Letters to the Editor - The Lakeville Journal - 12-8-22

Sandy Hook vigil will honor those who died and their loved ones

December 14, 2012, was one of the darkest days in U.S. history. On that day in Newtown, Connecticut,  a deeply troubled 20-year-old shot and killed his mother while she was in bed and then proceeded to Sandy Hook Elementary School where he shot and killed 26 people.  Twenty of the victims were six- and seven-year-old students and six were adult teachers and staff.  This shocking event,  the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, reverberated throughout the country. The people of Newtown were so traumatized by the event that the school was torn down and replaced; the home where the shooter had lived with his mother was eventually acquired by the town and demolished.

On Wednesday, Dec. 14, our town will hold a candlelight vigil on the lawn in front of the White Hart Inn to commemorate this tragedy. A vigil was first held within days of the tragedy and has been held on the anniversary of the event every year. In the best tradition of our town, these vigils have been organized not by the town or an organization but by two Salisbury residents who felt the need to commemorate this tragedy. 

This year’s event, which begins at 5 p.m. and will run for no more than an hour, will feature remarks by Rev. John Nelson of the Salisbury Congregational Church and State Representative Maria Horn. It will also feature songs performed by several area musicians. The event concludes with the bells of the Congregational Church church tolling 26 times in remembrance of the 26 victims. Attendees should bring a candle.

We can have different opinions as to the cause of this, and the other seemingly endless mass shootings which have plagued our country, as well as different opinions as to what we should do to try to prevent them.

But there can be no difference of opinion as to the human tragedy and toll taken by this event. Twenty-six families have had a loved one taken from them in a senseless act and will forever feel the grief and torment of that loss. By participating in this vigil, we can share in that loss and commemorate the lives lost to that tragedy. Please attend the vigil and show your support for those families and the Newtown community as a whole.

Tom Morrison

Chair,
Salisbury Republican Town Committee

Lakeville

Sharon Hospital is open

I am writing today as the Medical Director of the Emergency Department and the Chief of Staff for Sharon Hospital to clarify misinformation and reassure the community that Sharon Hospital is open and ready to care for you and your family. I want to assure my community that Sharon Hospital has a vibrant future in our region and that our team will continue providing the high-quality care our community needs most, right here in Sharon.

Our doors are open, and we are here to serve all your inpatient, outpatient, and emergency needs. Since Sharon Hospital’s founding in 1909, our Emergency Department has been here to help patients in our region with everything from broken bones to heart attacks and strokes. We remain committed to fulfilling the legacy that began more than 100 years ago, while staying up- to-date with modern and advanced standards of care to ensure we can continue providing highly skilled care right here for our community.

On behalf of the entire ED team, I would like to thank our patients and neighbors for their support. We feel incredibly lucky to have the privilege to care for such a wonderful community. Come see us whenever you need. We are here for you.

Ron M. Santos, DO, JD

Sharon

Growth opportunities in Sharon Hospital plan

I am the Medical Director of Psychiatry at Sharon Hospital. I have been at the hospital for more than 12 years, and I know how valuable this hospital is to our community. That is why I am writing in support of Sharon Hospital’s transformation plan. My work with the inpatient behavioral health unit gives me an especially clear picture of Sharon Hospital’s impact on our 65+ population, a demographic expected to continue growing in the coming years.

Outside of behavioral healthcare, these patients rely on the hospital for emergency care, surgery, and specialty services such as palliative care. They need Sharon Hospital to be here in the long term, and this requires us to adapt by making difficult but necessary choices.

I am excited about the growth opportunities presented by the transformation plan, particularly as they relate to behavioral health. By investing resources in behavioral health, a service line in demand within our region, we can expand care not only in our community — but also become a destination for those outside our region looking to receive compassionate, advanced behavioral health services. By doing so, we can be leaders in breaking down stigma and addressing the behavioral health crisis in our community and beyond.

Behavioral health is just one example of the many services that would have the opportunity to expand if Sharon Hospital is permitted to reallocate its resources to invest in areas our community needs most. But none of this will be possible without making the tough decisions needed to preserve Sharon Hospital.

I believe that Sharon Hospital and Nuvance Health are acting responsibly in proposing to close the under-used Labor & Delivery unit, so we can continue meeting the wide array of needs shown by patients in our region. I support Sharon Hospital’s work to survive the challenges facing hospitals across the country and enhance the services we provide.

Dr. Sabooh Mubbashar, MD

Sharon