ELMIRA'S (ok Woolwich & Wellesley) SOLE REMAINING LOCAL NEWSPAPER

Way back in early 1995, the Elmira Independent was the sole newspaper in town. Yes they had won a Michener Award for both the paper's and Roddy Turpin's coverage of Uniroyal Chemical and the Elmira water crisis. They deserved it even though the K-W Record had covered both Uniroyal and Varnicolor Chemical pollution as well.

That said there was substantial criticism of Bob Verdun, half the ownership team of the Independent. Bob was viewed as too loud, perhaps too radical, and certainly too critical of local power structures and authority. Unsurprisingly it was these local power structures, businesses, polluters, and Woolwich councillors who were most critical. Even Bob's supporters occasionally wished that he had been a tad more diplomatic. Personally I looked at the big picture and had no difficulty whatsoever in admiring Bob's defense of the public interest.

Along came the Woolwich Observer. I know that somehow or someone had suggested to me that this new newspaper was being either promoted, sponsered or enabled by the various critics of Bob Verdun's Elmira Independent. Maybe among other names whispered to me was that of local entrepreneur and businessman, Donny Martin. Here's the rub. Damned if I can remember now who or how many made that suggestion to me. It seemed to make sense at the time because there was widespread criticism and unhappiness with Mr. Verdun by some. That seeming to make sense at the time however does not make it so.

For me the proof was in the pudding. The Woolwich Observer jumped into all the local issues including Uniroyal Chemical and the poisoning of the Elmira Aquifers. They jumped into development plans whether for subdivisions or for gravel pits. They freely criticized our local council at will. Whatever their backing they had some smart cookies on the team and they added dramatically to the local coverage of important issues.

Yes I miss the Elmira Independent, Gail Martin, Julie Sawyer, and all the gang over the decades. I only hope that our sole remaining newspaper is with us for many more decades.