To the Editor:

I think Altamont is becoming a microcosm of the United States as a whole (hole). People have become apathetic, disengaged and totally devoid of interest.

The village election brought out 60-plus people. The mayor blamed the weather. Does anyone really believe that?

I was told the Memorial Day parade was poorly attended. Same thing: “Weather.” That could very well be because it did rain some.

But the people who were on Lincoln and Western avenues had the same kind of rain but that is no longer part of the parade route.

I was told that military armament such as tanks and half-tracks mounted with guns could not parade.

If that is true, somebody better get their act together and remember that these are some of the vehicles that provided us with a Memorial Day.

George Pratt

Altamont

Editor’s note: According to Dennis Cyr, commander of the Boyd Hilton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, which helped with the last Sunday’s Memorial Day parade in Altamont, “We had guns. We always like to see that.”

Cyr surmised that the rain on Sunday might have discouraged some of the usual participants from being part of the annual parade because mounted guns require special cleaning if they get wet.

Cyr concluded that guns are part of the military experience.

To the Editor:

The Hilltowns Community Resource Center would like to give a big thanks for the many wonderful contributions made to our food pantry the past few weeks.

First, to the Berne-Knox-Westerlo elementary student council and Mrs. Colleen Demuth for all their hard work and the generous food donations made to the food pantry.

Also, a big thank-you to the post offices and community members that were so generous during the “Stamp Out Hunger” campaign on May 11.

We are very appreciative to everyone who supports our resource center and helps others in need.

Mary Beth Peterson

and Kathy Whitbeck

Hilltowns Community

Resource Center

To the Editor: 

Throughout New York State, in most every county, there has been legislation that is calling upon the governor and state legislators to repeal the so-called “SAFE Act.” This SAFE [Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement] Act legislation was an emotional knee-jerk reaction to the horrendous school shootings in Connecticut.

The problem with the SAFE Act is that it is not safe except that it provides more burdens to law-abiding citizens who choose to protect themselves. Furthermore, this legislation gives open access to criminals to determine who owns legal firearms.

Imagine if a criminal can go into a database and discover who is unprotected (without weapons) and target those homes only. It’s as if this legislation were designed by criminals in order to take advantage of the weak.

Here in my town of Berne we are very civic minded and we despise this SAFE Act since we know the importance of individual liberties and the need for people to be able to defend themselves. For that reason, the Berne Town Hall was jam-packed with residents demanding a repeal of the SAFE Act.

With such a groundswell of concern, the Berne Town Board with the Berne supervisor drafted legislation that would let New York State know that there are people in Berne who are concerned about this issue but in no way did it condemn the SAFE Act and demand that it be repealed.

In fact, one Berne board member, Bonnie Conklin, who is a strong gun-rights advocate, would not even sign on to this watered-down legislation because it was so lukewarm and was simply designed to appease the overwhelming demand by the citizens. She was told that a strong proposal to oppose the SAFE Act might offend the governor.

I did not win the supervisor position last year but, if not offending the governor is what dictates legislation for the town of Berne, then it’s time to get some backbone and stand up like the good citizens of Berne would do and declare with a new slate of candidates that this SAFE Act is to be opposed and condemned.

Bill Keal

Berne

Editor’s note: Bill Keal, who ran on the Republican line for supervisor, was defeated by Democrat Kevin Crosier. He said he plans to run again. Councilwoman Bonnie Conklin is the Berne Town Board’s sole Republican.