Dear editor:
About a year ago our son (Dalton Stevens) was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called MECP2 duplication syndrome. There are only two hundred known cases in the United States. It is a progressive disorder which causes a lot of respiratory infections, and it becomes life threatening after a while.
Recently Dalton was granted a wish from the Make a Wish Program and they sent us on a vocation to Florida to a place called Give the Kids the World. [Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – Make A Wish Makes A Difference
Letters & Comments
Letter To The Editor – Pondering The Grafton Budget
To the editor:
Here are some questions one can ponder about our Town Budget.
1. Why do the Grafton Town Council members get paid ($250) per month, twice as much as Petersburgh and Berlin ($125) for attending one meeting a month. Is it allegiance to the Republican Town Chairman (Supervisor). Who voted on the salaries?
2. Why does Grafton have a Bookkeeper at $12,500 a year when Petersburgh and Berlin do not even have a budget line for the position.
[Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – Pondering The Grafton Budget
Letter To The Editor – Case Of She Said, She Said In New Lebanon
To the Editor:
J. Johnson Smith made a serious allegation against me and two other people, New Lebanon Town Board member Doug Clark and Town Supervisor Candidate Mike Benson, in a letter published by you on October 21.
I sent Mrs. Johnson-Smith a record of email correspondence that proves that those allegations are false and I have asked for a retraction.
As juicy as it reads, there was no “coup” attempt disguised as a good-hearted extensive volunteer effort to help New Lebanon get a supermarket.
[Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – Case Of She Said, She Said In New Lebanon
Letter To The Editor – A Voter Rights Issue In Grafton
To The Editor:
It is really sad, to hear about voter rights issues on the day they honor Martin Luther King.
What is going on in Grafton?
Petersburgh, our neighboring town, has citizen government as described by our founding fathers. No one in Petersburgh stays in political office for life. In Grafton the Town political elite refused to release the reins of power and not allow others to contribute to the Town. Why is it so good in Grafton and not in surrounding towns. What benefits do they receive that should be any different? What small town political party pulls out all stops to insure an election win? At least the Democratic party caucus gives a chance to be nominated. The Republican party did away with the caucus about 12 years ago to have a primary. There has never been a Republican primary challenge since. All candidates have been hand picked. Anyone that attempts a challenge is blocked by any means possible with the help of the B.E. The desire for change is so great this election day the Dem line has 2 Rep,1 Ind, 1 Dem. running. There is even a new Vote Your Conscience line, the Grafton Citizen Party.
[Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – A Voter Rights Issue In Grafton
Letter To The Editor – Campaign Literature In Grafton
To the Editor:
I am writing in response to a recent flyer I read from a candidate running for Town Justice [in Grafton] on the Democratic Party line in this fall’s election.
At first glance his flyer seemed quite innocent and professional. After reading again, it became clear to me that this candidate was being very clever with his writing and was taking between the line political shots at his opposition.
[Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – Campaign Literature In Grafton
Letter To The Editor – Vote For Change In Grafton
To the Editor:
I began attending Grafton Town Board meetings in August of 2008 after observing from a distance the public business of this community via this newspaper and coupled with my own personal experiences with the Town of Grafton Building Inspector and other appointed officials. Numerous times I attempted to engage this Board and request an explanation as to why the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy was grossly flawed. Instead, I was shunned by those that represented me and was rewarded with a new law that simply made what was illegal…..now legally right, but still flagrantly wrong. Fast-forward to 2010 and I watched with amazement the majority on this Board blatantly disregard the will of the people and their petition for a referendum for a sole assessor be ignored. I determined that this local government had become ineffective and unrepresentative. I even gave Board members flags that said so.
[Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – Vote For Change In Grafton
Letter To The Editor – Highway Department Heros
submitted 9/20
To the Editor:
Hurricane Irene dealt the Capital District and Rensselaer County a terrible blow on Sunday, August 28. As many stayed hunkered down in the comfort of their homes those on the west side of Grafton were struggling to preserve their life-long possessions and wondering where they could go if told to evacuate. The shining light amongst all of the uncertainty on the west end was the Town of Grafton Highway Department. How do I know this? My husband witnessed the actions of both the Grafton Highway Department and local citizens assisting with preventing a disaster on his way to a work related emergency. My husband’s half-hearted description of what he was witnessing could not compare with the devastation that occurred.
[Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – Highway Department Heros
Letter To The Editor – Corrections?
To The Editor:
I attended both the Hoosick Falls Village and the Hoosick Town Board meetings last week, and I would like to correct some of the information in the articles in the October 14 issue.
I did not hear anyone on the Village Board say they did not know the Green Heights sub-division contract with the Town was expiring, although Supervisor Cipperly did say he was unaware. And I believe it was Greg Laurin, not Morin, who spoke on behalf of the Green Heights residents, chastising Mr. Cipperly for his lack of awareness.
[Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – Corrections?
Letter To The Editor – Dirty Politics In New Lebanon?
Dear Editor,
I am writing first, to thank your paper and Thaddeus Flint for the well written article concerning the dismissal of our Deputy Town Supervisor in New Lebanon.
Secondly, I am writing because I hope for the residents of New Lebanon to see via your article the seriousness of what the former Deputy Supervisor, Candidate Mike Benson and LVBA [Lebanon Valley Business Association] Chair, Fiona Lally, actually DID!
This attempted “coup” against our incumbent Supervisor was the ultimate example of dirty politics. The weak excuses of those involved were just that, weak excuses. The goal was to undermine our present Supervisor, win Hannaford back to Town and give the glory to candidate Benson, which in turn would have won him more votes.
[Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – Dirty Politics In New Lebanon?
Letter To The Editor – BCS Compare and contrast…..
To the Editor:
As the first year of my three year term on the Berlin Central School District (BCSD) came to an end this past July I look forward to the great opportunities that await the children and our communities. I would like share MY thoughts while reflecting on this first year. Again, these are my opinions and do not reflect the opinions of any other BOE member or representative of the BCSD.
[Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – BCS Compare and contrast…..