From Skaneateles Press, June 16, 2004
From the mail bag
Appreciating Spafford
To the editor:
Although not a resident of Spafford, I am upset to read about the discord on their town board. I once owned waterfront in the town, have long contributed to efforts to restore the Grange building and now live within one mile of the town line. As I see it, the strong development pressures in our town are beginning to spill over South into their town, like it or not.
I like Spafford the way it is, but with the increases in today’s population, wealth and mobility, significant changes are bound to come. The admirable farming ethic is also threatened by economic realities. The question is whether Spafford’s future is going to be determined by individual buyers and sellers of land, or by a consensus of the whole community. It has had to come to this in many other pristine areas. Consider that we now accept that the operation of a motor vehicle is restricted by licensing, registration and rules of the road, for the common good. Although land rights are prime, does no our heritage landscape also deserve thoughtful protection from damaging and/or short-sighted behavior?
DICK BESSE
EAST LAKE ROAD, SKANEATELES