Readers’ Column for the week of May 5, 2019

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. 

Can somebody tell me why the Fire Department in Candor is putting a volleyball court down behind the Candor Legion when they have enough land or in Moyer Park, a lot less geese around? Who is funding this?

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I’m looking for someone who can repair a 40-year-old crochet afghan (granny Squares) in primary colors; if interested, leave a name and phone number in this column.

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One of the worst major roads in Tioga County has to be Route 96B, I drive it from Owego to Ithaca five days a week and the surface condition of this road is ridiculous; especially from Catatonk, from the Tioga County barns to the Iron Kettle Farm area. This road is so washed out and full of deep potholes; and then from Wilseyville, going north to the Tioga / Tompkins County line. Route 96B needs to be planned for some type of resurfacing and NOT just a shovel full of patches; after all the Tioga taxes I pay one would think a major road could be kept up a little more. Funny how when you reach the Tompkins county line on Route 96B it’s as smooth as can be, no comparison.

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To the Mayor and Village board of Newark Valley; I don’t agree with everything that goes on, but the one thing I fully agree with is your efforts and persistence on the “Zombie Properties” that plagues our village. So THANK YOU! It’s blight! We continue to see more and more of these properties. Please remain vigilant on this matter. Everybody that owns real estate in the village should be concerned with this subject because not only does it bring down our property values, it just plain looks terrible. People that might consider living or moving to the village might have a different idea when they drive around and take a look. The code enforcer should also have the full support of the Board, Mayor, and all of the village residents. Thanks goes out to the people that buy and invest money, time, and hard work in some of these homes. 

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This year’s VFW Golf Tournament will be held on Sunday, May 19 at Pheasant Hill Golf Course. The tee time will be 11 with a dinner at the VFW right after the golf tournament. See our ad in this week’s print edition for more information. 

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When there is a cock-a-roach, there is a nest of them around him. Think about it.

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Newark Valley residents – don’t miss the town board meeting on May 21 at 7:15 p.m. The board wants to change the highway superintendent from an elected position to an appointed position. They want to hand pick their own person who will do what they want instead of letting the residents decide between candidates.

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Shame on you New York! Steal, steal, steal, take, take, take, fix, fix, fix, NOTHING! Fix the darn potholes! Let’s go, wake up!

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I see where the Town of Owego has got a couple of roads all worked up. I heard one of the grader operators say all they had to do was roll it and they could black top it. That’s not going to happen. I’ll guess one thing; they won’t put anything on it. That’s not his priority.

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I am in need of an electric wheelchair and am on a fixed income. Call 659-3690 if you can help.

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In response to the person asking about the Bride and Groom of New York – I was on that and married in 1954. 

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This is to the many irresponsible dog owners. Just because you take the dog out back, tie it up, fence it up, whatever you do, doesn’t mean it doesn’t bark. You then take off so you can’t hear the dog barking, but the whole neighborhood can hear the dog barking and you don’t care. Be responsible, the dog is out there barking, and probably with no water or food. Wake up people! Some people should not have animals for the animal’s sake.

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The town of Owego recently announced that there would be no brush pick up this spring. They also announced that the Owego gravel pit is closed and no longer open to the public. Both announcements were made with no notice to the town of Owego taxpayers. As a town of Owego taxpayer who lives in a development, I have nowhere to put my yard waste or brush. The annual brush pickup in the spring and the annual leaf pickup in the fall is something that homeowners like myself count on as well as having the Owego gravel pit available to take our yard waste. If these changes cause you, the homeowner or taxpayer of the town of Owego a hardship, I urge you to call the Town Supervisor’s office at (607) 687-0123, Dept. 7. Ask if the town has an alternative solution. There is a gravel pit on Pennsylvania Avenue in Apalachin; will that be open to the public in lieu of the Owego gravel pit being closed? Plan to attend the next town meeting on May 7. These changes are going to force homeowners to turn to illegally dumping or burning their yard waste. The burn ban will end on May 14. New York State has a permanent ban on burning leaves. I worry that as more homeowners start burning there will be a rise in out of control fires that the town fire departments will need to respond to. 

