Rings
I would like to make an attempt to retrieve a couple of rings that were accidentally taken from Brookies pub the night of Oct. 30 (Halloween Costume Party). These rings were in my daughter's jacket in the upper breast pocket. These rings mean nothing to whomever has possession of them, but to me they mean everything. One was my mom's anniversary band that my dad had bought her (my mom passed away two months ago from cancer), and the other is my mother's ring. Please return them to Brookies. The coat you can keep.

Cart
I am a disabled person with bad legs, and I can't walk the floors in any of the stores because of my disability. The last two times I have went to the Plattsburgh Walmart and got in a cart, either the cart didn't run or it was not charged. I exchanged three carts in one visit. I am very disappointed in Walmart. They should take lessons from Sam's Club on how to keep these carts working and charged. Remember, disabled people have to shop also for supplies.

Signs
If you are trying to clean up Plattsburgh then you should enforce a law that all people who go around putting up yard-sale or garage-sale signs need to go back and take them down after their sale is done. It really makes Plattsburgh look like a real dump to have all that litter hanging around, and those that don't should be fined for littering.

Banks
So listening to the local news last night, I heard about the bank robberies in Vermont. Here is my idea to discourage bank robberies: Lock the bank door. If you have an ATM card, you can open it and do your banking business, and the bank can keep track of who opens the door by scanner. If you don't have a card, go through the drive through to have them open the door for you or do your banking. I know this is not a perfect solution, but bank tellers would be safer, and it would discourage desperate people.

Messages
I just want to say that my family and I refuse to vote for anyone who has blocked up our phone answering machine with stupid computerized messages that last for at least three minutes each. It is very annoying, not to mention expensive to retrieve messages remotely, only to have to sit through several minutes of nonsense, including phone numbers and mailing addresses of the headquarters. If telemarketers can be blocked, so can politicians. Someone, please come up with a way to do it.

Mothers
I am just writing about working moms. My mom is going back to college and working just to better our lives. It's not easy for her to do both, but she does. So I just want to thank all the moms out there that do such good.

Depression
I am writing about teen depression. I see a lot of it, and I don't think that people are seeing the hurt in these kids' eyes. I am a teacher, and I see a lot of kids mad. They try to hide it, but it does not work. Maybe if everyone saw it we could change it.



Parking
To the person who counted the 24 empty handicapped spots at Lowes. You do know that you can park in those spots. You will just have to pay the fine and deal with the scorn of people that have compassion and empathy for those who really need those spots. So people will think less of you — who cares, right? As long as you save yourself a few seconds.

Bait
Getting gas today at my favorite, locally owned gas station, I noticed huge bags of carrots for sale at the pumps, to be used to bait deer. This disgusts me. Shame on the gas station for aiding in this unethical, unsportsmanlike act. Are you selling to deer hunters or deer executioners?

Casino
I would like to address the casino personnel who let a woman in with her two underage children into the Altona casino. These children have to wait around with nothing to do there for hours while their parents play the slots. When asked if they want to be there, they say no but they have to stay. What are these parents thinking? Too bad they can't be reported.

Cats
Did you ever try to have a cat euthanized? You need to fill out papers, prove the cat is sick, etc. No wonder there is a cat problem. When a responsible person can no longer care for a beloved pet, the decision is heartbreaking. To then have to find a caring person to take care of the pet is impossible. When no one will help, the owner must then break the law and leave the cat — something he/she doesn't want to do but has no alternative. What is the solution?

Store
I am so upset to see our grocery store in Keeseville fading away right before our eyes. The owner has tried to do something to build up this town while the ones in town with the money sit by and do nothing. Maybe you pay most of the taxes, but that's only because you own most of the buildings and you're making money off of them. You help people in other places while letting down your town. You should be ashamed of yourself, but I'm sure you're not.

Firefighters
I would like to send a big thank-you out to the firefighters that rode around Rugar Park in the fire truck. My kids were so excited to see a fire truck with the lights on. They were waving as the fire truck pulled up next to us, and a firefighter got out just to give them some candy — that made their night. Thanks a lot, guys, that meant a lot to them.

Trip
To the person who wrote in about Bush's trip to China. He was invited to attend the Olympics, not go and try to win them, even though left-wing loons said he shouldn't because of human-rights violations. It didn't stop you watching them or from shopping at Walmart. Hypocrisy indeed! He didn't bring along Oprah on the taxpayer dime for a Chicago Cubs bid (lost cause). If the facts are "conservative hate speech," I suggest a college with less left-leaning professors or more time "hitting the books" instead of "hitting the pipe."

Bridge
When they finish with the Champlain Bridge, maybe they (New York and Vermont) should consider building a bridge between Plattsburgh and South Hero. It is very expensive to take the ferry over. Many people have to use it to go to work or have someone in the hospital. I'm sure the ferry could lower their prices to accommodate people who have to use it. I wouldn't think they are losing any money as they pack on as many as they could. I would even be willing to pay a toll to use the bridge.

Food stamps
I can't figure out the food-stamp system. We are a family of five who works every day and still make $70 too much for food stamps and are unable to get my children health insurance. But a family who owns their own business not only gets food stamps but also Medicaid for their children and can go and buy a wedding cake from Walmart for their wedding with their food stamps. How can some people play the system and get everything, but because I am honest I can get nothing?

Parking
The other day I was in the Lowe's parking lot and counted over 100 empty spots for non-handicapped individuals, all empty. Be thankful that you have the ability to walk the extra distance it takes from your parking spot. I assure you that those that have to use the handicapped spots would give anything to not have to use them. I find it completely ridiculous that some ignorant person would take the time to complain about too many disabled parking spots.

