The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Letters & Comments

Letter To The Editor

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Town Board Of New Lebanon Distresses Navy Vet

To The Editor:

On January 10, 2017 my wife and I attended the monthly meeting of the New Lebanon Town Board. I brought up the subject of the Town being the only municipal building I had seen in recent weeks not flying the American flag . This came to my attention as I travel many miles throughout Columbia and Rensselaer counties admiring Old Glory flying in the breeze high and proud. This is the symbol of our freedom earned so costly by our brave men and women of the armed forces.

I thought it might have just been overlooked by the county employees, but was told by the Supervisor that the man in charge of this task thought it would be better if the flag was not put out until more favorable weather arrived. Also the Town does not have proper night time lighting, which would make it necessary to remove the flag at night and raise it again after sunrise. I even offered to donate the cost of a flag if finances was the problem. And a solar flag light certainly would not break the budget and that would eliminate the need for any further raising and lowering of our national symbol.

I got home and my thoughts went to soldiers leaping into the frigid ocean while landing at Normandy, and the sight of soldiers wading in chest deep waters in Vietnam. Also more presently the brave men and women marching in the sand parched deserts of Iraq far, far from families and homes.

I believe that raising and lowering a flag once a day is a small sacrifice to make as we go home to our warm homes to sit with our families and friends. I voted and campaigned on my own for many of the current board members. If you think New Lebanon should follow the lead of all other municipalities and schools and veterans organizations in this Town, please drop them a line and tell them how you feel. I did my part but was met with an unsuitable answer about something so important to me as a Navy Vet and a man who proudly flies Old Glory night and day in support of our brave troops.

Thank you,

Timothy E. Laraway, USN Veteran

Route 20, New Lebanon

Letter To The Editor

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To The Editor:

I write this letter in response to the letter by Allison Mullen published August 5, 2016. Mullen seems to have the belief that we of the older generation are the cause of the problems of the black citizens of the United States. We are not the cause of the problems.

My introduction to segregation was while I was stationed at Keesler Field, Mississippi in 1945 with the United States Army Air Corps. I was riding a bus from Biloxi to Pascagoula. The bus was full. I was in uniform. A pregnant black lady got on. I got up and offered her my seat. She smiled, but that was all there was time for. The driver slammed on the brakes and came back and told me in no uncertain terms that blacks had to go to the back of the bus and pointed to a white line on the floor. And that was my introduction to segregation.

I’m sure you were taught about the “Solid South,” the political block of segregated states that voted “solidly” Democratic.

The United States military was segregated until President Truman, a Democrat, ordered it ended.

A black soldier and I became friends while washing C-54 aircraft cowling at Hickam Field, Hawaii in the fall of 1946. Somehow we processed for separation at the same time but at different locations at Fort Dix, N.J. I last saw him at the train station. I walked over to him, shook his hand, and we wished each other good luck. He got a train for Trenton and I got a train to New York City.

So I do not believe it is my generation that is causing the problems between races today.

When was the last time you read a story about a 90 year old shooting up a night club? Or anything else? I think all the shooters are younger people.

The race problem has escalated since President Obama has been in office.

True, the youth of America should not be subjected to so much violence and hate. But do not blame me or my generation. Look to your generation.

How do we teach you tolerance and equality? You can’t possibly believe government can do it.

Who is involved in the rallies, protest, and violence? Not my generation.

What is meant by “like passing amendments or speeches to the Senate? Who should be making speeches about what?

I suggest people read a book I read around 1958. See if the theme can relate to what is happening in the United States today. It is “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand.

Vincent Devlin Msgt Retired,

United States Air Force. 1

72 Madden Road, Stephentown. [/private]

Proposed Berlin Biomass Project Is Economically Impossible And A Danger To The Environment

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To The Editor:

The June 2 article by Mr. La Rocque, although comprehensive and well written as always, was nonetheless misleading and biased. A clue to this can be found in his subheading, “Over $100 Million To Be Invested, More than 150 Jobs To Be Created.”

This strongly implies that it is a fait accompli when in fact it appears no more than another pie in the sky project dreamed up by outside entities.  Biomass conversion from wood to oil will never happen in Berlin.   [Read more…] about Proposed Berlin Biomass Project Is Economically Impossible And A Danger To The Environment

Petersburgh Water

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To the Editor:

I am writing this both as a private resident of the Town of Petersburgh and as Water District Superintendent. I have lived in this town since 1967 and except for three years, have been living and drinking the municipal water that the Town provides. As an employee of the town, I see what our Town Board has to go through dealing with the PFOA issue, and I have heard the concerns of many. I myself am concerned, having been exposed to this contaminate through the years, not so much for myself, but for my children, who were born and raised here.

