Readers’ Column for the week of June 24, 2018

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.

On Friday night at the Strawberry Festival I lost a pair of glasses in a plastic case. If found, please call 372-3100.

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To whom it may concern, On June 9, someone hit my cat on 17C in Campville. He was like a kid to me. Who ever hit him, however, did not have the decency to stop and take him out of the road so other cars wouldn’t run over him. I hope you feel good about yourself. 

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Last week’s bewildered contributor did not seem to understand the difference between “a sign at the station” and a bumper sticker on a vehicle parked there. “Is this legal?” Do you know the First Amendment? Or was this a deliberate SPIN to create a sensation? (Such a popular past time these days.) The Newark Valley fire station never has and never will post a political message. 

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I am very happy to learn that there are several Amish families moving into Tioga County. I also look forward to knowing more will soon come to form a larger church group. They will be of tremendous value and will benefit our county many ways. When they buy a previously run-down farm they will make many improvements such as fixing up the barns and homes, trimming with neatly planted gardens and flowers. You will not see rusted unused farm equipment lying around. Improvements to these properties will raise their value, thus they will pay higher taxes. Yes, they do pay the same taxes as all of us, but send their children to their own schools and do not accept any government handouts, state or federal. We can expect to see roadside stands so that we will have the opportunity of purchasing their fresh fruits and vegetables as well as baked goods. Their home baked pies are out of this world. Grocery stores, hardware and feed stores will see a big increase in business, especially if they install hitching posts to the backs or sides of their parking lots. Amish tend to buy in bulk and with generally large families, buy lots of groceries. After they get settled in, many of the men will want to join the local fire department and will work hard at department related functions. There are also many opportunities for people to become Amish drivers. Amish travel often (except Sundays) and always are in need of rides. 

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I have two pine trees free to anybody who can use them. My phone number is (607) 205-9547.

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Thank you Owego Community Chorus for your “America’s Song” Concert on Sunday. We go every year, but this one we came away proud of our country and especially the beautiful music thanking God, “Our hope for ages past, our hope for years to come.” It was a meaningful and uplifting afternoon.

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Apalachin has a big new fire station and I was wondering why they don’t like to mow on the backside of the fire station. I could rent them a couple of sheep and they could keep that cleaned out very well. Also, the lights are on inside and out all night long. Must be money is no problem in Apalachin.

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Is there someone in the Lockwood area that gives horseback riding lessons? I also need help with flower gardens, not extensive, just weeding and cleaning them up. My phone number is 598-2889. I look forward to hearing from someone in the community.

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I wanted to tell you about a kind act at the Strawberry Festival. I was there on Saturday and bought some strawberry shortcake, and as I sat down to eat it I dropped it. After I finished cleaning up and stood up there was a woman in front of me who bought me another one. She said you couldn’t come to the festival and not have strawberry shortcake! So I wanted to thank her for that kind deed, that was so very nice of her, and to assure her the deed will be passed on. It was a very enjoyable day!

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It’s Father’s Day and I’m at St. Patrick’s Cemetery and this road is a disgrace! I drove through here with my truck and I’m bouncing off the ceiling after going 5 mph! I don’t know how anybody could get through there with a car. This is unbelievable!

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Positive, positive, positive things to be said about this year’s 2018 Strawberry Fest. I’ve been going the Strawberry Festival since the beginning. It was wonderful! It was nice to see this year; it seemed to be a bit more family oriented with the slides and so on, blow up stuff that was in Draper Park. What a great block party and a wonderful long parade, the longest ever I believe. Just a great job and would like to congratulate all who were involved. I can’t say enough good things about it!

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Does anyone know of a medical doctor in the Owego, Apalachin, Endicott, Vestal area that cuts toenails? If so, please put the name and phone number in this column.

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I was wondering what the Town of Nichols does with all their money that they’re getting from Tioga Downs. It was over $100,000 in May and I don’t see any real improvements. I know they did a little blacktopping, but that doesn’t take up that amount of money.

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This is about Amish buggies and signs that they need for Berkshire or anywhere else. The Department of Safety should automatically have the signs put wherever they have to be to protect these people. What are they going to do, wait until the Amish get killed like they did before with all the children and the families? I sure hope not! God bless them and thank God they’re moving to the communities. They’re good people and god bless all; and may the Department of Transportation wake up and smell the roses or whatever. 

