In Aurora, we seem to continue our antagonistic behaviors, whenever change occurs. And it seems to be the same residents who, like beagle puppies, take the issues between the back teeth, bite down hard, and run up and down the byways, spreading illwill wherever they stop. Most of the stories floating around the village are third and fourth hand information, and usually wrong. The result is, many good people, who should know better, harbor resentment about real or imagined wrongs. And it looks like it is going to go on and on.

This is the kind of social interaction that resulted in northern/southern Ireland, where they are still fighting battles that happened hundreds of years ago, and in Iraq/Iran where sectarian violence has escalated to its zenith. That is based on disagreements about religion that occurred nearly a thousand years ago. When they are not talking over there, they are blowing each other up. And that is by the thousands of bodies.

It's OK to disagree about the post office, but let's get the story straight and move on. The postal service official in charge of the acquisition of new facilities wrote an e-mail to all concerned Aurora residents who had previously communicated support or opposition. It stated that internal protocols within the postal service had changed, regarding the size of post offices with our volume. (And a lot of other sizes).

To wit, the proposed size and facility did not meet the new standards, and further interest in the Heary Building was withdrawn. The letter mentioned looking for other sites outside of Aurora.

Fine. If the same protocols are applied to nearby post offices, then shouldn't we be looking for a regional facility encompassing several of the smaller offices in the county, and delivery of our mail in the village, just like the rest of the town?

That concept will change the fabric of the village, but for the better: consider the reduction in auto traffic in the so-called business district, on a daily basis. A very large percentage of it comes through the existing post office and not only the fabric, but also the cost of running the village owned building housing the existing post office.

If the site is vacated, the village may not have to pay for the cost of repairs that will be required. Divide $30,000 or $40,000 up by the number of taxpayers and add it to the village tax bill. Remember that Wells College does not pay taxes. It's a no-brainer.

Let's just show appreciation to Wells and the Aurora Foundation for the influx of capital which has so improved the campus and the “business district” and get out of the hate mode.

We need to move on without the acid stomach, bile loving attitude that prevails.

William Dugan is former supervisor for the town of Ledyard.