To the editor:

The response for volunteers to pick up litter on July 13 on the main roads of China has been exceptional. We now have it covered from Erskine Academy to Rte. 3, South China village itself, Rte. 202 to China village, China village itself, the causeway, and a portion of the Neck Road from China village south.

It’s been suggested we do this on the second Saturday every month. When the snow flies, we may have to take a break and resume whenever it’s melted. Appreciation to the volunteers who have stepped forward and thanks also to the town office staff and the transfer station staff. It does indeed need the cooperation of everyone.

As Dennis Heath, town manager, said in a recent communication, it would help enormously if all property owners would take responsibility to pick up along their own frontage on China’s roads.

I think we all realize this effort can only really succeed if the litterers change their behavior. Please keep it in the car for later proper disposal and cover trash being hauled to the Transfer Station in an open vehicle.

We also welcome anyone living on roads other than the covered routes to consider stepping forward and help create a Litter-free China!

Richard Dillenbeck
China

To the editor:

On June 11, the voters of China will vote on whether or not to authorize the select board “to purchase a portion of the property at Map 38, Lot 15, including all costs, not to exceed $150,000….” The portion of the property consists of five acres with frontage on China Lake.

I am a strong proponent of preserving open space and public ownership of land to preserve it for current and future generations. As a 30-plus-year resident of China, and as a voter and taxpayer, this sounds like a great deal and one which I would normally support.

In this case, however, offering the owner of the property up to $150,000 may be a great deal for the town, but it may be a bad deal for the property owner. It’s important for the voters to know that the $150,000 figure came from a tax assessment of the property. There has been no property appraisal. The property may be worth less or it may be worth much more. I suspect it is the latter.

I believe that the town of China should have bought and paid for a property appraisal before putting this to voters. Only in this way would we know what the property is really worth and what we should pay for it. If the voters of China vote the purchase down, this is all a moot point. If the voters of China vote YES, I hope that the town pays for an appraisal and has another vote in November if value of the property exceeds $150,000. I also hope and expect the town of China to not pay the owner more or less than the property is worth.

John M. Glowa, Sr.
South China

To the editor:

Last fall I was elected to the RSU #18 schoolboard representing the town of China. This has given me the opportunity to see inside the complex mechanism in running a large school system. Today’s education involves much more than I had experienced growing up. School today involves knowing each individual student, their character and their roadblocks in learning. Hiring social workers and drug councilors add to the crucial formation of these young minds. If we fail our mission to direct these young people to a bright beautiful future, then our social workers and/or drug councilors will follow them into their adult lives. Paying a little more now for extra support needed for success will be well worth the investment. Our children are our future, let’s teach and support them accordingly.

Please vote yes for education this June.

Neil Farrington
RSU #18 schoolboard member for China

To the editor:

What a great story about China General aka Jack’s. I grew up a few doors down and spent at least a few minutes every day picking a handful of the scrumptious sticks of Jolly Ranchers! Danny often made me an Italian for my lunch. Kim, Pat, and Ann had the biggest most genuine smiles each time anyone walked in. The crew there was a family, everyone could feel that! Jack’s was known for the best meats anywhere around. One could barely fit through every early morning when the men’s “coffee club” was in session.

Jack’s is the last place I remember being able to run a tab. Halloween in the village was a huge deal and Jack’s always gave a bag of chips and soda. The store was the heart of the community when I grew up. Jack’s, the post office, the library, and the church, made my childhood the stuff story books tales are made of. Great people everywhere.

It was a sad day when the new owners changed staff, didn’t sell gas, and finally infested the town with rats. Certainly not the business family the Sylvester family was. So sad to see the run down shamble left behind.

I feel blessed to have grown up in China before everything went downhill. And to everyone who treated me so well, I haven’t forgotten and never will.

Danielle Foster
former China resident