Letters to the Editor January 19, 2012

Folks were so supportive

We want to sincerely thank the many people who showed their support for our family during our recent loss.

The food, cards, flowers, visits, hugs and other expressions of sympathy meant so much to all of us. It is a real comfort to know we have such a network of friends helping us through our grief by sharing our sorrow.

Steven and Walt Killmer  

Hillsdale

Freda Harpp  

Bev and Bill MacDonald

Millerton

A few last words to a solid friend, Leif Erickson

 Leif Erickson was a friend who existed in my life for over four decades. He arrived in Amenia, namely Smithfield, shortly before, 1967, when I moved to the area with my wife, Darlene, and our 2-year-old son, Derek.

 Leif was pastor of Smithfield Church and I was a very naive, young, 28-year-old physics and chemistry teacher. I assured my wife that we were only going to stay for five years. She and I both had a longing for the fragrance of salt water and seaweed.

We both grew up less than a mile from the Atlantic Ocean. All we could smell here was manure and silage. More than 40 years later we are still here, having added a second child, Brett, to our family in 1971. Derek remembers Leif’s sons, Jon and Karl, and they often played together at our home where Lois Line now lives.

Leif’s dedication to the community was always admirable. He had a full Sunday school, he ran for the local school board and was elected, and eventually became president. His heart was in the community.

Leif loved to talk about various philosophies and also his great hopes for the growing Smithfield Church. There was a Sunday school, an active youth group, and an adult Bible study class. The air of the congregation was strongly conservative, even as the greater society was accelerating rapidly toward protest and much more personal freedom.

It was a long road of memorable times. The fabulous church suppers, and the camaraderie of sharing the experience of working together.

Leif and I crossed paths many times after he left the Smithfield Church. Many Sundays he provided pulpit supply for us, he came to some of our warm homecomings, and he was also very supportive when we experienced difficult times in gaining a minister when we were suffering a loss in the Smithfield congregation for any multitude of reasons.

Leif also came to the aid of the small Ancramdale Presbyterian Church during times of strife and gave his generous support by becoming their pastor.These memories — now history— prompted me to write a brief poem.     

The Dance

Nobody knows when the band will begin,

Or all the steps to achieve grace.

The Dances of Life are multifaceted

The Rhythms of Life promote strange desires.

These desires are the basis for our decision-making,

Our livelihoods, our futures, and our friendships!

 Nobody knows when the dance will end,

Or when the band will strike its final note.

We do know at some point all our dancing will end,

But our friendships live on

With the memories that have stayed behind,

Many new lives will be richer if only,

You all remember the friendship

We have shared, with Leif.

As we leave today and our personal

Dancing continues, share this gift, so valued by Leif,

Never forget the steps to the Dance

That brought us together

To celebrate his life this day.

Robert Riemer

Amenia

Amplification on the ABCs

Kudos to The Millerton News for undertaking to explain the sometimes confusing structure of local governments.  

I would like to suggest a correction based on The Town Law Manual put out by the Association of Towns of the State of New York.  Under 3-7, Authority, it states:  “The town board, as the executive body of the town, acts as a unit and must function as a body (Town Law 60 and 63). An individual board member may not unilaterally act on behalf of the town board. Thus, each town board member has no more or no less authority than any other board member.”

The manual describes town board function in section 3-1 as: “(1) Purpose. Town government is run by the town board as the executive, administrative and legislative body of the town. (2) Executive powers.  A town board, as a group, is the executive head of the town, there being no true executive in town government comparable with the status of a mayor of a city or village, or with the governor of the state....  See Town Law 29 and 125 for a description of those duties.”

As you can see, the supervisor is not the head of the town board but rather, despite additional duties, is one of five board members.  Nor is the town board solely the legislative branch, but rather executive, administrative and legislative.  It’s an interesting and unique form of government, which requires a great deal of cooperation and communication.  The advantage is that duties are shared and there are five minds thinking as well as bringing different perspectives to all town board decisions. All decisions are made by the vote of the five-member board.

Sandra David

Town Board member

Pine Plains

Look at what the community achieved with Carvel proposal

An open letter to Pine Plains United and all citizens who have helped rein in the massive proposed Carvel/Durst real estate development in Pine Plains and Milan:

 This is from the Carvel Property Development website:

 “This development plan has evolved through an ongoing dialogue with the towns of Pine Plains and Milan, a thorough understanding of the project site and its resources, and the continuing involvement of the local residents through an open and interactive review process. The project sponsor is proud to have worked with these local stakeholders to develop a master plan for a world-class, second-home community that will be beneficial to the local community and preserve community character and the environment.”

Wow.

Sure, sure, there’s so much spin I am getting dizzy from it all the way down here in Texas. But still — take a minute to step back and realize: It worked! All the hard work and mobilization and gathering and dissemination of information, all the emails, phone calls, talks over coffee, meetings, meetings, meetings... They paid off!

Think back to when this project was first proposed, the size and scope and style of it. The whole approach, the disregard for the community and the ecological surroundings. The presumption of heedless acquiescence from short-sighted and venal local officials.

But they did not count on Pine Plains United. They did not think the citizens of a sleepy little rural town could be roused to take a long and wide-awake look at the possible future about to descend on it. They did not know those citizens could stand up, stand together, reach out, grasp and shape that future rather than be shaped by it.

Look at the language they now use. It’s yours. Look at the guiding principles they now tout. They are ours.

Look at the difference we have made. Congratulations. And thank you very, very much.

Brian McCarthy

Fort Worth, Texas

Editor’s note: The writer is formerly of Gallatin, N.Y.

 
Next breakfast is Feb. 19

On Sunday, Jan. 15, the Amenia Fire Company held its monthly pancake breakfast. Despite the cold, we were happy to have a crowd of 161 customers. We rely on the breakfast to raise much-needed money for general operations and we much appreciate the support  of the community. Thanks to all who attended our meal and we hope to see you all again on Sunday, Feb. 19, from 7:30 to 11 a.m., at the firehouse.

Andy Murphy, on behalf of the breakfast committee

Amenia Fire Company and Auxiliary

Amenia