Letters to the editor - April 3, 2014

The horrific, predatory fisher

About six weeks ago, we spotted the most horrifying and indescribable animal in our backyard at 299 Main St. in Lakeville. It was biggish, like a wolf or a cougar, but it didn’t look like anything we’d seen before. It was husky, with long black hair, a long bushy tail, a round, snub-nosed face, and it was slinking along, low to the ground.

Later in the day our vet at the Sand Road Animal Hospital speculated that the animal was a fisher cat. We Googled “fisher cat” and learned that this is a vicious predator in the weasel or badger family. It’s an arboreal animal that can climb from tree to tree like a squirrel. And it feasts on small animals like squirrels, not to mention domestic animals like dogs and cats. Sometimes a fisher cat will take up residence in an area until they’ve cleaned it out. 

That’s what got our attention, as we have two small dogs that enjoy playing in our fenced-in yard that could be easily penetrated by a fisher cat. And we have barns where an animal like that could take up residence to give birth to babies.

We were alarmed by this sighting but crossed our fingers that this creature was just passing through our property, never to be seen again. But then a couple weeks later we heard a horrible sound in the middle of the day. It sounded like the scream of a woman or a child in distress. We looked outside but saw nothing from our windows. 

A further investigation of fisher cats revealed that what we heard was likely the distinct sound that these animals make. And the reason we didn’t see anything in our yard might have been because these animals are tree-dwellers. We weren’t looking up into the trees on our property.

We have commissioned American Biotech, a company that specializes in humane animal control. They will examine our barns for any evidence that fisher cats have taken up residence. And they will set traps in case one or more is on our property. 

We’re calling this to the attention of our neighbors in Lakeville as a warning to those who might have similar concerns about their domestic animals. And we’re wondering whether anyone else has had a similar fisher cat sighting. The houses that overlook our property on Orchard Street have a perfect vantage point for such a sighting.

Brian and Nina Goodall

Lakeville

Time for change in Republican Town Committee

After two terms as the Salisbury Republican Town Committee (RTC) chairman, I decided to step down. The reasons are numerous, but primarily driven by the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day. In addition to personal priorities, I will continue to focus on what is vitally important in this critical and pivotal upcoming election that will determine if Connecticut can reform and reverse itself.

The past year confirmed by vote, changing our selectmen-election process, by voice at SRTC meetings, and a lawsuit against the SRTC, that Salisbury really does want to be — as the chef at the town’s still shuttered historic White Hart Inn called it — Mayberry.

Frankly, I love Mayberry as I do our beautiful state; but I have also witnessed that the migration of Connecticut’s golden goose taxpayers to friendlier tax climates — once mostly attributed to Fairfield County — more and more includes Litchfield County residents. Some of our strongest conservative Republican supporters in Salisbury and contiguous towns have flown the Connecticut tax coop.

Nevertheless, and in the face of Mayberry’s progressive character, a reform Republican selectman was elected and successful in bringing the issue of a town code of ethics to a town referendum vote resulting in the town’s first enacted code. He convinced the Board of Finance on the wisdom of hiring a new accounting firm every three to five years to prevent too much personal familiarity and complacency about town financial dealings in the wake of an embezzlement of over $100,000. But most importantly, in the face of Democratic disbelief, he challenged the governor and State Police chief on the safety and cost effectiveness of closing Troop B and consolidating dispatch; he did this for all residents of northwest Connecticut. His efforts are a primary reason for the reversal and restoration of protection and service for Troop B area residents.

The only disappointment I leave behind is a lawsuit against the SRTC filed by leading Republican Dean Hammond; it remains open despite the fact, in my opinion, that the basis of his suit lacks legal merit. His claim of publishing and distributing false information about him — a public figure and elected Salisbury ZBA official — is in fact that the SRTC website hyperlinks to numerous blogs across the state with this stated caveat, “The commentaries and opinions expressed on these blogs and sites do not necessarily represent the opinion or position of the Salisbury RTC.” 

The Federal Communications Act protects, and numerous courts have upheld, the right to hyperlink. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that “constitutional free speech protections apply just as much to online systems as they do to books and newspapers.” Hyperlinking is specifically protected as free speech. No doubt Mr. Hammond will want to reimburse his own party’s town committee for the thousands of dollars squandered in defense of his frivolous pursuit.

Thank you to everyone — no matter your political affiliation — that has supported the SRTC and made the past four years both interesting and enjoyable.

