Letters to the Editor - The Lakeville Journal - 10-12-23

Let’s start building housing

Affordable Housing Plan. Plan —Plan —Plan—Plan. People —Family—Elderly —young couple’s on the street.

Salisbury,  Sharon and  Sheffield can raise millions of dollars to buy lands to preserve for what? The need for shovels in the ground is NOW! (Not) Plan—Plan —Plan. Because the owner of my mansion 1,000,000—2,000,000—3,000,000—5,000,000—10,000,000 don’t want to look at housing for people of working class to live in— Not Plan—Plan—Plan—in real term’s. Let’s Start Building Housing.

William Kelsey

Ashley Falls

Driven out of homes

In response to your article on the front page on 14 Sept., I have the following question to ask— where are the volunteer fireman or ambulance people. Oh, I know the answer to this. They were driven out of their homes and the area they live in by sky-rocketing prices.

Yes, the affordable housing will be made to individuals making $63,120 or less, or a family of four making $90,000 or less. So, what is the problem? If you work in a grocery store, or other markets or other places, you may not make this amount of money. These people are forced out of their homes with no place to go as most rents start at two thousand dollars. Which in a lot of cases is unaffordable. Oh yes, there are plans for affordable housing. But when does the talk stop. The time should be NOW. We have young people, seniors needing a place to live. So, let’s grab a shovel and start digging, making a place for everyone to live.

Joanne M. Robinson

Ashley Falls

Salisbury’s 66th Fall Festival a fun weekend

In spite of a dismal weather forecast, the 66th Salisbury Fall Festival ended up being a success! Some organizations moved outdoor attractions indoors, such as magic shows, book sales, and the Martha Graham dances. Others switched plans from Saturday to the next day.

Last minute announcements were posted on the festival’s website, Facebook, and Instagram. Visitors carried umbrellas which helped keep the rain away until Saturday afternoon. When the sun finally came out on Sunday, the town was filled with families and friends enjoying the home-town festival.

Kids flocked to the library lawn for pumpkin painting, crafts, slime-making, games, and popcorn. Pets and their owners gathered at Community Field for a parade. People strolled along Main Street, stopping to visit the many booths and affordable housing exhibit. The White Hart lawn was filled with the tents of local artisans. The Joint Chiefs provided live music. And SWSA ended the weekend with their popular Brew-Ski Fest at the ski jumps.

Tremendous thanks to our local organizations, churches, schools, businesses, and individuals who helped make the Fall Festival succeed in spite of the weather. They planned a variety of events, from a quilt show and treasure trove to bake sales and book sales. Food offerings ranged from hot dogs, chili, and mac ‘n cheese to a lobster truck and prime rib dinner. Booths offered activities to do, information to gather, gifts to purchase, and apples and cider to enjoy.

Scarecrows were scattered around town. LaBonne’s had a pumpkin sale. And everyone was happy to enjoy a sunny day!

Jeanette Weber

Fall Festival Publicity

Salisbury Association President

In support of Kitty Kiefer for Selectman

Why vote for Kitty Kiefer?   Kitty is a combination of “old boy” in that her family has been here since the invention of the wheel but she is a “new gal” in that her trajectory has taken her to university in Maine followed by law school and legal practice away.  She has the perspective and humility of parenthood and now grandparenthood.  Past service in local government has provided perspective and understanding.  Talk to her for a bit and listen: you will feel her sincere commitment to the community without bias or political agenda.  

I trust her to weigh and judge the merits of any issue and not be in the mode of “we have always done it this way.”  She will serve us all with integrity and tenacity. 

Philip V.  Oppenheimer

Lakeville

A vote for Kitty Kiefer

Although I am a lifelong Democrat, on this election day I’ll vote for Kitty Kiefer, the unaffiliated candidate for selectman in Salisbury.  Having worked with her for several years on various committees, I have seen her fierce energy, intelligence, commitment to this area and to high principles, and her ability to work with others and listen to their ideas and incorporate them into her own.  During her prior term as a selectman, Kitty was an important voice for the community; going forward, her presence in the governing mix is needed more than ever.  It is time for change, and Kitty will help bring that about.  

