If You Ask Me / By Martha Knight

This past July I mused about musicians’ improvisational overdrive, and how a group of musicians can sync and intuit from one another. Electronic devices and their sensing and apprehending abilities are inferior to humans in that regard.

Recalling events from 24 years ago brought me to the conclusion that the more things change, the more they are the same.

Liberty Township had my sympathy as they tried to reason with the railroad company about a right-of-way or permission for sewer and water lines to cross under the railroad, I thought about the glory days of the Pennsy.

Think of all the stores there used to be in Port, I challenged readers of a certain age, in August. The various permutations of our local supermarket were on my mind, as we all struggled with change at Lillibridge Place.

Another Sunshine Law/Open Government/Right to Know rant appeared in this space. The wonder is that I can go even a few weeks without venting some ire about improper, illegal government secrecy and sneaky behind-scenes work-arounds.

Fair on the Square, the stores we used to have and the “engine show” reminded me of days of yore.

Gleanings from some historical/biographical books I had been listening to, concerning our first three presidents and the early days of the republic, found their way into the opinion column.

Chuck Boller’s passing found me remembering him in some detail, and concluding, “Editor, publisher, reporter, columnist, printer—Chuck could do it all. And we will miss him.” As he would have remarked, “Nuff said.”

How I became a news person, along with confessions of an addicted consumer of news (a news junkie) brought memories of the late, great Francis Byron and the late, great Buffalo Courier-Express.

September found me exploring the realities and philosophy of property values, as seen by assessors and taxing authorities. Market values are supposed to be the standard for assessments, but use values are useful in making sure we will continue to have forests and even some farm land. But the concept is being warped by governments eager for more revenue.

I wished for full access by all to complete archives of this newspaper—both seemingly unavailable or impractical.

Garbage collection and water/sewer service are different from cable service, I stated, disagreeing with a reader.  But I reviewed some history of garbage service in this community.

The glass history of this community is long and varied, I mentioned, agreeing with a number of readers, phone callers and button-holers. A “glass park” should recognize more of the history and a variety of past and present products.

My association with asbestos was recounted in October, as the county dealt with asbestos on some pipes. No longer in the asbestos hazard control line of work, I advised the PTB not to encapsulate and preserve their asbestos (at high cost) but to remove it, for not a whole lot more, effecting a permanent solution.

Competitive bidding as a great saver of tax dollars has its flaws, I noted, and Liberty Township supervisors are right in bemoaning that. Pay attention, state legislators.

Halloween and Christmas seasons of the good old days, and the emergence of “new traditions” (such as Christmas on the Square) were discussed, along with the need for borough zoning revisions where there are conflicting terms and provisions.

Where soccer is played, and where it will be, and the possible expansion of the soccer program intrigued me as policy matters, even though I can’t boast of being a booster.

November brought the General Election but no demands by officials at the polls to prove our identities. I looked back at the dubious history of the voter ID law, and past registration reforms and abusive restrictions here and elsewhere.

Teacher tenure, the good, the bad and the ugly have been hashed here, and also in TIME. I recalled that, there was a teacher strike here once, and the PAEA opened a strike center on another occasion.

Strategic planning takes place in school districts every five years or so. I should be able to calculate how long I have covered the school system by seeing how many long-range or strategic plans I have in the files. The latest is mostly more of the same, but with some differences in design. As for development by a group that included the community at large? Nope, they were all connected to the schools.

I commented on county and municipal budgets, likening budget season to hunting season. I also tried to excuse the natural confusion between Port Allegany and Allegany, N.Y. Even our very own Port Allegany paper can’t always tell the difference!

Jargon, what a bane! But it has crept into the language to the point some of it has become standard. I promised to review a wonderful book consisting mainly of the letters of Nora Hall to her son Howard while he was in California, and talked about the value of learning cursive writing. I am glad Nora learned it.

I lamented a serious restriction on the ability of public, including press, to attend school board meetings designed mainly for reports and discussion. They used to be on fourth Mondays, but the superintendent proposed changing them to first Mondays, and the board went along. This conflicts with the longstanding first-Monday schedule for borough council meetings. Sorry, readers. I did object, but was brushed off. You need to attend the meetings in person, I was told. But—WHICH meeting? If you attend the one, you boycott the other.

I wrote a letter to Santa, asking him to gift others with specific things they need, and to reward some especially worthy folks.

Some Christmases when there had been private but much appreciated kindnesses to my safe house guests, and organized efforts to provide useful and fun things to children at home by served by CYS, were recalled fondly.