I am writing this letter to thank those who are in support of the Sunnyside Ethanol Project slated for construction in Curwensville, Pa. I believe most of the readers in the Curwensville area know me either on a personal basis or a “not so personal” basis. I have had my share of adversity and have had to make some personal changes in my life that I feel over the past fourteen years have made me a better person and a contributor to my community.
I do not write in a professional capacity, nor am I writing as Vice-President of Curwensville Boro Council. I am writing as a neighbor, friend and fellow Curwensville resident. As most of you know, I have lived my entire life in Curwensville and have a deep loyalty and abiding love for this town. My family and I reside a “stones throw” from the Curwensville school complex and are in the vicinity of the proposed Sunnyside site.
I have read a considerable amount of data, gleaned the Internet for the pros and cons of such a project and spoke with regulatory officials in regard to the potential health hazards associated with such a venture. I am satisfied with the answers I received and am not the type of person who is easy to sell anything to (ask anyone who knows me).
When Sunnyside first came to town with their proposal to build the plant, I for one asked “why”? I also inquired, “what’s the catch” My third question was “should I plan on moving”?
The answers I received were encouraging to me and after talking with various individuals, I was satisfied that this would be a good thing for our town.
I will state at this point that there were several meetings where people were invited to share their concerns, and the feedback was positive in nature. We were given the upside and downside of the project from a host of experts and I also made efforts to confirm the feelings of boro residents.
We are now in the “eleventh hour” of the pre construction phase and are being told by a group of individuals that this project will at the very least, cause our families to become ill or at the very worst kill us. I have a problem with that. The information being posted on a couple of Web sites and in opinions to the local papers paint the leadership of Curwensville Boro and the Curwensville Development Corp. as uncaring greedy folks who show no regard for the safety and welfare of Curwensville’s citizens.
The people involved in the campaign against Sunnyside are entitled to their opinions and as a fellow American; I encourage freethinking and speech. However, when someone conveniently waits until the last moment to voice an objection and suggests that there are other viable jobs available or at least potential businesses to engage in, I have to ask the same questions I asked when Sunnyside first came to town. Fair is fair.
First of all, we are being informed by a person who has no scientific background what is and isn’t good for us as a community and I will point you in the direction of his Web pages so you can form an opinion as to what his motivation would be other than the fact that he states he is concerned for his families health and well being. This same person ran for a seat on Boro Council, stating it was the only reason he was running.
That is a comforting thought knowing the other business of the Boro takes a back seat to his “anti ethanol” crusade. I would relate a specific example of this if anyone would like to call me and discuss it; my number is in the phone book.
I asked this individual what his proposals were to encourage economic growth in the area and was given a very broad statement along the lines of “tourism, Web design, computer technology, media, etc.” I had to ask myself could it be that since our newest Council member is an “expert” and entrepreneur in the media, Web site design and computer fields, that maybe, just maybe he has more than the economic and health concerns of the Boro at heart?
An individual who owns a Web portal directed me to her site after the Curwensville Boro Council meeting on April 14, 2008 and she suggested I read the posts on her discussion boards. I did, and with the exception of a few pro ethanol postings, I was inundated with a plethora of posts (mostly by this lady, I have to wonder if she talks to herself this much IRL), stating that she is in constant fear that the coal fired project will kill her and that it could blow up, pollute the town, etc.
What amazed me was the conversations I saw on the blog reminded me of a trick a buddy of mine used to do on the internet, he would initiate a discussion between himself , himself and himself using three different screen names to get a point across.
What made it believable was the fact that he would throw a dissenting opinion in once in a while to keep it “legitimate”. Web chat 101.
Another interesting thing I noticed was that the fellow I refer to as the newest member of council and the lady I am talking about share a passion for Web page and site design, not to mention questionable motives to want to stop heavy industry from coming to Curwensville.
It was interesting that she responded to someone on her discussion board who asked what her economis solutions were by posting a link to a Web Site entitled Padowntown. If this was her answer to the economic problems Curwensville is facing, a page full of statistics and data, it should be encouraging when the light bill comes or it is time to buy groceries that we have options. No money, but lots of options.
I know I am bringing up financial issues and it may be construed by some that I am not concerned for the health of our town, but I live here too and am closer than a lot of people in town along with the fact that I have no political or financial motivation to push this project, only the interests of my fellow citizens.
Ask yourself this question, are you going to believe in the statements and innuendo of a person who has lived here for a couple of years and after being aware of the project since he came here now decides we have a potential problem while conveniently promoting his business of informing the public of potential problems, or will you believe people in Curwensville who have spent their entire lives in this town sacrificing countless hours of free time trying to do what is right for all?
Sincerely,
Frederick Sopic, a concerned citizen and taxpayer
Curwensville
