Readers’ Column for the week of November 10, 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. 

A children’s two-wheel bike was found on Route 434 between Owego and Apalachin. Call 765-5489 and describe.

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To the person who is worried about plastic bags for her dog do; maybe the solution would be to have the dog go on their own property.

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Does the town of Owego have an animal control officer? If so, why does no one return calls or respond to messages left on their answering machine? 

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Some churches aren’t just sitting there and reading the bible and that’s about it. Not the one I go to. They read the bible, yes, but they also take time to greet each other and see how each other is doing, and they also sing hymns with guitars and drums. 

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It may have rained here in Nichols but we did have trick-or-treaters and there was an awesome policeman driving up and down the streets slowly with his lights flashing playing ghost busters! Whoever this amazing policeman was, thank you very much, you made a lot of people’s nights even though it was raining! Thank you again!

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This is the old lady calling again. Can you believe with this horrible storm one has the nerve to call in about a barking dog that is probably scared to death also. What the hell is this world coming to? 

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May God bless all veterans this Veterans Day and every day! I can’t imagine being in a forward unit. Just being away from my hometown and family would be enough to kill me! God bless all of our vets and their loved ones! Amen.

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Happy Birthday to all the men and women of the United States Marine Corps. Since Nov. 10, 1775 they have been protecting America’s freedom.

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I believe it’s Barack Obama’s fault we are not getting a Chick-fil-A. 

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It’s nice the see the Nichols American Legion hasn’t changed much in the 40 years I’ve lived in town. But I guess they are in charge of the veterans flag that they’re starting to hang up in town and I’ve been trying for two months to get someone to contact me about purchasing a flag for my father but I can’t get anyone to call back. 

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This is to the person that was looking for a Silver Sneakers exercise program. I did some research for you. There is one called 434 Fitness, just past the 4-Corners in Vestal. They offer afternoon lessons but you would have to call. The number is 239-5010. I hope this helps you.

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I am renovating and have appliances in great condition for free if you pick them up. They are on a convenient ground floor location in downtown Owego. Phone or text to (607) 972-5953.

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It appears there was good voter turnout Tuesday, considering it was an “off” year; turnout for 2020 should be outstanding. Thus far, those of us in Tioga County have not had to endure long waits. Let’s all do what we can, as responsible voters, to see that continues so we can all get on with our day, to make sure everyone can vote and so results can be delivered as soon as possible. Also, please consider taking advantage of early voting. If you think you will be out of town or cannot get to your polling place or go to early voting, consider taking advantage of absentee ballots, which have been available for decades. Also, make sure all your information is correct and on file with the Board of Elections well in advance of the election to avoid unnecessary hold ups or confusion. If you are not sure, call or check online. Don’t take a chance and wait until the last minute.

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Mead Road in Owego is in terrible shape. The road surface has more water running down it than the ditches do, making it a rutted mess. Sluice pipes are plugged and roadside weeds are never mowed. The road has been this way for many years. Fortunately some Mead Road residents use their own bulldozers and rakes to make the road passable. Calling the Owego highway department does about as much good as trying to call Mars. No one answers and no one calls back. Even worse is Hakes Road. It should be renamed Hakes cow path or Hakes creek bed. Granted it is a seasonal use road, but it has had no maintenance in at least ten years and is now impassable for most vehicles. The residents of Mead and Hakes roads pay a LOT in town and county taxes, but we sure don’t get much in return.

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There is a Chick-fil-A in Syracuse, one in Albany, and many in New York City, so the contention that they are avoiding New York is false.

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Ban leaf blowers? Really? Well, that’s it, the complaint department, or reader’s column, has finally hit the bottom of the barrel. What, has it been a slow week? No cats walked across your driveway? No kids having fun? Don’t worry you’ll have the snowplows to complain about and grace us all with your insights. Morons!

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To the person who asked about Silver Sneakers programs in Owego, there is one at the First Presbyterian Union Church at 90 North Ave. Call (607) 759-8957 for information. Colleen, the instructor, is a lot of fun!

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It is getting more and more dangerous to be out driving in this day and age. When are people going to pay attention to speed limit signs? If it says 35 mph don’t do 70. If you come to the crest of a knoll or hill, stay on your own side of the road, not in the middle or on the wrong side. There are lines on the road surface for a reason, use them the way you are supposed to. Stay on your own side. People are also engrossed in their cell phones and radio these days, so USE COMMON SENSE WHEN DRIVING.

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I have been trying to find someone to investigate a dog neglect and possibly cruelty case. I live in the town of Owego. Who should I call? 

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Someone posted a comment that Chick-Fil-A will not open any restaurants in New York due to high taxes. This is not true. According to their website, they have four locations in upstate New York (Latham, Cicero, Greece, and Cheektowaga), ten locations in New York City and three on Long Island. I ate there once out of curiosity, and I do not know what the big deal is.

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For six months NYSEG has been billing me in such a manner that one month the bill will be $100 and the next $200 and the next $100 and so on. They are estimating usage rather than using actual usage so they can reduce their costs. Over the past 20 years my usage has never had such variability and they know it. I tried to call them and “The current wait time is two hours.” Call the emergency number to help find a point of contact and they hang up. They stopped preventative maintenance years ago and WE will pay for that big time in the future. Base electric rates are 1) commercial – 5 cents, 2) industrial – 2 cents, and 3) residual – 9 cents per kilowatt-hour. Being New York State utility rates are the highest in the nation, perhaps they might answer the phone. The NYSEG CEO makes $10,000,000 a year. You exist for NYSEG’s convenience, not they for you. 

