Town Board ignores resident’s questions at public meeting

Resident Cheryl Morse addressed the Amenia Town Board during the public comment section of its regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 28, with two rumors she had heard which the board did not address.“I’ve had several phone calls from people wondering about an investigation that either might be being conducted or is already closed about a personnel file that was missing here at Town Hall,” she said.According to Morse the file in question belonged to Bookkeeper to the Supervisor Sherry Johnson.“I find it a little worrisome that a personnel file was missing, particularly because I understand that Dutchess County Civil Services has been looking at her employment payroll issues,” Morse said.The issue Morse referred to was $5,000 Johnson was paid for extra hours worked in 2012.The payment became an issue as Flood called it a “merit raise,” yet the increase to Johnson’s salary bumped her position into a competitive bracket instead of it being appointed, as she was.The only action taken in that situation was a letter sent to the board from the New York State Comptroller’s Office, which explained why the awarded funds were questionable.Johnson was not required to refund the $5,000.Morse was suspicious of the lost file happening after the merit raise incident.“It seems kind of weird and convenient that it would disappear at this time,” she said.Morse also questioned the board about a rumor regarding the town water.“I’ve also had some reports from people who are questioning an issue about giving the town water department over to Dutchess County to administer. I’d like to know a little bit about that, if it’s being considered,” she said.Morse ended her public comment with a plea to the board to address the rumors.“I’d like to see those issues addressed so we have a clear understanding of what’s going on. So that there’s not rumor, innuendo, untruths and gossip being spread around. So, if you could let us know something about that, it would be nice to know. Thank you,” she said.The board did not comment on Morse’s statements. Flood asked the audience if there were any more comments before moving on with regular business.

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Club baseball at Fuessenich Park

Travel league baseball came to Torrington Thursday, June 26, when the Berkshire Bears Select Team played the Connecticut Moose 18U squad. The Moose won 6-4 in a back-and-forth game. Two players on the Bears play varsity ball at Housatonic Valley Regional High School: shortstop Anthony Foley and first baseman Wes Allyn. Foley went 1-for-3 at bat with an RBI in the game at Fuessenich Park.

 

  Anthony Foley, rising senior at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, went 1-for-3 at bat for the Bears June 26.Photo by Riley Klein 

 
Siglio Press: Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature

Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.

Richard Kraft

Siglio Press is a small, independent publishing house based in Egremont, Massachusetts, known for producing “uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.” Founded and run by editor and publisher Lisa Pearson, Siglio has, since 2008, designed books that challenge conventions of both form and content.

A visit to Pearson’s airy studio suggests uncommon work, to be sure. Each of four very large tables were covered with what looked to be thousands of miniature squares of inkjet-printed, kaleidoscopically colored pieces of paper. Another table was covered with dozens of book/illustration-size, abstracted images of deer, made up of colored dots. For the enchanted and the mystified, Pearson kindly explained that these pieces were to be collaged together as artworks by the artist Richard Kraft (a frequent contributor to the Siglio Press and Pearson’s husband). The works would be accompanied by writings by two poets, Elizabeth Zuba and Monica Torre, in an as-yet-to-be-named book, inspired by a found copy of a worn French children’s book from the 1930s called “Robin de Bois” (Robin Hood).

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Cycling season: A roundup of our region’s rentals and where to ride them

Cyclists head south on the rail trail from Copake Falls.

Alec Linden

After a shaky start, summer has well and truly descended upon the Litchfield, Berkshire and Taconic hills, and there is no better way to get out and enjoy long-awaited good weather than on two wheels. Below, find a brief guide for those who feel the pull of the rail trail, but have yet to purchase their own ten-speed. Temporary rides are available in the tri-corner region, and their purveyors are eager to get residents of all ages, abilities and inclinations out into the open road (or bike path).

For those lucky enough to already possess their own bike, perhaps the routes described will inspire a new way to spend a Sunday afternoon. For more, visit lakevillejournal.com/tag/bike-route to check out two ride-guides from local cyclists that will appeal to enthusiasts of many levels looking for a varied trip through the region’s stunning summer scenery.

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