Last Updated: Thursday, May 10, 2012 9:31:18 AM
Brings me right back
To the editor:
It was with great pleasure I read your wonderful library editorial. It evoked a time and place that I am sure many could relate to.
For years, every Friday night or Saturday morning, I was fortunate enough to be dropped at the Fort Plain Library to happily browse the shelves as my mom did the weekly grocery shopping at the Red and White Store. It was there I rode across the purple sage with Zane Gray and swooned, as only a dramatic 12 year old could do, over ...
An error in the library story
To the editor:
I read with interest your recent article about the Canajoharie Library’s funding initiative. Unfortunately, there was an error in the report. The library’s $100,000 funding ask amounts to 26 cents per $1,000 of assessed value — not $26 per $1,000 as the report stated.
On Tuesday, June 5, residents of the Canajoharie School District will have the opportunity to provide this needed funding to the library. The average home’s tru ...
A new way of thinking
To the editor,
Like many of your readers, I fondly recall the Fort Plain of 30 years ago.
You could stop down to the Village Restaurant at the corner of Canal and River Streets and have a terrific breakfast for a couple of bucks, for dinner you could have one heck of a fried fish dinner at Capece’s Deli...topping it off with a cheesecake you wouldn’t forget.
You had a couple of meat markets to choose from, you could get your shoes and clothes at Dutcher ...
An indelible mark
To the editor:
Into each of our lives come special people. One of them passed from among us on Thursday, March 22, 2012. His name was Henry Byler.
I knew Henry as a friend from when he and his family first moved to Stone Arabia. He was one of the gentlest people I have had the pleasure of knowing, despite lives cares. He remembered the good about us first as his many friends remember him. As a skilled leather worker, he left us with material mementoes. Henry was not among us ...
Awaiting response
To the editor:
About a month ago, I sent an email to Mr. Tonko asking him why we were causing ourselves so much trouble, like rising gas prices, just to stop Iran from getting nuclear power. What gives us, along with other countries, the right to tell another country what they can or can not have. After all, Israel has nuclear weapons. After waiting two weeks for an answer, I called his office and spoke to a young lady. I asked why I haven’t received a response.
She sai ...
Going the extra mile
To the editor:
On January 27, we were driving on the New York State Thruway, in a horrific rain storm, from Rochester, NY, to Hartford, CT, when the arm and windshield wiper blew totally off the driver’s side of our car, reducing visibility to near zero. Rains pelting the windshield and eighteen-wheelers tearing by, required us to get to the nearest Ford dealership as soon as possible. We exited at Herkimer, only to learn from calling Ford’s 1-800 number that th ...
Help protect the bobcats
To the editor:
The Department of Environmental Conservation is planing to extend, by two months, the trapping and hunting season of the bobcat. They are taking comments from the public on this matter until Feb. 16 when they will make their decision. I sent the following letter to the NYSDEC:
Please do not extend the trapping, hunting season, another two months on the bobcats. They are just starting to make a comeback. They only live in secluded areas and keep to themsel ...
Not the place for opinions
To the editor:
As a 30-plus year reader of the Courier-Standard-Enterprise newspaper (including subscriptions for my time away at college), I have been sadly surprised in the recent months and even years by the “articles” authored by Robert E. Smith.
I have read disparaging and quite frankly inaccurate comments (i.e., his opinion) about various topics in the community, including last week’s edition and perhaps the most slanderous yet — his opi ...
Generosity benefits our troops
To the editor:
Once again the officers and members of Catholic Daughters Court Catherine Esther #1264 would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to those who contributed items and money to the Christmas Collection for our servicemen and women in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Weíd also like to thank the Fort Plain, Canajoharie and St. Johnsville branches of the NBT Bank, the First Niagara Bank in Palatine Bridge, Our Lady of Hope Church in Fort Plain and the Episco ...
Thanks to a community coming together
To the editor:
Historic Fort Plain Inc. is hard at work trying to raise awareness and money for the former Universalist Church which they are restoring and converting to Unity Hall Community Center.
Recently HFP held two fund-raising events and both turned out to be very exciting affairs. The first event was held at Beardslee Castle on Friday, 11-11-11. For this event, two popular local bands played for us and both did an outstanding job.
Downstairs in th ...
Ring that bell
To the editor:
To share the joys of caring and sharing, the Salvation Army’s traditional Red Kettle drive has been an integral part of the Christmas scene since 1891. Donations made to the Red Kettle aid needy families, seniors, and the homeless by providing Christmas dinners, winter clothing, and toys as well as continuing year round with the basic necessities of food, clothing and medications. Ninety percent of funds gathered will be used to provide emergency assistance t ...
Brotherhood into action
To the editor:
It is with great pride and humility and hope that we write this letter on behalf of every volunteer member of Niagara Engine Company No. 6 of the Schoharie Fire Department.
We were flood victims, and now we are flood survivors with a tremendous job ahead of us, and we are asking support of our brother and sister firefighters. The Schoharie Fire Department provides fire protection and rescue services to a historic, rural village in upstate New York, a ...
Keeping you protected
To the editor:
It is with great concern that we write to you today and implore Montgomery County residents to contact your representatives in county office and ask them to re-think their proposed budget cuts to members of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. The three police agencies on the western end of the county, depend on MCSO to assist as back up during incidents and evolutions; during investigations of large scale offenses; and through large disasters such ...
