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Image provided by: Guilderland Public Library
Tn tfce Editor: \Lesbians and scftboll teams gp together like cookies and milk...come on, wh^t about gay guyf and the wrestling and football teams?\ Under tne guise of a program on tolerance of homosexuals, these words were spoken by the guest speaker at an assembly at the Guilderland Kigh School for students on Monday morning. The guest speaker, Dr. Karen Harbeck, presented a program that portrayed the homosexual teenager as a vic- tim of among other things, parents who surely do not un- derstand, and would possibly abandon and put them out on the street where they would surely contemplate suicide. The liberal Guilderland school district decided to slip this program in under the nose of unsuspecting and uninformed parents. As parents of a high schooler we found out about this upcoming program by reading about it in the Schenectady Gazette Saturday and hearing about it school's on 'wGY talk radio, also Saturday afternoon. Does the administration of our esteemed school district think that parents do not want to be involved in programs that impact, our children, especially in areas thai touch upon moral issues and values? As a concerned parent, I attended the program and was astonished At the warped ideas about sexuality that were thrown out as fact. I am glad I was there to be able to intelligently discuss the sub- ject with my teenager when she returned from school. When does parental notifica- tion not become necessary? Are not parental rights more important and bear more au- thority than the educational liberalism of this district? The school district obviously thought that it was not impor- tant to let us know what our children would be hearing in school. We are notified about items in the health curriculum that are being shown, why not let us know when a so-called authority (and openly admitted lesbian) on the Subject of homosexual tolerance will be addressing our sons and daughters. I strongly disagree with the principal and administrators' position that parental notifica- tion was not necessary since this was just one more presen- tation on tolerance of a minor- ity group. Do we really put the discussion of homosexual tolerance on the same level as discussion of racism? I think not. I hope this issue is strongly addressed at the school board meeting, and I urge parents to become in- volved in what their children are being subjected to under the guise of education. By the way, I am sure that the opening quote from Dr. Harbeck was meant as a joke, but unfortunately, I know that some of the girls on the GHS Softball team are already the butt of that joke...so much for tolerance. Mary Elario- Henry Elario Altamont Salerno and Whipple pushed envelope too far To the Editor: As a Guilderland parent, my elementary school children will eventually enter the high school, and I cannot let this issue pass by without com- ment. It is regarding the ho- mosexual tolerance presenta- tion at the high school on April 8. I believe superinten- dent Blaise Salerno and prin- cipal Jack Whipple have overstepped an acceptable boundary. The. formation of the gay and lesbian alliance raised a few eyebrows, but with all due respect to these students, they had every right to meet after school to discuss their concerns and feelings. They seemed to be a group of thoughtful students, mainly concerned with being able to learn in an environment free of harassment and threats. Every student deserves that freedom. They had the support of the administration and speaker Dr. Karen Harbeck, herself a lesbian. Dr Harbeck was then given another forum; she spoke to the high school faculty about homosexual issues, and that seems reasonably acceptable also. However, now Dr. Har- beck is given yet another fo- rum, an assembly with the entire high school student body to give \A purely infor- mational presentation [which] will provide information on homosexuality for teenagers.\ The Gazette leads us to believe that Salerno and Whipple believe they have a responsibility as public school administrators to bring this controversial issue to the fore- front of diversity training, and equate it with other programs on Native Americans, blacks, and other minorities. I have* a great deal of respect for these men and their educational philosophies; I support budgets and the high school building referendum, but this situation is unacceptable. There is no way for high school parents to monitor a controversial presentation such as this. My feeling is that when you take ah issue to this extent, you begin to defeat your purpose. You move beyond the simple- ness and practicality of giving respect and compassion to ev- ery human being by singling out one group. It becomes meaningless. Lea Sandberg Guilderland V'ville firefighters clarify their position To the Editor: Oh behalf of the membership of the Voorheesville Volunteer Fire Department, I am writing this letter to clarify issues raised by concerned residents about the referendum for the Service Awards Program. 