Letters to the Editor - The Lakeville Journal - 4-20-23

National Day of Prayer

In our State and across America, the National Day of Prayer will be held on Thursday May 4, 2023.

Thank you to those who have faithfully met and invited you and me to these observances. In 1775, the First Continental Congress observed the first National Day of Prayer. In 1952, by joint resolution our Congress affirmed the essential need of prayer throughout our country and commenced the annual recognition of a National Day of Prayer. In 1988, this was reaffirmed and our Congress proclaimed the first Thursday of May as National Day of Prayer. Every U.S. President since then has proclaimed a National Day of Prayer. Thank you to those who have gathered in the past and will gather once again on May 4th. You are invited as our community members pray for our government, schools, first responders, military, churches, families and businesses. Thank you community members for your faithful observance. On their behalf, I say thank you and encourage you to participate at any one of the following towns: Falls Village — Noon on The Green; Sharon — Noon on The Green; Cornwall — 5:30 p.m. on Village Green; North Canaan — 5:30 p.m. under the Pavilion; and Salisbury — 6 p.m. War Memorials next to the Town Hall. If the weather is inclement at the Salisbury Congregational Church. Thank you for observing the National Day of Prayer with your community.

Marie Barnum

Salisbury

Housatonic Railroad Way Past ‘Sell By’ Date

The spraying of toxic herbicides by the Housatonic Railroad is just another indication that the railroad is long past its ‘Sell By’’ date. It should cease operation along the Housatonic River.

The Housatonic Railroad is a remnant of the 19th Century industrialization of the Housatonic River. What may have made sense for transportation in the 1800’s and early 1900”s is no longer sensible for the 21st Century. The continued operation the railroad continues to degrade the river”s ecology and is costly to taxpayer paid operating subsidies.

The condition and location of the tracks not only are unsuitable for passenger transportation but are potentially hazardous to our environment with a high risk of an industrial spill into the river from a derailment.

It is time to return the railbed back to nature and to use for human health with an environmentally friendly forty-one-mile rail trail. A rail trail will not only benefit nature but will be far more valuable to the economy of Northwest Connecticut and a much better use of state property and tax dollars.

The owners of the Housatonic Railroad should voluntarily discontinue service along the river just as they have petitioned to discontinue service in Dutchess and Putnam Counties this Spring (FR 4 14 2023).

In any event, I personally will work to find a way to bring about my dream of the Housatonic River Rail Trail Line.

Barton T. Jones

Cornwall

Sharon Center School budget clarification

In reference to the April 13 article about Town of Sharon’s budgets, it is important to bring attention to the article’s omission that Sharon Center School’s ‘23-‘24 budget was presented to the Board of Finance in early March, with a 0% increase over the previous year’s budget.

The 0% budget increase is important information for Sharon residents to know as they head into town meeting on April 28, when both town and education budgets will be presented to residents for their review.

Deborah W. Rathbun

Member, Sharon Board of Education

Sharon

‘Turning Back the Pages’ item in March 30 column, a delight

I was delighted to see the “Turning Back the Pages” item on Louis Goderis in the March 30th column.  In it Mr. Goderis was reported as remodeling a cottage he bought next to the Best (later Stuart) theatre a hundred years ago, intending to move his meat market there.

Of course the theatre is long gone, but the “cottage” now houses the “On the Run” coffee  shop

I’m  sure Lakeville oldtimers remember Louis and his brother Ernest operating  their butcher shop there for many years; however by the mid-fifties the shop offered absolutely nothing!

But the brothers held regular business hours, took legal holidays off and pulled the shades over their windows at the end of the day. Again in an empty store with no  meats or anything else for that matter.

There was a tale that if an out of towner stopped in for an order, one of the Brothers flew out the back door to get some meat at the A&P.

Only in Lakeville!

Bill Knowlton

Liverpool, N.Y.

(Lakeville resident 1955-1962)