Readers’ Column for the week

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. 

In case you missed it, the Town of Owego held a public hearing on March 5 to consider overriding the Tax Cap. Eight residents were present at the meeting; three residents spoke, all three opposed the Town overriding the Tap Cap. All three residents spoke of difficulties finding out about the Public Hearing. According to the Town Supervisor, the announcement of the Public Hearing was placed in Sunday’s Press and Sun Bulletin and on the Town’s website. No vote was taken on the override. The Supervisor stated the town would “not vote until we feel the need to.” 

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Appreciate Village of Newark Valley taxes going down! I still think they are too high, but down is better than up. Let’s keep the momentum going. Every dollar spent should be scrutinized and every process should be analyzed! Don’t forget to come out to vote for one new board member on Tuesday, March 19 at the municipal building, or Post Office. It’s only one, but it’s a start. Does not matter who you vote for, just come VOTE! We do need some new ideas, new blood! Only we can make a difference on how our village is run, how our tax dollars are spent and try to minimize future tax increases. 

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The Newark Valley food pantry would like the people in the 13811 area know that they will be open the third Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon, along with Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 4 p.m. The pantry is located at the Methodist Church of Newark Valley.

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Candor needs a grocery store! WHY not get ALDI to come to town!

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Please, can’t someone do something about the constant piles of cow manure dumped on the road on Catatonk Hill and onto Route 96? Can’t the DEC do something? This is getting ridiculous!

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The Village of Newark Valley has a new board member election on Tuesday, March 19 at the Municipal Building. Please come out and support your candidate. It’s the only way we can bring change to our local government. We need people that do not mind rocking the boat, that will stand-alone in there beliefs. 

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Let’s put an end once and for all to the petty pool/cat commentaries. I have never encountered a smelly cat; I cannot say the same for many other mammals, birds, reptiles commonly used as companions for humans; in fact, there are some pretty smelly humans out there. So as far as I can tell, this prejudice has little to do with the supposed issue. Points to consider: there is no law against owning a pool. There are laws regarding fencing for in-ground. A responsible pool owner takes reasonable precautions against wild animals, domestic animals and children, etc., getting into the pool, and when not in use, a cover would keep it clean which would be an advantage to himself and his family and friends who use it. There is no law against owning a cat. A responsible cat owner neuters their pet, makes sure they have their rabies shots, and provides food, water, and a clean and warm place to sleep. This limits their desire to wander away from home. It is best to keep them indoors. Any pet can slip out a door by accident. Let’s “live and let live”, lose the useless pointless anger, which only harms your own health, and put that time and energy into something constructive, for pity’s sake! Life is short! Grow up!

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How many from last year’s graduating class from 2018 received a thank you for the gift they gave them either written or in person. I have yet to receive a thank you from the person I gave a gift to. I was wondering what’s going on with today’s kids. They don’t send thank you notes out or walk over and say thank you for the wonderful gift, even if they didn’t like it!

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The dashboard warning light in your car doesn’t necessarily mean you should panic. Mechanics can convince you that it is serious and they must fix it right away. Often the light is triggered by a momentary signal that will go away after you stop the engine and restart it. If the mechanic says it is serious, get a second opinion; just as a medical diagnosis, get a second opinion.

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I wanted to thank the Up The Creek owner for making the windows so nice in her store. They really brighten up that corner of Owego. They are very pretty, also I went in the store and the inside is as nice as the window. People in Owego should check it out. It’s a treasure in Owego. 

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Last Thursday the Oscar Mayer Wiener car was at Walmart. That’s the second time I’ve seen it. The first time I saw it was in the 70’s at the Sayre Super Duper store, that was a while back. 

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This is in regard to the fire station in Owego. What a disaster! What happened to the $10 million that Cuomo left for the revitalization of Owego? Somebody better do something with that fire station! 

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There’s a new scam in town. A person claims to be from the Department of Social Security and thinks there is a problem with your card; it is being destroyed, for more information press 1. The sheriff’s department says yes, this is a scam. So beware!

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The Newark Valley food pantry is now open every third Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Clients may visit only once a month and do it on regular pantry hours or do it on Saturday. 

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I’ve been doing some history on the old Congregational Church on West Creek Road in Newark Valley. Any information would be helpful if you know of contact people or if you have any information on the church. Please leave a contact or information that would lead us in the right direction. 

