Opinion
Speakout: Dec. 11, 2009
Speakout entries that are more than 100 words long will be rejected. Also, don't type all in capital letters and don't insult a specific person or use hateful language because those will be rejected also.
Please take a minute to proofread and spellcheck your entry before you send it. Look for spelling errors, grammar mistakes and words that should be capitalized but aren't.
It takes time to correct the many errors that arrive in Speakout entries, so it's a big help if you check them over first.
Ground Round
A huge thank you to Ground Round for also offering free meals to veterans on their day. It was nice to be able to walk in, sit down and enjoy the meal without the hassles.
Friends
Men and women can be just friends. The trouble starts when their friendship is a secret or a lie to their spouses. My marriage was intact until one of these secret friendships occurred. The person that came between us knew exactly what she was doing and how to do it. You see, she had done this before and continues to do it again and again. She is married herself with children, but still thrives on attention from other married men. I say stick to your own home and leave mine alone. What goes around comes around.
Marriage
My marriage was one of trust, kindness and love until the other woman decided to befriend my husband. She was so cunning and knew how to make sure she got what she wanted from him. What she didn't count on is that I would find out. She didn't realize I would not give up and drop my marriage. That would have been so much easier, I chose to make it work, and she still can't get that.
Pledge
I was just looking at the results of a poll about opting out of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Let's not forget the veterans fought to put the desks in that school. These heroes did it for each student. It's up to the kids to sit in them. It's their responsibility to learn to be good students and good citizens. Veterans paid the price, so that you could have freedom to get an education.
DMV
About the DMV, it's not about what the rules are; it's about all personalities. You all are rude and there is no reason for this. If you don't like your job, then you move or run for office. You people have a job to do, yes, but your attitude as you do your job is just plain rude. Do you people even smile? How is it you all are the same at this workplace. Do you have meetings each morning on how to conduct yourselves? Be nice. Be more helpful.
Marsh
I just read about the Wickham Marsh clear cutting/logging that's taken place there. My hats off to the DEC for doing this, but I was curious about what was done with the trees that were cut down in this area. Do they go for use for a state-funded program or can someone else claim the trees for firewood?
Toddler
To the person who was complaining about the "parent with toddler" parking spot, why do you feel you are so special? If you are healthy enough to have sex and get pregnant, you are healthy enough to walk from the parking lot. If you don't want to take on the work that comes with having kids, then take appropriate action to make sure you don't have any. What's next? Parking spots for Blacks, Native Americans, Hispanics, Muslims, Asians, Old People? Before you know it, if you don't belong to a special group, you'll have to walk from 20 miles out.
'Nutcracker'
I attended the Saturday 2 p.m. show of "The Nutcracker" at Hartman Theater. What a wonderful production and a great family outing. The cast of local dancers were superb; the sugar plum and cavalier were magical. It is nice to have such a high quality production right here in Plattsburgh. I look forward to attending next year and making it a holiday tradition.
Trappers
It was relieving to learn that the skinned dogs discovered in Morrisonville were wild and not domesticated pets. It's also comforting knowing that these animals were being trapped for their pelts in the name of fashion; that makes the pain and suffering they must have endured all worthwhile. Has anyone ever seen a picture of a trapped animal trying to chew its leg off to escape? This story certainly puts deer-baiting with carrots in perspective. Trappers are cut from the same cloth as "hunters" who club pup seals in the Canadian Arctic; their after lives will be hot ones!
Conduct
On Saturday, Nov. 28, the Moriah Vikings and a very large part of the Moriah community made the trek to Syracuse University Carrier Dome for the NYS class D championship game. The opposing team was Randolph Central School. Never in my 50 years of attending high school and semi-pro sports events have I witnessed such unsportsmanlike conduct. The Randolph community booed plays that weren't in their favor. The players took cheap shots, and after the game their fans chanted derogatory remarks at Moriah fans leaving the dome. Congratulations, Moriah Vikings and fans; you went home winners with respect and dignity!