Chris P. Janelli

Salisbury

Restored passenger rail service  is about the future

Richard P. Levy’s recent column (The Lakeville Journal, March 27) indicating we should think twice about passenger rail service may indeed state the case for why rail service failed three decades ago, but one thing we should keep in mind is we don’t live in that world any longer. And basing our region’s decisions on transportation habits from 30 years ago seems to me like poor planning.

A recent study (search on New York Times among others) showed that public transportation usage for 2013 was at its highest level since 1956, with the greatest increase in rail transportation. This is a trend of steady growth, not an outlier. Also, while it may be true that baby boomers enjoy a Sunday drive up to the Litchfield hills, this is not true of the younger generations. All the studies are showing that the 20- to 30-year-old generation are less and less likely to own cars. They are relying on public transportation, and happy to do so.

What does this mean? If we are truly looking forward and planning for the future, towns and areas that invest in public transportation stand poised to have people continue to visit and spend money in their communities. Towns that are relying on how things were 30 years ago may end up staying there.

The leap of faith on any big thinking project is “if you build it, will they come.” When we can see continued positive trends in public transportation usage, and live in a beautiful area that many people would love to visit, this is a leap that I and many others would be willing to take.

Todd Shearer

North Canaan

Confused no more about Russia

Worried about the current “Russian situation,” I attended on March 21 the Salisbury Forum’s presentation at the Regional High School entitled Russia’s Strategic Challenges. I paid as close attention as I could, and came away more confused than I had been, drawing only the conclusion that were I running for president of the United States I would immediately cancel those plans.

I truly wished I could have gleaned a more comprehensive understanding of Russia’s Strategic Challenges from a speaker with very impressive credentials ,but I was not able to. However, Patrick Sullivan’s article in the March 27 issue of your paper fulfilled my wishes. How he was able to interpret Mr. Graham’s poorly articulated remarks is astonishing. What an excellent reporter Patrick is! Please tell him how wonderfully well I thought he covered a complex subject. His article took far less time to read than listening to the speech and was vastly more understandable.

You and he have provided a real service to your readers. In conversations with others who attended the forum, they shared their disappointment with me. Patrick’s report in large measure will certainly reduce that disappointment I am sure.

Harry Hall

Sharon

Thank you, Mark Lauretano, we have Troop B again

Many of you may remember that back in 2011 to 2013, Mark Lauretano — at that time an oft-maligned Salisbury selectman — was in the forefront of contacting the state governor, politicians and top police and union officials regarding an expected closing of the Troop B police barracks in North Canaan. Mark’s persistent inquiries revealed that an effort to consolidate telephone services, police and emergency dispatch functions, and troop staffing levels at Troop L in Litchfield had not been based on any written plans, engineering designs or a cost/benefit analysis. It was clear that moving police protection and records farther away from our community would be inefficient, costly and dangerous. (That outcome was proven previously when Troop B had been closed in the 1970s.) We were left with dispatchers in Litchfield unfamiliar with our towns and with public access to a telephone in the Troop B lobby to report emergencies.

Thanks in large part to Mark Lauretano’s concern for our safety, Commissioner Dora Schriro of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection recently announced that all police barracks will be restored to full service. One hopes that this reversal will include the restoration of dispatch services at Troop B.

Peter Becket

Lakeville

Great celebration of regional arts at The Boathouse

A great time was had by all at Founders Insurance Group’s celebration of northwest Connecticut and the arts Thursday night at The Boathouse Restaurant in Lakeville. The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council was honored at this gathering, and also was presented with a donation from Founders Group and its partner Chubb Insurance, in the name of a drawn winner for the evening – Cindy Vannoy and CV Productions. It means a great deal to the Arts Council to have this public vote of confidence and show of support by a business leader in our region. The idea for this event was entirely that of Founders Insurance and we thank them and also applaud them for caring about arts and culture so deeply.

The entire Founders Insurance team has always been supportive of the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council in more ways than just fulfilling our standard business insurance requirements. They have provided wise counsel and advice over the years and have made available some truly valuable management resources to our organization. Their generosity goes way beyond insurance. It has helped us make sound decisions as our relatively young (10 years) organization has developed.

It was wonderful to meet up with so many friends in the Northwest Corner’s arts world and those in the business community who care about arts and culture here. Special thanks go to Bill Willis, Cindy Donaldson and Linda Robertson and their colleagues at Founders Group who made such a wonderful evening for everyone. Celebrating with friends, associates and supporters is always rejuvenating.

Amy Wynn

Executive Director

Northwest Connecticut Arts Council

Torrington