Dear Fellow Boaters, PLEASE read this: Some of you may have heard that the NY Thruway has proposed an increase in truck tolls. Cars will not be affected. Remember also, that the Thruway owns the NY Canal System including the Erie Canal and the others, so this increase will directly affect us boaters. There is considerable opposition to this increase and while I normally might be opposed to it, I also consider how this will affect our beloved Canals. The Canal System is always near broke, and the destruction last year from Hurricane Irene only made things worse. The opposition is gearing up for a fight, and many will attend the public meetings in Buffalo, Syracuse and Newburgh on August 16, 17 & 18. If any of you are able to attend those meetings, your presence would be greatly appreciated. We need a few folks to stand up there and state they support the increase so that Thruway will be able to properly carry on their maintenance programs which includes both the roads and the Canals. In addition to this, it would be greatly appreciated if everybody reading this could also send a short email to this address: tollcomments@thruway.ny.gov In those emails, please state your support of the truck toll increase so that the Thruway Authority can continue their maintenance programs on the roads and also the canals. It would not hurt to copy me in with your email, so that I can show the Canal Corp management who their friends really are. More info is available at www.thruway.ny.gov Please if ya have an extra 5 minutes, please at least send the email, and Real Special Thanks to those who might be able to actually attend the Public Comment Meetings. Also could someone please forward my email to the T & T list and any other forums you may participate in. Fred Wehner Tug 44