for our students. From what I read, his primary concern seems to be the cost is too high. Implying he is against the schools is incorrect. Just because you think the school is doing a good job is no reason to throw more money at it. A better understanding of the school finances and where the tax dollars are being spent will make for a more fiscally efficient district.
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Last week several readers wrote in this column that the Owego Apalachin tax increase for 2015 – 2016 “doesn’t amount to much” or “this year will be very low”. How can any responsible person think a tax increase of almost 4 percent, which amounts to $589,134, doesn’t amount to much or is very low? To the average person in this community, this can be a lot when you add the increase to what they are currently paying in school taxes. Have you ever looked at the list of possible foreclosures printed in this paper year after year? These are the ones who can’t pay their taxes and they believe the increase is NOT very low and it DOES amount to much!
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It amuses me when supporters of OACSD ‘create’ their own self-serving facts about school taxes. In the May 17 column there were seven comments where these supporters said, “This is the first tax increase that we have had in six years”. Perhaps they should refer to their OA Budget Newsletter. On page 3 there is a chart of the tax levy increases for the last eight years and it states, “Over the past eight years, the average increase in the school tax levy has been held to only 1.47 percent per year”. This amounts to an 11.8 percent increase over the last eight years. It is hard to imagine why the supporters would think there has been a zero increase in the last six years!
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To those who commented in this column last week and said, “The proposed Owego Apalachin School budget will help our students”, would you provide a list of the new programs and services? I missed it! I did see one new music teacher, a welcome addition to our music department. Other than this position, there has been no mention of any new teacher’s aides, assistants, programs or services being added. It would be nice to see more of the budget going to new programs and services for the students. It appears that our addition $1.3 million will go to maintaining the status quo!
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Voters have approved a property tax hike and New York State has provided a bountiful increase in State Aid. One year from now let’s ask what our District has done with more public treasure. In March your BOE, without any public discussion, deleted from its charter documents the Goals and Objectives section. This was buried on page 114 of 118 pages of superfluous material. Additionally, they removed all requirements for the Superintendent to be held accountable for any performance goals or objectives.
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Hats off to the Town of Owego for the fantastic job at spreading ‘oil’ on Haus Road. For the first time in years the whole road was treated, which has helped control the dust problem. We finally can open our windows and enjoy the fresh air. Please keep it maintained throughout the summer!
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Now that the school budget vote is over, I wonder what the tax creep dynamic duo of Mr. Cranky Pants and Captain FOIL are going to scheme up next. Maybe instead of trying to get rid of all the special needs students and insult all the teachers, they can find a way to put their superhero powers to good use. Let’s hope.
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Has anyone by any chance heard as to when the new Dollar General (being built right now) in Catatonk is scheduled to open?
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This is in regards to the new Fire Department Training Facility in Owego. What a wonderful new addition for OFD members. It has a large classroom/banquet room for all to enjoy. There is also a large garage area that is being finished as I speak. It will be maintained by the Fallen Firefighters Golf Tournament, which is run by the membership. I have a couple of questions to the Chief and Fire Board. What truck is going to be put in there and why? That space would be better off as a second small classroom and storage. If you’re going to use the space for a truck, then where are you going to store the tables, chairs, and all the miscellaneous stuff? The Chief is making all decisions when they should be made by the membership. The Fire Board Representatives should be taking all decisions about the Training Facility back to the membership. Thousands of dollars have been wasted by poor decisions that the membership could have stopped if they had a say. Chief Gavin and Fire Board Reps please do your job and let the membership have a say as to what is going on. This Facility is owned by the membership for the membership and not a select few who have there own agenda.
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I am interested in talking with the reader who posted that they are looking for someone to light housework. My name is Lisa, and I can be contacted by calling 687-7663.
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SAVE THE DATE! May 30, beginning at 10 a.m. is the Candor Community 2nd Affair Annual Yard Sale to benefit the Candor 4th of July Parade, Fireworks & Horse Pull at The American Legion on Route 96 in Candor. For booth info call Liz 659-7925.
