Readers' Column for the week of March 14, 2010

Wendy Post
Published: March 13, 2010

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You may call the Owego Pennysaver Readers' Column at 687-2378 24-hours a day, or e-mail comments toreaderscolumn@owegopennysaver.com. We reserve the right to revise or reject any message.

The public hearing on the Jackson's Farm Motocross Track had been tentatively scheduled for March 16, but when I called the town last week for confirmation, I was told that the town has not yet received the necessary materials, and so the meeting has been pushed back to April 6. The issue is scheduled to be addressed at the meeting on Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall located at 2354 State Rte. 434 in Apalachin.

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I have a NIKE autographed baseball glove from 1919 and I can't quite make out the signature, but I think it's Babe Ruth. Or maybe Rollie Fingers? I just can't tell. So if anyone can help me out on this, please leave your number in this column.

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I was shocked to see some of the new trees on Main Street, between Central Avenue and Liberty Street, pruned by someone who did a number on those trees. I don't think it was the village or NYSEG, and do not know why anyone would butcher those young trees that way. I think there is a village tree commission that looks after trees and suggest that if your trees need pruning, or you have a question about them that you call the village for advice and help.

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I hope all those planning to vote YES to put out more money from our pockets towards a new fire building realize they're practicing socialism. Therefore, they should have no problem supporting single payer health insurance and Medicare for all. Each person putting money in the pot to contribute to the greater good, even if you personally don't benefit right away - if ever.

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Must be the Mayor and his party are feeling the heat from the voters. They have resorted to false claims and negative campaigning in a last attempt to remain in office. I'm confident the voters will see right through the smoke and mirrors and right the ship on election day.

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As I drive around the village awash in a "sea of red", I have to wonder if it is a foreteller of things to come - things we should all be concerned about. Are we really going to allow our emotions to rule and elect an inexperienced, untested, unknown party to take over the reigns of village management? Haven't we learned anything from our prior episodes about floating in "red ink"? We presently have an administration that knows what they are doing, has taken the village in a direction that makes it a great place to live, and has demonstated a professional approach to village management. Are we going to throw that all away to satisfy a few disgruntled firemen? "The red flag is waving!"

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Look out Berkshire! They’re voting on a new Fire Station – AGAIN! And if it is approved, your taxes will go up! We can't afford this!

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To the individual that needed assistance with setting up their QuickBooks. and to the person that was looking for help with the Internet Connection - I am currently a QuickBooks Pro Advisor and I am more than willing to give assistance. I am also available to assist the person that needed help with their Internet. Call KIT Technologies 229-3875.

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I think it is unfortunate the Mayor and his party have infused a blatant lie into their election propaganda. I requested and read the Citizens Party platform. Nowhere is "public administrator" mentioned. Our "amazing" Mayor is being very dishonest.

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I heard the Mayor say the Village stops at the underpass. So much for the Flats, Upper North Avenue and Dean Street. Remember that when you vote Tuesday. I would also like to know what happened to the 800 signatures on petitions that were submitted to the Village. They all went in the garbage because the Mayor and Village Board don't care what we think I'm told.

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OK, Coolest Little Town in America CRITIC. We don't want you in our beautiful town / village. I have a suggestion - Move. We'll throw a huge party when you leave!

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This Village election is pretty simple. If you want to continue to pay higher taxes the next two years, not have your voices heard, and be treated like a second class citizen - then vote for the incumbents. If you are tired of paying for the incumbents' tax increases, want your elected officials to actually listen to what you have to say, and be treated with the respect and dignity you deserve as citizens (not just around election time) then vote for the new party.

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I have a gripe with all the train tracks in our region - you never see any trains moving people or raw materials. I have had to get my car aligned several times this winter because the tracks are heaving to and fro due to the weather. You can barely see some of the tracks and my car takes quite a pounding by going over them every day and night. I wouldn't mind so much if the trains provided a valuable service, but they don't. Do we really need all the train tracks in our area, or are we afraid we will put all of our car mechanics out of business if we repair the roads?

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Found: Black and white tuxedo cat in the area of Youngs Road and Day Hollow. If he is yours, please call at 223-4189.

