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Thanksgiving
‘On that best portion of a good man’s life, his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.’
—William Wordsworth
As autumn comes to a close and the holiday season rushes in with all its annual appeal, people in our communities begin to exhibit a communal spirit that shows off the best in all of us. Thanksgiving marks the start of this time of reflection. There are parades on our Main Streets, bringing neighbors together to stand in the cold and wave at passing fire trucks and floats. Family get-togethers that often include friends and those alone during the holiday become celebrations of much more than roast turkey and pumpkin pie. The holiday unites us as families, neighbors and as members of a community.
We take the time to embrace those close to us as well as reach out to those in need.
Last week’s Page One article about Beverly Becker in North Canaan, who has been the driving force behind 17 years of Thanksgiving community dinners in the Northwest Corner, provided a heartwarming example of ‘kindness and love.’ With help from many churches and volunteers, Beverly’s dedicated team will again serve up a free Thanksgiving Day dinner at Pilgim House in North Canaan. She said she got the idea for community dinners when she “heard a priest read a passage about giving to people you don’t know and expecting nothing in return.”
In this week’s edition, on Page One, we tell the story of a homeless family of four that is living in a tent in the woods, huddled up during our cold nights under blankets, jackets and sleeping bags. For the Garcia family, the Gathering Place in Torrington, a drop-in center for homeless, is a place to get warm and wash clothes. The family gets meals at the Community Soup Kitchen in Torrington. It should not be overlooked that homelessness in Connecticut has risen by 14% in the last two years.
In 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to be a national holiday — to encourage people to unite in gratitude — the nation was engaged in the Civil War. Lincoln wished to “heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it...to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.”
As we come together this Thanksgiving, let us be grateful for all that we have, and that includes living in community that can come together and care about everyone, one that shares its bounty with the less fortunate and the lonely and unites us all in gratitude.
We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
With gratitude
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For the 47th GOP President to have won the U.S. Presidential election with a popular vote count of just 2.6 million more than his Democratic competitor is eerily reminiscent of his electoral win in 2016 when he lost the popular vote to Clinton by 3 million popular votes. Elections this century have been tight, underscoring a closely divided nation. In 2024, 2016, 2004 and 2000 the popular vote count difference between GOP and Democratic candidates was but 2% or less– within the margin of error. Washington, Monroe, Lincoln, FDR, Nixon, Reagan and Johnson scored uncontested election landslides — garnishing dominate popular (60% +) and electoral votes. Trump’s 49.9 to 48.2 vote win over Harris, 2.6 million votes in a nation of 120 million voters, doth not deem landslide — it’s not a majority, it’s a plurality.
The 2024 Presidential election outcome seems more of a backlash than landslide. Yes the Senate and the House also went Republican wavelessly—both with skinny wins. A win is a win but a landslide is not a 1.5% vote difference — within the margin of error. Policies and directions, leadership voices and preferences come with a four-year term of office regardless of the count. Yet, a skinny win does not justify upheaval, intentional overturn of governmental, 248-years-of foundations/principles.
Reviewing the election results is apt as the incoming administration’s actions are proposed and overturns initiated. At ready to consider are the nominations of Gaetz, Gabbard, Hegseth and Kennedy along with a Trump proposition that the Senate forfeit its Article I constitutional duty, its salient role of providing Advice and Consent:
“[The president] shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States.”
“..the president “shall have Powers, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur.”
These early Trump calls lead to stern questioning of the appropriateness, legality of the incoming President’s interpretation of voters giving him a “mandate” to uproot the Constitution and any laws that block unfettered powers of his executive office. Advice and Consent is a much intended safeguard to our democracy as are all elements of the Constitution. The Legislative Branch is Article 1 of the Constitution — Congress is solely empowered to enact legislation, set laws that the Executive Branch — led by the President — carries out — executes. The U.S. military is specified to protect/guard against external threats, it is not domestic enforcement — the U.S. armed forces are not the President’s personal Generals, Colonels, Master Sergeants, Privates.
