When I lived in Albany not so long ago, it seemed like a lot of the city's actions were based on knee-jerk reactions rather than careful thought. With the city's heartless casting out of Dennis VanAmburgh, who ran Swinburne Park's snack bar, I guess nothing has changed.
My daughter learned to skate and play hockey at Swinburne Park through excellent youth programs. During all those years, we never failed to pick up hot chocolate, pizza or a doughnut at Mr. VanAmburgh's counter. You'd never meet a nicer, friendlier guy. When we were just starting out with hockey, he helped answer some of our incredibly dumb questions — always with a smile. He was an invaluable part of the rink.
My daughter is now enjoying team play with the Troy-Albany Junior Engineers. But I still bring her back to Swinburne, where she loves helping out. It doesn't seem real that Mr. VanAmburgh is gone.
As an example of the city's thinking, he is to be replaced with vending machines, and we are supposed to think this will be better. We won't be buying anything from the machines. I urge other users of Swinburne Park to do the same.
MICHAEL D. TROUT
Selkirk