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Hurray! The Village of Owego is getting LED Street lights! They’ll work good, I’ll be able to stand underneath it and read my $2,400 a year sewer bill.

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Let me begin my saying, with the exception of service dogs, people need to leave their dogs at home during the Strawberry Festival. Dogs on leashes, do you really think they are enjoying crowds of people, walking on hot pavements, stopping and eating scraps of food left on the ground, strangers wanting to pet them and they’re panting for water. If your dog could talk he would probably say, “Please leave me home where I’m comfortable.” Yes, I’m a dog owner, but I think sensibly when it comes to the safety of my pet as well as other pets.

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I almost hit one of those Amish carriages the other night while driving on Route 38 outside of Berkshire. There were no reflectors on the back of the carriage and I had oncoming headlights. This is a very unsafe situation. Everyone watch out!

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In the Tuesday, June 19 Press & Sun Bulletin, there’s an article that says there’s a study to recommend legalizing marijuana in New York. I said that 50, count them, 50 years ago! 

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In regards to the comment about Marshland Road in Apalachin, asking why it was paved again this year because if was paved the year before. The reason being is the Town of Owego Highway Superintendent that doesn’t have a clue how to build a road, and didn’t do it properly. All the roads they did during that election year have all come unglued because they were not built properly. That’s our tax dollars being wasted; and to think people voted them back in? Crazy!

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The school budgets have been passing by significant margins, your personal disappointment notwithstanding. A significant majority approves, not just me. Not just here. All around us too. And the boards cannot keep bringing it up until it passes. It can only be re-submitted once.

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To the person who responded that “the school taxes are fixed. Do you know why? Every time it is voted down you just keep bringing back the vote until it passes”. First of all, your mind is so closed that you obviously do not care to listen or learn. I am not wealthy. I clearly stated that my income is limited, but that I still support public education. The majority of school budgets pass on the first attempt, so your assertion that budgets fail and they keep bringing them back until they pass with only school employees voting is a flat out lie. You are welcome to your opinion that taxes are too high, but it is not true that taxes are “fixed” and only school employees vote.

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The “Greatest Generation” parents used to instill in their children, “When you’re 18, or when you finish college, you’ll want to have a job, somewhere to live and be on your own.” Look what that generated. The “Greatest Generation.” Fast forward, we now have “helicopter parents” who hover over their off spring not wanting to put any pressure on them”. As a result, we get offspring who live in their parent’s basement and spend the day playing video games in their underwear until they’re in their 30’s. Which do YOU think is most productive?  

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High grass, Junkyards and trash, oh my! Don’t blame the Code Enforcement Officer. Ask yourself, does my Town or Village have zoning laws? Does the Town or Village have good local land use laws? Does the Town or Village have a Board that has actually read the laws that they have passed? If the answer to these questions is no, then you have no one to blame but yourself for bad enforcement. Most laws are copied from other Towns. Most with zoning laws. They are modified so it appears that the law is not a zoning law (usually by taking out the main enforcement section making the law not only ineffective but not legal). My advise to anyone, is to read their Town or Village Laws and understand them. A copy has to be provided to you. Most likely you will find that the Town or Village Board have made the laws unenforceable as printed. Ask your attorney. Call the State Attorneys for local government. Most important, blame your elected officials.

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We went to the Strawberry Fest both days this year. It was great. The organizers picked a wonderful variety of entertainment, foods and vendors. The logistics for parking was well thought out so there weren’t many long waits for parking lot pickup. The weather was hot. It broke my heart to see people walking their dogs on the very hot streets and sidewalks, not providing them water or even finding a shady place for them to lie down. Don’t they realize that’s animal cruelty? I would like to know whom I could contact so I can volunteer next year to help prevent this.

National Political Viewpoints

It makes me sad Donald Trump doesn’t care about this United States; Donald Trump cares about Donald Trump and his ego and how important he is. It makes me sad that he doesn’t care about this United States. What’s the matter with people that they don’t recognize that?

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What’s the matter with you Republicans? Can’t you develop one backbone amongst you, just one backbone? It can’t be that hard, can it?

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Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama failed miserably at North Korean relations. Why is it that Trump, in just over 500 days in office, was able to accomplish what so many thought was impossible. This is so beneficial for the United States, the North Korean people and the entire world. We have hope now for world peace. Thank you Mr. Trump.

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Happy Birthday to President Trump, June 14th is also Flag Day. How appropriate for a man who loves his country and its flag.

