Letters to the Editor - The Lakeville Journal - 5-11-23

Thank you Hotchkiss

“The Songs for Smiles“ concert on April 30th at the Grove to benefit The Corner Food Pantry put plenty of smiles on the audience. We were treated to a musical program performed by very talented student musicians from The Hotchkiss School.

The varied program included two acapella groups who sang such favorites as “Earth Angel,” “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” and “Love Me Like You”; a jazz band that performed a Clifford Brown classic, “Sandu”; a trio who performed Mendelssohn’s “Piano Trio in D Minor”; and Verdi’s “Rigoletto Fantasie” for two flutes and piano.

The concert raised over $600 for the pantry and attendees brought over 100 donated food items. On behalf of The Corner Food Pantry, thank you Hotchkiss Students and Caroline Burchfield for providing an afternoon of glorious music.

Amanda Halle,

co-President

The Corner Food Pantry

Lakeville

Approaches to deficit reduction

Using the looming-background of the New York Stock Exchange, House Speaker Kevin Mcarthy presented the Republican deficit reduction act. The 320 page policy proposal is in effort to tame the colossal 7% inflationary burden. It is known as the Limit, Save, and Grow Act. It’s recommendations will yield a cost savings of 4.5 trillion over a 10 year span. To follow this plan will return the U.S. Treasury discretionary spending to fiscal year 2022 levels capping growth at 1% for a decade.

As any responsible figure handling monetary matters will tell you, spending capacity is finite.  A point is reached when interest on borrowing capacity inhibits future growth.

The Limit, Save, Growth Act’s keypoints for curbing debt reduction:

A)  To repeal many of the green energy subsidies from the partisan passed Inflation Reduction Act of last year. These tax credits serve wealthy corporations, Chinese Communist industries producing solar and battery technologies, and wealthy individuals able to afford EV cars.

B) A policy plan to make America energy independent again. Oil drilling and exploration and the Keystone Pipeline are to resume. America is simply not ready for a green energy infrastructure anytime in the foreseeable future.

C) Elimination of the student loan bailout and the massive infusion of cash for the increased IRS workforce staffing.

D) A requirement for able bodied  Medicaid or SNAP persons with no dependence  to register for employment or community service. It is an effort to increase the labor supply by using productive resources.

E) Lastly unspent COVID funds to be returned to the U.S. Treasury.

Total cost of savings — $4.5 billion.  The Congressional Budget Office has an individual item breakdown of these policy points on its website.

The CBO also has information on the Biden budget reduction plans. That budget produces a $3 trillion deficit reduction. This plan offers more spending. Spending cuts are less than 1% of the budget. There is more spending on social programs financed, of course, by way of increased taxes, i.e. changing the corporate rate from 21% to 28% and taxes from high earners and most likely others. This plan will result in more spending and lowering  the economic recovery (perhaps even enable a recession).

Joe Agli

Kent

Being left behind by Frontier’s fiber build out? Take action!

I recently filed a complaint with the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General expressing concern that Frontier Communications is not maintaining its copper wire phone network for customers who still have landline phones.

Frontier, like other companies across the country that own the copper wires that have provided voice and data services since telephones were invented, has for decades failed to upgrade and maintain its copper network. I know of several instances locally in which Frontier has denied phone service to new subscribers or has delayed, sometimes indefinitely, repairs to current copper line service customers.

The upgrade and maintenance of Frontier’s copper lines is more than a convenience; landline phone service is an essential service for some who live in areas where there is limited cell phone service and limited connection to the internet for wifi calling. In the event of a power outage, many residents rely on copper line phone service for emergency situations.

Copper phone lines are obsolete in terms of modern telecommunications, it’s true. Indeed, Frontier is now focused on overlashing those copper wires with fiber-optic lines, which can handle phone calls and deliver super-fast internet connections. In the cities and higher-density neighborhoods, Frontier is upgrading with fiber for free; in less dense areas, like many places in our rural Northwest Corner, it is asking towns to pick up part of the cost. In Sharon, for example, it asked the town for $3.2 million to wire all homes. I’m not arguing against the fiber upgrade. But until all homes are connected with new lines, the copper wire landlines are lifelines for those left behind.

I have filed a complaint because I do not believe some homeowners should be left with no landline service just because their home is difficult to reach.  I encourage all residents, to file a complaint with PURA and the CT Attorney General’s Office. For those who will be included in Frontier’s fiber build out, file a complaint in support of your neighbors. Our state regulators must require Frontier to maintain its copper lines and repair them quickly in the event of a problem unless and until it has wired every home with fiber.

