DELAYS
Haven't seen your Speakout? There are a few possible reasons.
We won't publish Speakouts that are longer than 100 words or that we consider libelous or inappropriate, including personal attacks, merchant complaints that we can't verify and court matters.
Also, once a topic seems to have run its course, we will cut those for a time. The point has been made, and writers are always welcome to send a signed letter to the editor of no more than 300 words for publication on the Editorial page.
Lastly, if you haven't seen your Speakout yet, you might just need a little patience. It has proven hugely popular, and most days, we have hundreds of inches waiting to get in. News articles have priority, but we try to get in a little Speakout each day.
If you have any questions, call News Editor Lois Clermont at 565-4131.
Weeds
Stop using weed killers. Your children play on your lawn, and so do your animals. Some weeds are actually helpful. Look up dandelion recipes on the Internet. Not just wine, but jelly, jam, fritters, salads, pancakes, cookies, bread, soup, coffee, tea, etc. More recipes are added every year.
The lists of uses of dandelions and other weeds as medicines is quite impressive, too. Weed killers can pollute your well and other water supplies. Weeds bugging you, pull them out by hand and learn what to use them for. People used to pull them up by hand and/or use them.
Wiggletown
Why do people allow and perpetuate the ignorant label "Wiggletown?" People don't allow West Crazy to continue for West Chazy. It's a joke, and it ends there. Altona people correct people who call it Altoona (pronounced like a tuna). Beatthemandown isn't Beekmantown, etc. Time and time again, I've told people Treadwell Mills only to have people say, "I don't know where that is." Even taxi drivers and sometimes even people that live there, "Oh, you mean Wiggletown; I know where that is." Stop the put-down: shacks so poor the wind wiggled them. Learn what Treadwell Mills means.
Appearances
Ignorance rears its ugly head again. I guess anyone needing help from DSS isn't eligible if they are wearing name brand clothes. It doesn't matter that they may have received them as a gift or maybe even got them from the Thrift Store. They may have even been employed and were able to buy them at the store and their circumstances changed and now they need the help. Maybe anyone going to DSS for help should wear torn and dirty clothes so they aren't judged by those who are so ignorant. DSS helps more than the disabled, sick and homeless.
Majority
It's a shame a freak accident has left a small group of aristocrats able to lead an even smaller group of last-term Beekmantown board members into a position to "create" an illegal proposition that will only cost the Beekmantown taxpayers more legal fees and penalties. Proper inspection during fabrication followed up by regular inspections will help keep things safe. Accidents do happen but, with regular inspections, problems can be corrected before something major happens. Beekmantown citizens remember the Beekmantown board of three who are led by one small Rand Hill group at the expense of the Beekmantown majority!
Helpless
Please, if you have an issue with something, don't take your frustrations out on the clerks, wait staff or anyone else at the establishment you're frustrated with. They have little they can do about it other than tell their superiors about your concerns. Go to the source, don't take it out on the people just trying to make a living. In the past week, I've seen this happen to cashiers, theater employees and wait staff. All about things that they have no control over. Prices? They don't set them. Policies ... no, not those, either. Think before you take it out on them.
Taxes
My mom lives at Lake Forest, and she's not trying to get out of paying taxes. I'd like people to consider that many of the people that live there are in their late 70s, many well into their 90s. Their savings stretched or diminished recently. If they were sick or poor (taxpayers) would be taking care of them, but, because they are fortunate to have relatively good health, and scrimped and saved and worked hard, let's make 'em pay. Let's focus on the facility, not the residents, and let's put that surplus to paying taxes!
Consistency
Where's the consistency in plea offers in Essex County? The Westport town clerk and Moriah ambulance treasurer has almost similar charges, stealing the same amounts. Both paid it back, yet the Moriah case had to plead to felony charges and Westport case only to a misdemeanor. Moriah case recommendation was prison, Westport was only probation. Where is the consistency, and please don't insult us by saying each case is different, because they aren't that.
Thanks
It's way overdue that I write in to thank the hard workers at the Town of Beekmantown Highway Garage. Our roads are clean and well-maintained and your hard work is very much appreciated. Also, thanks for doing an outstanding job this winter keeping our roads safe for our children and ourselves while traveling back and forth to work. Good Job!
Listen
I'm so sick of reading about "Save the Band" in Willsboro. Has anyone heard them play the past few years?
