CHEERS to Bill and Toni Teuschler, who live just south of Elizabethtown, for their creativity and positive messages. The Teuschlers have one of those bears carved of pine on display, which they decorate as Santa, the Easter Bunny and with other festive accouterments. Recently, Mr. Bruin held up a sign that with eloquent simplicity said, "Be Nice." Every day while passing, it would bring smiles to passers-by, who generally tell one another to, "be good," which in reality is intrinsic. But being "nice" is extrinsic, a sharing of warmth and respect, as well as helping others and the environment. Though maybe idealistic, what a wonderful world we would have if everyone could just "Be Nice." In addition, the Teuschlers' "Peace On Earth" sign is still illuminated across their porch to remind all that the concept is perpetual, and not just seasonal. We should aspire to its lofty sentiment every day of the year.
JEERS to Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas for what's viewed around town as a hefty dose of hubris for writing in the chamber's February edition of its newsletter, Vision, "Tentatively starting in March, U.S. Airways will be serving Plattsburgh with up to three flights a day — using 34-seat Saab aircraft with flight attendants! ... And now we have Pinnacle/Colgan about to fly for (U.S. Airways) out of Plattsburgh!" This triumphant announcement appeared in the newsletter, which reached readers on Thursday, Feb. 4, the morning after the Clinton County Legislature had spent more than two hours wrangling over whether to recommend Colgan or Cape Air for the contract. Obviously, the piece was written well before the vote. Douglas is by nature and by profession persuasive, all right, no one would dispute that, and he had been Colgan's biggest supporter in this very public and contentious debate. But by predicting the chamber's success with such certainty, he gives rise to speculation that some kind of deal had been pre-arranged, which we find unsupportable. For appearances' sake, Douglas should have curbed his glee until the next issue.
CHEERS to Stephen Douglas of Rouses Point, who is on a one-man campaign to encourage people to buy local. Douglas used to work at Georgia-Pacific years ago and also was employed at Wyeth. Now, he is retired. He started thinking about how important it is to buy local products, when possible, because it supports area businesses and boosts sales-tax revenue here. So he drove to Georgia-Pacific to find out what products they make that he might be able to buy. There, he chatted with Phil Racine, who, Douglas said, was very accommodating. Racine told Douglas about the products G-P makes, including Brawny paper towels and Quilted Northern Ultra Plush toilet paper, and even gave Douglas a sample. Douglas plans to check with other local manufacturers to see what else he can look for in his buy-local campaign. He hopes other area consumers will follow his lead. We all benefit from local support for local businesses.
Opinion
February 14, 2010
Cheers and Jeers: Feb. 15, 2010
- Editorial
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Editorial: No raise for state legislators
This is not the year for state lawmakers to look for a raise.
- Editorial: A pair of aces among the Cards
- Editorial: Nurses, aides: a breed apart
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Editorial: No raise for state legislators
- Cheers and Jeers
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Cheers and Jeers: Feb. 13, 2012
CHEERS to Peru High School teacher Kathleen Roach and Cardinal Points.
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Cheers and Jeers: Feb. 13, 2012
- Letters to the Editor
- Speakout
- In My Opinion
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In My Opinion: E'town water, sewer essential
Elizabethtown has a history of economic ups and downs, Town Supervisor Margaret Bartley writes.
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In My Opinion: E'town water, sewer essential