Dangerously unaware
To the editor:
Recently, a teenage bicyclist nearly rammed my car on a Fort Plain downtown street. He was not paying attention to the traffic or to where he was on the road. I could have been driving faster and still have been under the speed limit. If I had been, I probably would have hit him instead of his almost crashing into the side of my car. What concerns me the most is that he was breaking traffic law without, I’m sure, realizing it.
I say this because I have n ...
Merger a missed opportunity
Dear Editor:
The cancellation of a recent middle and high school merger between the Oppenheim-Ephratah and St. Johnsville school districts is a disappointing loss for the educational development of students, athletic programs, and a missed opportunity for both schools to help each other benefit financially at a time when the students need it the most.
A study of the merger, prepared by Castallo & Silky, outlined financial incentives and increased efficiencies whi ...
Focusing the spotlight
To the editor:
I read “Have You Heard?” editorial of Sept. 29, 2011 and I want to “thank you” for writing on this horrible situation that is now occurring on Wall Street since Saturday, Sept. 24.
You may be small, but you keep us informed and are not at all afraid of bringing to our attention injustices as Detective Bologna’s action of haphazardly walking down the street and spraying the protesters with pepper spray in their eyes and wh ...
Friends indeed for friends in need
To the editor:
These are a few of the heroes who assisted my sister, Deena Bispo, and her husband, Roy Schaulkham, of Burtonsville, with their resettling after Hurricane Irene tore off the back of their home on Colyer Road in Burtonsville (Esperance). Literally, they lost everything.
My sister, Deena, has severe MS and she is wheelchair-bound. Roy, my wonderful and resourceful brother-in-law, made sure that he and my sister evacuated to the home of one of thei ...
The meaning of community
While the threat of flooding was almost impossible to comprehend, the volunteers and employees of the Village of Canajoharie went into action — evacuating the downtown, moving vital records and equipment to higher ground. This effort was Village-wide, and deserves wide recognition.
The Department of Public Works and the Water Plant employees, under the leadership of Jeff Swartz, who was available and on-scene throughout the entire crisis, pitched in wherever ...
No longer serving the people
To the editor,
I write to you in quest of an answer regarding what I perceive as a problem. There is a possibility that I stand-alone but one often wonders if there are other readers who follow the same line of thought.
When the last local telephone directory came out it became apparent that the great reduction in size of the figures and letters made it very difficult to use, especially for us senior citizens. I called Frontier Communications on Aug. 25 at about 9: ...
Howard D. “Howie” Cole
The family of the late Howard D. “Howie” Cole wishes to express their sincere gratitude and thanks to all those who shared in their grief with the passing of Howie.
A special thank you to the Hagaman Volunteer Fire Department and the Broadalbin Volunteer Ambulance Corps for the honor guard and the beautiful tribute at the cemetery.
To all his fellow firefighters, friends, EMT’s, Law Enforcement and Auxiliaries for their kindness and support.
...
A commendable crowd
To the editor:
To the people of Canajoharie and the surrounding area who attended the August 2 Music on Main Street event, enjoyed the music of the Nobby Reed Project, fireworks and ate chocolate ice cream donated by Stewart’s served by the members of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Moyer Street, thank you for coming on down to Wagner Square.
Through your generosity of ice cream purchases and donations, $178 was netted for the work of Mountain Valley Hospice ...
Committee says thanks
To the editor:
On July 30, 2011 the family and friends of Justin D. Snell came together at the H.C. Smith Benefit Club to celebrate his life, doing something Justin loved to do, ride motorcycles. Approximately 175 motorcycles rode over 100 miles in honor of Justin’s life.
Special thanks to the H.C. Smith Benefit Club, St. Johnsville, and its members, The Ice House, Little Falls; Hoovers, Ilion; The Black Pearl, Sharon Springs; and Jim’s Irish Harbor, Canajohari ...
Moving forward together
To the editor:
A lot has transpired since I last wrote - it has been a busy few weeks. I must admit that following the last Fort Plain Village Board meeting I was disheartened and feeling like the chances of saving the former Universalist Church were dashed, but then something happened.
After the meeting Barry Yerdon, who owns the church, and I started talking. Before that point there was a tenseness between us. He had his goals in mind and I had mine, and there w ...
In our own back yards
To the editor:
The Canajoharie Palatine Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the Courier Standard Enterprise for covering our successful garden tour event showcasing “Gems in the Heart of the Mohawk Valley” on July 9. Ticket holders from as far away as Albany were delighted to step inside some very creative gardens that have never before been open to the public. Though the tour was not advertised as “secret” gardens, most visitors seemed su ...
Cigarette ads target youth
To the editor:
With summer in full swing, our local youth are out keeping themselves busy, and sometimes that means a stop to a convenience store to pick up snacks or an ice cold drink. When they enter these businesses, they are instantly bombarded with colorful pictures and neatly displayed packs of cigarettes that say “Hey kid, this is a completely normal thing to do!” even though only 15.5 percent of New York adults currently smoke.
The blatant display ...
A fundamental difference
To the editor:
The recent decision to legalize same-sex marriage is regrettable. Despite the pronouncements of a legislature, a governor or even the Supreme Court, there is and always will be a fundamental difference between the union of a man and woman and the relationship of same-sex couples.
Marriage is not just a partnership, even between two loving persons, but is the lifelong bond by which a man and woman through their sexual self gift become one in flesh and hav ...
