Letters to the Editor - The Lakeville Journal - 1-21-21

The accurate name is Affordable Housing Plan

“Don’t be misguided by misinformation” recommends a closing line of a recent letter to the editor, Sign up for state-funded study, Falls Village (Lakeville Journal 1/14/21). We couldn’t agree more.  

Let’s start with the title and misleading term “study.” Actually, the town of  Canaan (Falls Village) applied for a grant to offset most of the costs of producing a municipal Affordable Housing Plan (AHP), which is not a “study.” The state of Connecticut requires such a plan from all of its 169 towns, wherein each municipality must detail a strategy for achieving 10% affordable housing and subsequently have this AHP adopted by their Planning & Zoning Commission.  There were limited grant funds offered on a first come, first serve basis. So, let’s be clear, there is absolutely no use for a “study” to determine if our town needs or wants affordable housing.  It’s already now a requirement for each Connecticut town to begin working towards achieving 10% affordable housing in their community. For Falls Village, this would mean about 72 homes.

Next, let’s turn to community support. In truth, an impressive number of Falls Village residents have listened to and accepted the reassurances of the Department of Housing, the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Selectmen and our engineers. They have demonstrated their support of River Road Homes by donating to our Drill-A-Well fundraising campaign, which through matching funds secured over $15,000  for this project. 

In reality, renters successful in securing a unit at River Road Homes will be employed or have a pension. Perhaps they will seek affordable accommodations at River Road Homes to remain in Falls Village near their family and friends or to be closer to their jobs at places such as Hamilton Books, Sharon Hospital or the local schools.  Like anyone who lives in Falls Village, the River Road Homes renters will rely on personal vehicles, so access to the very limited public transportation in our region is irrelevant. 

To be accurate, at the recent public Zoom Selectmen’s meeting, the First Selectman read from the regulations and then explained, in simple terms, that according to the Town Attorney, a referendum cannot be held about an issue that cannot be overruled by the Selectmen, because they do not have that authority. The Planning & Zoning Commission decision was made based on adherence to the P&Z regulations and cannot be overruled. Therefore, it would be irresponsible to hold a referendum.

The Falls Village Housing Trust offers these truths to correct misinformation. We thank every one of our supporters who understand how necessary and exciting it is to be moving forward in building River Road Homes. 

The Falls Village Housing Trust, Inc.

Directors

Tracy Atwood, Falls Village

Eric Carlson, Falls Village

Allen Cockerline, Lakeville

Jandi Hanna, Falls Village

Felicia Jones, Falls Village

Jason Losh, Falls Village

Martha A. Miller, Lime Rock

Phillip Watkins, Falls Village

David Wilburn, Falls Village

Looking for some hope

We are all groping for a way forward after the vicious insurrection Jan. 6 that killed five persons and almost killed our democracy. We must be thankful that the center held, that our representatives, senators and the vice president courageously fulfilled their constitutional duties in the middle of the night, and that the election of Joe Biden has now been confirmed. But what now? 

On Jan. 10, I attended the Morning Prayers at The Church of the Regeneration in Pine Plains via YouTube (https://bit.ly/regen-youtube). Mr. Jack Banning offered a Reflection that was very helpful to me and that I share in part with you:

“What was troubling me as I was preparing this reflection for this morning’s service is a very basic question which I am asking myself as well as asking all of us in this congregation, and, indeed all Americans: how do we reconcile the desperate need for us to come together and heal with the desire for punishing the wrongdoers: the insurrectionists themselves as well as those who enabled them, indeed encouraged them through their seditious words? 

“The answer to that question—how do we heal-- most definitely does not lie in taking Vengeance; vengeance is, and always has been, the Lord’s, not ours. That seems pretty clear, at least to me. 

“But, what then? 

“We must, when we think of justice, be mindful that justice implies so much more than simple retribution for a crime or trespass. Yes, that is a kind of justice. But, for there ultimately to be justice in our world, there needs to be true justice in the much larger sense—social justice, racial justice, justice for All.  And, while we’re at it, yes….Mercy…And Compassion…And from these, Hope.”

Thank you, Jack. Let us be hopeful based on punishment but not vengeance for the crime, combined with social justice, racial justice, economic justice, justice for all, mercy, and compassion.

G. A. Mudge

Sharon

Easement is clear for Twin Lakes land

I feel compelled to write a few words with respect to the issue of the causeway. First, I would like to thank the 60-plus people who signed our grassroots petition to call attention to the clearing of the causeway. The hope was to be able to have public comment at the Salisbury Inland/Wetlands Commission’s hearing regarding the cease-and-correct order. Apparently the process does not allow for public comment, however the petition has had a positive effect. It has let the Commission know that people in our community are very much concerned with their mission of protecting wetlands and they have our support. It also has influenced The Nature Conservancy to step back from issuing a change of use as per the current landowner. There are still miles to go on this issue, but the petition has been effective.