DMV
Please, people. Do not blame DMV for price hikes or changes in license plates. They take their directives from our dear governor. DMV has nothing to do with changes and price hikes. So please put the blame where it lies, not in the hands of the local DMV.

Trails
Why is it we only hear about snowmobile and ATV trails in other counties? When it comes to doing some for regular people, Clinton County is far behind. We only see signs telling where we can't go; how about a map of where we can go? Why do we pay fees and taxes and get nothing in return?

Rude
DMV workers, county, you need to watch what you hire here. These people need to retrain and get with it; they just don't care, and they are rude and act like they do us a favor — it's so pathetic going in. And for whatever reason, you have a help desk that is of no use; all they do is send you in line to wait, then they tell you wrong line, go back to help desk, are you kidding me?

Campaigns
I have been bombarded with campaign letters, flyers and phone calls to my home at all times of the day and even after 9 p.m. These phone calls are either automated or no one answers my many hellos. Then I get the "political" poll calls. Whenever I leave my home, I am subjected to the many, many campaign signs which litter our highways. Enough!

Ringing
My telephone has been ringing off the hook with obnoxious political advertising and vote hawking. What good does it do to sign up for the "National Do Not Call List" when politicians and their gophers are relentless in disrupting private home life in their endeavor to score a vote? I won't vote for anyone who called my home, strictly on principle.

Time off
This is directed at the many bosses who are too greedy to supply their employees with paid sick time and vacation time. You don't deserve the good employees you have, and I hope you enjoy all the money they are making for you that you so openly brag about.

Recordings
I am appalled at candidates Hoffman's and Owens's recorded messages. Daily I am receiving 6 to 8 recorded calls. It is frustrating that you can not even speak with a person to get these calls to stop. I can tell you this much, I will not be voting for either of them. There should be laws against being harassed by their parties at my home during election or at least an option to end these types of calls.

Calls
Whose bright idea was it to have political candidates make sales pitches over the telephone multiple times a day? It's bad enough we have to see those ugly signs alongside the road everywhere and see numerous TV commercials throughout the day. I am on the do-not-call list, and that means I don't want to be harassed. If I receive any more phone calls, I just won't vote for anyone.

Complainers
To all that write to Speakout: Wipe the tears from your eyes, pick yourself up and dust yourself off, comb your hair and get a grip on life. Man, all you hear is waaa, waaa, waaa! Grow up, you babies. This country is going to hell in a hand basket, and you are worried because some kid played more times than your kid. Or a fire department is getting a new truck, or cars are parked on the road. It makes me sick to think I probably know some of you whiners, get a life or get a job.

Buffets
All-you-can-eat buffets are disgusting. They are breeding grounds for sickness and disease and contribute to the national obesity epidemic. If patrons of these establishments weighed in before and after eating their meals and paid based on their weight gains, many of them would not be able to afford to frequent these feed troughs as often; others would hopefully receive a rude awakening to the consequences of gluttony. Come on North Country, you're wonderful people, but many of you need to find some hobbies other than eating.

Professor
Plattsburgh State students signing up for classes, take a class with Dr. Elizabeth Ketner. She is one of the most intelligent people at the college and is a fantastic professor. Dr. Ketner, thank you for making your classes so enjoyable and fun to be in.

Stage
If the Village of Rouses Point is going to build a performance stage, I was under the impression they were looking for donations. I had mine all set to send until I saw the project was started before they had the money. I never saw it advertised to bid. I never saw it go before their prestigious Planning Board for review. According to one article, it was going to be in the Rouse Park. It's not there.

City
Why is it that the main street-improvement work being done in the City of Plattsburgh is all concentrated in Ward 6? The streets undergoing improvement, Oak and Brinkerhoff streets, were not even in very bad shape to begin with. Look at the condition of Upper Broad Street near Cornelia and Boynton Avenue. Both of these streets have more traffic and are in worse shape. Could this favoritism have happened because these decisions were made while Dan Stewart was mayor and he was the former counselor for Ward 6?

Eyesore
What's going on with this eyesore? This would be a great area for a nice restaurant like the Golden Coral. It would have plenty of room for parking, easy access as there is already a light there. They have a variety of good food with affordable prices. A Kohl's and a Christmas Tree Shop would also be a great addition. A restaurant and two stores would fill this area in. This would help our economy and create jobs.



IGA
Comments on Willsboro IGA closing: Call it lack of community support or whatever you want, fact is this place had been falling in for the past 10 years or so. The ceiling and floors had more holes than swiss cheese. Neither door going in or out worked half the time, and customer service? Well you can forget about that, it didn't exist. Running a store is more than stocking the shelves. And then blaming the community for closing? Well that's just not acceptable.

Calls
I did not vote this year, and I will tell you why. I am sick of being bothered during my meals and all evening long by phone calls. I have been voting all my life, but until this stops I will no longer be voting. My friends also feel the same way. We know who we meant to vote for. We don't need this. So if you politicians want votes, stop bothering me.

Stolen
It's getting pretty bad when plants are taken right out in front of your door in a big heavy container. It must have thrilled you to the bone. How were you brought up? Happy Holidays!

Windmills
What is wrong with the Town of Beekmantown? No windmills to help with the cost of keeping services going. Chateaugay seems to have smarter people in office there. Their school district took advantage of the offer of Noble and the state, and their new school will be paid for by the two entities. No, Beekmantown had rather put the burden on the taxpayers so certain people can have their view or whatever left untouched. How can anyone sit back and say that the windmills are so terrible? They are not noisy and propose no threat to anyone. The environment would benefit, and so would our pocketbooks.