Letters to the Editor: 10.13.16

The View

Springs

September 30, 2016

Dear David:

Why is it that when exiting pastoral Old Stone Highway (by Abram’s Landing Road) at the entrance to Amagansett, the view is like an old industrial site in Ohio?

Regards, 

Donald Sussis

Needs of the Children

East Hampton

October 6, 2016

To the Editor:

The board of the East Hampton Ladies Village Improvement Society has just voted to eliminate the children’s department of the Bargain Box at the end of this year, the reason being space and profit. 

I feel our mission to serve the entire community has been compromised. I wonder if your readers are aware of this decision.

Hopefully this letter will generate interest in the needs of the children of our community. 

CORINNE MARLEY

Rumors Are Circulating

Wainscott

October 6, 2016

Dear Editor,

I am Lucille Garypie, vice president of John K. Ott Cesspool Service Inc. It has come to my attention after receiving numerous telephone calls from our longtime loyal clients that rumors are once again circulating in town. These rumors state we have either gone out of business or sold our business. 

I would like to take this opportunity to let all our faithful customers know if or when we ever plan to sell our business, all of you will be notified well in advance. At that time we will certainly provide you with local ethical carters who would properly provide future service. 

LUCILLE GARYPIE

Low-Profile Recreation

East Hampton

October 5, 2016

To the Editor:

The East Hampton Star has reported on the hearing in regard to Paddle Diva this past week. It seems as if the focus of the article is on yoga, parking. and beach access, but my understanding is that this hearing was to focus on whether or not paddleboarding is an allowable use at a marina. 

It is quite logical to have a paddleboarding business at a marina, as there are sailing businesses, fishing businesses, etc., that often operate out of a marina. Paddleboards are low-profile water recreation.  

As a prior boat owner at this marina, I can tell you that Gina and her paddle business have no negative impact on the marina, and, if anything, enhance the experience of being at this marina. She is extremely respectful of boat owners and the common space, and it would be a mistake to rule against keeping her there, as this would have an effect on marinas throughout East Hampton. 

No one should be put out of business based on antiquated and outdated codes.

JILL DUBIN

The Bright Side

East Hampton

October 7, 2016

Dear Editor:

The charter school building is a wonderful building for our seniors center. The town will save money by not having to build from the ground up. The town does not even have a plan drawn up for the center. Now the transportation department and director are in a trailer. 

Look at the bright side — we will have a new building with everything in it. Those of us who use the transportation will travel a short distance more.

JULIA KAYSER

Artificial Turf Fields

Sag Harbor

October 5, 2016

Dear Editor,

I am flabbergasted by the decision of the Sag Harbor School Board to ask the voters to use approximately $300,000 from unreserved funds to subsidize the installation of a smaller version of the artificial turf plan.

Countless times, members of the public expressed concerns for the health of children who will use the artificial turf field. Toxic chemicals are released from the rubber fill that is used on the plastic “grass.” Lead, other heavy metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are examples of what is released by this fill. Lymphoma cases have radically increased in young adults who played goalie on soccer teams that had artificial turf fields.

Athletes complain of the many more abrasions and burns from falling on artificial turf. The artificial turf heats up to unhealthy temperatures. For example, in Edmonton, Canada, at a Women’s World Cup game, the outdoor temperature was 73 degrees, yet the artificial turf was at 120 degrees. Imagine what the turf will feel like when Sag Harbor’s temps reach 90 degrees. Ouch! And the board thinks it’s safe to send Junior out there to play? Forget the marketing ploy to call one type of fill “cool fill.”

We now have this scientific info that was not available when the bond was approved several years ago. Shouldn’t the board look at this issue one more time? 

I am asking the community members to attend the next board meeting on Tuesday and voice an opinion. I will be 0 to voice my concern for the health of children and how disappointed I am in this decision by the Sag Harbor School Board.

ELENA LORETO

Climate Science

Springs

October 7, 2016

Dear David,

 In a letter to The Star last week, Vincent Biondo attempted to revive a zombie myth, from 2009, about scientists conspiring to falsify data related to climate science. The charges against those scientists, referred to as Climategate by the propagandists who attempted to smear the scientists, after numerous investigations, were found to be completely without merit. All of the scientists are still in their respective positions, and remain in good standing in their field. 

I do not question Mr. Biondo’s good faith in repeating these false charges. One peer-reviewed study from Robert Brule of Drexel University identified $558 million spent by conservative think tanks funded by fossil fuel interests to cast doubt on climate science, so Mr. Biondo is not alone in having been misled by these efforts.

But Mr. Biondo, and others who harbor any doubt about the science, could, in a matter of minutes, with the magic of Google and the internet, do a bit of searching to learn what the actual science community believes. Despite the disinformation and the personal smears, the National Science Foundation, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Union of Concerned Scientists — indeed, the science academies of every industrial country on earth — believe, based on hard evidence, that climate change is the result of burning fossil fuels, and that we must curtail this pollution of the atmosphere or face catastrophic consequences worldwide. For this reason, 195 countries agreed in Paris last year to accelerate conversion to non-carbon energy sources. 

For Mr. Biondo to believe that he has some insight that is hidden from these scientific bodies would be arrogance on a par with believing that he can beat Michael Jordan at one-on-one. I sincerely hope that he will re-examine the issue, and get angry with those who have deceived him.

DON MATHESON

Rape of the Land

Wainscott

October 10, 2016

Dear Editor:

There is a federally designated sole-source  aquifer, and the deepest part lies beneath the airport. Is the “intrusion on runway airspace” a reason to inflict an ecological disaster, the destruction of 20 acres, which is only two acres short of one million square feet? Clear-cutting is a rape of the land, and the loss can never be repaired. For what? We have a curfew in place. The Clean Water Act of 1964 has severe restrictions in place on anything that “may imperil a sole-source aquifer.”

Under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, there should be an environmental impact study. I can envision driving past and seeing the forest that borders the road destroyed and maybe just stumps remain, scarring the land forever. Environmentalists proved that deforestation, in part, is responsible for global warming, not that almost a million square feet here will have a drastic effect. The question is if the town will abide and not rush into this action, and require the E.I.S.

“Removing the trees entirely, rather than trimming their tops below the clear zone, would in the long run create less disturbance.” The “ready, shoot, aim” is a ringing bell, and the forest belongs to us, not some fat cats. It is time to alert the town board that we object to this. Please let them know.

ARTHUR J. FRENCH

 

Iron the Wrinkle

East Hampton

September 24, 2016

To the Editor:

First is “like” after God created the world, he rested on the seventh day and said that what he created was very good. How can we say that we love God, whom we haven’t seen, if we don’t love our brother and sisters, whom we have seen?

Isn’t it curious that we know how to iron the wrinkle in our clothes and we don’t know how to iron the wrinkle in our own soul. No one has the right to ponder or act on what ticks another tick. Only God can read the heart of a man or woman. 

As for me, I am a toy soldier, riding a horse.

ANTHONY J. COLETTI