Dalai Lama articles thought-provoking

I picked up my first copy of The Bee at the Amherst Museum recently. Residents of your area are extremely fortunate to have both a great museum and a great newspaper.

Jill Schmelzer's excellent articles on the Dalai Lama coming to the University at Buffalo and "Tibet's struggle with China," along with her personal comments in "Spindle items," were thought-provoking.

If only everyone could be as tolerant and open to others' beliefs as she is, what a different world we could have.

A belief in reincarnation results in a special tolerance of all living creatures, since one's next incarnation might be in the form of a domesticated animal or even an insect. Realizing this, everyone goes to great lengths to prolong all forms of life.

Of course, concern for the environment and the threat of extinction may have the same results, but considering that a creature may be someone you once knew adds a definite dimension to a present predicament: no way are we going to kill anything if we can help it

One time while visiting a couple of friends in Pennsylvania, I was captivated by their lovable old Rottweiler and, thinking that he might be gone before my next visit, I said, "I think I'll be reincarnated as a Rottweiler." The husband said, "What if he is reincarnated as a human?" That was before I had read much about the concept.

Thanks for the articles, and the memories.

Byrna Weir Chelmsford Road

Rochester Swamps are not for development

Why would anyone be against the collection and regulated dispersal of swamp water, which causes shifting soil, overly wet surroundings, cracked basements and a diseased environment? The financial situation of the county, the uncertain atmosphere of Amherst's deficit, and the up and coming defunct of the New York State coffers after the November election, makes the government's intervention in correcting a drainage problem in North Amherst bleak.

A reliable corporate America company must be willing to invest in this area and apply proper infrastructure to alleviate the ongoing environmental concerns, because they surely will not benefit being located in a swamp, or a condition made worse.

Who then benefits from the flooded swamp, cracked basements, shifting soil, and diseased insect environment? All those who say they are opposed to a corporate America company investing millions for the area's benefit with the development of North Amherst. I do not care what their hidden agenda is, just see it for what it is. The rectifying of their situation must not be as necessary as is professed.

During the 1970s, Amherst was predestined to become the new economic mecca for this Western New York region, with the help of corporate America's companies.

Remember - living in a prosperous area does not make us safe. It just aggravates the nonprosperous.

Mark Ribic

Transit Road

Williamsville

Allegations are without merit

Thanks to Dr. Satish Mohan and the five board members who voted to make term limits a reality for the Town Board. Dr. Mohan was absolutely correct, as usual I might add, when he stated that the first eight years a candidate works for the Town and after that they work to be reelected.

While I am a huge Amherst Bee fan, I no longer read the slurs and undocumented allegations in the Bee Heard section. The calls should be documented with the name and address just as required for letters to the editor.

Most often, the callers state their angry opinion that is so lacking in fact that they hide their identity. If it is not something you are ashamed of, you should sign your name. Otherwise, keep it to yourself. To call and hide behind a veil of anonymity makes me think it is a disgruntled employee call the Bee. I'd like to see the cell phone records of employees and go over them to see how many calls are to the Bee Heard line. Wouldn't that be interesting to know?

When this Town so obviously loves Dr. Satish Mohan, one has to recognize that the angry comments are from persons who fear his positive changes for the good of Amherst. Dr. Marian M. Gray

East Spring Street

Williamsville

Local police departments are well-trained

The following is a reply to the Letter to the Editor, "Reasons for more police fall short," that appeared in the Amherst Bee on Aug. 9, 2006, authored by County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Kolmetz.

This article is most disparaging and silly. It is written by a Deputy Sheriff and is giving advice to Amherst Town Supervisor Satish B. Mohan. The Deputy is giving advice to the Amherst Town Police, a professional agency that does not need advice from a Sheriff's Deputy. No credibility at all should be given to this article. The Amherst Police have rules and regulations, and do not need to be turned into a county-wide police department.

The Amherst Police, like the New York State Troopers, investigate serious crimes every day, and have an excellent record with professionalism. They also provide other functions to assist town residents. They do not need any input from politicians. The next thing will be that the Sheriff will be giving operational suggestions to the Cheektowaga Police, Depew Police, Hamburg Police, Tonawanda Police and other who are professional police departments that do not need any advice from politicians.

All departments in Erie County also work with a professional organization, the New York State Police, whom are the best source for advice about professional police rules and proper procedures. If any review of police departments in Erie County is needed, it is of the Sheriff's Department, and serious breaches of police procedures that led to the escape at the jail, of Ralph Phillips, and millions of tax monies wasted for duplication of police services provided from other police services.

The many local town and village police department are well-trained and professional, and need no help from the Sheriff's Department to propose re-organization plans. Politics should play no role in the arena of law enforcement in Erie County. George E. Karalus

Evans Street

Williamsville Relief in home energy costs

It's no secret home energy costs are skyrocketing in the Buffalo area and beyond. And energy is closely tied to topical events, including pollution and global warming, extreme weather, and trouble overseas. What's not as obvious is that home performance contracting - endorsed by federal and state programs - can reduce energy costs by up to 40 percent, protect the environment, and reduce America's dependency on foreign oil.

Home performance contracting is a growing business that seeks to maximize energy efficiency while improving comfort, health, and safety in the home. It begins with a home performance audit - a comprehensive assessment that uses innovative technology to determine how well the components of a home work tog e t h e r.

Home performance auditors start by analyzing past utility bills to determine energy patterns. Then comes the audit itself, checking for leaky ducts, back-drafts, air leaks, and combustion problems. An infrared scan of ceiling, walls, and windows pinpoints problems as well.

At the end of the audit, the homeowner receives recommendations for improving comfort, energy efficiency, and lowering utility costs. Reports are customized to the needs of each house. Common recommendations include replacing furnaces, boilers, and air conditioners with high-efficiency systems; sealing air leaks; and adding insulation. The report provides costs, financing options, available tax credits and rebates, and payback data.

Home performance contractors provide energy savings. Our firm, GreenHomes America, even guarantees savings of at least 25 percent and most of our customers achieve more. With NYSERDA offering 10 percent cash-back incentives and low-interest financing, and a federal tax credit of up to $500, energy efficiency makes more sense than ever. So far more than 10,000 New Yorkers have participated in the program, many of them in the Amherst area.

For more information, visit w w w. g r e e n h o m e s a m e r ica. com, or call GreenHomes at 1-877-867-2833.

Mike Rogers,

vice president, GreenHomes America

Amherst