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Talk about ex-president Obama lying; what about him emailing Hillary Clinton on her private server? He knew she had a special email account, not a government email when he emailed her. Oh, maybe he never emailed her.

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I see where Mr. Trump believes what that Kim tells him and everything. If he was there in the 50’s like I was, you don’t believe those people. It’s just not going to happen!

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Trump is like the little boy who cried wolf.

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The destroyed Trump media and their traitorous lackeys are apoplectic about President Trump’s great successes. Ninety eight percent of Isis is destroyed, a tax cut which has given us the best economy in decades is in affect, the possible denuclearization of North Korea, much more equal trade agreements, and the most honest and transparent government in U.S. History. Can you believe it? I am overjoyed that this time the voters picked a fantastic pro U.S.A. president. Go Trump!

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To all you people who have voted for Donald Trump, is there anything at all that monster could do to open up your eyes and have you say he’s crossed the line? I’ve got a feeling you guys will support him no matter what. How stupid, how blind, how ignorant! Carry on. 

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After reading an article in the paper this morning and also on Facebook, it sounds like our Canadian friends are no longer going be friends with the U.S. Trump has really stirred up things, now over this tariff he’s made a real hit with the Canadians. Now they’re all going to hate the U.S., which is the way it sounds. Now you wait and see what happens going across the borders.

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Someone called into your Pennysaver last week and complained about people calling in and bashing Trump and his family. If the Trump’s were honest and good, decent people, they would get the best reviews in the whole world. If you’re bad and lie, don’t expect any praises whatsoever. You get what you deserve. Trump and family, did you hear that? Quit your lying – all of you!

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Where’s all the outrage about the separation of kids from their parents due to illegal immigration? The separation happens due to the parents’ own actions, they know the consequences of breaking the law and what example are they teaching their children? How is this separation any different from that of a child with an incarcerated parent? Where is the outrage then? I see no difference and I think these protestors have more important things to do with their time.

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What is this country coming to when we have a complete moron like Donald Trump in the highest position of this country? What are we becoming?

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What a joke! Hillary quoting from the bible? Are you kidding me? This from a woman who should be in jail?

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I cannot believe the uproar over the latest about illegal immigration. As it’s always been, the Democrats care more about the illegal immigrants than the American citizens. Sure, open borders! Let everyone in; let the middle class take care of them.

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I understand that if your name is Trump or associated with him, I know we have a lot of laws in this country, but they don’t apply to him. 

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I’m listening to the big debate about foreigners coming into our country and their children being removed from them. If you don’t want your children removed, don’t come to this country! It’s very simple and you can be with them 24/7 for 50 years possibly! 

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I don’t understand why the children are being separated from their parents when they try to cross our borders. Why aren’t the children and their parents sent back to their own country? Can somebody please explain?

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We, the people of the United States of America, land of the free, home of the brave, justice for all. Where is the justice for all of these little children being kept in prison-like facilities? What has become of the American people? Don’t they have compassion; don’t they have love in their hearts? God sees everything that’s happening out in this world and you know what? How would we like our children taken away from us? If North Korea starts a war with us it’s going to happen. They will actually kill our children right in front of us. How would we like it? I don’t think we would. God bless all these children who are being taken away from their parents for no reason at all because they all will remember this for the rest of their lives. They are being punished for something they have not done. Some of these children probably are breastfeeding and they need their mothers. What is wrong with that Donald Trump and us? I mean it. You need to get a heart mister, because your children can be taken away from you too. 

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Don’t want to be separated from your children? Don’t come here illegally with your kids to hop on the freebie train and ride on the backs and live off the wallets of American workers.

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I know something that people ought to think about, especially these Trump lovers. Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim are a real good pair. They both are good liars, and I know you won’t agree with it, but Mr. Trump is a dictator too.

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President Trump is the best problem solver in history. Even the Trump haters like the moron buffoons have to admit that. Trump will solve the illegal alien family separation Democrat political issue very, very soon. The November election Democrat blue wave will become a blue grave, because voters are becoming better educated about fake news and the fake news media.

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Why on earth would anybody oppose the building of a wall on our border? Even the Kingdom of God has a wall. Look up Revelation chapter 12, verse 21. 

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Fox News is telling their viewers that the Mueller Probe has gone on for too long. Funny, because they didn’t mention anything about the Hillary email probe or Benghazi probe. Hillary Investigations: 72 Months, 0 Indictments. Trump/Russia – 14 Months, 23 indictments and counting. Three guilty pleas. One person already doing jail time. Seems to me Mueller if chasing real criminals. Republican politically motivated ‘investigations’ only chase the stupid for their votes.

