Letters to the Editor 10-30-14

Thanks for a successful CROP Hunger WalkOn behalf of the Pine Plains Council of Churches, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of our CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday, Oct. 12. Our walkers and their generous supporters raised approximately $1,200 for hunger relief, refugee resettlement, disaster assistance and sustainability programs in the United States and abroad. The community’s financial support will help change the lives of many people in desperate need for the better, whether right here in our community or in the more distant places where the Church World Service works. 

Of our Walk proceeds, 25 percent will remain here in the community, supporting the Pine Plains Food Locker. Beyond this tangible contribution, CROP Hunger Walks help raise the consciousness of the community about the needs of our neighbors near and far.

We would like to thank Deb Phillips for giving our CROP Hunger Walk prominent display in the October Pine Plains Profile community calendar. The Bank of Millbrook’s Stissing Pine Plains branch again provided the best possible exposure for our Walk banner and we are grateful to branch manager Ibis Guzman for his kind assistance. Thanks are owing as well to Kyle Lougheed and his crew at Ginocchio Electric, who mounted the banner for us.

Once again, the Pine Plains Lions Club generously made its facilities available to walkers, and we would like to thank Jeff Proper and Ibis Guzman for helping us with the arrangements. Don Peck at Peck’s Market donated apples for our walkers, again proving a reliable friend to the Pine Plains Food Locker and to our Walk. We are very fortunate to have such strong support from our local community.

In the end the success of our Walk comes down to the dedication and generosity of our walkers and their sponsors. To them we wish to convey our fervent thanks.

Sandy Towers

Coordinator, Pine Plains CROP Hunger Walk

Amenia

Lions Club appreciates support

Thanks to the generosity of Friends and Community on behalf of the Millerton Lions Club, we would like to thank the community for coming out and supporting the sixth annual Fall Harvest Silent Auction held at the American Legion Post 178. It was a great success.

The generosity shown by the many businesses and friends of the Millerton Lions Club was heartfelt and appreciated. This year we received 130 items. Wow! For many years, the business communities both in Millerton and the surrounding towns have been loyal supporters of this event. Thank you for supporting the Millerton Lions Club.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the American Legion Post 178 for the use of their facility, “NASCAR” Dave MacMillan and the Sunday in the Country Food Drive team for preparing the food, The Millerton News and Robin Hood Radio for advertising and reporting our event. We are so fortunate to have The Millerton News and Robin Hood Radio a part of our community, as both provide such an invaluable service to organizations such as the Millerton Lions Club.

Lastly, we would like to thank the men and women of the Millerton Lions Club for their help. Because of their efforts, we are able to help those citizens in need, provide enhancement to our community through community gifts, scholarships, eye exams and glasses and support other needs as they arise. We are proud to be a part of a service organization that truly cares about their community and the world. Together “we serve.”

Todd and Mary Clinton

Co-Chairs

Fall Harvest Silent Auction

Millerton Lions Club

Millerton

Details on town assessor position

This letter is to set the record straight about the town of Amenia assessor position. 

First of all, the New York State (NYS) Office of Real Property’s definition of assessor is “a local official who estimates the value of real property within a town’s boundaries. The value is converted into an assessment which is one computation of real property tax bills.” 

Furthermore, the NYS Office of Real Property under the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance regulates the assessor’s office, not the town supervisor or the Town Board.

Per NYS Office of Real Property regulations:

• Appointed Sole Assessor — before appointment must meet minimum qualification standards approved by the NYS Real Property Education Services Department. Voting YES for the change to Sole Appointed Assessor would put a certified, experienced and knowledgeable person in the assessor role until the term ends on Sept. 30, 2019.

• Elected Assessor — does not have to meet minimum qualification standards approved by NYS Office of Real Property but must obtain basic certification by NYS within three years of taking office. 

The current unexpired term ends in three years on Dec. 31, 2018.

Assessor information can be found at www.tax.ny.gov.

Victoria Perotti

Town Supervisor

Amenia

Time for town to buy building

The International Order of the Odd Fellows (IOOF) 903 is very thankful that the court has validated our deeded right to the 1,000 square feet in the new library building.

It is now time for the town to follow the wishes of the people and buy the building. The library can then move back to its state-of-the-art library. 

It is also time to restore and begin to rebuild our community center. We, the Odd Fellows, will not feel satisfied until this is brought to fruition. 

Kenneth Meccariello

Grand Noble IOOF 903

Pine Plains

Hospital should be in-network

I was very happy to read Dr. Robert Schnurr’s letter regarding Sharon Hospital and their doctors not being included as “in-network” health providers for those who live in New York state (NYS). I wrote to Senator Terry Gipson  myself this year regarding this situation. My current insurance is a “Medicare Advantage” plan, and Sharon Hospital and doctors are “out-of-network” for me and my husband. 

Dr. Schnurr stated, “We are making considerable progress with one of the insurance companies as well as the NYS Department of Health” to improve this situation. Perhaps if more people whose insurance is considered “out-of-network” would write to Sen. Gipson a solution would come about more quickly. 

It is very frustrating to have to  travel 50 minutes or more in any direction to be “in-network” with our  insurance. I worked at Sharon Hospital for 22 years and would love to continue to support the hospital and its dedicated doctors and staff. If you are in a similar situation with your insurance please take the time to write to Sen. Gipson.

Diane Walters

Millerton