Published: April 03, 2009 12:55 pm      

READERS' FORUM 4-5 | It’s time Gamesa abandons Shaffer plan

On March 17, the state Department of Environmental Protection rejected for a third time Gamesa Energy’s plan to install industrialized wind turbines on Shaffer Mountain. What part of “no” doesn’t Gamesa – and Berwind Corp. – understand?

DEP’s eight-page “Technical Deficiency Letter” was sent to Timothy Vought of Shaffer Mountain Wind LLC and lists questions that must be answered if the permit application is to be resubmitted.

I am among a lot of people wondering who is really pushing this ill-conceived and ill-thought-out project. Is it Gamesa or the landowner, Berwind?

It would seem that after three years of public outrage – not to mention the many ecological studies pertaining to plant, fish, bird and wildlife, forest, soil and water conservation; and two exceptional-value trout streams – that Gamesa would cut its losses and move on.

This does not seem to be in the cards. 

Why, Mr. Vought?

This rush to green energy in this particular instance smells of the stench of big business, greed, power and politics.

This project would destroy one of the most pristine wilderness areas in the state – an area visited by so many.

This needs to be saved.

It also would compromise, if not outright harm, Windber Area Authority’s watershed and recharge area.

Berwind Corp. has devastated and destroyed so much of Somerset County; please leave something for “seed.” Leave something for future generations.

As for Gamesa and Vought, if they and Berwind want a wind complex, put it on the Berwind strippings – a stone’s throw away from this ill-proposed wind project.

Joseph J. Cominsky

Windber



Hearts and wallets opened for fire victim

On March 28, a fundraiser was held for John Heilein at my family’s picnic grounds. He was the unfortunate victim of a house fire this past February.

John is a quiet guy who has lived his entire life in Tanneryville. It was a great feeling to see so many people from the community show up to support our friend.

I am very proud to say that all of the musicians who donated their time and talent are my friends – TREE, The Cash Review, and Jeff Rushin, who plays great Neil Young music.

I might add that I played a few songs myself.

Everyone just loved their music.

Thanks, guys.

A number of businesses came through as well to help sponsor this event.

Thank you all for making this a success – not for me, but for John.

Craig Cernic

Johnstown



Obama at Notre Dame event irrational

A few questions to be considered about local and national issues:

* What lunacy prompted the administration at Notre Dame, the most famous Catholic university in the country, to invite President Obama, the most famous pro-choice advocate in the country, to speak at its commencement exercise?

* Why are our county commissioners so adamant about chasing the Chiefs out of Johnstown? Do they have a secret plan to lure the NCAA basketball finals here in 2011 and want to avoid scheduling conflicts? The Chiefs’ leaving wouldn’t be a real boon to the local economy, would it?

* When will people realize that talking on a cell phone while driving a vehicle is not only inconsiderate but can be extremely dangerous? Equating talking on a cell phone to listening to the radio is like equating a hurricane to a soft breeze.

* How many politicians and bureaucrats would squeal like hogs being led to the slaughterhouse if the tobacco companies would cease all operations and sales in the United States, thus denying the political class billions of dollars in taxes? Something tells me that “health concerns” would be moved to the back of the bus as the politicians begged the tobacco interests to resume operations.

* Does anyone really believe that raising taxes and discouraging innovation and hard work will help the economy? If you do, would you be willing to buy some oceanfront property in Arizona?

Gregory Gyauch

Westmont



Obama is up to fixing Bush-Cheney mess

When George W. Bush stole the election from Al Gore, President Clinton left him a budget surplus. And when Bush left office, he gave President Obama a $1.3 trillion deficit.

With the help of his union-busting Republicans in the House and Senate, Bush passed tax cuts. Ninety percent of the money it cost the government for the Bush tax cuts went to the 10 percent of the wealthiest people.

Bush’s prescription drug plan bans Medicare from negotiating lower prices with drug companies. This benefits the drug companies and bankrupts Medicare.

Don’t forget about the no-bid contracts handed out to Dick Cheney’s old company, Halliburton, and its subsidiaries.

The war in Iraq costs the U.S. government $12 billion a month. More than 4,200 of our underpaid troops serving in Iraq have died and thousands more have been maimed for life. Who knows how many innocent Iraqis have been killed, wounded or displaced?

Bush and Cheney told the American people that Suddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and was responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks. Both lies.

I read Dorothy Seth’s March 31 letter (“We’re finding Obama’s ‘change’ is not good”) saying if we want the truth we should listen to Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, Michael Savage and Rush Limbaugh.

My advice to all the Bushites is to take a deep breath and calm down. President Obama will get us out of the mess left by Bush and Cheney.

God bless, President Obama.

Ralph A. Swank

Johnstown