Letters to the Editor- 2-28-13

Good trailways means good economy

The Pine Plains Town Board appointed the Town Trails and Bikeway Committee almost two years ago to assist the town in developing a comprehensive trail and bikeway plan. The committee has been reviewing information on trails and bikeway planning and development.   We have contacted and met with representatives of many communities that have successfully completed trails and bikeways.

We have found that the development of trails and bikeways in communities has been a significant economic development and tourism driver with the added benefits of recreation, exercise, alternative transportation and the spiritual well-being that comes from just being able to walk or ski or ride in a beautiful setting like we have in rural and scenic Pine Plains. Even in communities where some skepticism was initially encountered, over time most people became strong supporters because of the many benefits to the community. The committee has become increasingly excited about the economic prospects of creating a bikeway and trail network that makes Pine Plains a recreation destination as visiting walkers and riders eat at restaurants, stay at B&Bs, shop and buy services in the communities they visit.

In October of 2011 we held a well-attended community forum where we explained the process and benefits of developing a Trails and Bikeway Plan and solicited community ideas and input on the improvement of existing trail and bikeway opportunities. The forum participants overwhelmingly supported the concept of improving existing and creating new trails and bikeways. Specifically it was suggested that the town improve and expand the existing trails and bikeway opportunities near Stissing Lake, Thompson Pond and on Stissing Mountain. It was also suggested that the town work with landowners to explore opening abandoned rail beds, link with other areas in and around Pine Plains and design new subdivisions to incorporate walking and biking trails.  It was also noted that there should be opportunities to work with horse clubs for riding trails.

To date we have had the assistance of the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development in creating a multilayered map showing existing physical features, trails, land use and ownership patterns. Committee members are moving forward with concepts for signage for existing roads and trails, assisting with the triathlon, developing a community map to highlight points of interest for walkers and bikers and raising money for the ultimate goal of amending the town Comprehensive Plan to incorporate a trails and bikeway component.  The committee is pursuing grant opportunities and other fundraising activities to cover the estimated $10,000 cost of developing and adopting a comprehensive Trails and Bikeway Plan.

We continue to meet every month at the Town Hall and all interested persons are welcome to attend and comment on developing plans (see the town website for meeting times/announcements).   

Scott Chase

Chair, Pine Plains Trails and Bikeway Committee , Pine Plains

Chili Cook-Off was a hot event

On behalf of the Millerton American Legion Auxiliary Unit 178, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the community and the many donors for their generous support of our annual Daytona 500 Chili Cook-Off. Without the contributions of prizes, time and material provided, this event would not have been the success that it was.

We would especially like to thank the following businesses, individuals and organizations for their support: Millerton American Legion Post 178; Jim and Kathy Hosier; Jamie Parks;  Northeast Muffler; Mizza’s Restaurant; Madalyn’s Salon; Millerton Service Center; Kelly & Company Hair Salon; Sharon Package Store; Barlow Farm; Label Shopper; Cascade Spirit Shoppe; Country Gardeners; Sunday in the Country Food Drive;  Bill  Anstedt; Pat Boice; John Boice; the various beer distributors; our judges: Todd Atkins, Jamie Parks and Tom Downey IV; all those individuals who donated their chili (over 15 entries!); and the many local community members and auxiliary members that made this all possible.  

It is a great testament to the community and our veterans that there are such caring individuals and  businesses in the area to assist in the many projects that the American Legion Auxiliary funds on behalf of the soldiers who are currently serving and who have previously served our country. Again, a big thank you to everyone (and those names we may have missed!) for all the support. It is greatly appreciated.

Charlene Mayville

President 

American Legion Auxiliary

Millerton Unit 178, Millerton

Let me decide

I’m fed up with being told what I can and can’t afford. And I’m sick of having politicians predict how I am going to vote on a permissive referendum that hasn’t been drafted yet. Town Supervisor Brian Coons wants to convince us that we can’t afford to save Pine Plains’ crown jewel, and we won’t even cast a vote to try. 

This is a disinformation campaign. The purchase of the library and community center building WILL NOT cost $1.5 million. If it was going to cost that much, folks, there would be an agreement in place and a vote scheduled. Not even bank president George Whalen expects the sale to close for that amount, so we need to stop seeing that number in every press release. We spent more on a highway garage and salt shed over a decade ago than this Town Board is willing to spend to save a cultural gem today. 