Project
NAC wants to raise our school taxes by over 17 percent a year for renovations to the school facilities and to build a new soccer/football/track stadium that seats 200. I agree that the renovations to the buildings are warranted, but a new stadium? A new soccer field was put in less than 10 years ago. The football team provides extra players for the Seton Knights. The track team is non-existent. Our school taxes for the 2009-10 school year increased 12 percent, even with the PILOT payments from the wind companies. Now we are being asked for another 17.4-percent increase per year.
Bridge
To the person who thinks I am uneducated because I expressed my opinion about bridges being built at Ticonderoga, Crown Point and Cumberland Head. First, I am educated. Second, I did some research on bridges and found many bridges with longer spans and were more logistically challenging. Third, looks like you didn't, so who looks ignorant now? Upon further research, I found a few more locations for bridges.
Assessor
How would you like an assessor who raises assessments by the thousands? When confronted for a reason, the assessor becomes defensive and belligerent and then treats you like a second-class citizen. We don't need people like that working for our communities. This person is also somewhat tentative when it comes to veterans exemptions, and being naive does not realize that if it were not for the old vets, she would not have the job and most likely would be speaking Japanese or German.
Renovation
The Westport Central School District Taxpayers be advised the school district is going to raise your taxes beyond belief. They want an extra $500,000 for a generator, video cameras, new phones and to build a new tennis court. Half a million dollars — really? They don't realize that we're in the middle of a recession, but they're not paying for it — it comes from taxes.
Turn
To the Plattsburgh City Police and PSUC Campus Patrol, if ever there was a time to monitor compliance with the "Right Turn Only between 7-9 a.m." law for exiting George Angell Drive onto Rugar Street by PHS, it is between 7:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. on school days. This is the traffic congestion time that the law was designed to regulate, and certainly this is the time period when compliance with the law should be enforced. If necessary, designate the left-turn-only lane additionally as the lane for driving straight to maintain consistent traffic flow.
Lies
Why is it that when people are angry and feel like they are about to lose everything they had, they go and make up lies and try to ruin another person's life? There is such a thing as help for your issues. Why in the world a person would want to ruin the lives of many people just for the satisfaction of feeling in control is beyond me. You can only lie so much before the truth catches up to you. The only person you will hurt in the end is yourself.
Intersection
To those dropping students off at PHS in the morning: the "Turn Right only between the hours of 7-9 a.m." law when exiting George Angell onto Rugar exists for a legitimate reason. When attempting to drive straight onto Prospect exiting George Angell at the dropoff time of 7:50-8 a.m., a near impossibility due to the traffic at that time, you have inconsiderately held up others dropping students off as traffic at PHS backs up quickly. Follow the law, be considerate, and exit to the right onto Rugar, then turn left at Olivetti to accommodate your travel.
Sports
Regarding the issue at NACS on sports. I think it is a wonderful idea to put money into the sports program. If it wasn't for the sports, half of these kids would be dropouts and there would be a large failure rate. Sports gives kids something to look forward to, responsibility and dedication. Yes teaching is important, but so is sports.
NACS
Voters in the NAC school district: please take the time to be properly informed about the EXCEL project. Read the district newsletter sent to your home and come to the meeting on Dec. 8 with your questions and/or concerns. Don't just listen to others ranting about "unnecessary" money being spent. This grant is not only for improvements to athletic fields but for classrooms and things inside the school as well. It is your responsibility as a taxpayer to be informed and make your own decision on this amazing opportunity for our school that will impact the future for our children.
- Editorial
-
-
EDITORIAL: Budget pain has hit home
Gov. David Paterson last year predicted confounding decisions and painful consequences in facing the recession, and he was so right. He was probably talking about the state's efforts to craft a budget. But the pain has also been intense locally.
- EDITORIAL: Patriot Hills: a perfect fit
- EDITORIAL: The right stand for taxpayers
-
EDITORIAL: Budget pain has hit home
- Cheers and Jeers
-
-
Cheers and Jeers: Aug. 30, 2010
Cheers to JVC; tepid Jeers to beer distributors' Cheers to some banks; Cheers to Essex Day organizers
-
Cheers and Jeers: Aug. 30, 2010
- Letters to the Editor
- Speakout
- In My Opinion
-
-
IN MY OPINION: Location of sludge plant at issue
All parties should be looking for a better site, town supervisor argues.
-
IN MY OPINION: Location of sludge plant at issue
