My family members own more than 300 acres between Stuffle St. and Shillinger/Old Siek road. The people on Shillinger/Old Siek road are also Mrs. Ferran’s “neighbors”. The “neighbors” that Mrs. Ferran was referring to were those who were living or owning property near to or adjacent to McDermott’s parcel along road known as Shillinger Rd and/or Old Siek Road. ALL of those “neighbors” of Mrs. Ferran were in attendance at the meeting and ALL of those neighbors of Mrs. Ferran were opposed to the deceptive and dangerous proposal made by McDermott.

For many years, Mrs. Reardon was the next-door neighbor of Mr. McDermott when he lived on Stuffle St. Mr. McDermott built a house on Shillinger/Old Siek road and then when it did not sell on the market, he moved into it.

The Town of Brunswick used to maintain a landfill along Old Siek Road. It closed in the 1990s. Mrs. Reardon should know the difference between Stuffle St. and Shillinger/Old Siek Rd. Obviously, the Reardons don’t consider people who own land on Shillinger/Old Siek Rd to be her “neighbors” in the biblical sense (“Do unto thy neighbor only as thy would have thy neighbor do unto you”). But Mrs. Ferran does.

For the record, I am a successful deer hunter, and I take deer and turkey mostly by stalking them. I have also trailed and expelled many trespassing hunters from my family’s lands between Stuffle St. and Shillinger/Old Siek in Grafton, many of whom used to trash our land leaving “Stewarts” sandwich wrappers, cigarette packs, cups and other trash all over. Over many decades while my family owned this land the trespassers harvested dozens of deer, yet not even one of these trespassers ever offered my family so much as a venison steak. I am not anti-hunter, only anti-trespasser. I have largely replaced the disrespectful trespassers with people who are respectful and appreciative. I am in fact a self-defense and property-rights advocate who practices citizen’s arrest. And I have lawfully citizen-arrested at gun point and by other lawful means (e.g., pepper spray) several persons that I found committing offenses (e.g., ATV operation) on my family’s land in Grafton. I also arrested a person that I found engaged in Burglary, and I testified before the Grand Jury and he was indicted of that crime plus the crime of Robbery. I am not “anti-gun” in any sense. That does not mean that I want to suffer living under the risk of lead bullets flying wild from a makeshift shooting range/gun-store a relatively short distance from my house and property.

My understanding of McDermott’s original plan was to use the “trees” standing on my family’s land and/or other people’s land as a backstop for the bullets fired from his shooting range. Currently, it is my understanding that Mr. McDermott is making arrangements to put his shooting range underground in a different town. Good riddens!

I appreciate that JoAnn states she’s not the clear on gun control laws, because she’s being honest and they were not written for the faint of heart. Those of us who are members of local gun clubs have access to people who can understand these laws, which boil down to one thing, which is limiting our rights as American citizens to bear arms. Anyone tried to buy any ammo recently? How about visiting Steve’s Gun Shop in 43, a locally known and respected gun dealer. He’s out of stock of almost everything folks. How about getting something for your .223? Good luck.

I understand that the Eastwick Press is the only news around here, but I must question the fact that Kieron continues to editorialize without reporting the facts. At some point, hopefully the Eastwick Press will realize that a newspaper doesn’t exist for one reporter to state his off the cuff views, i.e., Berlin should worry about sidewalks not politics when referring to gun control.

And Kieron, I do know this, it’s really none of your business what our town resolution is unless you live in our town and vote, like we do.

Julie Harrell
Cherry Plain NY
photonicgirl@hotmail.com

Who decided this anyway? Is there any opportunity for locals to speak up besides the the Eastwick Press Comment Section? BTW, thank you Eastwick Press for providing this venue for public comment.

Julie Harrell
photonicgirl@hotmail.com