MAIL BAG â??LETTERS FROM READERS

I am a senior citizen living on a fixed income; the school property taxes have become a big burden for me, as well as for many seniors in Pennsylvania.

Aaron Kaufer is the only candidate who has consistently stated without any reservations that he will work to get state House Bill 1776 passed. I wrote about this in a letter to the editor on June 15, and at that time the bill was tabled. Since then, various factions have waffled regarding its passage, but Aaron Kaufer consistently has supported it. His election opponent has waffled on the bill, presumably because of her backing by certain interests – and they are not seniors or middle-income people.

If you want your school property taxes removed, then do as I am doing and vote for Aaron Kaufer on Nov. 6.

Thomas Dombroski

Trucksville

Where's the hypocrisy, Jane George? It's you, Ms. George! I take exception with your letter to the editor (Is marriage debate without hypocrisy, Oct. 21) and chastise The Times Leader for printing a letter filled with misinformation.

No one is forced to perform or participate in gay weddings. No one. Not one Christian florist, wedding planner, caterer is forced to do any wedding, let alone gay wedding, if they do not choose to.

Don't like gay marriage? Don't have one. Don't approve of them? Don't participate. No one, not the state or federal government, can force you to.

Francis Saba

Dallas

It's election time and again I see pro-life signs in many yards. Pro-life is a noble idea. It's a perfect idea in an imperfect world. But every election the Republican Party plays on this emotional issue by saying it is the pro-life party. It couldn't be further from the truth.

In 25 years the Republicans have never put forward any bill that would do anything at all in that direction. But every election time they beat the same old drum and they fool many to vote for them over and over.

This is not a one-issue election.

If Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and his gang win, the millionaires will control everything: government, the military, the Supreme Court, the environment. They probably will do away with the Environmental Protection Agency so polluters will have carte blanche, deregulate banks and the stock market and cut school funding, food stamps, public radio and TV.

Say goodbye to the country we know.

Remember, they have all the money and count on you being uninformed and easily led. Lies told over and over are believed by many.

Robert Hagen

West Wyoming

This letter is about FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, regarding the placement of West Pittston on probation and the suggestion to residents that we abandon our properties. These are irritating and unnecessary scare tactics.

West Pittston is a small community and one of many that was devastated by the flood in September 2011. I find it appalling that politicians wanted to make this an opportunity for a photo-op. Instead, what they should have done was put on boots, rubber gloves, stuffed their noses with cotton (because of the smell of the mud) and helped the residents, instead of sitting in their lofty offices promoting what they have done. There is one exception here, and that is U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, who trudged along with all of us.

I would like to know what the people from FEMA were doing. I am not talking about the workers. I am talking about the managers. What they have done is made proclamations about our town, our council and about our recovery.

The officials of this town did a marvelous job in preparing us for the onslaught of the flood. After it came, they provided us guidance and opportunities to take care of our properties. In fact, they assisted our town in ways that are too numerous to mention. The local Catholic church fed more than 800 flood victims and their families every day for more than a month and the Methodist church provided free lunches for the cleanup workers. The Amish and Mormons also came here to help us.

FEMA, on the other hand, did virtually nothing, yet we support it with our tax money.

FEMA, you should be ashamed. I do not know when you came here to a public meeting to talk about this subject to the residents of West Pittston. I would like to know where you placed the notice, where you held the meeting and who, on behalf of FEMA, came to talk to the residents of West Pittston about the probationary status.

Michael J. Cefalo

West Pittston

On behalf of the Max & Lorraine Foundation we thank the golfers, hole sponsors and individual donors who made our 19th annual tournament a success.

The foundation was formed in memory of Lorraine Button Tracy, who passed away at age 40, and her son, Max, who was only 10 at the time of his passing.

This year, 46 children were able to attend Camp AsthmaCadabra at the YMCA's Camp Kresge in White Haven. Without Camp AsthmaCadabra, children with asthma would not be able to safely enjoy the camping experience.

A special thank-you to Cathy Gower, banquet manager, and the entire staff at Mountain Laurel golf club, located in White Haven.

Our heartfelt thanks to our volunteers who have donated their time year after year, making our event memorable. A very special thank-you to the Corazza family at Fairway Chevrolet, for the car sponsorship for a hole in one.

We also emphasize that it is your kind donations that keep alive our highly successful asthma camp project. We thank you for your kind and generous support and hope it will continue next year.

Michael Tracy

Dawn Timmeney

and

Kathleen Button

Max & Lorraine Foundation

Mountain Top