Journal to print papers off-premises

Beginning in August, The Lakeville Journal and its sister publications, The Millerton News and The Winsted Journal, will appear in a new format and will be printed by the Trumbull Printing Company in Trumbull, Conn., for local distribution.

The change results from a decision by the executive committee of The Lakeville Journal Company to close the Lakeville printing operation because it is risky to rely any longer on the 35-year-old press and replacement would be prohibitively expensive.

News, editorial and advertising operations of the three newspapers will continue as at present. The changes will require that deadlines be advanced by 24 hours. The Lakeville Journal and The Millerton News will continue to publish weekly on Thursday, and The Winsted Journal will continue to publish on Friday.

The central office of The Lakeville Journal Company will remain in Lakeville, with satellite offices in Millerton, N.Y., and Winsted, Conn.

Trumbull Printing is a division of Hersam-Acorn Newspapers based in New Canaan and Ridgefield, Conn.  Hersam-Acorn is a family-owned company that publishes 19 community newspapers in southwestern Connecticut and nearby New York state.

The age of the Lakeville Journal’s printing press, which was purchased by editor and publisher emeritus Robert Estabrook (who is also a member of the current ownership) in 1976, has been a longtime and increasing worry for the company. Costly repairs are inevitable but would not necessarily guarantee that the press will remain functional. The change will make the newspaper better able to support the needs of the future.

The Lakeville Journal Company has taken this step with great regret. The closure of this department necessitates the severance of three full-time and 11 part-time company employees. The printing department has been producing our three community newspapers, as well as other publications, on a weekly basis, and this is a credit to those who have maintained it. Yet, the prohibitive cost to the company has become unsustainable.

Thanks are due to all who currently work in the printing and bindery departments for The Lakeville Journal, and to those who have worked in these departments over decades past. Without their hard work and dedication, the department could not have remained in operation as long as it has.

A. Whitney Ellsworth, managing partner

Janet Manko, publisher and editor-in-chief