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So the commercial comes on – Freedom Choice is a Medicaid program for children to be paid when they care for their parents after they have some type of surgery. The woman in the commercial opted for this program as she had surgery six months ago. So I ask you, what surgery requires six months of recuperation time? Talk about milking the Medicaid system! Children do not need to be paid to help their parents; that’s a ridiculous idea. Medicaid needs to be looked at because we have a lot of wasted hard paying taxpayer money going into this program. 

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There are many people who get Social Security who have not paid into it. Many of them are ethnic groups, and congress gave them full Social Security or other payments, that’s from our Federal Government. Get rid of those people who shouldn’t be in their and there will be enough money left over. 

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I’m calling in to the person who had a father who hated him and mother that loved him. Well, guess what, you have a Father in heaven that loves you very much. Don’t you ever give up! You just rely on the Lord and read John 3:16. 

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The Owego School District is spending more money than it is taking in. They are way overstaffed and are raising our taxes over 3 percent. Downsizing is the way to go starting with the top. The board and the superintendent are being irresponsible and we are the ones who are going to suffer. 

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I want to say how nice the Coburn Free Library looks! It looks really nice, put together and a late shout out to the Tioga Theater for their festival look at Christmas time. 

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Our beloved State Senator Fred Akshar was in the news about a scandalous affair on Monday, April 29. Freddie has a lot of things in his closet that are starting to come out. 

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Between Sunday, April 7 and Thursday, April 25 I had my Trek Mountain Bike stolen from my garage. I feel very upset about this and I would like it back. Please call me at 687-5854 if you are the thief. If you return it to me I will not press charges. 

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If you were expecting a tax refund and did not receive it, and your take home pay is not higher, I suggest you hire yourself a new accountant.

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Owego School District budget vote is scheduled for May 1 but still haven’t seen any information on it yet. What are they trying to hide this time?

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A real treat, the Sousa Band Concert was fabulous! Every song a memory, such variety and the BU Wind Symphony, what talent you are and Mr. Fabricius’ conducting too! It was a perfect Sunday afternoon. Just know how much we appreciate your work and talent and the joy you gave us.

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We property owners on the top of Evelien Hill Road need some much-needed help from the Town of Candor Highway Department. Last fall’s heavy rainstorms plugged up sluice pipes and washed out large portions of said road. Since then we have been trying to band-aid the road just so it’s passable. Being a seasonable road, not much needed upkeep is ever done. However, we use the road every week and the farmer needs access for his haying season. We pay the same taxes as everyone else, but yet the only service we may get is an occasional road grading. It would be very much appreciated if new larger sluice pipes are put in and the road repaired to a sustainable condition. Hopefully the Candor Highway Department can repair the road as soon as possible. Right now it’s an obstacle course. 

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Wow! Potholes in the pavement! Maybe you could slow down for starters. It certainly is illegal to cross the centerlines and maybe hit someone. You’re going to have a lot more of them; it’s seasonal. I took my eyes off the highway for a few seconds and I hit someone last year. Maybe someone could use sensible driver skills, which is not an issue with most people anymore. They cut corners; they don’t stop at stop signs or anything. Let’s get with it people and get the phone out of your left hand. 

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Here is another straw for the tax serfs. This year the OACSD healthcare insurance costs increased by 10 percent. Being healthcare insurance (Cadillac Plan) is the second largest at $10,000,000 cost element of the budget; this isn’t sustainable. Fully 100 percent of your 3.83 percent property tax increase will fund this. Not a single penny is “for the children.” Being the New York State public employee unions are concerned taxpayers might take note of this explosion and do something before they are reduced from serf to slave, a bill is now before the New York State legislature which would lock-in the lucrative low cost and high benefit healthcare insurance for retirees. The ludicrously generous tax-exempt public pensions are already locked in the New York State Constitution. Now they will lock the healthcare benefits by legislation. This is quite a carve-out for those who are supposed to serve the people rather than have the people serving them. One needs to ask why Senator Fred Akshar is a co-sponsorship of this bill. OACSD still has the highest teacher / faculty salaries, healthcare benefits, and pensions in the Southern Tier. Is it any surprise that Tioga County is losing population faster than all other New York counties except one? This year ask what OACSD is doing to permit affordable public education. 

