THE ROLL OF THE DICE

Jessie Huang was driving East on Farmers Mills Road. He was coming to recycle. Matthew Petterson was driving West on Farmers Mills Road. He and his two sons had just finished re cycling. As the cars converged, Mr. Petterson suffered a fatal cerebral embolism. His car lurched suddenly across the lane and directly toward Jessie and a high impact, head-on collision. Jessie had to be cut from his car by the "jaws of life". His lower body severely damaged, he was rushed to Danbury Hospital which was the nearest, available hospital with a good rehab. program.

Now, as Jessie recuperates, he is facing financial ruin. NYS insurance plans will not help him pay his medical bills at Danbury because it, is an out of state hospital! Jessie was between jobs and can expect no help from job related insurance. His car insurer takes the position that Matthew was dead before the crash occurred, the crash was an act of God and therefore, they are also not responsible!!! We will release, upon request the name of his insurance company. Jessie, through no fault of his own, has fallen through every crack in America's patchwork medical system.

His mother is caring for him but she does not drive. He lives at 117 Seven Hills Lake Drive, which is far from any shopping center. His phone # is 225-8960. We pick up his garbage and recyclables every Friday... at no cost of course!!! I'm sure they would appreciate any help from his neighbors ... particularly regarding transportation. This type of thing can happen to anyone who drives a car and falls between the cracks in our uncoordinated, inept medical system.

YOUR NAME & YOUR PRIVACY

Ann Olsen, a local business person, has requested- "a list of people who have paid the $50 membership fee during the year 2002 to join recycling." She made the request under the famous FOIL (freedom of Information legislation). We wonder if her right to information conflicts with your right to privacy. We have friends who will research the issue. Meanwhile, let us know your feelingshow much information about yourself would you want released?

ELECTRONICS

Each monitor, & each TV tube, contains 5 or more pounds of lead. Cadmium is in the printed circuit boards, Mercury in the switches and pvc plastics in the outer shells. The metals leech from landfills and the plastics produce carcinogens when burned. We must stop tossing electronics into the garbage truck. But we have no more storage space. So we ask you to hold on to them until the big boys come up with a solution. Consider joining us in writing to Bob Bondi and suggest that TV's and computers be accepted at the County's household hazardous waste day pick-up.

Jim Baker 225-7901