Tom Shachtman

Salisbury

Becket for Board of Education                                                                                                                                       

With the upcoming election just a month away, I would encourage voters to support Peter Becket in his bid to join our local Board of Education.  Not only is he eminently qualified for that role, but he is someone who remembers what a good education used to be when he grew up in Lakeville.   Three of his boys attended Salisbury Central school.                                                                                                                                              Simply put, his stance will be that our kids need strong fundamentals and are ill served by feel-good teaching ideas coming from California.                                                                                                                                Peter has a BA from Yale University and an MBA from Columbia University.  He works full time as an appraiser of family businesses.   He has served on a number of community committees and is presently training to be a volunteer ambulance driver with EMR certification.                                                                                                                                  To ensure a merit-based approach to learning,  help  our youngsters by voting for Peter for the BOE.                                                                                                 

Mieke Armstrong

Salisbury

Join us at the Grove on Oct. 15 for Pizza Party

Please come to The Grove on beautiful Lakeville Lake on Sunday, Oct. 15 for a Pizza Party at which we will honor our First Responders, including the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the Lakeville Hose Company and our Resident State Trooper. The event is from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and admission is free.  In case of rain, we will be indoors in the Grove building.

Wood-fired pizza will be provided by Pizzeria Marzano.  Terrific music will be provided by The Shade Tree Jazz Mechanics, who were a great hit when they performed at our Corn Roast in 2019.  There will be a raffle of largely homemade items and gift certificates; please bring cash or a check for raffle tickets.  Presentations will begin at 3:15 p.m. and the raffle drawing will be between 4:15 and 4:30 p.m.

Attendees will also have an opportunity to speak with our five candidates for local office in November:  Don Mayland, running for another term on the Board of Selectmen; Bob Riva, running for another term on the Planning and Zoning Commission; Janet Lynn, running for the Zoning Board of Appeals; and Peter Becket and Stanley Morby, both of whom are running for the Board of Education. There will be no speeches, other than the presentations to the First Responder groups.

Bring the whole family for an afternoon of fun, food, music and salutes to our town’s First Responders.

Tom Morrison

Chair, Salisbury Republican Town Committee

Christian Allyn and Jesse Bunce explain change

The North Canaan Democratic Town Committee (DTC) endorsed Christian Allyn and Jesse Bunce to make a bipartisan run for the Board of Selectman. As two young North Canaan entrepreneurs hailing from legacy families in town, our hope was to set our party registration aside and put the residents of North Canaan first.

While working to develop our platform, there was support for Jesse to run to primary for Selectman on the Republican line.  Although Jesse was unable to defeat Craig Whiting in that primary, the flurry of interest that primary drummed up was exciting for the town and likely will lead to more participation and interest in town politics and policies moving forward.

As a Republican endorsed by the DTC, Jesse originally agreed to refuse the seat if he received more votes than Christian.  During the primary race it became apparent that some of the voters we spoke to going door to door felt that this agreement would mean that a vote for Jesse in the election would not mean anything.

As a result, both Jesse and Christian agreed, along with their supporters and the Democratic Town Committee, that if Jesse receives the highest number of votes in the Municipal Election on November 7th, Jesse will be seated to the Board of Selectman over Christian Allyn.

This change will mean that the votes of ALL residents will be more important than ever. Democrats, Republicans and Unaffiliated voters  have the power to show their support for change in North Canaan. 

Christian Allyn 

Jesse Bunce   

North Canaan

Support of Lakeville Journal

Mark Godburn’s letter to the editor in The Lakeville Journal of 9-28 questioning editor-in-chief’s John Coston’s eligibility for “The Truth in Journalism” selection: While you are right to question most so-called journalism these days, I can assure you that John Coston has always given this contributor to The Millerton News fair and equitable consideration publishing my monthly Veteran’s Corner articles. I find John to be a stand-up straight shooter whom I someday hope to meet. I’m sure he respects your concerns as you should his. Thank you Mr. Godburn for your oversight and concern for your community. 

Larry Conklin

Millerton