My heart goes out to Bill and Debbie Fischer and the hundreds of thousands of other Pennsylvania residents whose lives have been torn apart by hydrofracking. Ed Griffin-Nolan’s “Shale Force” article (July 20) provides powerful testimony to the devastating human and environmental consequences of this foolhardy method of drilling for natural gas.

But after facing heated criticism they’re changing their tactics. Now, instead of attacking Medicare head-on, they’re calling for spending caps to disguise their plan to gut Medicare. Spending caps would actually trigger massive cuts to Medicare within a few years.

Letters from readers

Clear Channel has taken the urban radio format in Syracuse back to the 1950s. At the same time, it has kicked its urban audience to the back of the bus. The media giant did so when it banished the signal that carried the rhythm’n’blues programming of the now former WPHR-FM 106.

As artists and citizens, we are outraged by the censorship rearing its head in our nation. In a country founded on freedom of expression—the First Amendment—we find it shocking and senseless that some among us would deny the rest of us by silencing any voice they deem “different” or “other.

I’ve also been attending the frequent protests at the main gate of Syracuse’s Hancock Air Base. Hancock, home of the 174th Fighter Wing of the New York Air National Guard, is the national maintenance center for Reaper drone aircraft. Hancock facilitates the operation of these robotic killers over Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Farm Team I am pleased to announce that the New York Farm Bureau has recently named Sen. David Valesky to our annual “Circle of Friends” list.

Syracuse Pew Times

“Father Knew Best,” Ed Griffin-Nolan’s moving July 21 article on the late priest Frank Woolever and his contemporaries, displayed an accurate appreciation of the man and his passions. But one must rightfully also acknowledge that the companionship and shared vision of his wife, Meme, and the generous support of his daughters, Heidi and Amy, helped keep him going. 

Additionally, there have been literally scores of “married clergy” serving in a wide variety of human and spiritual services locally. Perhaps the institutional Church can restrict the channels of the Spirit in its confines, but truly She moves wherever she will . . . and continues to freshen the world with grace and hope.

—Dave Pasinski

Syracuse

Frack Flak Fudges Facts

“Thumbs Down for Frack Flick,” David Palmerton’s July 7 letter, is only his latest personal installment of industry propaganda and misrepresentation. I attended the recent panel discussion at the Environmental Science and Forestry and personally asked him a question that I had researched and knew the answer to.