Story Was Gossip, Not News

To the Editor:

I have enjoyed the articles and tone of our town newspaper. The week of July 28 I was disappointed by the article titled “Neighbors Call In The Police In Home-Based Business Dispute.”

I can see where a police call would be checked out by a town reporter but was this really news? Sure the police were called; however, Detective Stormer said, “This issue isn’t a police matter.” It is a civil matter “to be taken care of by the town’s land use office.

The land use office and Ms Finlayson made an agreement for her to move her small exercise studio when both parties found that there was neighborhood unrest over her originally agreed upon home business. A new location was found and is almost complete. Bee readers were already aware of this drama thanks to previous articles.

I see no new news here worthy of ink. All that happened is the Shpunts called the wrong office in their attempt to find closure to their conflict. Both Ms Finlayson and Mr and Mrs Shpunt must suffer from the attention an article of this nature brings. I think of this as gossip, not news.

Jody Murphy

6 Firtree Lane, Sandy Hook                                         July 31, 2000