Letters to the Editor - The Lakeville Journal - 6-29-23

Independence Day fireworks  canceled this year at Lime Rock Park

The annual fireworks at Lime Rock Park have been a Salisbury Rotary Club tradition for over 40 years. This has always been one of Rotary’s major fund raisers to provide scholarships and support nonprofits in our local communities. Unfortunately, due to the increase cost and dwindling attendance, the local Club has operated at, or very near, a loss for several years.  The very difficult decision has been made to forego this event this year and will be evaluated for a possible return next year or, possibly, on a different date. To all of those who have faithfully attended over the years, we offer our most heartfelt thank you.     

Bill Spalding, President

Salisbury Rotary Club

Salisbury

On the effects of herbicide

Regarding your article in the June 8 issue, it is very good news that the HRRC seems to have taken a more responsible position concerning the herbicide spraying in Cornwall — with great thanks to the persistence and diplomacy of Selectman Gordon Ridgeway.

The “Change” apparently applies only to Cornwall. Attorney (for the railroad) Rodriguez must acknowledge there are 42 miles of Wild and Scenic River, a massive calcarious wetland, and many small streams, another river and other communities in addition to Cornwall directly affected by the herbicides. Since there is reason to “adopt change on spraying” for one community, surely this must apply to the other four railroad-through towns on the Housatonic and the two adjacent river towns that do not accommodate the railroad. The HRRC must assert responsibility other than merely “agreeing to speak with TEK” about Method 240. What about Round Up and OUST-XP (used last year)? And what about the Wild River with impaired flora and fauna due to highly toxic herbicides — especially in proximity to water?

Are any of these changes committed to an agreement in writing? One small step for HRRC is a tiny perhaps incremental tip-toe for the local environment.

Ellery Sinclair

Housatonic River Commission, Housatonic River Working Group

Falls Village

Losing a legend

We lost a legend this week with the passing of Marshall Miles, the voice of the Northwest Corner.

When my young family first settled in Salisbury, it was Marshall’s voice that filled our home with local news and events, introducing us to local leaders, issues, and organizations, first through WKZE, and later when he and Jill Goodman began WHDD and “Robin-Hood Radio.”  We started our day with the Breakfast Club, and tuned in to interviews and coverage of weather emergencies. Even the ads were good when he read them, and he became a member of the family before we actually knew him.

Since that time, I came to rely on Marshall’s wide knowledge and deep commitment to the region, and to treasure him as a friend and advisor.  He was an accomplished interviewer, and could cover a lot of material in a short period, in an even-handed and direct manner.  It was a privilege to be on air with him, and to continue those many conversations when the mics were off.

We will miss you Marshall.  I plan to keep talking to you, and will hear your voice in my head for years to come.

Maria Horn

State Representative

Salisbury

Thanks for Sharon curbing

Three years ago, the people of Sharon voted to place granite curbing on the Upper Main side of the Green and to pay for it with town funds.

Last year, a vote authorized putting curbing around the rest of the Green, at the town’s expense.

RAR Excavating and Building LLC from Torrington handled all phases of the project and did a superb job. With the completion of the work, our thanks go to the Sharon taxpayers and RAR.

The Sharon Green Committee

Sharon

The Light Show

When the night turned dark and starry, my wife Aline asked me,

“Do you want to watch the show tonight?”

“Yes!” I said.

I immediately got two wine glasses and she grabbed the rose’ from the fridg.

We walked out to the screened porch and sat in our front-row lounge chairs facing the stage—the surrounding blackness.

We talked in whispers to each other.

With wine glass in hand, we heard the symphony of crickets and watched the dance of fireflies flashing their lights to each other in a code we could not understand.

“You know that this is a pickup bar, don’t you?”I whispered. 

“Yes, and we are intruders to their mating.”

“We are voyeurs actually.”

 The girl firefly signals her light and the guy responds.  

We are mesmerized by the dazzling light show.

Our eyes widen and flicker up, down and across the blackness in an attempt to unravel the mystery of their seemingly haphazard flash patterns. We are entertained and soothed.

Their beeps and flashes were a mystery to me. And that was the pleasure: I was grateful for the solitude and freedom for my mind to simply roam — like a nomad in the desert with no destination.

Aline and I reached out to hold hands.

We sipped our wine slowly, hesitant to cloud our minds.

As time passed, Aline’s eyes got heavy with sleep. I took her hand and asked,

“You want to go to bed?”

 She got up, turned toward the darkness and whispered sweetly, “Oh, goodnight fireflies”.

 As we lumbered out of our theater I sang in my off-key voice the words memorialized by Louis Armstrong:

“I see trees are green

Red roses too.

I see them bloom for me and you.”

Clemens Loew

Salisbury

A Proponent of volunteerism and service to our community

I first became aware of Don Mayland when he worked at Hotchkiss School as an economics teacher. He took his students into the community and made them aware of what it took to run a Town from long term service whether paid or as a volunteer. He introduced them to micro economics at the Waste Management level to preservation of Wononscopomuc Lake ( translates from Mahican “rocks at the bend in the lake”) aka Lakeville Lake. To preserve Salisbury’s culture and yet grow its 21st century needs has led Don into many volunteer and paid positions.

I mention but a few here: founder of Marine Study Program Inc.; served as President on the Market Place of Salisbury an organization to assure growth for our local food market; former President of Lakeville Lake Association to protect the interests of property owners and citizens of our Community; Board of Directors of Northwest CT Community Foundation raising money for local organizations and scholarships; one of 7 Commissioners on the Sewer Commission working with the Sewer Manager and State regulators upgrading sewer system; ten years President of the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service; and served on Salisbury Board of Finance.

These endeavors and more make Don aware of Salisbury’s challenges: i.e. affordable housing, traffic control which is dictated by D.O.T., growth accommodations for Salisbury Central, high-speed internet service in our rural community, stable business community and so much more. Our three Selectmen, First Selectmen Curtis Rand, Chris Williams and Don Mayland work efficiently and effectively for us.

Don has expressed to me he looks forward to this continued unity serving you as a Selectman. His record of volunteerism as well as paid positions is admirable. He embodies a leader and deserves to be re-elected as Selectman.

Marie Barnum

Salisbury