Wild Forest preferred
TO THE EDITOR: The Adirondack Park Agency is about to decide whether the 17,000-plus-acre Lyon Mountain tract in the towns of Saranac and Dannemora will be classified "Wild Forest" or "Wilderness." This decision will affect the ways people can use this state land. The recreational uses permitted in Wilderness areas are more limited than those permitted in Wild Forest areas. APA and Department of Environmental Conservation staff have wisely recommended that the APA and Governor Patterson classify this public land as Wild Forest.
The Adirondack Park State Land Use Master Plan defines wilderness as an area that has been affected primarily by nature, with the imprint of human work unnoticeable. Lyon Mountain is not wilderness. The area has been logged and re-logged. It contains a logging road extending several miles across the tract. This road was improved with fill and culverts sufficient to carry modern logging equipment. Skidder paths extend all over the parcel. The old D&H; rail bed bisects the parcel and will continue to be used by snow machines. The remnants of a ski lodge, lifts and trails are still in place. From the summit, wind turbines can be seen on surrounding hills. In summer, motor boats and jet skis on Chazy Lake can be seen and heard.
The Lyon Mountain tract is a great acquisition for the state and is a fantastic opportunity for multiple outdoor recreational uses, but it is not wilderness. If the area is classified wilderness, the access road to the hiking trailhead may be closed and the summit fire tower removed. Classifying the tract wild forest will also reduce use intensity on more pristine wilderness areas, including the High Peaks.
I urge the APA Board to adopt staff recommendations and classify the Lyon Mountain tract as Wild Forest.
Peter Racette
Redford
Rights violated
TO THE EDITOR: Two nurses were accused of neglecting a quadriplegic. The two nurses "accused," through my years of observation, are two of the most caring and compassionate nurses at Horace Nye Home.
I must say the word quadriplegic was an eye-catching headline. However, what was failed to be reported is that the "man" is very capable of speaking for himself clearly and intelligently. By not giving him a voice, "Mr. Attorney General," you have just neglected and violated one of his rights. Poor, one-sided investigations with the purpose to possibly promote political votes are a huge waste of taxpayer dollars.
Carol Hayes
Mineville
Life unfair
TO THE EDITOR: You can never understand life until you live it. Why does God take such "young" people such as John and Morgin? It's not fair. They didn't even finish life yet.
Many people who drink and drive, who get in accidents, walk away freely, but these teenagers' lives were destroyed by one mistake which wasn't their fault. They didn't even get a chance to graduate with their classmates. I don't understand. They did nothing wrong. John and Morgin were lovable and were great kids. They would do anything for their friends, and they were friends with everyone.
Morgin and John, this is for you, and remember I always love you and you're in my heart forever. We always will be the Class of 2010. So Morgin and John, wait for me at the pearly gates. I'll be there when my time comes and soon we'll be classmates and friends again.
Lee Ouimette
Champlain
Emotion, not reason
TO THE EDITOR: Conservatives have long lamented the disappearance of the Federalist Papers" from American schools. Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay, the "Federalist Papers" argued for the ratification of the United States Constitution. In so doing, the authors offered their insights into the thinking behind the Constitution. These insights are as valuable today as they were in 1787.
Among the concerns of our founders was that the possibility that emotion could replace reason in a democracy. In No. 24, for instance, Hamilton observes that those opposed to ratification argued "with an intention to mislead the people by alarming their passions, rather than to convince them by arguments addressed to their understandings." How often we find such intention today! On radio, on television, at rallies, everywhere we look, we find all-too-successful attempts to alarm us.
Nowhere are the results more evident than in the widespread perception that President Obama is some sort of un-American extremist, when in fact he is a centrist Democrat far closer to his predecessor, President Bush, than to Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. His response to the financial crisis has been to continue the response of the Bush administration of bail-outs and stimulus spending. His surge in Afghanistan is a repetition of the surge in Iraq. He has taken no lead in the social causes dear to liberals. Even his health-care reform, if it comes to pass, will be accomplished through existing private insurance companies, rather than through the single-payer system supported by the left. Yet he is constantly demonized by tea-partyers and others who have been worked up by demagogues who have more interest in their own self-importance than in the good of the very people whose anger they encourage.
It is sad. It does not bode well for the future of our democracy.
Paul Johnston
Peru
Donations appreciated
TO THE EDITOR: On behalf of Hospice of the North Country, I would like to thank all those who so graciously participated in our 2009 "Light Up A Life" campaign.
Each year, the Clinton County Board of Realtors holds an auction to benefit our agency. Their donation of the proceeds generated from the auction kicks off Light Up a Life and is very much appreciated. The donation we received this year was extremely generous.
Thank you to our 2009 Honorary Chairpersons, Kate Duprey (Clinton County) and Nancy Marshall (Franklin County), for lending time and support to the campaign this year. We would like to thank Champlain Centre North for allowing us to set up our display at the mall for the entire month of December, and the Wing family who generously donated their time to get the display up and looking beautiful. Thank you to Karen and Dan Hickey, the Wing girls, Carol Chase, John and Kathleen McDonald, Dorothy Youngs, Doug and Myra Macmillan, Nancy Conroy and Jim and Brian Carter for donating items for the raffle.
We would like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to the volunteers who manned the tables at the mall throughout the month of December. We had volunteers from several local businesses and organizations including WalMart, Sam's Club, Tahy Realty, G.T.I., Remax, CSEA Plattsburgh City School District, 4-H Tiny Terrors and Gentle Giants, Creative Critters 4-H, Duley & Associates Real Estate, Kavanaugh Realty, NBT Bank, and the Clinton County Youth Court. Volunteers and staff members from hospice and the community also donated their time.
And finally, thank you to all who donated to the campaign. Funds generated help us provide quality end-of-life care to those who need it in our community. In 2009, we took care of over 255 families in the North Country. Thank you for helping us continue our mission.
Amanda M. Bow
Hospice of the North Country
Plattsburgh
