Flawed assessments in Inlet

To the Editor:
The recent assessments in Inlet have numerous errors and possible violations of the assessment laws. I strongly urge all taxpayers and property owners in Inlet to avail themselves of the S.C.A.R. Program. It stands for “Supreme Court Assessment Review.” The cost is $30 to file the complaint in Hamilton County. You can do it all by mail. Fellow citizens and taxpayers: enough is enough! This assessment is flawed and possibly unlawful. Stand up for your rights and be counted. Inlet is our town; It doesn’t belong to the assessor, the Town Board, or the State. It is ours, let’s fight for it! Let freedom ring.
Lewis F.X. Cotignola
Inlet

Support local businesses this summer

To the Editor:
As a summer resident who enjoys the convenience that local stores provide, I am finally addressing an issue that has concerned me for years: summer residents stocking up on staples from stores like Walmart rather than supporting local businesses.
A personal experience encouraged me to write this letter. I was about to buy forty cans of tuna because Walmart had a great two for one deal. But was the $20 savings worth it in the long run?  For me, it wasn’t.
Yes, prices are higher in the area, and for good reasons. The season is short, the population is limited, and profits have to be made in order to remain open all year for the locals who support us, the summer residents! Many local businesses are struggling to survive in this economy. If they close their doors, we all will be hurt. We are a unique community, and we need each other.
The next time you decide to load up the car with bargains from home, or buy those nails at Lowes, please consider three good reasons to buy locally instead:
1. Convenience of having local businesses
2. Expense of driving even ten miles for basics
3. Locals are our community who support us two months of the year, but live here twelve
And for those items local stores don’t carry, ask if they can special order them. In most cases they can and will.
 Is it worth the price to buy locally? Absolutely.
 Sue Dowling
Big Moose summer resident