Natural gas is the only game in town
As usual, Adrian Kuzminski, in his Jan. 23 letter to the editor, perpetuates the misconception that those of us in favor of gas drilling are knuckledraggers stuck in the '50s, tooling around in our gas-guzzling Chevy convertibles, a deck of smokes rolled under the sleeve of our T-shirts, Booker T's "Night Train" playing on the radio. I suggest that the farmers, hunters, recreational users and landowners in general have a deep regard for the land they own and, by extension, the environment overall.
If energy could be economically extracted from cabbages, they'd be first in line at the cabbage patch. Hey, they own the cabbage patch.
The difference between us and the antis is that we're not delusional. Cheap, clean(er) abundant, local natural gas is here under our feet, not in some "clean energy" daydream. Until we get to Mr. Kuzminski's renewable nirvana, somehow we still have to economically turn on the lights and heat the house. That economical "turn on" is not going to happen by giving government life support to bankruptcy-bound Solyndras through subsidies and mandates. Government-supported, open-source R&D centers, created to leapfrog the technology until renewables are competitive, might be a good idea, but that isn't happening.
Meanwhile, Sustainable Otsego, when the sun isn't shining, the wind isn't blowing, the rivers aren't dammed, the tides aren't harnessed, the algae farms aren't in existence, and biomass is an applause line in a presidential speech, gas is the only game in town.
So dream on, Mr. K. Renewables may be on that distant shore. Gas is how we get there.
Dick Downey
Otego
St. Mary's lives on
And so the final chapter for St. Mary's School has been written. We closed with love in our hearts and at the same time with deep, deep sadness.
I, as a former member of St. Mary's school board, would like to congratulate Springbrook. I sat in my chair and listened carefully as the official announcement was read by Chief Executive Officer Patricia Kennedy. She was so excited. I knew in my heart how she felt at that very moment. It was the feeling I had when we decided to build St. Mary's School at the present location. I'm so very happy for the children. I said to myself at the moment ... there are no losers in this deal. From day one, it's always been about the children. I closed my eyes and thanked God for he has given Springbrook and our wonderful community this gift. I felt blessed that in whatever small way I was a part of St. Mary's School. I thank everyone who I was associated with St. Mary's for giving me the opportunity to have served.
I thank Father Joe Benintende for all of his efforts and gifts he gave to our school. A tree class-act man, who, like all of us, gave it his best shot. It wasn't meant to be.
I felt closure when I walked out of St. Mary's school. Father Paul Roman would be proud.
Jo-Ann LaMonica
Oneonta
