Turbines aren’t good for town

My family and I have always believed in the wisdom of energy conservation, and the need for our country to explore alternative sources of energy. It didn’t take being hit over the head with $3-per-gallon gasoline for us to see the light.

Even so, I find myself horrified at the prospect of industrial wind turbines coming into the town of Meredith. I guess I believe industrial turbines are more appropriate for industrial areas than for a pastoral community whose economy is becoming increasingly dependent on tourism and the growing interest of prospective real estate buyers.

All of the real estate agents I’ve spoken to agree that real estate prices in the area will suffer with the introduction of industrial wind turbines. Obviously, the closer your property is to one of these small "skyscrapers," the more severe the effect will be. Of course, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out.

Prospective real estate buyers are no more likely to pay top dollar for a piece of property located anywhere near a nest of 400-foot wind turbines than they are for property located anywhere near the Marcy Line, for instance.

The debate over wind turbines for Meredith is already an emotionally charged one. It is an issue that pits neighbor against neighbor; for a landowner, receiving payment from a wind company to erect these monstrosities on his property effectively does so at the expense of his immediate neighbors.

Therefore, I find it hard to understand the assertion from members of the town board that this is good for Meredith. This is, in fact, tearing our town apart, and one need only attend a town board meeting to realize the anger that is being generated will be with us for a very, very long time.

Al Davino
Delhi

On Tuesday, residents of the Cherry Valley-Springfield School district have another opportunity to vote on their school budget. I hope they find the revised budget and operational plan for the school worthy of their support.

The budget being presented to the voters on Tuesday, along with the changes to the school’s administrative structure approved by the Board of Education last week, reflects the views and concerns raised by many community members during the past few weeks _ including residents, parents, students, teachers and staff members.

The revised budget reduces the proposed tax levy increase by more than one-third, to 1.90 percent. This is well below the corresponding increases in the cost of living and the consumer price indexes.

Recent letters to the editor published in this paper have it exactly backwards. Per-student expenditures in the Cherry Valley-Springfield school district are comparable to those in similar districts around the state. Meanwhile, the level of academic achievement is improving at rates faster than in similar districts around the state.

While our school is far from perfect, the community can be confident that its collective voice has been heard and will continue to be heard. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of those who contributed to our discussions. I ask all members of our community to continue to speak by voting in support of the budget on Tuesday.

Steve Schneider
Cherry Valley
Schneider is vice president of the Cherry Valley-Springfield Board of Education.

I must say that I am shocked that the psychiatric units at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital will be closing their doors.

Both the adult and adolescent units originally opened to meet the growing need in our community. Those needs have not changed! An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older _ about one in four adults _ suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Mental illness does not discriminate, it strikes the young and old, rich and poor, educated and illiterate.

My point is that any one of you could find yourself in need of care, either for yourself or a loved one. My question is where will you find that care?

In a crisis situation, do you want to remove yourself from familiar surroundings and the people you love? I urge each and every one of you to think about this and let your opinions be heard. Our need for quality mental-health care has not changed. If anything, that need has grown.

Unfortunately, I believe that economics is the driving force behind this decision. I understand the need for our local hospital to preserve its assets and function as a business. However, I also believe that Fox Hospital is dedicated to serving its community. Please make your needs known. Give Fox Hospital the community support it needs to keep these doors open!

Malissa MacDonald
Surprise, Ariz.

Cherry Valley-Springfield is a story of mismanagement. I am a senior citizen and have been following the debacle with the county and its tax fiasco as well as the CV-S school budget rejection. In reflection, as a Middlefield resident, I recall the initial argument of building the school on its present site (the boggy windswept ground), the need for a second wing (now used for storage), the ill-constructed bus garage, leaking roof, etc., etc., etc.

The recent budget notice uses terms as assumptions, hypothetical home values, and, if you noticed, your STAR savings are becoming less according to the notice.

A yes vote on the budget is giving a continuity of the fox watching the henhouse. Let the voters decide if the never-ending access to your wallet is to be their constant reality regarding the school budget.

Richard J. Pokorny Sr.
Middlefield