National Political Viewpoints

Unlike many of the President’s early supporters, I am not blind to all of the recent revelations. Leading the lifestyle he did left Donald Trump very vulnerable to extortion and blackmail. I am concerned with his relationship with Vladimir Putin and his habit of surrounding himself with some very unsavory people, especially his son-in-law. Democrats have every right and duty to investigate him to the fullest; he is, after all, President of the United States.

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Taxes are one of the few certainties in life – but they do not have to be a great burden. From the checkout counter and your pocket book to the 1040 form due every April; this is what you are paying in taxes and where New York is ranked out of 50 states. Not surprised? And Andrew Cuomo wants to do for our country what he has done to New York. Ranked 1. New York; Taxes paid as percentage of income: 12.7 percent, Income per capita: $64,540 (3rd highest), Income tax collections per capita: $2,345 (the highest), Property tax collections per capita: $2,697 (4th highest), General sales tax collections per capita: $682 (15th lowest).

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The Pro-Life movie “Unplanned” is a life-altering movie about a reenactment of Abby Johnson’s eye-opening journey of the youngest Planned Parenthood clinic director in history, who went from her “my body, my choice” mindset, partaking in over 22,000 abortions, to one of the top anti-abortion advocates in the country and is set to be released March 29 in select theaters. The movie recently received an R-rating due to some of the scenes depicted in the movie; even though a 15-year-old girl can get an abortion without her parent’s permission, but she can’t see this movie without adult supervision. A movie to be seen and shared within and outside of the family, if only for the reality of the truths it presents.

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“America’s global image has hit a 16-year high. Now that’s a very interesting fact and it’s because of President Trump. You’ve got to love the man.” I don’t know where the hell you got this crap from but check your facts; we have become the laughing stock of the world because of him.

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A cruel totalitarian state isn’t far off. Obama weaponized, figuratively and literally, the IRS, Justice Department, EPA, etc. Obama, Hillary, Justice Department, CIA, FBI, DNC, and more attempted a non-violent coup of a duly elected President. New York’s Attorney General Letitia James vowed to investigate Trump, family, and friends until they can leverage someone into false testimony. House Democrats just started the same. Convicted criminal Michael Cohen lies about Trump in order to save his wife. The Justice Department threatens bankruptcy through death by legal fees and/or prosecuting a son, daughter, or wife. Lavrentiy Beria, Stalin’s henchman, said, “Show me the man and I will show you the crime.” Today many New York laws are selectively enforced. The most recent gems, from benevolent Despot Alex Occasional-Cortex, “I’m the Boss now” and vote against me and you go “on a list.” Vote Socialist (Democrat) or she and her thought police will come for you.

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Why can’t Mr. Trump learn to get along with Democrats? He trusts his gut, praises himself and claims to be the great dealmaker. Why would he tear down part of America? He sides with Mr. Putin, Kim Jong Un and the Saudi’s, yet distrusts his intelligent agency and his appointed White House staff. I don’t think he knows what being an American is about. Not the great deal maker to make America great again. Very sad!

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Our president is not interested in anything else except his wall because it’s a monument to himself, just like everything else he built, it’s not for the people – it’s for himself. That’s what I think. 

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I was just wondering if anyone out there knows how much it costs us as taxpayers to send Air Force One all the way to Vietnam for what I see in my old age as something that could’ve been settled with an email or a letter? Thank you for any input. 

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From the day that he was elected I heard the Donald talking about the 2020 election. Now, several years later, one of his followers is having a spasm because someone in another party is talking too soon about the 2020 election. 

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Interesting how historically leaders who felt they were the greatest when at or near the top turn paranoid and started turning on those who from the beginning have helped them achieve their goals. By death, by dishonor, by diatribe, anything sound familiar?

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You’ve got to love the Democrats and their new green deal. They’re going to get rid of almost all cars, trucks, trains, buses, and all airplanes will be gone. Maybe they could use hot air balloons, except you have to have propane to use them. I know, they could use kites. They want to have just healthy foods except big problem, trucks bring foods to stores. Without trucks, no food. They want to retrofit every building over to solar? There are probably 100 million buildings in the U.S.A.! There will be no cops unless they ride bicycles so you are on your own. I can name 100 more; with no way to get to work there would be 50 million jobs less. The cost would not be $93 trillion; it would be at least ten times that. What future! Would you vote for these people? I would not. 

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I give a big loud raspberry to what George Carlin wrote. It’s all a bunch of horse hockey.