It’s both a shame and a colossal failure of leadership. Real leaders would focus on the possible and attainable rather than retreat from opportunity. It is time to engage in a sincere dialogue, embrace untapped and available resources and develop a realistic and attainable plan of action.

Rick Butler

Pine Plains

‘Downton Abbey’ not mother’s experience

I must be one of those “living in a cave,” according to your article on “Downton Abbey” (Feb. 21), but I confess I have watched a couple of episodes. Sad to say, though, they do not relate to my family’s recollections of how it was to be “in service” to the British gentry. 

Many members of my extended family were employed by those upper classes as live-in servants, there being little other choice, particularly for women in the first half of the 1900s. As a child and teenager, listening to the recollections of both my mother and her mother, I was familiar with their tales of often being treated as virtual slaves, with either no or very poor pay and having to be on call day and night.

At barely 15 years old, my mother  took such employment and was, at one time, a housemaid at a very well-known large English country home where she was not only locked in at night, but abused and suffered all kinds of humiliation, including sexual molestation. Knowing that if she reported this to the authorities, she would be branded a troublemaker, she escaped by climbing over the coals and through a cellar window, leaving all her meager possessions behind. My grandmother, too, had a similar unhappy life until she married and became a housewife. As my grandfather could not make ends meet as a stable hand, he was quick to volunteer for service in World War I, encouraged by the few shillings extra the Army offered. 

Thus, “Downton’s” portrayal of cosy familiarity between those “upstairs and down,” is greatly exaggerated and is an insult to those thousands who suffered much humiliating treatment. Indeed, the insulated and comfortable British aristocracy had become oblivious to the growing discontent “downstairs,” which was to manifest itself after World War II when the Labour Party defeated Churchill’s Conservatives, even though the latter had led us to victory. 

It is frightening how history is being sanitized and rewritten for our entertainment.

Jim Beresford Lubin 

Millbrook 

The Foundation’s proposal in Pine Plains

Just a short note to let the public know the position of the Foundation for the Pine Plains Library and Community Center. In late December we submitted a proposal to The Bank of Millbrook and the Town Board (below). The proposal was looked at by the Town Board and the foundation had some positive feeling that this plan could offer a reasonable solution to avoid the foreclosure.

Apparently the bank made no effort to consider the proposal and proceeded with their tunnel vision approach of trying to force the town to buy the building. It is the position of the foundation that the dilemma we are now in is due to the lack of any reasonable flexibility by the bank.

Even at this 13th hour if petty small town jealousy is put aside and reason prevails we can save our library and community center. Every group loses if we follow the path we are on; the library, the community center, the foundation, the Odd Fellows, the bank, but most of all the community, and all those who contributed time, effort and money to the original project.

The following is a proposal that would hopefully solve the dilemma faced by the Bank of Millbrook, the town of Pine Plains and the Foundation for the Pine Plains Library and Community Center Inc. We are all aware that due to the economic climate and the number of pledges and promises that were never fulfilled, the bank is being forced to foreclose on its own town’s library and community center. This is an impending disaster and together we can prevent it.

We propose that the town lease the building from the foundation for two years in order to avert the foreclosure. During this two-year period, the town will pay rent to the foundation to cover the interest on the loan, and a small portion of the principal. At the same time, a new group of concerned citizens will raise the funds to pay down the mortgage. This new group will involve new people from the community, the town board, the bank and the foundation. We will have new faces, new ideas, and new tactics, and most importantly, new contributors.

By creating this two-year window we will have an opportunity to save our town’s library. Once we receive agreement from the bank and the Pine Plains Town Board, we can draw up a lease, and kick start the fundraising.

Michael J. O’Neill

Foundation Chair

Pine Plains

I’m doing well

I want to thank all my friends for their concern and loving care after my recent fall and surgery. Psalm 23 says it all for me, “my cup runneth over.”

I started to list all those who helped, but it’s much too long. There’s one exception, however — a friend drove me to Rhinebeck for my surgery, spent the entire day at the hospital and then opened his home for me that first night. A special thanks to you, John Hicks.

Ralph Fedele

Millerton