Opinion

Are you one of the thousands of people who visited and enjoyed Great Bear Springs Recreation Area in the last year? Did you know that the northern third of Great Bear is actually private property? The owner has generously allowed public access to trails over the past 10 years, but now has put this 130-acre property up for sale.

I have to say, as an Oswegonian, I was truly disappointed with the 4th of July parade this year. I decided to take the time to write this as I feel it holds much merit. With our current city disintegration, I thought perhaps this year’s parade would be a perfect opportunity to bring pride, fellowship, respect and humanity back to our city of Oswego. Instead of neighborly handshakes and smiles, I witnessed advertisements and profits to be made.

On May 10, 2014, it was reported -“Fulton Mayor says ALDI project still a go.” “Ralph Stacy Jr. of the city’s planning commission addressed the mayor and the council during the public forum, saying that several people had approached him after hearing that Aldi’s proposal was ‘in jeopardy.’”

The 17th Annual Hospice Cup Regatta, held on June 18, raised more than $20,000 – that will be used to support Oswego County Hospice patients and their families. Our success is directly tied to the support we receive from this community, both businesses and individuals. The Friends of Oswego County Hospice extends a sincere thank-you to the many volunteers and sponsors who commitment to the Oswego County Hospice Cup Regatta again made the event an outstanding success.

The Oswego Public Library encourages people of all ages to visit the library. For the past year, the library has experienced problems posing both a disruptive and unsafe environment to our patrons and visitors. To address these problems the library has hired a security firm to assist the staff in handling and preventing such issues from occurring in the future.

The Oswego Public Library Board of Trustees and staff wish to thank the public for supporting the recent increase to its annual budget.

This is in regard to County Legislator Frank Castiglia’s recent letter to the editor. I’m going to try to shed some truth on his scattered and random thoughts.

It’s happening. G. Ray Bodley High School is losing a legend. That word is sometimes thrown around and applied too loosely; the characterization often too veiled. However, for the purpose of describing Mr. Len Senecal, it seems to fit all too well. From collaborating and producing excellent journalism and a phenomenal yearbook, to sharing stories and reveling in our shared music interests, I have been proud to call Mr. Senecal a friend for many years.

Last year, taxes went up. This year, fees are going up. We must ask ourselves if this is a means of helping the revitalization of the city or just another straw on our backs. Fees are just another form of a tax. Fees for improving your house in any shape or form may start to cost you more.