To the Editor:

Being a former Hilltown resident in both Berne and Knox, I am familiar with some of the people and the landscape. My wife and I travel to the Hilltowns every summer. We love it there, but just in the summer as I cannot take the cold anymore.

Now, I'm going to make some comments, hopefully without losing some friends.

Both towns have good people running the everyday business of the towns but I see that a lot of effort is spent trying to put these leaders down instead of putting effort toward the future.

There are a lot of good people in both towns and I’m sure you really don’t hate each other; you just don’t agree. Try working issues out by compromise; it works.

The Fox Creek Market in Berne is very good for the community but, if you take all the residents going there at the same time, there would be no room. So there is room for a Stewart’s Shop; those shops are good neighbors everywhere they build. They will not destroy other businesses in town; they will give you more options and create competition, which is good for the residents.

If Berne doesn’t get a Stewart’s, then Knox will, then you will kick yourselves for not moving forward. I’ll bet there are a lot of people in each town who would like to have a Stewart’s.

You will be surprised, when you allow growth, how it will improve the towns, the feelings of the residents, and the good feeling of moving ahead.

Pete Buchardt

Englewood, Florida