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I really like reading the readers column and I would also describe my self as an addict. Something has been puzzling me for a long time. I was in Syracuse and a Laundromat had its sign installed upside down. There was no mistaking that this was intentional. Do you think this is a sign of gang or drug activity like the sneakers over the wire? It is the only reason I can see. If I am right we need to make sure that this trend does not infect our area in the future.

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I am trying to figure out why some people are so opposed to hunting the deer. I know that many deer will starve over a long winter if the herd is not thinned down. Why should I have to be exposed to hitting them with my truck if someone can actually get some benefit from hunting them. I think the argument about posted land is not correct either. Deer don't know if land is posted or not, so how can you say this is a factor? Get your story straight and eat your lunch before you write in again.

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Brianna here again for "Angels over Iraq & Afghanistan". I would just like to remind anyone who might be interested in donating to our yard sale that we are hoping to get items sooner rather than later so we have time to get them marked for our May 8 sale. We have had some really nice donations and would like to thank everyone who has donated so far. If you have something to donate, call 687-5682 for directions, or visit

www.angelsoveriraq.org . We truly appreciate all the support from this great community!

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I encourage all the Village voters to remember on Tuesday what this Mayor and Board have done to the volunteers, how they have mistreated us at meetings, and how they have refused to listen to the will of the people. We need a change Owego.

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I have decided to throw my support in the upcoming Village of Owego elections to Mr. Arrington and the Concerned Taxpayers Party. I think it's great having elected officials who can take care of everything without any public input. It takes so much stress out of my life! I elect my officials to take care of and worry about these things. I can't understand why people care so much about transparent and open government; and why they can't just trust their elected leaders. These people that want decision making to be out in the open are a bunch of paranoid nuts! Let's keep Arrington around so that we don't have to worry, think, or know what's going on with our Village.

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Ok, the reason why some people say Hot chocolate and some say Hot Cocoa is because, Cocoa is the historic name and chocolate comes for the Cocoa tree: Theobroma cacao and has been used as far back the Mayans and Aztecs. Cocoa was also used as an early ingredient in Coca-Cola, used medicinally and in an early unrefined form, cocaine was made from it. As far as you not liking to use the term "Cocoa" because of the silent "A", maybe you don't like the words "Boat", "Coat" or "Float" as they all have a silent "A" as well. Ping Pong and table tennis are the same thing - it depends on where you are from. Like a lot of words in this area we say Subs, where as in other parts of the country they are called PO' boy, hero, hoagie, grinder and so on. And as far as foreigners trying to learn the language, in Spanish there are many ways to say "You", it all depends on who you are talking to. It's odd that people seem to think this stuff is important enough to complain about in the Readers' Column. They are probably the same people that complain about losing their car in the Walmart parking lot and think the store should have GPS systems to help them. By the way, Iphone has an APP for that.

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I find it sad that the Mayor says a vote for him is a "pro" vote for the fire department in his radio ads. What a joke. Ask any of the long time Owego firefighting families. This Mayor and the Village Board's actions AGAINST the fire department is a crying shame. Let's put people on the Village Board who truly support the Owego Fire Department!

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My boyfriend is a volunteer fireman with Owego. I heard the lies the Mayor put on the radio about how the termination of firefighters is good for the department. I would like the public to know that the truth is - Mayor Arrington and the Village government have torn the Owego Fire Department apart with their bogus rules and petty attacks on the people we depend on to protect us!

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There will be a vote on March 16 for the renovation of the Apalachin Fire Station. The building committee provided a very informative presentation including a video that demonstrated the station deficiencies. To my surprise, the project will actually cost 15 percent less compared to just a few years ago. For homes assessed at $99, 000, the annual cost is $6.41 / month. OUR Apalachin FD does so much for OUR community and the FD members do not expect a paycheck or even a Thank You. There are many hidden costs to the Apalachin FD members. The cost is lost sleep, lost family time, lost holidays and many hours at the Apalachin Fireman’s Field Days. The Apalachin FD shows professionalism and compassion. When a home is on fire, there is a medical emergency, an accident or natural disaster, the Apalachin FD members are there to assist us all.

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A GREAT big "THANK YOU!" to Judge Dave Boland, Shawn Fahey, and, above all, Jerry Gowan. They are the best neighbors a girl could ever ask for! These are the gentlemen that make Owego the most WONDERFUL little town! You truly are the very BEST!

