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Thankfully
To
the Editor:
The
recent article about the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
and its Albany Race for the Cure [“Running From Prevention,”
Oct. 3] was certainly an attention grabber! I believe, however,
that Metroland readers would have a more realistic
understanding of the foundation’s mission if they knew about
the contributions here in the Capital District.
For the record, the Komen Foundation’s contributions to local
breast cancer education and support efforts are considerable.
As just one of many local nonprofit organizations aided by
the foundation, To Life! is grateful for the foundation’s
recognition and support of its comprehensive breast health
and cancer awareness services offered in 10 counties in and
around the Capital Region. Thanks to three Komen grants, To
Life! has educated hundreds in our community about breast
cancer warning signs, detection methods, treatment options
and support services. One of To Life!’s Komen-funded projects,
currently underway with Centro Civico of Amsterdam, is a bilingual
breast cancer education initiative for the Hispanic community
of Montgomery County.
Significantly, a major portion of funds through the Albany
Komen Race for the Cure remains in the area. That means that
the women and men and children who ran the race in Albany
on Oct. 7 actually benefited their neighbors and friends in
our community.
I am a breast cancer survivor and thankful that Komen is here!
Mara
Ginsberg
President and founder, To Life!
Delmar
Thank
You, Al
To
the Editor:
I
was happily surprised to see Schenectady Mayor Al Jurczynski’s
smiling face on the cover of Metroland [“Give Me Your
Guyanese,” Oct. 31]. The mayor’s dedication to improving Schenectady
by building better neighborhoods is apparent all through our
city, and especially in the downtown area next to where I
live.
Mayor Al is working to form a “Little Italy” section on North
Jay Street—we already have a bakery that opens before the
sun rises and a sandwich shop that serves tomato pie and spumoni
in thick slabs. The mayor will capitalize on these neighborhood
assets to attract more Italian-themed businesses and proudly
show off Schenectady’s Italian heritage to tourists and locals
alike.
Down the steps from the mayor’s office in City Hall is Jay
Street, a pedestrian-friendly marketplace close to public
transportation that features a coffeehouse, independent bookstore,
natural foods store, live music, farmers’ market and many
unique shops. At the far end is Proctor’s Theatre, a gem of
a playhouse that shows independent films for only $2 when
it isn’t bringing in sought-after Broadway shows.
These efforts to improve our neighborhoods go hand-in-hand
with what is the mayor’s greatest effort to improve our city:
inviting new citizens to live in Schenectady. His hard work
attracting Guyanese New Yorkers has resulted in an influx
of new Schenectadians—families that have revitalized neighborhoods
like Hamilton Hill by buying and fixing up the houses they
live in and rejuvenated our economy by working hard at local
jobs and opening businesses of their own.
Your profile of how Mayor Al is enthusiastically bringing
new residents and their businesses to Schenectady lets everyone
know about what should be a badly kept secret in the Capital
Region—Schenectady is growing into a great place to live.
Kathleen
Lisson
Schenectady
Thanks
in Advance for the Free Access
To
the Editor:
After
reading Jeffrey Chester’s article regarding possible new regulations
on Internet access [“Access Restricted,” Nov. 7], I have a
challenge for him. I would like him to create and manage a
broadband network (using whatever definition of broadband
he likes, since his article wasn’t specific), allowing free
access for myself and, oh, maybe 500,000 friends. Let us use
it 24 hours a day for whatever type of service we want, never
deny us access for any reason, and most importantly, keep
the service free in all respects of the word. Reading his
article, I realize that money isn’t an issue with the Internet,
so he should have no problem.
Bennett
Campbell
Albany
Correction
In
a recent story on irradiated meat in local supermarkets [Newsfront,
Oct. 24], we wrote that Tracy Frisch is the executive director
of the Regional Farm and Food Bank. The correct name of the
organization is the Regional Farm & Food Project.
Metroland
welcomes typed, double-spaced letters (computer printouts
OK), addressed to the editor. Or you may e-mail them to: metroland@metroland.net.
Metroland reserves the right to edit letters for length; 300
words is the preferred maximum. You must include your name,
address and day and evening telephone numbers. We will not
publish letters that cannot be verified, nor those that are
illegible, irresponsible or factually inaccurate.
Send
to:
Letters, Metroland, 4 Central Ave.,
4th Floor, Albany, NY 12210
or e-mail us at metroland@metroland.net.
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