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Soon the OACSD budget process will start. Today the Board of Education will profess it can’t estimate how much funding is required for the coming year. Knowing what will be required is only possible once it is known how much can squeezed out of property taxpayers. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? HOW MUCH DO YOU HAVE? This is ludicrous. It is known how much the teacher and staff salaries, already the highest in the Southern Tier, shall be increased, as well as other labor. Pension and healthcare costs can safely be estimated. This is 90 percent of the budget and the remaining expenditures can also be estimated safely. Assume this past year that OACSD truly needed a 3.8 percent tax increase, but they were only allowed the 2.8 percent. If the extra 1 percent was truly required “for the children,” then the District was obligated to propose such increase and get the required by a super majority vote of 60 percent. If this was justified, then it should have been approved. This is impossible due to the BOE’s policy to always increase compensation beyond all rational measure. With 99.999 percent probability, plan on the BOE raising taxes by exactly the amount allowed by the property tax cap. This is absolutely necessary “for the children” and 100 percent false. There is nothing to lose by trying financial planning? Private enterprise has to plan / estimate their revenues and expenditures, which are far more variable than taxpayer funded organizations. What happens should the District’s estimates be off? Use the reserves (savings), which are already at the maximum that New York State will allow. That is why they exist! Otherwise give it back to the taxpayers! At OACSD tax increases provide nothing for students.  

National Political Viewpoints

Hey you people, do you see the similarity between Adolf Hitler and Donald Trump? If you don’t, you’re blind as a bat! If he does steal this next election again he will try to get around the constitution and try to run again the following time because he’ll be so far entrenched in his criminal actions he’ll have control over our government like a dictator. Even some republicans behind closed doors are saying he’s acting like a dictator. Donald Trump should be locked up. He’s a rapist and a criminal and a thief.

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I find it very strange that not one single republican congressman would answer this question. Do you think it’s acceptable for a president to go overseas and get a foreign country involved in our political affairs in exchange for dirt on Biden? We will give you military aid, other than that you will never get military aid. If you think that’s proper give me an answer. 

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I can no longer remain with the hammer and sickle republicans with Moscow Mitch at the helm. Vote democrat.

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Trump attended a martial arts exhibition in New York City and he was booed big time. He was also at the Washington Nationals World Series game and again he was booed there. Now, what does that tell you? I believe most Americans can’t stand his guts. 

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I watched President Trump last night rally in Kentucky for the election today for Tom Bevan to be reelected, a republican. How do we get President Trump to come to New York State for a rally for us to vote republican for our governor? Cuomo must be defeated; he is taking New York State down in flames. Vote republican.

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I heard about an incident that happened at the National Washington’s game. When they showed President Trump on TV there were people that booed and yelled lock him up, lock him up. I have never seen such hatred and disrespect for a president in my life! Anyone who is a true patriot would have wanted to give those people that yelled lock him up a smack. I know I would have wanted to.

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Would one reader call in and tell me where this big recession is that the democrats said we are heading for? They wanted it, but it is no good for the American people. The stock market is on fire because of President Trump. There are more jobs out there than we have people to fill them. This is unheard of! The man is remarkable.

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Hey Trumpsters, don’t worry. Trump got a note from his podiatrist exempting him from impeachment.

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I see there is another senator calling for Civil War if Trump is impeached. I am ashamed of Tioga County for voting for that imbecile. Sixty percent of the voters in this county want him to lead the charge into a Civil War where your children and grandchildren will have to protect themselves. Is this what you want? Is this what you asked for when you voted for Teflon Don? He is a con man and he has conned you real good. Tax cuts – for the rich. Mexico paying for the wall – not a chance. Best military in the world – ask your military son or daughter. Where has our infrastructure gone? Why are roads and bridges being allowed to crumble? No help for Puerto Rico. Now there is no help for the devastating fires in California. Do you have someone living there? He bows down to dictators and pushes our allies away. You really want this for our country? The racism, hatred, bigotry and greed have gotten out of control all because people, like you, believed that bigot. Shame on you.

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What’s dividing the country, and threatening the legitimacy of the political process, is that so many people who know better are pretending, for selfish reasons and in the face of steadily mounting evidence, that the president is not a criminal.

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I wonder how many times a day Lindsay Graham and Mitch McConnell look at their feet each day.

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What a hoot. President Trump entered the fray saying he would build a wall on our southwestern border to keep out illegal immigrants, drugs and crime. Don’t look now, but the flow of illegals has slowed to a trickle. What’s stopping them? The Mexican National Guard, mostly. Who’s paying them – Mexico! There’s the win. President Trump originally said Mexico would pay for the wall, and look, they ARE! 

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I am one of the few people that probably laugh most of the time when reading this column. Not only is the Republican Party full of hypocrites, they also seem to be quite comfortable acting like clowns. Let me be straight, I am an Independent that was a Republican until 2008. I then noticed a change to money rather than the people. I see the Republican Party, especially the ones supposedly doing the work of the people, trying to polish the proverbial (rhymes with bird) every single day. They have gone from the whistleblower is a liar to complaining about the process they themselves have structured and used, Benghazi ring any bells? I even went so far as to write my Representative about brotherhood with the Kurds and got the usual thing back about being inundated with emails and he would get back to me. This representative needs to be voted out of office as he is far from a problem solver and part of the problem. The Democrats have finally gotten the majority in the house after years of Republican obstructionism; even Moscow Mitch admitted it. The Democrats in the House are doing their jobs, even with the added work of an impeachment inquiry, notice inquiry. Trump has finally screwed himself through his actions and his very words. The Republicans are trying to polish that (bird). The entertainment keeps coming. Impeach the crooked Russian loving fool and let’s get on with our small existence.  

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Lindsay Graham is refusing to hear the evidence in question. States he doesn’t want anything to do with it. He is a disgrace to his position and the country. If he is refusing to do his job as head of the judicial committee he should retire and let someone else step in.