Gail Heinsohn is reporting in the Chatham Courier about an effort on social media to establish a quiet zone in the village of Chatham and silence the train. The three railroad crossings within the village all require that the whistle be blown as a warning. Resident Ben Thomas has created an online petition making it appear the village itself is spearheading the effort. However, Mayor Tom Curran said that could not be further from the truth. Curran said, “I’m shocked that they state the village of Chatham is undertaking this initiative, when there is no such thing. This is not a village of Chatham blog, nor is it sponsored by the village, nor does the village represent this effort.” Curran said the creation of a quiet zone within the village would take millions of dollars, years of study and design, and require approval by CSX and the state Department of Transportation, among other things. The majority of comments on the petition's Facebook page and on the Chatham Courier's oppose the proposition. "I'm sorry but this is ridiculous. I think people have way too much time on their hands! Leave the train alone...," wrote Abbie White of Troy. Chatham Town Supervisor Jesse DeGroodt said that he “would only add that Chatham’s heritage revolves around trains — the sound of today’s trains passing through resonate from the past.” Read the full story in the Chatham Courier.
