Port Chester Roundup: 07/28/09

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

07/28/09 The Raw Port Chester News Feed

New York School Board Approves Pregnancy Tests for Students
FOXNews
PORT CHESTER, NY — Students in one suburban New York community may soon be able to get pregnancy tests at school health centers. ...

Sessions Plans to Vote Against Sotomayor
New York Times
Port Chester, NY, the Ricci discrimination case involving the New Haven firefighters and Maloney v. Cuomo, the nunchakus weapons ban that gun-rights ...

NY High School To Provide Pregnancy, STD Testing
WCBS-TV New York
A recent decision by the Port Chester Board of Education has some thinking it's too much intrusion. As Port Chester High School gets ready for the new ...

N.Y. high school to provide pregnancy, STD testing SmallGovTimes.com
By News Bites
PORT CHESTER, NY (CBS) ― Is it providing high school students a needed service or shutting parents out of their teen's lives? A recent decision by the Port.
SmallGovTimes.com - http://www.smallgovtimes.com/

Pregnancy Tests for Students? - Pregnancy - Families.com
Students in Port Chester, NY may soon be able to get pregnancy tests at school health centers. The clinics, which are in the village's elementary, middle and high schools, will offer both pregnancy and STD tests, as well as offer ...
Pregnancy Blog - http://pregnancy.families.com/blog/

Personal Health Information Privacy » NY High School To Provide ...
By Dissent
As Port Chester High School gets ready for the new school year, officials have signed off on a new service that will offer free testing for sexually transmitted diseases and even pregnancy testing to any student who asks. ...
Personal Health Information Privacy - http://www.phiprivacy.net/

The Neighborhood Retail Alliance: Willets Point: Evict Not!
By Neighborhood Retail Alliance
Port Chester: "In 2005, the high court took on the eminent-domain case of Kelo v. New London. In a controversial decision, the justices said that local governments could use eminent domain to spur economic development that would benefit ...
The Neighborhood Retail Alliance - http://momandpopnyc.blogspot.com/

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About Port Chester

History

Wandering tribes of Mohegan Indians were the earliest inhabitants of the area known today as Rye Town and the Village of Port Chester. The first white settlers were a group of enterprising young men and women who came from the English colony of Connecticut in 1660. After land purchases from the Indians, negotiated mostly by Peter Disbrow, they settled on the island of "Manussing," for which they had paid "eight cotes and seven shirts fifteen fathom of womone." Although the land was part of the territory claimed by the Dutch, the defiant colonists drew up a proclamation in 1662 declaring allegiance to Charles of England. Through further treaties with the Indians, their combined holdings soon comprised all of what is now the City of Rye, Town of Rye, Harrison, White Plains and parts of Greenwich, North Castle and Mamaroneck. In 1665 the General Court of Connecticut merged the settlement under the name of Rye, in honor of a prominent family among the early colonists who has come from Rye, England.

For nearly one hundred years, Rye was disputed territory between New York and Connecticut, until finally, in 1788, the New York State legislature officially established the Town of Rye boundaries. The group of settlers moved outward from Manursing Island and eventually developed Peningo Neck (the present business section of the City of Rye) and "Saw Pit" as Port Chester was commonly called then. Saw Pit (also know as Saw Pits and Saw Pit Landing), was named for the saw-mill and boat building shop near the mouth of the Byram River where the community evolved. It was little more than a hamlet until near the Revolutionary War period. But with its good harbor and growing shipbuilding industry, the port became a natural outlet for farm produce from the surrounding countryside.

During the Revolutionary War, Saw Pit was an important military outpost. Both armies vied for possession of the port, and the village was nearly destroyed in the crossfire. In 1776, American General Israel Putnam used the Bush Homestead, in what is now John Lyon Park, as his headquarters. When the clamor of the Revolution settled, the area was rebuilt and its shipping and shipbuilding industries prospered. Before long it had become an important steamboat stop, the eastern "port of Westchester." The name Port Chester was adopted in 1837. On May 4, 1868, Port Chester was incorporated as a village with specified limits within the Town of Rye.