1. Legislation was passed in 1988 to enable volunteer fire- fighters to participate in a Ser- vice Awards program to aid in retaining and recruiting per- sonnel. The law does not allow \other\ volunteer organizations to participate at this time. What other \volunteer group\ risks their lives on every call? 2. All volunteer firefighters are professional, just not paid. OSHA mandates a required level of physical health and training in fire attack subjects. 3. The village of Voorhees- ville owns the fire department. It is operated by volunteer personnel,. A paid staff would be much more expensive to maintain. OSHA requires a minimum four-person crew per truck* operated at a cost of $45,000 per firefighter. A twenty-four hour staff, which works fifty weeks per year, would require severiteen (17) have to be maintained to aid the paid department in the event of major fire. 4. Village property tax assessments raise approxi- mately $100,000 per year, or 8.5 percent of the $1,200,000 budget for the village of Voorheesville. The proposed Service Awards Program cost outlined in the Mayor's newsletter needs clari- fication. The actual cost to each household has been estimated at $28 per year, or $2.33 monthly, for the first ten years of the \buy back;\ and $22 yearly there- after, if all firefighters meet the eligibility requirements of the program. Currently, 38 firefighters have one to five years of eligible prior service and can partici- pate in some portion of the cred- ited \buy back.\ The maximum number of firefighters allowed to participate in the program is fifty. 5. The Voorheesville Volun- teer Fire Department is in- volved with many \commun- ity\ programs. Proceeds from our fund-raising events, such as Las Vegas Night, are used to benefit many organizations, including New Scotland Pop Warner ...Football, Voorhees- High School yearbook, 'oorheesville High School |||Cn»^ fcoorfceesville jml«%^J^Ql pupils to^fWtifo&i Fire Aware- Jli %ig*l«iK;Counfy.. Sheriffs D.A.R.E. program, Pine Bush Little League, FASNY Firemen's Home, Voorheesville Area Ambu- lance, Saint Peter's Hospice, \Open House\ Poster contest, Albany County Sheriffs Hill- town Children's Christmas Drive, and our many firematic associations. OSHA recom- mends that firefighters partici- pate in a physical fitness pro- gram; which is maintained at a local fitness center at a cost of $1,800 per year. The Voorheesville Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1902. Since that time, it has provided ninety-four years of essential service to the com- munity. It will continue to be a well trained, aggressive attack volunteer fire service charged with the responsibility of pro- tecting community property. Please support the Service Award Program. We urge you to vote Tuesday, April 16, at the Voorheesville firehouse from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. August H. Jones, Jr., Secretary Voorheesville Volunteer Fire Department Buck In Time* • • SST 1896 100 Years Ago 1996 Altamont Enterprise, April 10,1896 From Westerlo: The ordinary quiet of our village was subjected to a change last Saturday night. The store of Ferris Swartout was broken open and about $40 in cash taken therefrom. No goods were missed and the evident intent of the outlaws was money. They gained entrance by breaking a light of glass in one of the front doors, reaching in and removing the bar that was across the doors and removed part of the lock. No clue to the parties yet. — The unwelcome death angel came to the home of Rev. C.E. Lewis last week and plucked the tenderest bud of promise, the infant daughter, from the loving embrace of a devoted mother, from the highly appreciated companionship of a fond father, and frtfm the home circle that had been cheered and made more bright and beautiful for nearly a year by its innocent presence. The last sad rites for the \little one,\ whose purity was too complete for the sin-chilled atmosphere of earth, were quietly and impressively held on Saturday p.m.... ***** From Elsmere: Accidental week — David Baxter had a burning cinder removed from his eye; Lorenzo Van Wie's youngest child had a kernel of corn removed from his nostril; Elsworth Van Wie's little girl was taken to the city to have a grain of corn removed from her ear; Harry Lawyer's horse became quite coltish and ran away; Mrs. G.D. Groesbeck's horse was standing at William Van Wie's when the wind blew horse, cart