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As she continues to dodge the press, Hillary Clinton parrots that she is the champion of the little guy. Give me a break! She said she was broke when Bill left the White House but records now show they earned $12 million that year. How stupid does she think voters are today!
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After reading the comments in this column last week about the Apalachin Library’s request for more money, I felt I needed to call and comment. I believe the first or second might have been justified, maybe both of them and I did vote for them. However, this time as someone mentioned, putting the entire burden on the Owego Apalachin taxpayers, I know there are people that have Vestal or U.E. as a school district that aren’t being taxed as we are. I don’t believe that we should have to support the library when others use it and don’t have to pay anything.
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I wish we could do a citizen’s arrest. I guess there is no such thing. Saturday afternoon in Newark Valley between 2 or 3 p.m., coming down the side street by NBT Bank there was a middle-aged woman driving a car with a large white cell phone. She came up to the light and practically made a wheelie turning the corner onto Route 38 while still on her cell phone, which was stuck in her ear. How I would love to turn a siren on and say “citizen’s arrest”! You talk about people about being, bold, brass, ignorant, whatever name fits the occasion. I don’t know where it’s going to end other than an accident to an innocent bystander. You, who are guilty, shame on you!
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Unless I’ve missed it I haven’t seen a thing in the paper about the Town of Tioga having a scrap metal, tire clean up announcement. I’m just curious if they are going to have it this year.
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I think it’s pretty sad when you go through the Town of Candor and the town supervisor is above the law and driving a tractor with no marking or no four ways on. Set an example please.
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When there are no jobs or only jobs that don’t provide a living wage, crime and unrest increase. That’s a fact. No everyone can have a high wage job. Are you suggesting top-heavy economics? The workers that make a business possible don’t receive a living wage or benefits if the top administrators are sucking up the profits in their salaries. Trade has sent many jobs out of the country, computers have eliminated many others. Our political system has failed the American worker because its main focus is corporations. Triple down does not work. That’s like saying the person that grows the food can keep it all, even if his neighbors are starving. Have we really gone backwards to ancient times with landlords and peasants? Income and equality is no joke and a threat to our American way of life. Grow a heart!
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Looking for a squeaky clean politician for president? Unfortunately that is not possible. They all have baggage, as did our past presidents. Let’s focus on what they plan to do for us and who has the skills to do it.
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Why repeal Obamacare? It’s the law, just make changes to it. All it needs is a few adjustments, which could be made if the politicians would work together. You know, the way a democracy works? Compromise, give and take in the best interest of the people.
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To the lady that is giving away rhubarb plants, please call Lois at 642-3390.
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My name is Linda, my phone number is 657-2635. I would be happy to take any or all of your rhubarb. I would share with everybody and I can bake with it.
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On May 15, in the morning on the south side of the new bridge by the light, I found a cell phone or track phone Kyocera; I picked it up and brought up the phone number. If anybody knows who it is please call me 657-2635. It is in the New York City area.
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I’m calling in regards to the rhubarb that someone wants to give away. My number is 687-0693.
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I’m very interested in the rhubarb plants, my number is 687-5235.
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Can anyone out there explain to me why the school budget polling is not open until noon? I am a workingman and I just stopped on my way to work at 11:46 a.m. and I was told I could not vote until noon. I just drove away. One less voter.
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Is there anyone in the Newark Valley area that sells used push lawnmowers? I am a senior lady that cannot afford a new one.
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Why do we have to look at that eyesore across from Marvin Park? The house was taken down but the garage still stands there. The fair will be coming to town soon and I’m certainly sure the people don’t want to look at that garage standing there. Please, if you are going to tear down a house, tear down the garage that goes with it. Get rid of that eyesore!