The decline in agriculture and shipping came during the latter half of the 19th century, with the establishment of major railroads. Gradually the community changed from a port and trading center to a manufacturing center. By 1950, Port Chester was among the leading factory towns in the Lower Hudson Valley. Many well-known corporations had headquarters or production centers in the village, including Life Savers, Empire Brush Works, Arnold Bread, Fruit of the Loom and Russell Burdsall Nut & Bolt Co. On evenings and weekends, Port Chester's downtown hummed with vitality, as residents of neighboring towns flocked to the village's stores and restaurants. During the 1970s, most of the factories began to move south or west. Like many other manufacturing communities in the Northeast, Port Chester struggled with a declining economic base. In 1984, Lifesavers shut down its North Main Street factory after 64 years, the last major manufacturer to leave the village.

Since then, Port Chester has revitalized itself with a growing retail and service economy. Port Chester's downtown Restaurant Row is renowned throughout the region, offering cuisine from around the world in dozens of top-rated establishments. "The Waterfront at Port Chester" retail center has brought a multiplex movie theater to the Byram River shore, Costco Shoppers Warehouse, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Super Stop & Shop, Marshall's and several other stores. Port Chester's prodigious industrial growth during the first half of the 20th Century attracted large numbers of European immigrants, primarily from Italy, Germany, Poland and Ireland. Similarly, newcomers from Central and South America and the Caribbean have helped to fuel the village's recent revival. Latino-owned stores and restaurants have helped bring customers of all ethnic groups back to Main Street and Westchester Avenue.

Port Chester Boards And Commissions

Name
Alarm Review Board
Ambulance Corps
Architectural Board of Review
Beautification
Board of Trustees
CDBG Municipal Representative
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee
Ethics Board
Fire Advisory Board
Housing Authority
Industrial Development Agency
Library B/T - 4th Tues
Park Commission
Planning Commission
Recreation Commission
TV- Cable
Taxi Commission
Traffic Commission
Waterfront Commission
Zoning Board

Port Chester Comprehensive Plan

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Resolution establishing Committee (November 26, 2007)
Resolution affirming Committee direction (February 6, 2012)

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) Recommended Comprehensive Plan (March 21, 2012)
Board of Trustees Public Hearing Draft (May 21, 2012)
Board of Trustees Final Draft 11-30-12

RELATED ZONING REGULATION AMENDMENTS AND ZONING MAP
Comprehensive Plan - Part 1 Zoning Code Amendments & Map 061812 Public Hearing
Comprehensive Plan - Part 2 Zoning Code Amendments & Map 061812 Public Hearing
Comprehensive Plan - Part 3 Zoning Code Amendments & Map 061812 Public Hearing
Draft Local Law
Draft Zoning Amendments Explained (July 2012)
Record of Proposed Revisions (August 20, 2012)
Current Zoning Map
Proposed Zoning Map

STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW ACT (SEQRA)
Notice of Intent to Declare Lead Agency Status
Positive Declaration
Scoping Document
Proposed Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement
DGEIS Presentation
Proposed Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement
SEQR FGEIS Notice of Completion
Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement
SEQR Findings
Adopted SEQR Findings 12-17-2012

RESOLUTIONS
ACCEPTANCE OF DRAFT GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AS COMPLETE AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING THERETO
Acceptance of Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement as Complete 12-03-2012
Adoption of SEQR Findings 12-17-2012
Adoption of Comprehensive Plan 12-17-2012

PUBLIC NOTICES
Comp Plan Public Hearing Notice
DGEIS - Comp plan public hearing notice

ADDITIONAL STUDIES
Route 1 Corridor Study 12-04-2012
Housing Conditions in The Village of Port Chester 12-03-2012
Preliminary Parking Garage Feasibility Analysis
Draft LOCAL WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION PROGRAM (LWRP) January 2013

Port Chester Overview / General Information

Port Chester is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The village is part of the town of Rye. As of the 2010 census, Port Chester had a population of 28,967. The village name is pronounced with the same emphasis pattern as that of the county which contains it, i.e. PORT ches-ter, not Port CHES-ter.

Port Chester is one of only twelve villages in New York still incorporated under a charter, the other villages having incorporated or re-incorporated under the provisions of Village Law.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km), of which 2.4 square miles (6.2 km) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km), or 5.22%, is water.

