Letters to the Editor - February 23

I’ve enjoyed the four years as Amenia town supervisor

 I want to thank all the residents of Amenia and Wassaic for their support as I proudly served as town supervisor for four years and town councilman for 10 years. During those 14 years, I worked hard to control spending and save the taxpayers money.

Since our property tax (county, town, fire and special districts) is due by the end of February, I conducted an informal survey asking many residents about their amount of local town tax. Not one person could give me the correct amount, and it was a surprise to me. During the Feb. 16 Town Board meeting, I asked the Town Board the same question and even though three councilwomen served with me on the 2012 budget, again nobody could give me a correct answer.

During the four town budgets that I presented, 2009 to 2012, and during a recession with decreased revenues from mortgage tax and sales tax, I can proudly say my town tax went up only $9 — from $498 to $507. My county tax increased $85 — from $627 to $712. Hopefully our new Town Board will continue to control spending and realize our taxpayers are struggling during these difficult economic times.

Wayne Euvrard
Amenia

Kudos to McLean Ford

On Jan. 27, my husband and I were driving on the New York State Thruway, in a horrific rain storm, from Rochester to Hartford, when the arm and windshield wiper blew off the driver’s side of our car, reducing visibility to near zero.

Rains pelting the windshield and 18-wheelers tearing by required us to get to the nearest Ford dealership as soon as possible. It turned out, even though we were near Herkimer, we learned the closest dealership with the arm and blade in stock was not in Schenectady or in Albany, rather it was hours away, in a small town called Millerton, at McLean Ford.

My husband removed the arm/blade from the passenger side and installed it on the driver’s side so that we had visibility, on his side, to drive safely the distance down to Millerton. I’d called ahead and Joe, in the parts department of McLean, double-checked his inventory, and sure enough, he had one arm/blade left. Upon our arrival (mid-afternoon), Judy was so kind to offer us a loaner so we could grab a bite to eat at the Deli.

The installation was so quick, we didn’t need to consider that. In no time, we were all set and could head safely onto Hartford.  Whew!

Truly, we were made to feel very welcome and were well taken care of by the kind folks at McLean Ford. I’ve written directly to Alan Mulally, the president of Ford Motor Co., to commend Joe and Judy at McLean and have also called David McLean to extend our gratitude for the nice folks at his dealership.

No doubt, readers of this newspaper are already fully aware of these great neighbors.

Marsha Senges
Victor, N.Y.
 

Sound reasons to mourn Houston

In reference to Bob Cuddeback’s letter (“Houston not a role model,” Feb. 16) concerning Whitney Houston:

First, my condolences on the tragic loss of your son, and my support for your honoring many unrecognized and worthy role models. However, in my own sadness at the passing of Whitney Houston, consideration of her as a role model or not seems irrelevant. As yet, we do not know how she died, but if the cause, indeed,was addiction, I mourn the passing of yet another gifted person who was not able to help herself. Alas, we have yet to discover a cure for the ineffectiveness of will power.

 Gila Lipton
New York, N.Y.

Honor should be selective

In regards to Bob Cuddeback’s letter (“Houston not a role model,” Feb. 16), I totally agree. I’m also very disappointed in Gov. Christie of New Jersey for recommending that the American Flag be at half-staff in honor of Whitney Houston. That is an honor that should continue to be for deceased military, fire or police and those who have served their nation in government.  

When anyone dies it is a tragedy to their family, especially if it is one’s child, but to hold up entertainers as role models because they have a talent borders on ridiculous. Filling the tabloids and television news day after day in recognition of such seems unnecessary.

Diane Walters
Millerton

Great job with Black History Month project

Paige Crane, a ninth-grade Kildonan School student, is to be highly commended for her unique project concerned with Black History Month. Though  she concentrated on Martin Luther King Jr., Paige included other African Americans who have had an impact on history, as well as on the present, using slides; email and feedback; poems and stories; quotations such as “I have a dream”; and discussions as well as questions, in order to elicit thoughtful responses.

One of her aspirations is to engage her fellow students and others in considering how the individual “has the ability to change society through words, actions and dedication.”

Lindsay Hughes, literature teacher, who worked with Paige on the project, is to be commended as well, “to inspire students to think about what their ‘dream’ is for themselves and their society, to understand the importance of advocating for a cause.”

The Millerton News realized the worthiness of what Paige Crane undertook by placing the article about her and her project, and her teacher, front and center (“One student starts a discussion on Black History Month,” Feb. 16). Paige demonstrated initiative, resourcefulness, concern, effort and energy. She has taken the first steps toward being a leader in our society.

Rhoda S. Lubalin
Amenia