PWC Editorial


SUBMITTED TO THE SKANEATELES PRESS - 8/9/02  [unedited version]

Dear Caroline Tucker,

Your article on PWCs on July 24th was great. I would like to add the following:

First. In the second paragraph you write “ The latest recommendations supersede a petition that Skaneateles residents presented to the town…”. I think it’s journalistically important the word “SOME” be used in front of the word Skaneateles. You should write…”some” Skaneateles residents…” because it’s more accurate and truthful. Here’s why: An attractive, older woman that I interviewed in the Sherwood Inn declined to sign that petition because her family members like boats and she fears that pontoon boats would be next. And she lives on the lake unlike many of the signers.

Second. Bob Werner says, “ Bruce Silvers needs to be out on the lake, otherwise what we are doing is a waste of time." No it’s not. Read on:

Last weekend I was on the West side of the lakes doing my research with my new cleaner and quieter Yamaha. The traffic here in the West is more than the East. I believe it is because more PWC riders cruise up to Sandy Candy Beach to engage in intellectual conversations about foreign policy with their friends.

Looking for bad guys, I watched as one skier launched from the public launch. While waiting for his friend to launch, the one skier zipped back and forth testing the size of his acceleration. He was not more that 200 feet out. So thinking of Mr. Werner and Mr. Torrisi and the others who signed the petition, I hit my nitrous switch and zoomed up quickly to the bad guy skier and reminder him of our silent code of respect. He agreed and stopped, and we rode out further. Then his friend came out and we all talked about the stock market and what stocks to invest in. So you see. It wasn’t ALL a waste of time. And best yet, this didn’t cost the taxpayers a dime.

Story two: Two weeks ago I confronted two riders on yellow Sea Doo’s. They had a propensity to doing spins too close to the shore. I rode up to them, explained the code of respect and they went out further. Other than these two situations I find the riders on the lake to be considerate and well behaved.

Remember, the younger the rider the closer the parents want them to stay to the shore. And it is the kids that like the roller coaster tricks. So don’t be afraid to adequately communicate your needs with your wealthy neighbors. If you can’t find common ground as Americans then sell your children to the Devil. And who on the committee stated that Jet Skiers have mental health problems? (We do.) Dr. Paul Torrisi says, he wants to “ push irresponsible people from the shore.” I agree. But don’t take it out on responsible riders. If your goal is irresponsible riders than stick to irresponsible riders. It’s not rocket science.

Since I was not asked to be on the committee, I would like to make this inexpensive suggestion: Put a well designed sign at the PUBLIC landing expressing the policy that Jet Skiers go out 500 feet before establishing an acceleration and super spins. I’ll do it for free. Again, it’s not rocket science.

Also, is the opposition’s ulterior motives to make all motorized boats illegal? One member stated to me that: “we’re going after them (pontoon boats) next." Question: I want to know what all the property owners are going to do with their boat houses? Will the opposition want them demolished like the Islamic Radical Taliban destroyed the 90 foot Buddhist statues at Bamiyan in Afghanistan?

Fact: Going 10 mph creates a louder noise than if you go 20. Do the committee members know this? I think I should be sitting on this committee.

Today is Friday as I write this. After I receive my phone call from George Lucas' agent to tell him that he can’t buy and direct my new script, Psycho-voter: Are You Telling Me My Vote Doesn’t Count In America? Part 1: I will swim out to my clean Yamaha, and putt 24 mph all the way to Herb's in Skaneateles to buy a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and a Mad magazine. Then I will putt all the way back to the beautiful Borodino Landing. And I’m going to do this 200 to 300 feet from shore so I can SIGHT SEE. If anyone wants to ticket me for driving responsibly then do so. I’ll see you all in court ‘cause if a pontoon boat and other motorized boat can putt inside the 500 foot zone than so can’t I.

The weekend is just three days away. Let me know what happens out on the water in front of your camp or home. Curious minds want to know how serious this “problem” truly is.

Thank you.

Joe Vecchio BORODINOBULLETT.COM

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