To file a complaint with PURA, go to https://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/PURACAIU.NSF/RevWebIntake?OpenForm

And file with the CT Office of the Attorney General, go to - https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint/e-complaint.aspx?CheckJavaScript=1

Meghan Flanagan

Co-Chair, Sharon Connect Task Force

Sharon

Recognizing nurses at Sharon Hospital

As we celebrate Nurses Week (5/6 - 5/12), a national observance designed to recognize the tireless work of all nurses, I want to take some time to thank all my Sharon Hospital nursing colleagues.

In my role as Chief Nursing Officer at Sharon Hospital, I am gratified to work with such dedicated individuals that each care so deeply for our patients. Our nursing staff is the backbone of our team, ensuring that patients receive the care and compassion they need during their times of need and guiding them to health and wellness.

I am proud to lead our Sharon Hospital nursing staff toward success by working collaboratively to create efficient nursing procedures, treatment plans, and further integrate new medical technologies, all to deliver high-quality care to the members of our community that depend on us.

I have seen firsthand our nurses’ commitment to patients and our community each day and especially over the past few years, by navigating the challenges that the healthcare industry has faced and stepping up to meet every hurdle and prioritize our patients, and our community. We are eternally grateful for each of you.

1 am proud to lead this team of dedicated professionals and call Sharon Hospital home. Please join me, Sharon Hospital and Nuvance Health’s leadership team, Board of Directors, and staff in wishing our exceptional nurses a Happy Nurses Week and thanking them for all that they do for our community.

Dawn Woodruff,

MSN, RN

Chief Nursing Officer, Sharon Hospital

Sharon

Time to explore possibilities

With spring and the  today’s world supporting movement and growth on many levels, the time to explore possibilities to address ‘needs and wants’ as well as pressures and problems in creative ways is upon us. One example is a news story about the Yellowstone series which has run  at an exorbitant yet profitable cost. The director/writer owns a ranch with the Paramount which pays to use it for a set as well.

A quick scan of Apple news and a listen on Clubhouse on an iPhone also revealed that the need to raise the debt limit so America can still pay bills. That  will be a tug of war about cutting costs and services (or not) before approving a plan.  Another vote will be made about the laws and funds regarding immigration.

I met someone at a special gathering in Waterbury who shared that families can sponsor relatives if they can provide for them financially from certain countries. Thanks if you can help spread the word as overall our country needs more workers and people to collaborate as families, communities, states and world team players.

Planting the seeds of caring and creativity by connecting is key to outcomes even in a short time (especially in ‘easy-access’ ways such as with Clubhouse, Facebook groups, Youtube and zoom meetings. Toastmasters.org welcomes guests in person such as in Torrington or on many online forums.) ‘Bars and AccessConsciousness.com” and  ‘The Clearing Statement’ (on youtube) I learned of from a free talk by Jamie Verillo at Crystal Essence in Great Barrington.

I summarize many ideas on my blog Livfully.org to help the flow of information, caring, sharing and preventing harm on many levels. I have studied mediation and encourage more to learn about ‘respectful ways to self-assess and address one’s own life path, feelings and goals as well as one’s role in caring and interacting with others as a parent, teacher, co-worker, peer or support or as a partner whether living together or apart of co-parenting or interacting over a life time with a support team.’

Ken D. Foster hosts Voices of Courage online and is another I have learned from along with WomensWisdom.net (who explains Clubhouse well too.) This can help more people feel empowered and produce better work apparently. When people ‘feel better’ they generally do better on many metrics.

Acknowledging each person and ‘wanting the best for them and oneself’ in balanced ways may be a good guide to have that unfold rather than be trapped in worry, anger, sickness and stress. Whatever age someone is can be turned into a date to celebrate each year. So 5/9 would be for 59 -year-olds. With the decades those would be on the 10th, so 60-year-olds would be 5/10. More on my blog to get the ball rolling and safety a priority shared value.

Let’s trust many ideas such as permaculture (PC, which I offer for free with The Turtle Garden Permaculture Game), and catch on to help with ‘challenges and interactions’ on all levels each season of the year and of our lives.

Catherine Palmer Paton

Falls Village

Thanks for National Day of Prayer

Thank you to our wonderful Salisbury/Lakeville community for once again gathering for the National Day of Prayer.

Despite the cool spring and dark clouds outside, there was a warmth of fellowship and spirit that raised the church roof as we prayed and sang.  It was heart warming to see people from many different walks of life all together, singing and praying to our great and loving God.

We appreciate all the participants from Boy Scout Joey Sherwood, to our selectmen, to fire emergency volunteers, to our state policeman Will Veras to military, educators, business, church, arts and media and family all united in prayer. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to focus on things of eternal value from the One who can help.

This kind of unity in prayer gives us hope for America.  As John F. Kennedy said, “Let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking God’s help and blessing.”

Newt and Barbara Schoenly

Salisbury