and weight up Elsmere Ave., cutting his hind leg quite badly; Mr. Piatt had his coat torn by the barb wire fence on \Florist\ Saxton's place; Nellie Piatt also has a dress badly torn. About time it was taken before complaints are made. From South Westerlo: Our village is about to have a creamery. The stock, which is nearly all taken, is principally owned by neighboring farmers. It will no doubt be a profit and prosperity to the surrounding country. *fC J|C ^* ^ 5 *fi From Clarksville: \Lover's Glen\ is spanned by a new bridge in place of the one downed by the late freshet. Architect Ingraham superintended the work. — Miss Anna Michel, formerly of Cohoes, is fitting up the rooms opposite the Post Office for a millinery establishment. When fully equipped it will pay the ladies to make her a call as her amiability and fine stock of goods cannot fail to please everyone. ***** To the editor: I have seen nothing in your paper relating to the caucus meetings of the two political parties in this town, held in our village some little time past. Well, they Have been held, and we survive. First the stronger party, engineered by the.\boss\ and his lieutenants, at Fuller's Hotel, on the 21st ult. This was (in spite of the secret conference of the organization, held at the tin-shop) a complete victory for the organization. The ticket finally made out at a meeting of the delegates is headed by our present supervisor.... ***** Remarkable twins: The greatest human monstrosity now living perhaps is the freak referred to as the \twins of Lacona.\ They, or it, has one body, two legs, two heads and four arms. The freak is now well along toward its majority, having been born on July 4, 1875. In Italy, where the monstrosity was born. It is well known in the annals of the curious and wonderful in nature as the Tocci brothers. One head of the monstrosity is of fair complexion, resembling the mother. This blonde head speaks Italian and French. The other head is covered with black hair and has a dark, swarthy complexion. It speaks German and English. In the esti- mation of the medicos it is a much more wonderful freak than the Siamese twins ever were. ZU%m WEI — M A^ mmm ^ m lri/6 JSfficsrprise Published continuously since July 26, 1884 . . JAMBS E. GARDNER CHRISTOPHER SANFORD«-» NYPA Publisher Editor MKy NEWS OFFICE — 861-5005 BUSINESS OFFICE — 861-6641 Features Editor BRYCE BUTLER (861-5004) Staff Writers ANDREW SCHOTZ (861-5008) MELISSA HALE-SPENCER (861-5005) ED McMULLEN (861-5005) ROB JONAS (861-5005) Advertising Director DREW EHRLICH (861-5893) Advertising Representative JANISTASTOR (861-6331) Office Manager WANDA GARDNER (861-6641) Operations Management JAMES E. GARDNER JR. (861-8571) Production TERRY SCHELL, DAN BLAKE, JANEGANGAI, JUDYROSS, JENNIFERMICHASIOW, KATHYGADDIS, BARBARA DEGAETANO PUBLISHED THURSDAYS at 123 Maple Ave., Altamont, NY 12009. Second-class postage paid at Altamont, NY. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Altamont Enterprise, PO Box 654, Altamont, NY 12009. USPS 692-580, ISSN 0890-6025. OFFICE HOURS: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. OFFICE PHONES: MAIN OFFICE, 861-6641; NEWS, 861-5004; EDITORIAL, 861-5005. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: For Albany County residents, one year, $24; six months, $18. For out-of-county subscribers, one year, $26; six months, $21. Postal charges incurred by a subscriber's failure to notify the newspaper of an address change will be billed to the subscriber upon renewal. No refunds on subscriptions. ADVERTISEMENT RATES available upon request. The publisher reserves the right to reject advertising at any time for any reason. Liability for errors in advertisements will, at the publisher's discretion, be limited to the value of the ad only. NEWS DEADLINES: For correspondent's columns, Monday before publication. For all other contributions, Tuesday before publication. Submissions must be accompanied by the writer'sname, address and phone number. CORRECTIONS: The Enterprise will correct errors and clarify, misunderstandings in news stories when brought to the attention of the editor, phone 861-5005. VTEWPOINTSexpreMedbyBtaffmembers.contributingwritersand correspondents do „ not necessarily reflect those of the ownership of The Enterpriser QUESTIONS aad COMMENTS concerning the content of this newspaper should be directed to the «djtor by calling 861-5005 or in the form of a letter to the editor. WEDDING AND ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS Will be printed free of c when »Ubi^5tt6dl?itnout a photograph. A$6ie9Wuliecha7^forsytou^<^ment« KiilM ——Mi I, ,. i| i|( I nil mi II < I, I n'«>iilwi llli I ' III Jill ll^'l II I W l ill iif[iTf ^.•li.»»li : iVi.-^Mi.lJiliiiWKltVji'i**
