Green Mountain Watchdogs

October 2008-

You never think you'll be in the position of having to rely on others, there's nothing worst then not being able to take care of yourself. However, when you do find yourself in that position it's nice to find that the person you have to rely on are caring wonderful people. I found myself in the hospital again and was more at ease this time. I would like to give a Special Thank You to a few nurses that took extra good care of me, Sarah, Paul, Stuart, Jana and Jeanette. I received top noch care from all of them. I feel blessed to have had such wonderful team of doctors/nurses take care of me and it helps to know that if I find myself back in the hospital, I know there will be dedicated doctors/nurses to take care of me. I have to also give credit to the cleaning crew, they kept the room and surrounding areas clean, yet still homely looking. Now no hospital stay ends without the need to transition back home, I have received great help from the VNA and Beth, my nurse. There ability to be there when you need them, there dedication and knowledge is priceless.

March 2007

 I would like to thank everyone who had a hand in my recovery.  To start, I thank my doctor, Margaret Russell, at the Community Health Center for making the right choice and sending me to Dr. Daniel J. Bertges, Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery.  He and his team took good care of me.  His nurse practitioner and back-up team of doctors all helped a lot.  But let's not forget the nurses; they are the backbone of any team and their dedication is beyond reproach.  Especially the senior nurse, who can talk her patients into anything!
   One of the things I like about Dr. Bertges is that he is totally hands-on.  Before he makes any decision, he has to examine the patient for himself.  I believe that's the sign of a great doctor.
   Cathy also helped.  She booked my room at the hospital and started my stay well.  So did the cleaning crew, who not only helped keep the hospital clean but offered smiles.
   Everyone who works on Baird 6 deserves a thank you.  I received A-1 treatment from them.  I also received great treatment from the ICU.  We never know the help we need until we are in a place like that, where we cannot help ourselves.  The people who worked in the ICU and operating rooms put my mind at ease, and gave me warm blankets when I needed them!
   The physical and occupational therapists offered warm hands and helped make sure I could leave the hospital when I was ready.  But let's not forget the food service staff.  I want you to know that the food was very good.
   Cathy Petersen, RN, BSN, CCM, helped me get out of the hospital.  I appreciate that!  Now that I'm home, I'm also grateful for the visiting nurses.  They are doing wonderful work and are very dedicated.
    My report wouldn't be truthful if I didn't mention the furniture pads they put under my bare butt while I was at the hospital.  I felt every stitch of the ribbing!  And the toilet paper...single ply doesn't cut it.
   But, out of the whole hospital experience, those are my only complaints.  Not bad!
   With all of that great work, I have to wonder: why is it that the people we need the most--people like police officers, soldiers, and, of course, nurses, are paid the least?