National Political Viewpoints

For those who sold their souls to the country, William Barr, Rod Rosenstein, Sara Sanders, and many more reminds me of the disciples who betrayed Jesus. Lost all honesty, integrity, and morals. How dare you toss the country to the curb? I hope you sleep well at night with nice warm sheets, full bellies, and lined pockets. Americans will pick up the tab for you because that’s how most of us were raised. You should be totally ashamed.

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Per 60 Minutes, a MEGA amount of drugs are coming from China by U.S. postal service, not Mexico.

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Trump has told over 10,000 lies and yet you Republicans still support him? I can’t wrap that around my brain.

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“Collusion” has no meaning in law. That’s why no “collusion” was found. A conspiracy would have to be found. But conspiracy requires an actual agreement, not just the encouragement and tacit approval that was given. Couple that with the Justice Department’s position that they cannot indict a sitting President or provide detrimental information without an indictment, and one can see it isn’t a clear statement of exoneration.

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Read the Mueller report yourself before commenting. It’ll then allow you to make informed comments.

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“Gulag Archipelago” is about the soviet communist dictatorship, not about socialism.

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It doesn’t matter that a paper is 18-3 with pro-Republican comments. The three proves they are liberally biased. Get it now?

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It’s curious that people forget a very important part of the 2nd Amendment – the opening language; “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State.” Times have changed, and weapons have certainly changed since that language was written. Those of us who favor sensible gun control measures do not want to take away all of your guns. I grew up in a family of hunters, and I believe in a person’s right to own guns – for hunting, for self and property protection, for many reasons. But can’t we agree that the weapons people use today would shock our founding fathers? Can’t we agree that people with mental health issues maybe shouldn’t be allowed to have an Uzi? Can’t we agree that if you are a law abiding citizen you can plan ahead and wait 10 days to get approved for a gun purchase? I do not want to outlaw guns. But if a mentally unstable person had killed your spouse, child or grandchild with a war grade weapon, I assure you that your thoughts would evolve about the second amendment.

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The FBI and Mueller were supposed to be investigating a crime, not looking for a crime, which is not their job. The FISA court was misled. Therefore the whole investigation is invalid! Since when did tax investigation get extended to 10 to seven years? Since when can a lawyer testify against a client? Our whole justice system is corrupt! And Obama is at the top of the stinking heap. ROAR!

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The UN introduced a Resolution regarding rape and reproductive healthcare for victims, it had to be watered down to omit abortion as an option or the U.S. would veto the resolution. Sounds like the U.S. is siding with the church and the idiots that want to control a women’s body; even if it was rape, forcing her to carry an unwanted baby to remind her of the violent act against her.

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You have to laugh. Hillary says that anyone else would have been indicted if his name weren’t President Trump. Hillary? Hillary who has provable decades of illegal shenanigans in her experience category! She should talk. Anyone else would have been behind bars for years by now.

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If Nancy Pelosi were able to get rid of all the guns in our country, then you could sit back and watch Russia, China, Cuba, and North Korea occupy our country. No guns, no safety. 

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Last week’s caller said that Republican Trump supporters are stupid. So far, Trump has beat all the phony charges the liberals could muster up and the liberals keep making more phony charges. Now we know who the stupid ones really are, the liberals. Get it? 

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Democrats are pushing the green deal. What happened to New York City and the seven highest polluted cities in California? Doesn’t look like the green deal is working too well there!

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Trump had over 4,000 lawsuits, half of which he was sued because he wouldn’t take contractors who did work for him. Also, there is a rise in hate crimes since Trump came into office. He sounds like an honest person, don’t you think? 

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If Socialism is so great, then why hasn’t a single migrant caravan headed south to Venezuela? Vote straight Republican.

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So the Democrats will be running on impeachment and higher taxes. Let’s see how that works for them in 2020. 

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There seems to be a lot of violence coming out of California. Now correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that’s a sanctuary city and I’m sure crime rates in sanctuary cities are higher than they should be if any crimes should be committed at all, which it shouldn’t.

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Why do we owe the migrant caravans asylum? Let them go to Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Valenzuela, Brazil, let them go south!

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