Readers’ Column for the week of November 4, 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. 

Of all the local counties, Broome, Tioga, Chemung and Tompkins, Tompkins is doing the best with unemployment at the lowest of these counties. Tompkins has living wages over $15 an hour. These other counties should step up and do the same so people can live more comfortably.

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I wonder what Owego is going to do with the old Sanmina plant on Taylor Road. It’s going to take so much money to clean up the contaminated ground water at that site. Since 2005 the buildings had some of the highest levels of TCE in the state of New York.

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In Newark Valley, on Silk Street, there is a wonderful fairy tree house. A lot of work has gone into this. You need to stop by and see for yourself. Get out and walk around and see all the details. 

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All men and women were created equal and then a few became marines. Semper Fi, and Happy Birthday Nov. 10 to the few of the proud, the courageous and the committed, the Marines.

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The food pantry at the Methodist Church in Newark Valley is giving free food to any veteran with a 13811 zip code, no matter where you are in your life. This is on Nov. 12 from 2 to 4 p.m. It’s our way of saying thanks for your service. 

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U.S. Military veterans are a special breed. They stepped up to the plate, pledged to defend America with their lives and they got the job done, no excuses. We live free today because of them. We Americans are very lucky. Celebrate these veterans this Veterans Day and thank them for their bravery, courage and their commitment to America and for our safety and freedom.

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I was wondering if any place out there would give credit to the people with bad credit for car loans.

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People need to understand that there is a huge difference between a so-called therapy dog and a service dog. Therapy dogs are just plain dogs with no special training. I’ve witnessed some very unruly therapy dogs in public places and am very surprised at their behavior. Service dogs go through rigorous training before being turned over to someone who really needs them. There is a big difference. I vote therapy dogs out. To me it’s a sneaky way to get your unruly dog inside a public building where they do not belong. 

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I’d like to thank Jeff Gural from Tioga Downs for making the donation to the Veterans Association. If there were more people like Jeff, maybe the suicide rate for veterans would be cut in half. He is doing a great thing for the Veterans. Thank you Jeff!

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Dental work is extremely expensive for senior citizens and should be covered by Medicare or we need a government run and affordable dental insurance for all that covers at least 50 percent of all dental work. 

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I’m trying to find out some information. Does anybody in Nichols know about who’s trying to buy the four houses on the left coming into Nichols right next to the post office? I understand that Aldi’s is trying to buy those properties on West River Road by Johnson Street. If anybody has any information, please respond to this column.

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We are newer participants of the museum’s O’Tannebaum. Wow! The museum provided us the tree and we decorated it for the silent auction. It’s not too late for you to join in on the fun! I encourage local businesses, schools, sports teams, nonprofits and families to call the museum at 687-2460 and be a part of this display and fundraiser that kicks off when the downtown merchants’ holiday season does on Nov. 10.

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Does anyone have an Amplified HD Digital Antenna that supports 4K 1080P with a range of 65-80 miles that works in the Village of Owego?

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It is a FANTASTIC idea to have curbside leaf pick-up in the village of Owego, saving big old plastic bags causing unnecessary pollution. However, there seems to be some thoughtless folks around who put them out just before Halloween at a time when pick-up is not scheduled. Leaf piles + kids = kids jumping in the piles. I have witnessed small children breaking free of their parent(s) to wade through or jump in these tempting heaps – so dangerous in the dark and near traffic. May I suggest scheduling a leaf pick-up on Halloween in the future, at least when it falls on a weekday.

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Expand the tax base so the property taxes are spread out more? Nope. Increase the population so more money is spent in Owego, helping the businesses and increasing the sales tax revenue? Of course not. Way to go Owego.

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I am looking for someone to shovel my walk this winter in the Village of Owego, Please respond to this column if you are interested. 

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To the crew that repaired the ditch across the newly paved 38B, thanks for the speed bump. 

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The U.S. government thinks the new requirements to get your license will make the country more secure. Everything on the list of approved documentation can be forged, try again, think DNA, retinal scans or fingerprints. I don’t feel any safer; I didn’t have to show any proof when I got my duplicate Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate.

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Some clarification and facts regarding therapy animals, as at least one person did not read the entire commentary and took points out of context: it was SUGGESTED therapy animals be kept out of GROCERY STORES where there are FOODS commonly ingested RAW. This was based on a NATIONALLY published article based on RECENT RESEARCH conducted by John’s Hopkins University, one of the most prestigious medical research facilities ON THE PLANET. The bacteria found was MRSA; less than 2 percent of the HUMAN population carries it, and it is most certainly NOT spread by humans being careless with their bathroom habits. We are not talking about a tummy ache here; MRSA KILLS 11,000 people in this country annually. U.S. health officials AND the CDC agree that, “While therapy animals can be beneficial, they also carry risk.” I know of nothing in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights or any other document or law gives anyone the “right” to endanger lives. The comment asked, in light of this new research, to have some consideration and try to find an alternative to exposing an animal to raw food in a GROCERY store.

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I wish the code officer would get in touch with Exxon / Mobil and have them clean up and cut the weeds out front.