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Follow the news. According to all media reports this is going to be a horrific year for Lyme disease and other tick form parasite problems. Veterinarians can offer tick control for cats and dogs, yet why aren’t there any vaccines in the works for humans? The Republicans in congress want to spend billions of dollars again on a so-called defense budget. How about some of that money being diverted to those in need here at home? Lyme disease is a crippling disease if not addressed instantly. Wake up; let’s get the Republicans to look at the problems here at home before they start wasting more of our tax dollars in Washington follies.
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Congratulations to the tax paying property owners in the Tioga Central School District. Your voices were heard loud and clear with the defeat of the 2016 school budget. The 30 percent increase in school property taxes is unacceptable, period. This vote was an excellent example of democracy. We, the people, have final say by our right to vote. Hopefully, American History teachers at Tioga Central will use the school budget vote as a teachable moment in their classrooms. America started over high taxation from England. Does anyone remember the Boston Tea Party?
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Last week I called this column about wishing our dentist in Sayre would get unretired and come back. They wrote his name wrong as Dr. Lasco and it is Dr. Patrick Musto. Dr. Musto, we miss you!
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Senior needs someone to mow a small lawn in Valley Mobile Home Park as needed, reasonably. Leave message with fee, 642-3568.
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I’m calling about the rhubarb plants, I would dig them up. My name is Ken and my number is 659-4376.
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Found on Fairfield Road between Candor Hill and Newman Road a car key and also by Candor Hill Road a trailer license plate. Please call 659-5778.
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Need someone to mow and bale 15 acres of level field. Free Hay. Top of Evelyn Hill Road, right side. Call 785-3934 after 6 p.m. or leave message any time.
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I’m interested in finding out if Cornell Cooperative Extension, The Master Gardener people, will be collecting pots again this year as they did last year. If anyone knows if they are could you please leave a message in this column?
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Those with loyalty to our country will tell Hillary to fold up her campaign tent and go home to play grandma. We now know that Benghazi was a scheme to send guns to Syria through Turkey, which is illegal. Ask yourself why is the media ignoring this recently uncovered news.
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I was happy to see the voters of Tioga Central School stood up and voted no on the school budget. Tioga Central School is a small school located in a poor county where taxpayers cannot afford these outrageous tax increases. The school will have to eliminate jobs and maybe sports. The taxpayers will have to look at the administrators, Taylor, etc. and ask yourself, can we eliminate Taylor or others as a beginning?
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Today is the day after the school vote. Tioga Central voted no. You need to listen to kids. I was listening to some and some mentioned their worries. They are afraid of losing their friends, being broken up and going to different schools. They are afraid of losing their teachers; they’re worried about their sports. They need their sports. They need their friends, they need their teachers. They want to know what they can do to help. Kids are our future. They need a variety of things. They don’t need one thing, they need all these things. They’ve already lost so much now. They need your help. Please help them.
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Sidney Blumenthal is one of Hillary Clinton’s attack dogs that smeared Monica Lewinsky. It turns out that Blumenthal went to Libya when Gaddafi fell to make a whole pile of money. Now both media matters and the Clinton Foundation fund Blumenthal. What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.
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Voters need to go out and vote down the 30 percent again. This is like the valley of the doomed. People are leaving like refugees, there are not jobs, and business is going out. It’s just pathetic these teachers think they deserve more money.
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To all the Tioga Central voters who voted no on this past week’s budget, the one’s of us that voted yes would like you to know if it wasn’t for New York State’s technicality law of not winning the super majority, you did not win. The community came out and supported by well over 100 votes the fact that the value of education in this community is irreplaceable. Those of you that voted no, are you really okay with the district not having extracurricular activities, not having sports and not having programs for our children beyond the hours of 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and being run like an institution? Those of you that voted no that have had children or yourself had gone successfully through the district, how can you say that it’s no longer important that this community has that school. Come out and revote if it is re-proposed for a new vote because those no voters, you were in the minority. There was well over 100 voters more who voted yes who do value the school. Come out and support Tioga Central.
