The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Letters & Comments

Letter To The Editor – Lead Hazard At BES

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To the Editor:
I write this letter to help inform the public of what I believe to be a serious public health hazard in the Berlin Elementary School. The Berlin School District just released the lead testing results, and I believe that the importance and the dangers are being downplayed. Almost all the window troughs tested in the classrooms were not just a little elevated as portrayed by BOCES but in most cases significantly over the HUD and EPA standards. [Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – Lead Hazard At BES

Letter To The Editor – New Year Is A Disaster

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To the Editor:
So a new year has started at BES and, as most of us probably anticipated, it’s a “DISASTER.” My child has 27 kids in his class. Yes, you read that right, 27 kids.  How is this for “the better of the kids”? How are these kids going to get a proper education with that many students in one class? How can a teacher attend to the different needs of each student with that class size and no aide? Not to mention that the building is not even close to being “suitable” for the consolidation of all of those students. [Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – New Year Is A Disaster

Letter To The Editor – In Support Of Stephentown’s Responders

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Dear Editor:
I have lived in Stephentown for over thirty years and have always appreciated the service provided to the community by the SVFD firefighters and the Emergency Responders. I am not well acquainted with the policies, procedures or politics of the department but was disappointed by some comments quoted in the September 3rd issue of the Eastwick Press.
[Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – In Support Of Stephentown’s Responders

Letter To The Editor – P.O. Policies Come From The Top

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Dear Editor:
This letter is in response to recent letters complaining about the Stephentown Post Office. There are some facts that must be presented. There is NO ability on the part of local Postmasters to make ANY policy about the conduct of business at a local office, NONE. The local Postal Service is extremely tightly controlled by the government. All of the complaints, such as no local delivery without first going through Albany and no mail to be given out over the counter are NOT local policies; they are Post Office Policy. These policies are not new and have been in place for some time.
[Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – P.O. Policies Come From The Top

Letter To The Editor – Clarifying A Caption

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To The Editor:
It seems that the caption I submitted to the Eastwick on September 17 [Petersburgh Seniors Square Dance] raised some eyebrows. It was in reference to Mason Hubbard teasing my mother Pearl Koch about her post surgical scar.
For anyone who wondered, please know that there was nothing in poor taste in that interaction.  Mason Hubbard is a fine man with a wonderful sense of humor. He would never say anything inappropriate to my mother. And woe to any person who teases Pearl. She gives a double portion back. My apologies for any discomfort I could have caused these fine people.
Mary Lou Walters
Old Orchard Way, Petersburgh

Letter To The Editor – Going Postal!

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To the Editor:
This letter is to inform Stephentown residents that the “local” sign on the mail drop inside the Stephentown Post Office is missing for a reason. Their local mail is no longer being handled locally but is now being sent into Albany where it hopefully will return in a day or two to Stephentown. Having worked as a clerk/postmaster replacement at the Stephentown Post Office for thirty years, I am shocked and appalled that a job that probably took no more than a total of ten or fifteen minutes a day to sort through and handle locally mailed letters is no longer being offered as a service to the Town’s residents. Just one more reason to use email instead of the Postal Service!!!
Patricia Spaniol
Brown Road, Stephentown

Letter To The Editor – What A Shame!!!

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To the Editor:
Now that Grafton and Stephentown Elementary schools have been officially closed due to the unfortunate decision from part of the (former and not all) Board of Education members (not the community) and a former administrator; all of the students will be housed at the Berlin Elementary School (BES). How is this building suitable for all of these students? [Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – What A Shame!!!

Letter To The Editor – On Behalf Of Animals In Their Natural Habitat

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Dear Editor: (submitted August 22)
I am responding to the letter from Mr. Bob Rubin, who expressed concern over Fishers (martes pennanti) as a threat to domestic cats and dogs (Eastwick Press August 20 issue). I am sorry for the loss of his cat. We, too, are cat lovers and have concerns about their interactions with other creatures. [Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – On Behalf Of Animals In Their Natural Habitat

Letter To The Editor – Neither Snow Nor Rain…Really?

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To the Editor:
On June 30, 2010, we received a folded/stapled paper in our mailbox. This letter was sent by the Postmaster of the Stephentown Post Office. It informed us that the Post Office was “making us aware of hazards and unsafe conditions in the approach of our mailbox and roads.” This letter continued to state that “they value our safety and the safety of our letter carriers.” Also, “The Post Office is very concerned about the condition of your road.” The letter ends, “If we do not have this issue resolved by July 30, 2010, we have no choice but to hold your mail at the Post Office. [Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – Neither Snow Nor Rain…Really?