History

The Bush-Lyon Homestead, Capitol Theater, Life Savers Building, Putnam and Mellor Engine and Hose Company Firehouse, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, and United States Post Office are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Early settlement

In 1660, three settlers from Greenwidge (now Greenwich, Connecticut), Thomas Studwell, John Coe, and Peter Disbrow, arranged to buy Manursing Island and the land near the Byram River from the Mohegan Indians. The land that they bought is now Port Chester. The village was originally known as Saw Pit for the saw pits which were in use during the time. Logs were cut in holes in the ground for wood to be used for shipbuilding. The name of Sawpit was used for the first time in 1732. The village eventually outgrew this name and became Port Chester by incorporating as a village in 1868. When Port Chester was first incorporated, it was considered a major seaport.

In 1665, Sawpit was claimed by both New York and Connecticut. However, the land was given back to the New York Colony by Connecticut in 1683. This struggle over the ownership of Sawpit continued for almost 105 years. In 1788, the Legislature of New York ruled that Sawpit was a part of the town of Rye in New York.

Travel was considered dangerous in the early years of Sawpit as good roads were hard to find. The Boston Post Road, King Street, and Grace Church streets are some of the early migration paths in the Sawpit/Rye settlement. Other roads were usually dirt, which made transportation via water important.

The local waterways, the Byram River and Long Island Sound, were a key part of the growth and development of Sawpit/Port Chester. Early residents took part in boat building, farming, and shell fishing.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 28,967 people, 9,240 households, and 6,348 families residing in the village. The population density was 11,722.5 people per square mile (4,526.1/km²). There were 10,046 housing units at an average density of 4,185.8 per square mile (1,646.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.1% White, 6.5% African American, 0.9% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 24.6% some other race, and 4.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 59.4% of the population.

There were 9,240 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were headed by married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.08 and the average family size was 3.54.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.4 years. For every 100 females there were 110.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.4 males.

At the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the village was $45,381, and the median income for a family was $51,025. Males had a median income of $32,848 versus $32,461 for females. The per capita income for the village was $ About 10.1% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.

Port Chester is a more diverse community than many nearby areas.

Neighborhoods

Port Chester is unofficially divided into 7 distinct neighborhoods, located north and south of Westchester Avenue, Port Chester's main east-west street.

North of Westchester Ave.

Brooksville

Tower Hill

Colonial Ridge (Area of Puritan Dr.)

Alden Estate (Area of Quintard Dr.)

Rye Brook (Village in town of Rye)

Washington Park

South of Westchester Ave.

Downtown

The Bowery (South Main St./ Grace Church St. from the square to Midland Ave. including all the streets off of and including Purdy Ave.)

Edgeland (Area served by Midland Ave. and upper Grace Church St.)

Purdy's Grove

Economy

The Life Savers Candy Company operated a factory in Port Chester from 1920 until 1984. The building, now apartments, is one of Port Chester's prominent landmarks.

Port Chester is the home of Hubba's and Texas Chili.

National Collector's Mint is headquartered there.

Transportation

The Port Chester train station provides commuter rail service to Grand Central Terminal in New York City or Stamford and New Haven-Union Station via the Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line. The Bee-Line Bus System provides bus service to Port Chester on routes 13, 61, and 76, and CT Transit Stamford Division provides bus service to Port Chester on routes 11A and 11B.

Fire Department

The village of Port Chester is protected by the Port Chester Fire Department(PCFD), established in 1823 and organized in 1868. Paid staff comprise two Engine companies, and volunteer fire companies operate a fleet of five Engines, two Trucks, one Rescue, two Utility Units, one Marine Unit, and three Chief's Vehicles, operating out of 4 Fire Stations. The current Chief of Department is Robert F. Drought.

Below is a list of all fire company and fire station locations in the village of Port Chester:

Fire Headquarters/Harry Howard Hook & Ladder Co. # 1, Reliance Engine & Hose Co. # 1, Fire Patrol and Rescue Co. # 1, Port Chester Fire Department(Paid) - 209 Westchester Ave.

Engine 58(Paid)

Engine 60

Ladder 31

Tower Ladder 2

Rescue 40

Putnam Engine & Hose Co. # 2, Mellor Engine & Hose Co. # 3 - 51 Grace Church St.

Engine 61

Engine 63

Utility 65

Utility 66(Transport Unit)

Marine 40

Mass Decon. Support Unit 2

Washington Engine & Hose Co. # 4, Port Chester Fire Department(Paid) - 464 Westchester Ave.

