Bee Heard

(Editor's note: Call The Bee at 632-0390 and record a one-minute comment on our Bee Heard line. It gives readers an opportunity to comment quickly and candidly on items of local or regional interest. Callers do not have to identify themselves and no callers' names will be used. In the interest of fairness and good taste, The Bee will not publish derogatory or insulting comments. All comments are by our readers and are subject to editing.

.Village ordinance states that no dogs are allowed in Glen Park. Please keep your dogs out of Glen Park; the residents of the village would appreciate it.

.I wasn't a fan of Tom Wik, and I was happy that Bob Anderson won because I thought he would do a great job, but I see no difference in the town. The roads are bad, and the parks don't look like they used to. Every spring, I see residents raking leaves at Dellwood and Garnet Park, when the town used to do it. Why are residents doing a town job? We pay enough taxes.

.I hope the supervisor and town board approve the Maple Road project. Their duty is to make the majority of town residents happy. Obviously, from reports in your paper, the majority approves of this project. Nothing ever satisfies everyone, but do the right thing and go with the majority.

.To Williamsville School District voters, first I applaud board member Steven Munschauer for looking out for taxpayers. The board's approval of a $151.2 million budget is feeding the recession and inflation. Mr. Smith has to be replaced, because he is spending too much money. Teachers and staff don't need a pay raise. I urge all district voters to reject this budget and all propositions.

.I was just thinking how just three or four years ago, when Satish Mohan's wife and Bill Kindel's wife got those two together to actually hug on television. The infighting and destruction on the Amherst Town Board is a bad example for our children and is hurting Amherst residents. We all can't agree on things, but we have to be civil to each other; that is what tolerance is.

.To the caller complaining about the $250 we spend per person in Williamsville for athletes and scholars, I would like to see that line item spelled out on the budget because $250 per child for a state competition is a lot. Their parents pay for that, too; the kids don't go on your dime.

.When Dr. Mohan was first elected Amherst supervisor, he assured us that he was an expert as a professional engineer and that he would oversee the engineering department. Since then, we have lost two excellent town engineers and the department is struggling. This is not the first time he has disappointed us, and I suspect it won't be the last.

.To the caller who wants to get rid of principals, assistant principals and counselors, who do you think is going to run the schools?

.There is not an area in our country where vacant stores do not exist in great numbers. Due to the economy, people lose jobs, less money is available and stores close. I'm sure Benderson would love to have all these stores rented. They are willing to clean up a bad area and build something that will attract visitors to UB and Buffalo. Need I say more?

.I live in the Hartford Estates, and recently the tree crew came through and took down many trees. Some were budding and should have been given a chance for further growth. It will take another 50 years for new trees to acquire that size. Some wonder if the trees really had to be cut down, or if money reimbursements were the real reason.

.I go to the Amherst Pepsi Center on a regular basis. The comments in this column about it looking unsightly were based on isolated occasions. The staff is polite and helpful and, as a rule, it is very clean. However, on Saturdays or high-traffic public-access days, it is unkept because of the irresponsibility of residents. When the championship games were held at the Pepsi Center the first week in April the facility was immaculate. The Amherst Pepsi Center hosted (and I hope impressed) our guests from out of town. Thank you, Amherst town employees, for making our area shine.