Secondly, I would like to thank Michael Klemens for his expertise on both conservation easements and the science behind the health of Twin Lakes. Of all the people involved on this issue, only Michael has the credentials to make a knowledgeable assessment of the lakes backed by the facts. Michael brought forward the extensive report on the current status of the lakes and what steps should be taken in the future to ensure its continued health. This report was prepared by AER with a grant from the state and was never mentioned until Michael brought it up.  Probably because it states there are much bigger issues for the health of the lakes than the causeway. I am happy to send the report to anyone who is interested.

I would like to also thank The Lakeville Journal and Marshall Miles of Robin Hood Radio for researching this issue in a fair and objective manner. This shows the necessity of a vibrant local newspaper and radio station to cover important local issues. If it had not been for the Journal and Marshall, this undermining of the Mary Alice White’s conservation easement would have continued until it would have been too late to have public comment. 

In conclusion, I would like to quote Mary Alice White’s words in her easement with The Nature Conservancy:  “to conserve the natural values of the Protected Property, conserve and protect the special animal and plant populations on,  and prevent the use or development of that property for any purpose or in any manner which would conflict with the maintenance of the Protected Property in its current natural, scenic and open condition for this generation and future generations.” 

This seems very clear!

John Harney

Salisbury

Time for compromise and a new beginning

The American horror that happened in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6 is nothing short of stark raving madness. Under the Trump presidency our country has descended into a vortex of hate, division, racism and intolerance on a level of magnitude that boggles the mind. To say it is shocking is not enough. It is the rot of America in full view. As absurd as Trump and his minions are, they knew how to bring forth the worst in people. They exploited the fears, insecurities and deeply held feelings of bigotry to their advantage. This led to the fighting, violence and destruction of the peace and security of our society. 

Trump’s appeal and agenda was based in convincing people that the enemy lies within – including immigrants, politicians, weak leaders, portraying himself as none of the above. Look at how effectively Trump make people believe that immigrants were dangerous enemies and threatening our country. His creation of “enemies within” raised the fear level and established the need for a Great Leader, which he billed himself. In reality, Trump never talked about specific policies, he made it up as he went along.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left millions of people out of work and millions of others worried about losing their jobs. This and the very real health concerns individuals are experiencing have helped Trump’s agenda because he is shrewd enough to know his hateful rhetoric would create hysteria among his supporters. Hence, the attack on Jan. 6.

I am grateful Joe Biden is poised to take office on Jan. 20. His job won’t be an easy one. We will still have Trump supporters who believe the election was stolen and they may not be able to get beyond those feelings. The Biden presidency will hopefully restore our country to a semblance of normality with the emphasis on working together toward healing our country and ourselves. 

Perhaps a Biden presidency will drop the politics and get back to basic values. Perhaps our neighbors can be friends, and not enemies, again, even if our politics differ.

The words bipartisan and compromise are music to my ears and I fervently pray for it.

Gretchen Gordon

Sharon

Looking for healing

Some say “timing is everything.” With the Age of Aquarius upon us, the old things are falling away and a new earth and humanity is emerging. That may involve healing energies from many dimensions. The one and the many offers that everything is connected energetically and psychically more than we understood before discovering there were subatomic particles and light beyond the visible spectrum.

The world is feeling like one big family in terms of the pandemic, with a common enemy or concern uniting everyone with a feeling of gratitude for life and also a deep awareness that we need to cooperate to make our way through our days.

That is in regard to health, government and living in the realms that are carved out for us by external factors as well as what we allow ourselves to co-create from our internal experience. We all have a choice in how we use our voice over our lifetime with a fresh start daily!

I share many ideas on Livfully.org and on public FB pages to keep the conversation going and allow for a much wider array of viewpoints than most media or even politics and religions generally allow. I can be reached at cppaton@yahoo.com as well.

Drawing on efforts from grassroots to  more organized levels can be lighting the way universally.

All of that can help us create local and state patterns of networking and collaborating with others online and in regional and wider efforts as may benefit more people and the planet.

Thanks to all doing what they can, day by day, to ask, seek and knock on the doors (and in one’s dreams) for a healing energy and sense of team to win the day. 

Catherine Palmer Paton

Falls Village

SWSA is grateful

All of us at SWSA want to thank the White Hart Inn for hosting the Annual Chicken Pot Pie dinner again this year for our benefit. During these pandemic times when businesses, including restaurants, have taken such a financial hit, we are especially grateful for their generosity.