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Last week’s caller said Trump is a bully and sets a bad example for their children. I say watch the bully Democrats in any session of Congress, especially when the lawyer Cohen was giving his B.S. testimony. Their Democratic leader, Cummings, was acting like some sort of emperor / dictator. The Democrats are the worst bullies and your children are learning from them. You know it and I know it.

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Someone in the Pennysaver was looking for Trump MEGA hats; you can get them at the flea market on Harrison Avenue in Endicott on Saturday and Sunday. They are open from 8 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m. and they are cheap.

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So Mueller investigation found nothing and the Democrats are not happy. So what do they do? They call for more investigations. Investigations that lead nowhere; that’s all they know. It’s so obvious they do nothing for the American people. Do they even care about the idiots that put them in office? I don’t think so. The 2020 election results will be interesting and I can’t wait to see the looks on the faces of the Democrats when they are all handed huge losses. I hate to rush my life but I can’t wait for the 2020 elections.

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I could hardly believe my eyes what I have been reading in the last few weeks; people who have been looking for Trump 2020 items. Come on; wake up! He is the worst president ever! Two words – dump Trump. 

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I don’t pay much attention to the celebrity culture in general unless one of them decides to say something asinine about politics (which, come to think of it, is pretty regularly), but when the pro-“choice” troll on this page posted a comment regarding pro-lifers, my eyes opened. George Carlin, now deceased, was apparently famous for saying things that other people didn’t dare say. By this I do not mean that he said things that were exceptionally crude. He rants for about ten minutes on how pro-lifers are “stupid, inconsistent, and really, who cares about babies before they’re born any way?” The masochistic crowd goes wild, happily crawling into the gutter to roll in the muck with the estimable Mr. Carlin. It’s always been rather confusing to me why people think celebrity endorsements and opinions should mean anything at all. TV is dedicated to tracking every sordid moment of their empty lives while hanging on to every bit of advice dripping from their Botox-infused lips, and people still seem to think that their opinions on moral matters should be heeded! Seriously: Since when does a group of people most famous for pathetically short marriages, back-to-back rehab stints, rampant promiscuity, and a disconcerting willingness to get naked for the general public have the expertise (or the integrity) to inform us on weighty human rights issues like the rampant killing of pre-born humans in the womb? Did they perhaps bone up on embryology and ethics in between suing for divorce and signing up for the lead role in Nymphomaniacs Part XI?

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Since when can an attorney testify against his client? Whatever happened to attorney- client privilege? What do you do, Democrats, make your own rules? ROAR!

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Mr. Trump says Michael Cohen lies, he’s right. Also, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, Sara Sanders, Mike Pence, Rick Gates, George Papadopoulos, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Donald Jr.; and guess who gets the most Pinocchio’s? You’re right, THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF, Donald J. Trump!

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When Boss Cuomo speaks it is to lay blame. On Sept. 26, 2018, he stated people leave New York due to the weather. On Feb. 18 he squealed that New York’s largest taxpayers are leaving because taxes are too high. This, he says, is all Trump’s fault for limiting the SALT (State [income] And Local [property] Tax) deductible to $10,000. Cuomo is going to right this wrong by suing President Trump and thus change Federal Tax Law. What a pathetic useless idiot’s errand and moronic gesture. That New York has the highest overall basket (income, New York City income, sales, gas, phone, cigar, internet fairness tax, Vaping Health tax, and 100s more) of taxes didn’t make his agenda. Further, he is warning that tax revenues are declining. All this is Cuomo blaming Trump for the property tax increases he is going to force on New Yorkers as he cuts state funding. Altogether now, say, “IT’S All TRUMP’S FAULT.” Can’t fix stupid. In January, economic growth fell down to 0.3 percent. I didn’t here Obama saying, “I did that.” 

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If you think about it, there is NOTHING about Socialism that is natural. It flies in the face of most human behavior, desires, etc. It has to be FORCED on people. Don’t believe it? Ask folks in Cuba, Venezuela, China, North Korea, and East Germany (before the wall fell) if that’s not the case. Google it! Stop accepting nonsense!

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If Mr. Trump would become an open book instead of lying all the time, life would be so much easier for him. People, who have nothing to hide, hide nothing. 

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I understand Congressman Jerrold Nadler plans to do a thorough probe of President Trump. I hope he brings a sigmoid scope, as he and his fellow Democrats might find what they are looking for with it! ROAR!