Engine 59(Paid)

Engine 64

Brooksville Engine & Hose Co. # 5 - 509 Willett Ave.

Engine 62

Education

Within the city's borders, there is one public school district, the Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District, established in 1884. Making it the oldest school district in Westchester County.

Enrollment:

Port Chester Senior High School 1,244

Port Chester Middle School 911

John F. Kennedy Magnet School 650

Thomas Edison Elementary School 620

Park Avenue Elementary School 600

King Street Elementary School 595

At one time the Westchester Fairfield Hebrew Academy (now Carmel Academy) was in Port Chester. It opened in Port Chester in 1997, in rented space.

Port Chester High School history

Port Chester High School was built in 1933 on the grounds of what was once the Port Chester Country Club. The initial stages of planning involved acquiring 23 acres (9.3 ha) of land at a cost of $175,000. The architects, Tooker and Marsh, designed a structure to cost in the vicinity of $1,000,000. Although work began in 1930, occupancy did not take place until February 1932, with the first full graduation exercise taking place in June 1933. The size of the building was in itself astounding. A total of 140,000 square feet (13,000 m) was thought to be adequate. Included was a gymnasium measuring 94 feet (29 m) by 72 feet (22 m), an auditorium seating 1250 persons, 38 classrooms, a library, two study halls, and four shops. A model apartment for the homemaking class, and a student cafeteria and kitchen were also provided. Looking at the exterior, the villagers saw a tower rising 135 feet (41 m) and faced with a clock 7 feet (2.1 m) in diameter. An electric master clock synchronizing all individual clocks in the building was also installed. Complete radio equipment and an electric fire alarm system completed the plans. A slate and copper roof accentuated the beauty of the Harvard-type brick exterior. Despite frequent updating such as new lighting systems and advanced equipment, the past lingers charmingly on. The school's motto, inscribed over the entrance doors, is "TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE ARE THE FRUITS OF LEARNING".

Port Chester High School was featured in the 2006 movie My Super Ex-Girlfriend featuring Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson. The school was used for the main characters' high-school scenes, and both the exterior and interior of the school are shown in the movie. The school's distinctive clock tower was also featured on the cover of a recent edition of Robert Cormier's novel "The Chocolate War".

The Port Chester High School's Marching Band has appeared in the movies Spider-Man 3 and Miracle on 34th Street (1994 film) and has performed in the 2003 Orange Bowl as well as the Disney World Festival of Lights. The band has also participated in the 1997 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Legal challenges to Port Chester's electoral system

To enforce the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the United States Department of Justice brought a lawsuit in 2006 to compel the village government to change from an allegedly racially discriminatory at-large electoral system to one that was district-based. This lawsuit would halt the scheduled March 2007 elections until the village develops an acceptable plan. In its December 15, 2006 complaint the Justice Department alleged that, "the current at-large system for electing members of the Port Chester Board of Trustees results in Hispanic citizens having less opportunity than white citizens to participate in the political process and to elect candidates of their choice to the Port Chester Board of Trustees." (United States v. Village of Port Chester 6 Civil 15173) Local Latino activist Cesar Ruiz, NYS Assemblyman Peter Rivera and Angelo Falcón, President of the National Institute for Latino Policy held a news conference on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday (January 15, 2007) to display support for the Justice Department's lawsuit and the need to reform the village's electoral system.

The Village Board of Trustees passed a resolution on December 4, 2006, expressing its disagreement with the Department of Justice's decision that the village must reform its election system, claiming that the problem was not discrimination but rather "apathy" in the Hispanic community. Federal authorities believed that the village's "at large" voting system denied Hispanics representation on the board of trustees and the board of education. According to Reuters, "All voters in town elect each board member, whereas dividing the town into six electoral districts would give Hispanics a majority in at least one of them because they are largely concentrated in one area of town, the suit said." Although Latinos make up 46 percent of Port Chester's population, no Latinos had ever been elected to their Board of Trustees or local school board.

On March 2, 2007, federal court judge Stephen C. Robinson ruled in favor of the Department of Justice and placed an injunction on the March trustee elections scheduled to take place. This ruling did not affect the mayoral election, but it was expected to result in Port Chester being broken down into election districts. Instead, village officials came up with an alternative plan to address the problem by using cumulative voting. This plan was approved by the federal judge on November 6, 2009.