Willie Hallihan for the Salisbury Winter Sports Association Directors

Salisbury

Sad to see trees down

I consider myself to be a native of Salisbury. My grandfather was a collier on Mt. Riga. My dad, Paul Rebillard, was born in Taconic and never ever wanted to live in any other town. My mom, Esther, was a local school teacher. I went to Salisbury Central and then graduated high school from Housatonic Valley Regional. Although I have lived in several different localities after marrying my husband, Rich, I have always considered Salisbury home. When Rich and I were married many years ago in the Salisbury Congregational Church, I said that I would go anywhere we needed to go to support him, but it was Salisbury that I wanted to return to for retirement. And after a hiatus of about 40 years, Rich and I returned “home”.

Salisbury was a great village in which to grow up. Besides having wonderful memories, one of the draws to return was the sheer beauty of the land. I love driving around the roads and just taking in the variety of animals that scamper about and share their environments with us. It always fills my heart with joy and wonder and I think how fortunate we are to live in such a place.

One of my favorite journeys is Taconic Road, rich in beauty and local history. Have you traveled it lately? If you have, perhaps you have felt much the same as I to see the wanton destruction of beautiful wooded land just north of the post office, across the road from the former Elsa’s Kitchen and Camp Everett.

I think it is good to have new people discover this Northwest Corner of Connecticut, adding to the richness of community already here. I understand an owner’s right to develop land. What I do NOT understand is, if someone chooses to purchase and move to a more rural locale, why destroy the very essence of its beauty by removing almost every tree that one can see? It  breaks my heart to go by.

As of this date, one of the few remaining pieces of wood one can see from the road is a sign post identifying the property: Washinee Woods. Ironic, isn’t it.

Lynn Rebillard Reifsnyder

Salisbury

Thank you for supporting theaters

Over the past months, we have kept you, our loyal customers, updated on our cinema’s situation, and we’d like to share a further update with you now to thank a key champion who was instrumental in ensuring that independent cinemas in our state of New York can bridge the pandemic.

During the months that Congress deliberated over COVID relief, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has worked tirelessly and successfully to secure aid for New York’s cultural institutions, including independent movie theaters. This assistance is critical to keeping the industry alive, supporting the livelihoods of entrepreneurs and workers and protecting a critical piece of New York’s economy. We also want to acknowledge the support of all the bipartisan senators and members of Congress who worked to ensure that movie theaters could get the relief we need to survive the financial impact of the pandemic.

Senator Schumer championed this relief program and worked to include independent movie theaters in the proposal. He played a key role in the COVID package negotiations, and ultimately, was successful in working with the bill sponsors Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) to pass relief for theaters.

The senator has been relentless in his efforts to get this done and is now working with the Small Business Administration to enable the Save Our Stages program so it can begin accepting applications ASAP. He and his office are diligently working with New York’s independent movie theaters to ensure they all have the tools and information they need. 

I wanted to make you all aware of the wonderful work Senator Schumer has done and to express my gratitude for his tireless championship of our industry.

Carol Sadlon

Owner, The Millerton Moviehouse

Lakeville

Bank thankful for holiday donations

As many families in our communities are experiencing hardship during these unprecedented times, Salisbury Bank is proud to have sponsored our 13th annual “Fill-the-Basket” food drive to benefit local food pantries.

Our 14 branch offices located in Berkshire County, Mass., Litchfield County, Conn., and Dutchess, Orange and Ulster Counties in New York collected food and cash donations throughout the months of November and December. Together we were able to collect and donate over 1,700 non-perishable food and household items as well as $719 in cash donations. In addition, Salisbury Bank donated $1,000 to each organization in the communities we serve.

All items collected, including monetary contributions, were donated directly to local food pantries serving each area:

• Center for Compassion (Dover Plains, N.Y.)

 • Fishes and Loaves (Canaan, Conn.)

• Millerton Food Pantry (Millerton, N.Y.)

• Ella’s Closet (Sharon, Conn.)

• People’s Pantry (Great Barrington, Mass.)

• Sheffield Food Assistance (Sheffield and South Egremont, Mass.)

• St. Mary’s Hope Food Pantry (Newburgh, N.Y.)

• The Corner Food Pantry (Lakeville and Salisbury, Conn.)

On behalf of our employees, we are honored to support local food pantries that serve hundreds of families during the holiday season and throughout the year. We are grateful for all the customers and community members who helped make this possible.

Shelly Humeston, 

Sr. Vice President, Salisbury Bank and Trust Company

Pine Plains, N.Y.