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Someone once said, “common sense isn’t so common.” Guess that’s correct when it comes to illegal immigrants and their children. If you don’t want to be separated from your children at the border when you’re attempting to come into the U.S. illegally, then don’t go there! Simple. Problem solved. Do it correctly and legally, no problem.

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I doubt there will be any change with North Korea. You have snake one and snake two trying to negotiate. I certainly would not believe either one of them. Mr. Trump couldn’t tell the truth if his life depended on it. Lies, lies, and more lies from the president.

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Due the math; 77,000 incidents a year is 211 per day. They aren’t happening. You’d hear about if there were that many. Fox and the NRA would be playing it up big time.

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What’s wrong with Pelosi, Schumer, the senator from Hawaii, and senator Cummings and many more people who hate President Trump, saying that the kids are living in concentration camps. Have these people ever been in a Nazi concentration camp? I think not! In Nazi camps they are lucky if they got bread to eat, they were tortured, beaten and lived in inhumane conditions.  Laura Ingraham had a show on Tuesday all about one of the camps these kids are staying in. A total of 12,000 kids have come over here, 2,000 of which were separated from their parents and 10,000 who were trafficked over here with people who weren’t any relation to them. The kids get healthy food, decent clothes, books, TV, video games, and any thing else to make them comfortable. Laura showed just one of these camps on her show. I have nothing against immigrants coming here, but do it the right way. They know first hand that what they are doing is illegal and they don’t care. Why isn’t the legal adoption process a little bit easier for the tens of thousands of people who want to adopt children from the countries that are so bad off? The people who are complaining so much have home security, and or personnel with guns protecting them. I think they are stirring all this up to distract President Trump from getting things done. This problem has been around for decades, and why didn’t any of the former presidents do anything about it then? NO! Let’s just blame everything on Trump, it’s easier. Well, I guess it’s too much to ask that we all get along with each other – no matter who is in the White House, and appreciate that we don’t live in the countries who treat their people inhumanely. Respect our Flag and our cultures and stop protesting about things at events; we pay good money to watch you entertain us. Protest at appropriate places to air your grievances.

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I sat by when you made changes to the tax system, because you probably know it better than me. I sat by when you urged changes to healthcare, because you probably know markets better than me. I was quiet when you pushed for travel restrictions, because I understand the anxiety given the news stories from Europe. I cannot however, condone or be associated with a group that is any way complicit with the act of taking toddlers from their parents in a country foreign to them. You are no longer the party of family values. You are no longer the party of fiscal responsibility. You are no longer the party of the American family. I pray the Democrats take up this mantle, because I will be voting blue for the first time in my life in November. 

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“The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.” — Leo Tolstoy

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Taxes are mandatory financial charges imposed for the purpose of funding the common good provided through good government. You cannot have any right to someone else’s labor. Whether total or partial such is slavery. Income Redistribution is imposing a system of leveling the distribution of wealth or income in a society through a direct or indirect (unequal taxation) transfer of income from the rich (middle-class) to the poor or special interest Swamp Mobsters. Taxation in the guise of Income Redistribution is slavery. We have God given rights for which the Constitution exists to protect. All rights, even those not codified, vest in the people and nowhere else. Only those rights expressly granted government belong to the government.  Neither God nor government provides us with any right to anyone’s labor. Neither God nor government grants rights to free education, free food, free health care, any minimum wage, housing, employment, pensions, etc. This Fourth of July, remember we revolted against the parasitism of government greed. There is no difference from the greed of English Monarchy and today’s Swamp Mobsters. Thank you President Trump for taking us off the road to Serfdom. This is not to say that providing a social welfare net is not a common good.

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Obama separated parents from children when they attempted to enter this country illegally. Why no moaning and crying then? Why only when President Trump enforces the law that Congress made do the Libs go nuts? Displays their political agenda and illegal bias! Nancy Pelosi and fellow Dems live in gated upscale communities, never having to put with conditions like the “little people” do, so they don’t experience the crime, etc., that some illegals bring with them. Let’s put illegals in THEIR back yard, so they get to experience what the “Little People” do. Watch things change.

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Mr. Trump has caused problems in America, allies from other countries, now he wants to go into space. He caused enough chaos on earth, now he wants to stir up the stars. Is there no end?