Redevelopment area controversy

In 1999, the Village of Port Chester established a "redevelopment area" and relegated regulatory authority within that area to private developer Gregory Wasser (from G&S Port Chester, LLC), including power to condemn private property. The decision has spawned several lawsuits, including Brody v. Village of Port Chester, and Didden v. Village of Port Chester.

Notable residents and natives

Jon Alpert, reporter and documentary filmmaker

Lex Barker, film actor, famous for playing Tarzan

Nick Bianco, amateur motocross racer

Edson Buddle, Major League Soccer player

Paul Costa, professional football player

Elliot del Borgo, composer

Arnold Diaz, journalist for Fox 5 News

Meaghan Francella, LPGA player

George Gallo, screenwriter and filmmaker

Arnold Gamson, conductor

Rob Ianello, University of Akron football coach

E.L. Konigsburg, author, illustrator, Newbery Award winner

Frank E. "Lank" Leonard, cartoonist and creator of the "Mickey Finn" comic strip

Val Lewton, writer and producer

Ruth Roberts, songwriter

Andre Roy, NHL player

Carl Schmehl, director and producer

Ed Sullivan, entertainer

David Tutera, celebrity wedding planner

Peter J. Vita, holder of the world record for the longest working career as a barber

Port Chester Village Departments

Department	Location
Assessor and Tax Office	10 Pearl St.
Building Department	222 Grace Church Street
Code Enforcement Department	222 Grace Church Street
Department of Public Works	82 Fox Island Road
Fire Department	209 Westchester Ave. (corner Poningo St.)
Justice Court	350 N. Main Street
Mayor	222 Grace Church Street
Planning & Development	222 Grace Church Street
Police Department	350 N. Main Street
Recreation	222 Grace Church Street
Senior Community Center	222 Grace Church Street
Treasurer’s Office	222 Grace Church Street
Village Attorney	222 Grace Church Street
Village Clerk	222 Grace Church Street
Village Manager	222 Grace Church Street

Resources - Important Links

EMERGENCY NUMBERS/UTILITIES
Con Edison
United Water
Cablevision
Verizon

NEW YORK STATE
New York State
Assembly
Senate
Department of Motor Vehicles
State Police
New York State Office of Real Property Services
Airport Emmissions

WESTCHESTER COUNTY
Westchester County Home Page
Library System
Board of Legislators
Department of Public Safety
District Attorney
County Clerk
Board of Elections
Department of Planning
Department of Environmental Facilities
Department of Parks
Geographical Information System (GIS)
Historical Society
Airport Operations

TOWN OF RYE
Town of Rye - Homepage

VILLAGE OF PORT CHESTER
Port Chester Public Library
Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District
Port Chester GIS Data Viewer

TRANSPORTATION
Westchester County Bee-Line Bus System
Westchester County Airport
Amtrak
Metro-North
E-Z Pass
New York State Thruway

HOSPITALS
Blythedale Children's Hospital
Greenwich Hospital
Sound Shore Medical Center of Westchester
Westchester County Medical Center
White Plains Hospital Center

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & MANAGEMENT
New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO)
Westchester County Department of Emergency Services
Westchester County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA Flood
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
American Red Cross

SAFETY AND SECURITY
NYS Division of Criminal Justice
Call before you dig. Dig Safely. New York
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)

SCHOOLS
Port Chester Schools

SENIOR SERVICES
AARP
American Lung Association
Administration on Aging (AoA)
Benefits Checkup
Eldercare Locator
Medicare
Medicare Rights Center
New York State Department of Health
Social Security Online
Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS

U.S. Census Bureau

U.S. Postal Service

Chamber of Commerce

Animal and Shelter Rescue

Pet and Wildlife Services

Resources For News Readers

Resources For Critical Readers

The critical readers of Port Chester Roundup know that when reading, viewing, or listening to any local "mainstream" news report or blog post, the main thing to realize is that truth and objectivity may be partialy obscured or totaly absent.

While local "mainstream" media outlets and blogs often self-righteously proclaimed that only the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is published, the critical reader knows that local news reports in "mainstream" media have three primary purposes: (a) to entice their readers, (b) to be "politically correct" so as not to offend the powers that be, and (c) to lure advertisers by showing the number of docile readers the local publication draws.

