Bad times for Eldred

The only thing worse than the actual situation with the Eldred School District and its pathetic academic and financial situation is seeing Dr. Morgano paint a future rosy picture where none conceivably exists. I remember just a short while ago when Morgano spoke truth, not fantasy, but like many false idols, he chose popularity over leadership.

Chuck Petersheim

Eldred, NY

The V.A. is in trouble

The Trump administration is planning to shift billions of dollars from the budget of the Veterans Administration to private care providers. This is going to make matters go from bad to worse.

The V.A. is not providing adequate service to our veterans because [its] budget is not sufficient to hire enough medical professionals and to upgrade facilities. By taking money away, there will be even less to staff and upkeep hospitals.

When V.A. money is given to private care providers, veterans will get even less service, because part of that money will be put as profit into the pockets of the private sector.

On top of that, when this large number of veterans use the private care providers, the rest of us non-veterans will have to wait longer in line for getting care.

Does the Trump administration think that if the V.A. is doing a poor job, the blame can be shifted to the private sector? This is the way the Trump administration wants to honor our veterans? How does that make America great again? 

Debra Schneider

Milford, PA

A wonderful soul leaves us

I would like to thank Sandy Long for her heartfelt article on the poet, Mary Oliver, in this paper’s January 24 River Talk column. Mary Oliver has been a long-time inspirational and horizon-expanding poet to me, and to many others I know. Sandy’s article title “The Art of Awakening” is quite descriptive of her work. If you have never experienced Mary Oliver’s poetry I whole-heartedly suggest you do so.

Mary Oliver’s life has ended but certainly her poetry is timeless.

Thank you, Mary. Thank you, Sandy.

Michael Chojnicki

Jeffersonville, NY