Dear Mark,
Historically, although we enjoy your magazine and its promotion of the region, my family and I have never vacationed in the Finger Lakes area. However, this year we decided to try somewhere different and with the help one of your advertisers we were able to locate and rent a property at Seneca Lake. In short, one could not ask for a more perfect family vacation. The lakefront home was spectacular; the owner Steve Williams, his mom (who lives next door to the rental property), went out of their way to make sure everything was just right. Their neighbors were very courteous also. Most importantly we all (especially my three daughters) had a great time with plenty to do and in fact, expect to return next year. Many thanks to your magazine for helping us experience a vacation to remember.
— The Cawley Family, Shavertown, Pennsylvania
Wind Turbines Generate Heated Correspondence
An editorial that appeared in our Summer Issue, “Can the Wind Provide an Answer?” by Life in the Finger Lakes Editor Mark Stash, drew a number of passionate responses, both for and against the construction of wind turbines in the Finger Lakes region. What follows are excerpts from those letters. To read them in their entirety, visit LifeInTheFingerLakes.com.
Mark:
As we were reminded in “Can the Wind Provide an Answer?” there is no question the “high tax situation” in upstate New York is a problem that deserves scrutiny, reform and perhaps the ouster of a few politicians. There is, however, an equally alarming problem in the extreme and shortsighted measures New York politicians have taken during the past decade or so to address the stagnant economy in the Finger Lakes region. Take a Sunday drive down Seneca Lake and you will see within a 20-mile distance how the quick-fix approach to jump-starting the local economy has taken its toll on the Finger Lakes landscape. Here is an area stripped of so much potential by an ever-expanding landfill, county jail, maximum-security prison, and a minimum-security prison located directly across the street from a quiet rural neighborhood.
For all who truly value the Finger Lakes and the preservation of their unique beauty, it comes with such disappointment that there are those who support the construction of dumps, prisons, ethanol plants and wind turbines along the Finger Lakes countryside. What is more disappointing is Life In The Finger Lakes has jumped aboard the “blight the Finger Lakes” bandwagon with its promotion of wind turbines.
— David M. Roach, Chicago
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I was very discouraged by your account of the pros and cons of the industrial wind turbines published in your magazine recently. In summary, this entire proposal for supposed “green energy” and economic contribution is nothing short of another Enron scandal bilking the public of taxpayer dollars falsely based on these two very important issues. I am continually astonished at otherwise intelligent people being duped by this perversion of facts.
— Robert C. Strasburg II
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I can’t believe that you, an intelligent person, can really believe in these industrial wind turbines. If you think $600 toilet seats and hammers were a rape of our taxpayer dollars, hang onto your butt. When you find out how much of the taxpayers’ hard-earned money has been funneled out of the country, you will be appalled.
These turbines have been in Europe for 20 years with no impact on reducing fossil fuel energy plants. Many are not operating and obsolete. Even when they are not operating they are continually using electricity. Where do you think it comes from? From a fossil fuel energy plant, of course.
— Charles Kota -A Finger Lakes resident
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Mr. Stash,
Kudos on your wind power article. My husband and I are very interested in wind power and have talked with Mr. Pittman many times. My husband is the town supervisor in Sodus, New York, and very much would like this wonderful benefit for our town. It is a great solution to a growing problem.
I look forward to reading more.
— Debbie LeRoy, Sodus
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This same debate has raged (and continues to rage from what I understand) in the pretty mountain state of West Virginia, where my brother is a resident. The windmills won, and in the area he lives there are 100 of them strung across the mountains. I do not find them offensive to look at; they are much more attractive than any communication tower residing on the same mountaintops. And I don’t totally understand the noise concern: As I stood next to three of them, the sound was not much more than the wind rustling the trees, and could not be heard above the sound of the motor in my car. Folks continue to flock to the Canaan Valley, the premier tourist spot in West Virginia, despite having to endure the sight of the windmills along the way.
— Cindy, Tioga County
Hometown articles strike a chord
Just a big thank you for making the summer issue such a delight. First, a big surprise to see our much-loved Dundee elementary school principal Bob Del Bono enjoying his retirement on a porch in Penn Yan. Then, on the same day, I received notice that my sister will be stopping in with the motor home on her way to the Lodi bluegrass festival. There was a photo in your article about the festival, and I know she is in as they were there last year.
What an issue! Keep up the good work, as the Finger Lakes area is a great place to live and to visit.
— Maxine Radcliff, Dundee
Plug for Ontrak
I enjoyed the article and intend to visit Armory Square the next time I am in Syracuse. I was a bit dismayed there was no mention of Ontrak, www.syracuseontrack.com, a local rail service linking The Carousel Mall with Armory square and Syracuse University. I know the service is sparse but it does open Armory to the vast crowds at Carousel. If promoted, it could be good for both, and also give the area a potentially valuable transportation alternative that is struggling at present. Maybe this is worth a future article?
— James Griepenburg, Pittsford
Something of interest for everyone
Your summer issue was wonderful. I give my three children a subscription every year and this issue had articles of interest for each of them.
Every story and picture was outstanding, especially one exciting account of an event in my home town.
I enjoy every publication, including the colorful advertisements. We live in a beautiful are of the lovely state of New York.
— Mary T. Berry, Watkins Glen
