Thanks a lot ... not

Dear Editor,

Congratulations to the APA, DEC, Residents’ Committee to Protect the Adirondacks, The Sierra Club and The Nature Conservancy in shutting out campers from the Mason Lake area.

I camped there for 40 years starting in 1968. The area looks much the same now as it did then.

I remember the old outhouse across the road from the first campsite. I remember families similar to mine camping there. I remember occasional rowdies playing music too loud and consuming high school quantities of beer. I remember the camaraderie of deer hunters telling lies at The Inn or Melody as they came to town from the lake to warm up and re-supply their camps.

The plan now is to eliminate those pesky taxpayers, especially those of modest means (who can’t afford a weekend at the Whiteface Club) from having access to this long established camping area. They need to be penned up in “approved” areas out of site of the environmental elites.

Hopefully, this trend spreads to the entire Adirondack Park, and permitted visitors are forced to park their cars in Amsterdam and walk into the park. By the way, I see where a “permit” is now required, but the cost of a permit was not mentioned.

Paul Chechak

Rochester

Editor’s Note: The permits are free. DEC regulation requires camping permits for people camping for more than three nights and for groups of 10 or more.

Gambling addicts at risk

To the editor:

The losses of gaming and wagering sometimes go far beyond the bet or price of a ticket. People who gamble can fall victim to addiction just like people who drink or use drugs.

Just like other addictions, pathological gambling can begin during adolescence. Just like other addictions a person will beg, borrow and steal to feed the addiction. They will neglect their families, abuse family members, reject friends and lose everything chasing a win.

Problem gamblers have the highest rate of suicide and attempted suicide than any other addiction.

If you or someone you know has a compulsion to: buy lottery tickets every day, bet a lot of money on sports (which is illegal), get to a casino once a month or more, spend hours every day gambling on line, then they probably have a gambling problem and need help. There is help at 877-846-7369 or www.nyproblemgambling.org.

Also, remember that scratch-offs are not for kids. That is why the age requirement is 18.

The odds are never in your favor.

Dorean Page

HFM Prevention Council

Johnstown

Keep camping areas

Dear Cris,

If the state closes camping along Rt. 8, Gilmantown Road, Mason Lake Barrier Dam and you can’t access state land from side roads, I feel a large parking lot at Spruce Lake Trailhead will increase campers where there are only three lean-tos, which are occupied most of the time and you have to share them with someone else.

I feel EnCon shouldn’t close camping areas we already have and send these people into Wild Forest and increase traffic on the Northville Lake Placid Trail.

I can’t see sending campers up Jessup River Road, with sharp corners that you can’t see around.

The state is supposed to save money; I can’t imagine the cost to improve this road.

There is easy access from Bakers Mills to Wells along Rt. 8 where I feel there could be 100 sites for travel trailers, mobile homes etc.

I would appreciate readers’ opinions on this matter.

Louis Page Sr.

106 Jims Hill Rd.

Speculator NY 12164

Vote for Joseph Chilelli

Dear Editor,

I would like to announce my support for, and share with fellow voters in the new 118th Assembly District why Joseph Chilelli (D) would make for an excellent and productive representative in the state Assembly.

The new 118th formerly the 117th is the result of re-districting. Encompassing communities on the northern banks of the Mohawk River to the banks of the St. Lawrence, it is one of three new Assembly districts.

 In order for this region to be recognized and successful on the state level, securing economic grants and low interest loans, these three assemblypersons must work closely and cooperatively. Understanding regional issues and having similar philosophy and policies to solve them will be crucial.

Joe has shown the knowledge and ability to work with others and across the political aisle. As a former Herkimer County legislator he worked diligently with colleagues to save taxpayer dollars and maintain a high quality of life by offering real and viable alternatives and solutions. Coming from a professional background, Joe understands the added stress increased taxes and regulations have on an already overburdened economy and small business.

I know Joe personally, and having worked with him on many private and public issues I know he is a man of character, faith and integrity. He has his own ideas and valuable leadership qualities; I have always known him to be open to debate, respectful to others’ ideology, and most importantly will seek assistance from others when necessary and useful.

Our region for the past couple of decades has not received the recognition or respect from the Assembly that it deserves. We are rich in natural and human resources, and have the potential to use them for the benefit of the entire state and country.

Joe realizes and understands this, and has the capacity to work with the majority and form legislative relationships that will prove vital in regaining economic opportunities and statewide notoriety.

This Nov. 6 Election Day, please consider change and a new step forward for the area and vote Joseph Chilelli (D) for the 118th Assembly District.

David W. Murray

Ilion

Writing is on the wall

Dear Cris,

In 1990 I became supervisor and county legislator for the Town of Arietta. At that time New York state claimed we had a six million-acre state park.

Recently, in August of this year, the state purchased another 69,000-acre tract, at $47.4 million of taxpayer monies, that they plan to add to the forest preserve.

This is just the latest purchase that includes the Gooley Club in Essex County. My question is from 1990 until now how much land has been purchased and added to the forest preserve, shut off the lakes to float planes, closed the roads and taken out of timber production?

It sure isn’t six million acres any more, it has to be close to eight million acres.

Thousands of acres were purchased in the last 20 some years. How much more land does the state need?

What is happening to the local residents and their ability to make a living here anymore? Our schools are losing students some closing. The state can’t afford the upkeep of the bridges and roads.

I can see the young working family residents are not going to be able to stay here. The elite few that are running this operation cannot see what is coming down the road economically.

Henry Rogers

Lake Pleasant