Winter moon–
the lost dog flyer
blows from the telephone pole
Frost-melt on windows–
a bird’s delicate prints
on sun-glistened snow
chain-reaction crash
on the sleet-slick bridge —
ice floes speed by
[Jan.15, 2004]
Another sign of how poor my beloved Schenectady has become — the position of
Consumer Complaint Investigator has been abolished (Schenectady [NY] Daily Gazette, Jan. 15,
2005, B1, $$, reproduced here) . The retiring Investigator, Rick Gonyeau, says “As the retail
establishments closed during the years the numbers [of consumer complaints] dropped down.”
Local residents will have to turn to state agencies for help.
Cynical in deed: The word cynic comes from the Greek word for dog [“kunos”], but it’s
the human being in charge of Guilderland, NY, who seems cynical to your Editor. The Town of
changed the policy of the Town Animal Shelter from “no kill” to a “kill” facility. Runion says the reasons
for the change included liability and costs. What seems cynical about this decision is the fact that the
volunteer group Guilderhaven had just competed a donation drive, in which it raised $100,000 in cash
and services for the renovation of the Shelter, predicated on the fact that the Shelter was a “no kill” facility.
(There are plenty of “kill facilities” in the region.) The Town board had authorized Guilderhaven to raise the
funds and oversee the renovations. The work on the Shelter is on hold, while the 12 members of Guilderhaven
attempt to get some answers from their elected representatives. (“Shelter’s policy change upsets backers,”