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Trustee Adam Jung comments on the state of the Village? Isn't he the one who has missed 80 percent of the Village Board meetings?

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Did you know that you can get your GED in Owego. Call 763-3638 there is someone there that will give you information.

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Would anyone in the Halstead development like to try to form neighborhood garage sales? Call 687-0716.

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This is for the person talking about hot chocolate and cocoa. There is a difference, hot chocolate is made with the envelope of brown powder that is mixed in hot water. Cocoa is made with cocoa powder, milk and a sweetener (sugar, maple syrup, molasses, or whatever you like). It's like jelly and jam. Jam has fruit in it, and jelly does not. So there is a difference.

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To all you people that are against gas drilling - how do you heat your homes, heat your meals and run your BBQ's? Where do you think the gas comes from. What would you do if all the gas drilling companies pulled out and told you to cook your meals, heat your homes, and light your way by torch light - if you can find the wood to do it.

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I would like to thank John's Fine Foods for allowing us to put a baby bottle in their store for Life Choices. We received $94.07. Thank you very much.

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Will someone please tell me what is going on with the Census Bureau? It seems one hand doesn't know what the other hand is doing. It's no wonder this country is in such a slump. I received census forms to fill out. However, I guess I didn't fill them out soon enough, so they sent me more. At this point I still didn't get them filled out soon enough, so they called me on the phone and I gave them all the necessary information over the phone and they told me to throw the forms away that I had received. However, yesterday I received a letter in the mail that my forms would be received in about a week. Now you tell me that this country knows what the [blank] it's doing!

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Apalachin Fire District Residents - If you would like a wake up call, ask your fire commissioner how much of your taxpayer dollars are spent on emergency medical services, not counting ambulances and equipment - with no cap in sight!

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I want to thank the mayor for the approach he is taking regarding the truck traffic and stuff that's going through the village. It was a very nice presentation he made on television, and it shows that he's stepping up to the plate and eliminating all these trucks that are causing so much havoc to our streets. I want to thank him again for stopping that traffic.

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Look out Berkshire! They're voting on a new fire station again! If it's approved, your taxes will go up. We can't afford this.

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Let me start by saying I'm a Village of Owego resident. I think the mayor and the board have done a great job under very trying circumstances. The personal vendetta against him and the current campaign comes from a few people who feel they should be running the village and the fire department as their own. They are upset because Owego is running by the rules, not by personal whim. The fire department is not a social club, it is there to fight fires and handle emergency calls of the ambulance. The firemen that live out of the area have no business on the rolls. The firemen who don't have the proper training, don't have any business being at calls. They endanger themselves and the trained volunteers. There is a need for non-voting members to hold fundraising, so open a non-active membership to these people - similar to an auxiliary.

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If you are on oxygen support and use a nasal cannula, I have five that are still in packages to give away. Leave a number in this column.

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To the person who called in about people destroying another person's life by their words, I've been on the receiving end of some very harsh words of rejection over the past few years. All you can do is try to make things right with that sort of person. If you are rejected again and again, at least you know you tried as best you could to make it right. At some point you just have to give up trying and pray that their hearts soften over time. But I know exactly how you feel. It does devastate your whole life. Especially when it's someone you love very much. You have been in my prayers since I read your comment last week. God Bless you.

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I'm calling about the teacher's salaries. First of all, they are not overpaid. I'm not a teacher by the way. You deal with kids that are supposed to be our future, and you're trying to teach them. They start out with a decent wage, but they've been to college and they have huge college bills. The administrators are overpaid, but leave the teachers alone. They deserve every penny they're getting.

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Lost on Feb. 28 a pair of brown (with blue and purple accents) female glasses in a butterfly case somewhere in areas of Owego First Church Of The Nazarene, Pizza Hut (Owego) and CVS (Owego). Please call 687-5492.

Note from the Editor: Due to the overwhelming number of calls received, and the number of Letters to the Editor that have been arriving, the Readers’ Column was limited to comments (chosen randomly) for this week’s publication. Please call again to have your voices heard in this column. We appreciate your input into this forum.

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