Contributions for animals
TO THE EDITOR: The St. John Feral Cat Fund Inc. is a nonprofit organization that advocates non-lethal feline population control for feral (wild), stray and abandoned cats. We have sterilized over 2,000 cats and adopted out over 800 since July of 2002. There are currently a large number of homeless cats in our area that need to be sterilized. Bringing cat populations under control requires the implementation of high-volume sterilization programs.
In July of 2002, we began a Trap-Neuter-Return program. It has been very successful. More cats have been adopted into good homes than were returned outside. 2010 is here, and we are getting ready for the spring. We will be working in the City of Plattsburgh. We have two streets that have more than 40 cats living behind apartment buildings. Feeding is kind but does not solve the problem! Trap-Neuter-Return works, the breeding stops! It is not the cats that started the problem; it is the result of irresponsible pet owners!
It is our responsibility to help these animals! Individuals wanting to help cats in their area can. Red Fern Spay and Neuter Mobile Clinic is a low-cost vet that can help. Dr. Stacy Lambrinos is helping us save lives each year by provided such affordable sterilization. To contact her, please call 645-0178.
We also started an adoption program in hopes of giving the adoptable cats a chance at a better life. We became an adoption partner with Petsmart Charities in March of 2005. That is why it is so important that we ask for the public's support so that we may continue this vital work, saving lives, one cat at a time.
We are in need of emergency volunteers to help with Petsmart Adoption Center, morning and night cleaners. We are also looking for volunteers to help feed local outdoor cat colonies. We are looking for donated space with heat so that we can have a holding facility for cats before and after surgery. Thank you for being a feral friend. Contributions are always needed and may be sent to: St. John Feral Cat Fund, Inc. P.O. Box 2884 Plattsburgh, New York 12901 or call 534-0824
Victoria Ann St. John
Founder/director
St. John Feral Cat Fund, Inc.
Plattsburgh
Closure hardship
TO THE EDITOR: Gov. Patterson says he's sorry about the bridge closure in Crown Point and the hardship it is causing for the people in that area, yet he is about to cause an extreme hardship in the Town of Moriah and also in Lyon Mountain.
The closure of Moriah Shock would cause an extreme economical devastation for the people of that area, but we don't hear Gov. Patterson saying "I'm sorry" about that. On the contrary, he is in favor of the closure, regardless of how many people will be put out of work and what the financial loss will be to the area. He is also pushing for the closure of Lyon Mountain Correctional, regardless of the loss of employment and financial loss for Lyon Mountain.
I have to ask, did Gov. Patterson forget that people live in northern New York? Hello! Gov. Patterson, New York does not stop at Albany. Are you trying to completely devastate northern New York?
Krissie Pulsifer
Champlain
Airport campaign
TO THE EDITOR: Cape Air has demonstrated that its business model and schedule can be sustained over the last two years. Colgan proposes 12 flights a week with an unproved business model (larger planes and a higher price) by comparison to Cape Air's 21 flights a week (with an extra flight each day in the summer). Frequent travelers look for scheduling convenience and cost: Why an almost 60-percent reduction in the number of flights to and from Plattsburgh would outweigh the charms of a flight attendant and a larger plane is unclear. (The planes that Colgan proposes to use are far from spacious.)
The county and chamber of commerce have done a phenomenal job in promoting the Plattsburgh airport. It is time to build on that great success by continuing the promotion and adding a new campaign to directly benefit the businesses and residents of the area. A campaign along the lines of "Plattsburgh ... It's More Than an Airport" can increase the time and money spent by travelers through the airport.
Jesse Feiler
Plattsburgh
No laughing matter
TO THE EDITOR: You just published one of the most revealing and alarming editorial "cartoons" in years. It said so much, so simply. I'm referring to the one on the Supreme Court's First Amendment decision: it shows a hand holding a pen rewriting the Constitution's "We the People" to "We the Corporations."
In one of the court's most over-reaching rulings, the decision gives corporations the same speech rights the Constitution reserves for citizens. A corporation is not a citizen, it's a business enterprise.
Here's what the court's longest-serving member, Justice John Paul Stevens, was driven to say in a rare oral rebuttal to the majority's shameful 5-4 decision: "The rule announced today, that Congress must treat corporations exactly like human speakers in the political realm, represents a radical change in the law. ... The court's decision is at war with the view of generations of Americans."
The majority made a U-turn in decades of law and issued a far broader ruling than the case required, but those who usually rage against judicial activism haven't mustered even a little cough. But I did hear one spinmeister suggest that this protects you and me from those restrictive campaign-finance laws. Now we can spend as much as we want.
If anyone thinks corporations and financial institutions already have too much power in America, just wait to see what's around the corner. A few years from now, the Press-Republican ought to reprint this graphic. I bet no one will be able to call it a cartoon by then.
Lee Clark
Morrisonville
For benefit of children
TO THE EDITOR: If you followed the Goldman international abduction story, you know that father and son were reunited. The fight goes on to bring over 2,800 abducted American children home, including 60-plus children being illegally retained in Brazil.
Last July, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey introduced H.R.3240, The International Child Abduction Act of 2009. It would provide tools to help bring these children home by opening the door for sanctions against countries that do not comply or who ignore the Hague Convention, and hopefully accelerate the return of internationally kidnapped children.
The bill would establish an ambassador-at-large to serve as principal adviser to the president and secretary of state regarding matters of international child abduction. H.R.3240 would require specific actions by the president in response to any country designated as a country with a pattern of non-cooperation in returning abducted American children, including economic sanctions if necessary.
H.R.3240 is waiting for co-sponsors before going to the floor for debate and passage. H.R.3240 needs passage so all internationally abducted American children can be returned home to their left-behind parent(s).
Congressman Bill Owen hasn't yet co-sponsored H.R.3240. Please call and write Congressman Owen and ask him to co-sponsor and support H.R.3240 and help bring our children home.
Pam Bates
Horseheads
Opinion
February 8, 2010
Letters to the Editor: Feb. 9, 2010
- Editorial
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Editorial: The real reason for the holiday
Today is for creating new memories. Tomorrow, we should pause to remember. Memorial Day weekend, being the first big holiday of the sun season, is all about barbecues, picnics and outdoor activities; it is all about family and friends. After a North Country winter, even a fairly mild one like we just had, we need to relax in the sun and enjoy the outdoors.
- Editorial: Bright future, looking ahead
- Editorial: Mail cuts will be fact of life
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Editorial: The real reason for the holiday
- Cheers and Jeers
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Cheers and Jeers: May 28, 2012
JEERS to people who dump garbage at the mouth of the Saranac River, and CHEERS to cemetery caretakers.
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Cheers and Jeers: May 28, 2012
- Letters to the Editor
- Speakout
- In My Opinion
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In My Opinion: A new focus for mental well-being
The opening of Behavorial Health Services North's Center for Well-Being at 2155 State Route 22B in Morrisonville on April 23 reflects the opening of a new chapter in the story of the treatment of mental illness now under way in our country, Behavorial Health Services North CEO Harry Cook writes.
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In My Opinion: A new focus for mental well-being