Editorial from Volume 11-00 To my knowledge nothing is "free", however that seems to be our politicians pet word. They use that word to get votes. Why is our taxes so high? That is because of all the FREE things we get from the government. We have a Police Chief that works at the police academy, so we don't have to pay for our police to go for training. Now is that free? Our city loses our Police Chief so when ever a officer needs training it's considered free. We pay our Police Chief $40,000.00 per year plus the cost of fuel, and the cost of the cruiser he uses. Does that sound like a good deal? Of course the Police Chief thinks that sounds like a good idea. So what's wrong with this picture? What about the School Bus, that's suppose to go around Winooski picking up our children to bring them to and from school? When they received the O.K. to build the school on upper Main Street, they said they would have a school bus transport our children, Free of charge. There is that word again, they use that word until they get what they want. So now our children have to walk to and from school and the school is not in the middle of the city. Children down by Malletts Bay Ave have to cross the second busiest street without any crossing guard to help them, and where is the police to patrol that street around that time to stop the speeders? Then there is the Winooski Swimming Pool that was going to be Free, I pay to send my children each year. Free, that's such a great word if it's used correctly. When we were asked to let the power plant pay taxes based on the money they generate, I haven't seen any money that would help lower our taxes! Are these the same people that decided on the new development above LaFountain Street, where one of the streets has a steep decline in to someone else's back yard? They're so close together, is that what we want our downtown to be? If they put in 800 new units that would be a minimum of 800 cars leaving that area per day and 800 more coming back at night. If our police can't handle what's going through Winooski now, how are they going to handle all the new traffic, and who is going to be the ones that pay? Why is it they are always quick to guarantee, but when the chips are down they are nowhere's to be found to be held liable. We sold Memorial School because we were told that we didn't need it anymore. They put all these new units in, how many more children will be added to our school and how much more of our taxes going to be raised to pay for this? I picked up a copy at the polls about "Support Downtown Development", I didn't see anyone sign it, why? If they believe in it, then why don't they support it by signing the form? Do we want a big development or a Winooski size development? They are talking about 800 more units, that means around 800 more children in our schools, where are we going to put them? I plan to live here in Winooski until the man upstairs calls my name to come home, and I enjoyed living in a small city. If the city wants to keep businesses in Winooski, it is time for the landlords to help out by lowering there rent. It is not up to the city to lower the landlords taxes. We still don't have any Boys or Girls Club yet. How many times do our police get calls about juvenile compared to Burlington, Why? It's because they don't have anyplace to play or anything to do. So when they say no new taxes on homeowners property, let them sign a contract that we can hold them responsible for.   Editorial from Volume 06-00 Does our governor believe in freedom of speech or just when it accommodates him. Is it ok when they talk about someone else, but when they talk about him it's a totally different story. Does he believe in what he says, or is he trying to be a good politician? I have a copy of a letter, that our governor signed, proclaiming whereas, professional truck drivers travel more than 153 Billion miles each year delivering more than 5.5 Billion tons of freight to homes, communities, schools and businesses; and whereas, professional truck drivers have been honored as among the safest drivers on our highways, with many having received awards for extraordinary acts of heroism and bravery in saving fellow motorists from injury and death; and whereas, America's professional truck drivers are hard working men and women who serve the communities, schools and businesses of the United States every day with dedication and without fanfare; and whereas, our nation's economic system rides on the wheels of trucks, and we owe a debt of gratitude to those men and women who drive the trucks to keep that system operational. Now , therefore, I, Howard Dean, Governor of the State of Vermont, do hereby proclaim the week of August 9-15, 1998, as truck drivers appreciation week in Vermont. Given under my hand and great seal of the state of Vermont this 23rd day of April A.D. 1998 sign Howard Dean, M.D. Governor. Are these just words or do they mean something. His employee closed down a truck driving school, putting out good truck drivers that a lot of company's wanted. I know of 25 truck driving companies, that are short of qualified drivers to drive there trucks at high pay. Is he against people getting good pay? We are talking about the high price of fuel for our heating purposes and our vehicles. What about the truck drivers to hall the fuel for heating, or for our vehicles? You can have all the fuel in the world but without drivers it's not going to do you any good. I was told this is the best court system we have until something better comes along. I believe in our system when they go by the facts, but when a judge has trouble at home, or is trying to make a name for themselves dose that make a difference. I thought judges had to make a decision on the facts, not there mode swings. It's nice to have a 90% conviction rate, but if they are not looking for the truth what good are they. It would make a good TV show but we already have enough of them. I don't want you to believe that all judges are like that some go up the ladder of success the normal way, others take shortcut for advancement not caring about the victims. If we can't believe in our court system and judges, we will be in trouble. What makes a good judge? In my opinion they have to be trustworthy, willing to listen to both sides before making a decision, use common since, know the law, care about the outcome, and they should have at lease 15 years of law experience. We have found out that if you are involved in an accident in South Burlington, Vermont and it's your fault, just start crying when the police officer gets there, so he will be able to get your side of the story first before the other party can tell there side of the story. If they have an older person in the other car, don't worry, because they don't tend to believe them. Do we want these police officer to come to our City to patrol our streets? I was told if a car goes across two lanes of traffic, hit a car in the rear door of a station wagon, with no skid marks, was their fault, what does that tell you? On Friday May 19, 2000, at 10:00 am Chittenden County Sheriff 's car #266 was going down East Allen to Main Street, then took a left on to Main Street, how fast was he going? I was going 28 mph and he passed me going around 38 mph. Where do you think our police were? At the station. I have been getting lots of letters from citizens of Winooski about project downtown. If you think you have a problem now, wait for this new development they are talking about, no difference in traffic, but 800 more unites minimum, one car per unit, that's 800 more cars not counting commercial property. That is only if they leave once a day. I would think they are going to have a minimum of two bedrooms per unite that would be an average of 800 more children in our schools. Could you tell me why our City Hall has to be in the New Development, isn't it because they can pick up federal money for this development when sooner or later the money comes out of our pockets. When this is done who owns this project are we helping someone get richer. Can the city of Winooski own it to lower our taxes? Now are these apartment going to be $800.00 or less or are they going to be $1,000.00 and up if you have notice this was not mention. Have you ever notice there are all ways more things not mention that they slip in the back door? I say it again, if a landlord can't keep tenants then lower the rent. Don't count on the city to drop your taxes so you can make more money, put more money into your properties so tenants   get what they pay for, not all landlord are like that. We all know that we were the laughing stock around Vermont when we thought about putting a dome over Winooski. Now what about the plans to change one of Winooski's busies streets into a one way street from Main Street to East Allen. The person that came up with that idea must not live here in Winooski. I'm sure you've had to go from West Allen to East Allen, when the light turns green you are lucky to have at least three cars cross before the light turns red. Can you imagine having truckers take a left from Main to West Allen Street, from the hill, now think of truckers from East Allen, a cross Main Street, then back to Main Street. We would have more traffic problems then we have now is that what we want? It would be easer to widen Main Street from East Allen to West Canal. If we want to make a name for our self why not just make the bridge a double decker over the Burlington and Winooski bridge. This way we can get rid of the bottle neck from East Allen to West Canal and from West Canal to Burlington. Do we want to be another Williston, start out small and now they can't stop the expansion. Do we want a big shopping center like Burlington or South Burlington. Our Police Department wants more police, now with these new units and shopping area how many more are we going to need, and who is paying for it. I have not once heard anything said about a Boys and Girls Club, but of course there wouldn't be any money left. REGINALD E. CUSSON

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