by Intern on January 31, 2010
A Personal Account from the Saunter Family
By Brendan O. & Liam M.
In March of 2008 Craig and Julie Sautner moved to the town of Montrose, Pa. not knowing what was in store for them. Shortly after settling in, the Sautners were approached by Cabot Oil & Gas with an offer to lease their land for natural gas drilling.
Cabot gas trucks were a regular sight for them, and they knew Cabot was already drilling in the area, so they thought nothing of accepting the offer.
This has become the Sautner’s most regretted decision, as they have been fighting for their quality of life since the drilling began on their property, less than 1000 ft. from their house.
On September 11, 2008, brown, muddy water first flowed from their taps. They contacted Cabot who offered to purge or flush out their well to see if that would clean it out. The Sautners declined for fear of damage to their 18-year-old pump. “I said ‘No, don’t do it,’ but by the time I got home it was already done. I got home and there was no water in the well,” said Mr. Sautner.
Naturally, the Sautners had to have water, and so Cabot wheeled a big, unsightly water tank into their backyard to supply them with just enough water to live on while they ran tests and subsequently set up a water treatment system in their basement. Cabot refused to pay for the treatment system that the Sautners chose; rather Cabot bought a cheaper one that left their basement looking like “Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory.”
The DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) soon got involved. They tested the water at the Sautners’ wellhead. “Of course…they found gas,” said Mr. Sautner. Cabot assured them that as time went on, their water would return to its original quality. When the DEP’s tests showed no improvement in their water quality, Cabot’s solution was to add yet another contraption to their machinery laden basement.
The overflow of methane-laced water in their backyard not only ruined their lawn but made it into a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The water was not even fit to clean household items, as it ruined everything from dishes to clothes. Cabot assured them that they would be reimbursed for all of their damaged possessions, but they were not.
The contaminated water also gave Mrs. Sautner rashes and hives, and gave their daughter exema. Throughout this whole ordeal the Sautners refused to drink the water, fearing the possible effects on their health. After complaining to Cabot officials about problem, one high-ranking executive ordered Mrs. Sautner to drink the water. “He told my wife, ‘You will drink that water’,” said Mr. Sautner.
On November 20, 2009, the Sautners filed a lawsuit against Cabot Oil & Gas for destroying their well, which started their troubles in the first place. Cabot was served a letter, which informed them of the Sautner’s intentions, on December 16. The standard is 30 days for them to respond. However, with the holiday season Cabot asked for an extension and has been given until February 8. “I imagine they are just going to say, ‘Sue us’,” said Mr. Sautner.
Fourteen other families, along with the help of the DEP, have come together with the Sautners to form a joint lawsuit against Cabot Oil & Gas. Each family seeks compensation for the damage done to their lives and their well-being by Cabot. Most of the other families have been seriously affected by the recent spills of fracing fluid in Dimock, Pa. by Cabot. The Sautners along with the other families whole-heartedly believe that they have a shot at winning.
The testimonies of all fifteen families together make an uncommonly strong case. Each is seeking to be able to return to their former quality of life. Cabot will surely be prepared to fight, and has the resources to be a very formidable opponent.
by Intern on January 30, 2010
Hotel Renovates Dining Area to Make Room for Banquets
By Liam M.
The Hancock House Hotel is a favorite for The Family Foundation School students when they go out to eat or hang out for the night with their parents.
2010 promises some new opportunities for breakfast and lunch.
Fannie’s Cafe will be combined with the current dining room to make one large space. It will be a banquet room for wedding and other types of receptions, with the help of Binghamton designer Laurie Chambers. Hotel owner Lynn Bass says that the new hall will be able to comfortably hold up to 150 people.
Breakfast and lunch will still be served in the new room, though there will no longer be a counter. All the renovations are expected to be finished by mid to late spring.
Ralph Smith’s construction crew is working with some members of Bass’ construction crew to get everything done in time.
In the meantime, chefs are being interviewed for the position of head chef, to give the Hancock House a new flavor to go with the new look for 2010.
by Intern on January 30, 2010
Director of Admissions, Jeff Brain, recently had his two beagles, Jack and Jake, therapy-certified.
By Brendan O.
The Family Foundation School congratulates Jack and Jake, along with their owner, Jeff Brain, on becoming certified therapy dogs. The certification was awarded by Therapy Dogs International (TDI).
The pair of beagles are 15 months old and passed the test with flying colors. The test has all of the same requirements as the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen test as well as some further requirements that would prove the two able to work in various locations such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes.
The dogs must be outgoing and friendly to all people and other animals. They must be accepting and friendly, particularly towards strangers and children and other pets.
Brain and his wife love beagles and have had several before Jack and Jake. They noticed early on how smart the two were as puppies; they learned quickly and had a loving temperament.
Jack and Jake received special praise from the evaluator and will continue training to improve their skills. Brain brings the two into the school on a regular basis and the students and staff love them.
by Intern on January 28, 2010
By Ross A.
I stared at the cuts and bruises on my knuckles, enraged with everyone in my life, blaming them for my unfathomable unhappiness. I sat in the locker room of The Family Foundation School with a bunch of people who I’d never met before, and tried to convince them that my parents were to blame for my presence in the room. I had no idea that I was the creator of all the problems I was experiencing, that they were all outcomes of my decisions.
Many people don’t know how they got where they are. They don’t understand the power of decision. Some convicts say that they are in prison because the other guy deserved it, or they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some millionaires say they are rich because they are smart, or life presented them with rare opportunities. Although most of them have extraordinary intelligence and outstanding drive, they still decided to use it to their greatest benefit.
My understanding of the role my decision making played in my life began when I arrived at FFS. My junior sponsor would tell me time and time again that “anger was a choice” in his seemingly futile efforts to calm me down when I became enraged at the world. It took many months for me to seriously understand this concept and eventually I began to get my anger under control, I decided to stay calm.
My understanding grew even more when I learned about the third step; “We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.” I had to choose to give my life to God. The first time I made this choice, it was the most significant decision I had ever made in my life.
Over the next few months, by talking through my struggles with staff and students at FFS, as well people in the rooms of AA, I heard the word decision a lot. I began to understand that I am where I am because of my decisions in the past. Of course, in my personal belief God plays the biggest role in all of this, but that will come later.
My understanding grows deeper and deeper as time goes on. I have realized that doing drugs is a decision. Hurting people is a decision. Lying is a decision. All of these were negative choices I made in my life. On the other side of the coin, telling the truth is a decision. Being kind to people is a decision. Doing my best to do God’s will today is a decision. Everything we do is a decision!
Knowing these things changes the way I live my life, the way I decide to live my life. I now understand that my present and my future are in my hands, but fortunately for my own sake, I open my hands to the sky and give it up to God every day. I tend to mess things up when I choose to do them my way.
In my opinion, free will is a God-given power. It is a gift. My understanding of my Higher Power is that he gives us free will from birth. The insight of Carl Jung, Leo Tolstoy, and even the teachings of Jesus Christ all affect my comprehension of this life and its many questions, but the basic idea I hold is that God puts a whole lot of “forks in the road” on our journey through life and we decide which way we go. Today I try to choose to go the way God is ‘pointing.’ The way we go can change our lives for the better or for the worse. We just need to decide which way we want to go.
Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Mann House News
Letter to the Editor