Handling this crisis will require thought and patience. Nobody has any experience in a matter such as this – who would? The Town Board is open to any worthwhile suggestions and ideas to help with this type of emergency.

To that end, I do have suggestions for the residents in the Town of Petersburgh. As was eloquently stated at the Town Board meeting Monday night, it seems that DEC and other state agencies have lost interest in our town. Supervisor Schaaphok said that he has tried to contact officials from DEC and received no response. The same is true in my situation, as I have emailed acting Commissioner Seggos and also have received no response. Last week, I found out that there is a portable emergency filtration unit that the New York State Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has in its possession. Rich Winters, from New York Rural Water Association, who was helping me at the time with a leak, made a phone call on behalf of the Town, and I have made several attempts to get answers. I am only told that they are looking into it to see if it can be modified to be used as a temporary filtration system for the town’s municipal water supply. What has me upset somewhat, is that without this being brought to my attention by chance, we would never have known about this and inquired about it. The OEM should have been here seeking to deploy their portable filtration system at the onset of this emergency, not when I found out about it and made the phone call. After all, this is what they were set up for.

As a town official and as a resident, I am very upset that OEM did not respond to our emergency, and has never contacted us. We have been contacted by various state agencies, including the Governor’s office, and Rensselaer County officials have spent a lot of time working with us, but we have heard nothing from OEM. It is quite apparent, at this juncture, that the Town of Petersburgh is not important enough to warrant the help that it deserves in the face of this crisis.

The most helpful government agency in this situation has been Rensselaer County. They have been doing a lot of the testing, have been drawing up maps, have come out to explain what is going on and to answer questions. RCDOH Rich Elder has been coordinating this, and is doing as good a job as can be expected, given the circumstances. He calls with results either during the week or during the weekend, informing residents of results from their wells, and answering any questions they might have.

DEC has made a lot of promises, and very few of them have been fulfilled. Runoff from the capped landfill was supposed to be tested, and the river was supposed to be tested, various soil samples were supposed to be taken around the area, etc. Lots of promises, but not much action from DEC.

So, there is a level of frustration, not only by the Town Board, but by residents as well. We are all beginning to realize how unimportant a small community like Petersburgh is to the State. We are not the size of Hoosick Falls, our municipal water system only handles about 79 homes. We have a population of about 1500, a small community compared to most of the towns and villages in New York.

Town Councilman Alan Webster stated it well at the Town Board meeting on Monday, April 18. We need to get very pro-active if we are going to get anything done. We need to get the State’s attention. Have you ever been at a picnic on a mid-summers day and even though the day is nice, there is that pesky deer fly that keeps irritating you? That is what we need to become, the pesky deer fly that will not go away. To that effect, I ask the residents of Petersburgh to write and call constantly to our representatives in Government. Do not give up. Let’s make our voices heard! I will ask that the Town post on its website and also put out a notice on the bulletin board all the members of Congress, state officials, DEC officials, the Governor’s office, and any other official that needs to be contacted and reminded that we have a situation here that is an emergency and that something needs to be done. We will have to fight to be heard, but like the pesky deer fly that won’t go away, we will force their hand to get the help we need.

To that end, I have a few requests that I would like the state to address:

A state PFOA standard should be adopted. The EPA’s standard of 100 ppt is unacceptable. That is a short term exposure limit (1 month) for an adult. We are told that the state will adopt a standard. When? Why is it taking so long? NJ has adopted a standard of 40 ppt; Vermont, 20; Maine, 10. I would like to see zero.

Start a health study in this area. There does seem to be a higher than normal cancer and MS rate in this area. Also, there have been some birth defects. Are these related to PFOA? Are these higher than normal incidences compared to the general population?

Can the testing of wells be accelerated? It is apparent that there is widespread contamination beyond the village’s boundaries. Residents are worried for their families and livestock.

We were promised a comprehensive hydrological study of the aquifer. Why hasn’t that been started?

I am sure there are many more questions that should be asked and answered. It is time for us, as residents, as family members, as a community to push for the help and answers we need.

Benedikt Krahforst

Petersburgh Water Superintendent