Letters to the Editor - The Lakeville Journal - 12-14-23

Importance of your editorial’s six last words

Regarding the editorial of Dec. 7, Housatonic’s football team — “Joining forces” —  I’d like to submit  a bit of history.  

It was 70 years ago, September, 1953, when Housatonic began its first eleven man football team under coach Bedini. Seventeen  boys, “for the love of the game” gathered to try  something new and different and, by November, against all odds,  ended up with an unforgettable, undefeated season.

I’m uncertain as to whether Housatonic has had other undefeated seasons and, in fact, that is not important.  what is important is that  Housatonic students  are still able to play “for the love of the game.” 

Peter C. Smith, Housatonic “53” team member

Taconic

Thanks for Lakeville Community Conservancy

The other night I was rushing to get to some appointment or other when I spotted Susan Galluzzo of the Lakeville Community Conservancy down on her hands and knees planting a holiday tree. It was only then that I realized that all of the beauty we see in Lakeville and Salisbury are the result of hard work by our neighbors. 

Thank you to Susan and her team at the Lakeville Community Conservancy for the beautifully maintained garden in front of the post office, for the holiday decorations throughout town and for the  garden next to the Patco, beautiful all times of the year. 

Likewise, if you love what Salisbury looks like at holiday time and if you enjoyed Hometown Holidays Merry and Bright,  remember that it is in large part due to Carolyn Piccirelli of Honeychurch Home in Salisbury and her dedicated helpers. I’d like to extend a heartfelt appreciation for all of the volunteers who have done so much to make our towns sparkle at Holiday Season. 

Anne Day

Salisbury

Sharon’s future: bleak or bright?

The controversy surrounding the proposed solar energy installation for Sharon Center School is based on what we townsfolk feel is most important. Some feel the land that was partially donated, partially paid for, by the town to be a nature park should remain just that. Others feel that utilizing 25% of the 2.83 acre property to provide 85% of the energy for the school is a wise choice. I see it as a “both-and” proposition because we can keep the nature park while taking a bold step into the future. 

The park’s intention was to be a place for people to experience nature and a teaching tool for the school.  The reality is that the “nature trail” is merely a mowed path that winds around a neglected parcel of land. The school has not used the land In recent years. Trees that were planted are now in sad shape because invasive plants have gone unchecked.  Some of the trees are missing and others are dying. The field that comprises most of the property consists of mainly non-native European grasses and provides nothing for pollinators. The vegetation around the edges of the parcel is the same: almost completely composed of non-native invasive plants that are spreading and taking over healthy native plants. This is all to say that this parcel of land is anything but a pristine example of “nature”.  The neglect of this property has allowed for unchecked proliferation of invasive plants which sends a negative message to anyone that wants to enjoy it.

A fresh vision for this property would breathe new life into this land and our town.  We are all aware that clean, cheap, renewable energy is the way of the future.  And this plan will not cost the taxpayer one dime because it’s all paid for by the Green Bank. What’s even more important than money is the costs to our personal health — both physical, emotional, and environmental. Ask almost any young person and they will tell you they fear for their future. This project can do something about that, and at the same time the land can be brought back to ecological health.  I have spent more than 50 years of my life as an ecological landscape restorationist.  Invasives can be controlled, new native plantings can be introduced. The plants will not only greatly improve the habitat quality of this land, but also help screen the solar panels for the neighbors that abut the property.  It can be a property you would want to experience firsthand. School kids and adults alike can enjoy nature and observe interactions between native flora and fauna, all while walking around solar panels making clean energy from the sun. 

We need this positive step into the future. Please vote YES on Jan. 5.  Gandhi said it best: “It is true we can do but little, but we should do it right away.”

Michael Nadeau

Sharon

Importance of seeing other side

I am writing in response to the letter printed this past week by Lloyd Baroody of Lakeville. During the past two months, there has been a frightening rise in anti-Semitic writing and behavior, and a number of horrifying attacks on Muslim Americans. To me, it seems that the rage behind all these attacks, and behind Mr. Baroody’s letter, lies with our increasingly deep inability, as a nation, to see the other side. 

In his lengthy writing, Mr. Baroody focuses on the “genocide” being perpetrated on the Palestinians. While I am neither in sympathy with nor an advocate for Netanyahu’s government and its choices, the word “genocide,” meaning the deliberate attempt to obliterate a people from the Earth, does not apply here as it did to many genocidal wars during the 20th century, including the Hutu/Tutsi conflict in Rwanda, the Nazi “Final Solution,” or the Turkish attemot to obliterate the Armenians. Indifference to innocent lives on the other side in pursuit if a goal is not genocide. Or if it is, then the firebombing of Dresden or the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki must be considered in the same breath. Tragically, that is war, without which we stupid humans seem unable to conduct our business from one generation to the next.

I intend none of this as an excuse for the horrible loss of life in Gaza, nor for the Israeli policies which have allowed the refugee camp which Gaza  represents today. And the ongoing conflict in the West Bank settlements (which should never have been permitted) further demonstrates the cluelessness of the Israeli government.

But there is another side. Anyone who has watched even thirty seconds of the body-cam videos of the Hamas assault on October 7th can only come away sickened and horrified by what was done. That cannot be excused or ignored, as Mr. Baroody ignored it in his letter. Israel is right to believe that there is no safety for them as long as Hamas remains in power. And Hamas’s stated goal of wiping Israel off the map is almost certainly not going to succeed, nor should it.

Almost 80 years ago, the British (who had no business being decision makers about this in the first place) proposed a two state solution for the protectorate of Palestine, which had been in a sort of limbo ever since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War 1. Though today that solution seems farther than ever from being realized, what other alternative is there? It merely requires that both the extremist government of Hamas and the extremist government of israel fall from power to allow a way for more rational and humane heads to wrestle this intractable problem to the ground. 

Simple, right?

Frederick Peters

Sharon

Concern about Grove Street affordable housing project 

It was my understanding that the proposed affordable housing project at the site of the former Grove Street school was “in the very early stages” of consideration/planning.  It was also my understanding that the process of determining the appropriateness of this site would be “open and transparent.” Why is it that now this process will be pushed along to procure “some funding opportunities?”

This project was proposed a number of years ago.  A group of concerned citizens, including myself, met at the park.  A number of factors in the proposal were either in error or not fully considered. 

The measurements provided were grossly inaccurate.  There were surveying flags marking dimensions of the houses.  There was not enough room for proposed driveways to the three structures.  Members of the group remeasured boundaries to prove this during the meeting.  Snow plowing and snow removal of said properties was not even considered.  There would have been no room to plow or push snow aside.

The town’s tree warden, George Kiefer, a former selectman, attended.  He indicated that the historic trees at the entrance of the school yard could not withstand the proposed construction or wear and tear over their root systems that the combined traffic of White Hart parking and three residences would incur.

Another resident had researched the property and found that it was deeded to remain a park and was not available for consideration for building.  If Salisbury is also in need of parks and recreational areas (not my words — noted in a town report) could this area not represent that need?

After our meeting the group was told that the proposal for three housing units at this site was no longer a viable option and would be abandoned.  What has changed?  The same property is still right where it was ten or 15 years ago.  I look at it everyday. 

Claudia Barnum

Salisbury

Don’t forget the hostages

Regarding the front page picture in the Dec. 7 issue titled “Taking a Stand in Salisbury” I can see several large signs with numerous demands relating to the war between Israel and Hamas.  I did not see a sign demanding the Immediate Release of the Hostages.  Perhaps this was an oversight, but hopefully it will be there this Saturday and every Saturday until they are all released.  

Alan Friedman

Salisbury