To The Editor

I write regarding the interesting articles and letters to the editor appearing in the Thursday April 27, 2017 edition of The Altamont Enterprise.

My interest was drawn by the headline “Incredible Emma,” a very well written human-interest article by H. Rose Schneider. Emma Detlefsen, a third-grade student in the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Elementary School suffers from lymphedema, a little known painful disease affecting the lymph nodes. Typically, when we learn that someone suffers from a painful chronic illness, it is usually an older person not someone as young as Emma.

I applaud Emma and her family and friends, “Emma's Incredibles,” for their efforts to raise awareness about this little-known disease. I'm marking my calendar and look forward to meeting this remarkable young lady at her lemonade stand at the Berne Town Park on May 20, and enjoying some of Emma’s home made lemonade.

Another informative article in The Enterprise, also by H. Rose Schneider, focused on the upcoming BKW School Board election. Without repeating The Enterprise article, there are five candidates running for the three seats that will be available.

One of the interesting factors in this upcoming election is that one of the candidates for a BKW School Board seat, Randy Bashwinger, the popular and capable town of Berne highway superintendent and a BKW School District graduate, is running against one of his former teachers, Helen Lounsbury.

The BKW School District has a multi-million-dollar budget and Randy’s children attend the BKW schools so his interest is obvious. I would like to remind Berne taxpayers that the town of Berne highway department also has a large budget.

Randy’s quiet, low-key, common-sense management increased manpower productivity and equipment efficiencies, which reduced operating expenses for the town of Berne highway department. Randy's construction experience saved Berne taxpayers many thousands of dollars when he and his team of town employees expanded and upgraded our town garage and made improvements to other neglected town-owned facilities.

Randy’s proven ability to reduce costs, eliminate waste, and keep an eye on the budget are just a few of the reasons I’m pleased to join Anne Margaret Oldick, Amie Burnside, and other like-minded district residents in supporting and endorsing Randy Bashwinger in his efforts to gain a seat on the BKW School Board.

Lastly, I agree with Richard J. Ronconi's letter to the editor regarding the Hilltowns not needing a Stewart's. Mr. Ronconi's letter hit the nail squarely on the head. He took Berne Supervisor Crosier to task for stating that a Stewart’s store would be a boon to our local businesses.

Boon? Hardly, more like a death knell. Mr. Ronconi echoes the opinions of many area residents, that Crosier cannot be taken seriously with such flawed logic. Instead of empathy for local taxpaying businesses that provide much-needed services, we have apathy.

Mike Cecunjanin and his family at the Fox Creek Market and the owners of the East Berne Mobil Mart have made a commitment to town residents by making a huge financial investment in their businesses. Recent letters to the editor of The Enterprise voiced concerns for the safety of students, hamlet residents, increased traffic, water quality. and property values.

Robert J. Motschmann III

Berne

Editor’s note: Emma Detlefsen will be selling lemonade to raise funds and consciousness for the fight against lymphedema at the Berne Town Park on May 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.