Speakout: June 11, 2009

June 11, 2009 03:25 am

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DELAYS
Haven't seen your Speakout? There are a few possible reasons.

We won't publish Speakouts that are longer than 100 words or that we consider libelous or inappropriate, including personal attacks, merchant complaints that we can't verify and court matters.

Also, once a topic seems to have run its course, we will cut those for a time. The point has been made, and writers are always welcome to send a signed Letter to the Editor of no more than 300 words for publication on the Editorial page.

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If you have any questions, call News Editor Lois Clermont at 565-4131.

VH1
I am writing to inform the people of Willsboro that VH1 (the music video station) has a program called Save The Music where they will restore music programs that have been cut in schools. For info on this go to vh1savethemusic.com. It is a shame that this has happened, but it is very common during these times.

Whiners
I can't believe how people whine and complain today.

You think you have to work too hard, (including teachers and COs)? Too bad, be thankful you have a job. Your kid doesn't like his teacher? So what; it's about time kids learned they won't always have their own way. Can't make ends meet? Learn to live within your means. Large-screen TVs and Wii's are luxuries, not necessities. Bankruptcy courts shouldn't allow hundreds of dollars to be budgeted for cable, entertainment and cigarettes, of all things. Our society is a mess, and we need to fix it now.

Hypocritical
At a recent Elizabethtown Town Council meeting, a workshop on the proposed outdoor wood-burning furnace law, Councilman Mike McGinn's statement that he believes that a person should be allowed to do whatever they want on their own property was hypocritical coming from him. It was he who complained to the other members of the town board about the Otis Mountain Music Festival that was held last summer three-quarters of a mile from his house. This annual event benefits our local fire department, council of the arts and other non-profit organizations.

Time off
What are the laws regarding elected officials taking time off? I recently tried to pay my sewer to find a note that the tax collector was off until June 10th. A two-week vacation at the very time sewer bills are due? This is the second vacation this person has taken and was only elected in November 2008. There should be laws against this. Nothing like taking advantage of the taxpayers!

Dog
I live on Douglaston Drive in Beekmantown. Nearby there is a black dog that gets out of his fence all the time due to the owners not fixing it after two years when a tree fell on it. The dog is very mean and has come after me and my children. I have called dog control to no avail. The next time this happens, I will take care of it myself with some help from the neighbors. We are all sick of this danger.

Cameras
Do we have "surveillance cameras" in P'burgh that are controlled and viewed only by the PD? Saranac Lake may do this soon. They must do what they must do. I say OK, but only if they send the feed live to a local cable channel from the access point that Adelphia cable volunteers used to feed the Winter Carnival parade, so those housebound could watch. This would ensure that the temptation to look in windows and zoom in on young ladies would be curtailed.

Acts
Clinton County Fair numbers will go down again. What has happened to getting an act that people will go see? I find it funny that Malone, which has a smaller population than Plattsburgh, can get acts like Eddie Money, Patty Loveless and this year Jo Dee Messina and pay about $12 (for tickets) for these acts. And we get what in Plattsburgh? Guess I will be going to the Malone fair instead of Clinton County's again this year.

Provost
To President Ettling of SUNY Plattsburgh, can you explain to the community how the provost, after serving less than a year at his job, was rewarded with a tenured teaching position? Is this fiscal responsibility?

Bingo
I enjoy playing bingo and had been frequenting the bingos held at the reservation in Altona. I had to stop going because of all the smoke inside the building. I think they could increase their business if they would not allow smoking inside the building. It seems unfair to the smokers to do that. I know that is how they feel, but it's been a long time now that they have not been allowed to smoke inside almost anywhere and they still frequent restaurants and taverns. I am sure others have felt the same way about all this.

Spelling
In this year's Salute to Labor manual, I couldn't help but notice our two Democrat county legislators who purchased pages honoring labor both had quoted historical political figures. One, Samuel Gompers by County Legislator John Gallagher and the other a quote from Jimmy Carter purchased by Sara Rowden. My question and curiosity was struck when I read both accountings for the quotes were mispelled. Samuel Gompers was spelled Samuel "Gomphers" and Jimmy Carter was spelled "Jimmi" Carter. While appreciating their support, don't you think they could learn to spell their names? These are legislators.

Bags
This is to all the dog owners who pick up their droppings and leave the bag at the end of residents' driveway for us to get rid of. Please be considerate and take your dog droppings home with you and get rid of them yourself.