Beyond these less than honorable motivations listed above, local "mainstream" reporters, editors and especially publishers are also prone to inject their own personal prejudices and biases, either consciously or unconsciously.

The critical reader should be aware of these potential problems.

The critical reader needs to have many questions in his mind when examining local "mainstream" media items and blog posts.

Many times the vocabulary employed by local "mainstream" journalists and editors is often pejorative and very value laden. Actually, this is an argument in and of itself that there is a bias.

It is up to the critical reader to point this out by means of blog posts and letters to the local "mainstream" newspaper editors and publishers..

There are honest and objective local "Mainstream" journalists, editors and publishers who try and produce a newsppaper that presents all sides of every issue. . However, these local journalists, editors and publishers who have succeed in resisting the pressures to be biased are few and far between.

Many times the critical reader will discover that these local "mainstream" journalists, editors and publishers cave in to pressures, and/or who are prejudiced and nonobjective by nature.

It is therefore up to the critical reader to carefully evaluate and then reject or accept the claims and assertions that are made in any given news story or blog post.

Local "mainstream" journalists, editors and publishers need to make sure they produce well-researched articles that are based on objective description of empirical facts.

One of the goals of Port Chester Roundup is to help these local "Mainstream" journalists, editors and publishers need to strive to convey reality and contribute to enlightenment of Port Chester.

However, the critical reader must understand that journalism which abandons these criteria can be misleading and destructive, pandering to the powers that be rather than courageously and honorably serving truth and justice.

Resources for Letter Writers

Port Chester Roundup publishes email addresses for reporters, editors, and publishers when such addresses are publicly made available.

We encourage our reader to send intelligent, civil, and reasonable emails to these journalists, editors and publishers..

However, a critical reader who sends some correspondence to an email address obtained from this website is, in one sense, representing this blog.

What the writer says, and how it is said, reflects directly on Port Chester in general and on this site in particular.

Local "mainstream" reporters, editors and publishers are interested in deadlines and getting stories written that people will read.

If a critical reader can help them do that, then their contributions will be greatly appreciated.

Remember, good stories are factual and well organized, but they also communicate something of the human spirit.

Likewise, letters to local "mainstream" reporters, editors and publishers, while based on heartfelt convictions, also should be well organized, with points and logic developed in a rational sequence.

Proper grammar, spelling, and capitalization also help the local "mainsteam" reporter, editor or publisher view the received letter as worthy of serious consideration.

Brevity and conciseness are very important, and a long-winded rambling discourse is not likely to be given serious consideration.

For that matter, a "letter" does not even have to be a letter, a single sentence can get a point across.

Nor does a letter have to be for publication or even come from a verifiable source, all it needs to do is provide valid food for thought.

Resources For Blog Comments

More and more local "mainstream" media-sponsored web sites are providing submission forms or links where anyone and everyone can post "comments" on their stories.

Some sites also provide various forums of one typeor another.

However, these forums may require registration.

Many of the comments, suggestions, and cautions That we have provided the critical reader about the submission of comments are very applicable to participation in these forums.

There are no established "standards" for the submission of these comments, and it is necessary and important to very carefully read the instructions, requirements, and limitations for submitting your comments.

Some local "mainstream" newspaper or blog sites may ask for a name, but these are not checked, so there is no need to use your real name if you do not want to..

Other local "mainstream" newspaper or blog sites may allow only a first name, some may permit the inclusions of URL references, links, HTML code, and email addresses, whereas others may not.

When submitting such comments, it is important to "take the high road."

Personal attacks, hatefulness, rash accusations, snide insinuations, misleading assertions, and outright lies are the stock in trade of many posters, but the most effective way to disarm and dismiss these posts is to rise far above such tactics.

Name-calling, abrasiveness, unsupported and insupportable assertions, and otherwise descending to the level of negative posters' inanities not only undermines one's credibility, but reduces the likelihood that one's comments will be accepted and printed.

Submissions should be brief and concise. Two or three short paragraphs is about all that the average reader will assimilate . Be polite, but factual.

Try to deal with reality, and not with far out ideas or wishful thinking.

Take your own concept or idea and address it as thoughtfully, professionally, and concisely as possible.

But first read the existing comments and make sure you are not repeating what someone else has already posted.

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