U.S. citizens may differ on their opinions about the direction of the country, may be staunchly favorable or unfavorable regarding candidates, may consider themselves better off or not now vs. in 2020. Poignant voter testimonies of preferences for one candidate or the other related to the candidates’ stated beliefs/policies or their behaviors/language/gestures: dark, bereaved of fairness or joyfully aspirational. Vast footage of rallies, rally attendees, men and women on the streets of towns and cities across the continent were showcased on media or online as “the voter.”Yet other than Bannon along with a few other political and media has-beens and a squad of 2025 Project advocates, I don’t recall massive calls for the fall of the Constitution, the limiting of personal liberties, a loud, lavish brouhaha for a king, a dictator is not recalled. No Down with the Constitution buttons, chants, hats, banners or vehicle signage are remembered or on sale, on a t-shirt.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The 2024 election is ended, a new administration -not a wholly new government -is beginning. Let’s keep the nation, let’s be vocal, attentive. Here is strength and resolve to Thune, to all in the Congress to keep the nation, keep their jobs, abide to their oaths.
Coda: It is Thanksgiving, commencing at the end of each year a month plus of celebrations, cheer across religions and secular citizens alike. These holidays are family/community rich, chalk full of toasts, decorations, music, large and intimate gatherings. Here aligned in abundance is commonality, lyrics extoll good will to all. On rare occasions raven-like unkindnesses of masked, uniformed harm-wishers clutter neighborhoods – small intrusions of hate – loud yet small. Ignore the ugly, stick with the pleasures of the season, Good will to all, joyful holidays, even just spectacular sales.
Kathy Herald-Marlowe lives in Sharon.
November 23, 1933
‘Expect Million Dollar Appropriation for Park Work in Three Counties’; Dutchess, Columbia and Putnam Will Benefit; to Employ 3,000
A $1,000,000 appropriation which would provide employment for 3,000 men for a period of three months is expected for Dutchess, Columbia and Putnam Counties from the emergency funds of the new Civil Works Administration, it was disclosed Monday by Paul T. Winslow, executive secretary of the Taconic State Park Commission. It is anticipated that the huge appropriation will be made some time this week, and that work will be provided for 1,500 Dutchess County Men. The majority of the workers, it is expected, will be recruited from Poughkeepsie’s unemployed.
‘One Woman in State Assembly’; Albany, Nov. 22— The Assembly Chamber, after a trail of a year, is no longer to be an Eveless Eden. Miss Doris I. Byrne has been elected to that body from the second district in the Bronx, New York City. Being a Democrat, she will sit with the other members of that party on the left side of the chamber. The last woman member, Mrs. Rhonda Fox Graves, sat on the other side, being a Republican from rock-ribbed St. Lawrence, of which she represented the first district for seven years ending with 1932.
‘About Millerton’; It is reported that John Brizzie and Frank Silvernail fell in Rudd Pond last Friday while fishing.
November, 28, 1974
‘It’s a tough Time for Harry Wheeler’; It’s the toughest time of year for Harry Wheeler. It’s deer season and as a New York State Conservation Officer he is on call 24 hours a day to enforce the innumerable hunting laws and protect wildlife as well as hunters and private citizens.
Covering an area of about 300 square miles in the Towns of North East, Pine Plains, Milan, Armenia, Rhinebeck and Red Hook, Officer Wheeler is authorized with full police powers. Before the Department of Environmental Conservation was formed in the state, officers like Wheeler were just game wardens. Now they can enforce all laws but direct their efforts to protecting the environment and wildlife as well as fighting against air, water, and noise pollution…
‘Layoffs Due Monday at Taconic Products’; The general slowdown in American industry finally made itself felt in the Tri-State area this week. Taconic Products of Millerton announced it would lay off “slightly more than 10 per cent” of its 120-member workforce, effective next Monday, Dec. 2.
Victor Smith, manager of Taconic Products, declined to say exactly how many people would be laid off in Millerton. He did say that employees with the least seniority were those who have been given their notices. They will be paid for the Thanksgiving holidays, Thursday and Friday of this week, Smith added…
‘PHOTO CAPTION: Be My Guest’; Millerton crossing guard Polly Collier shows a group of school children her new digs last week. Ms. Collier, who has been the crossing guard for 20 years, said the shelter appeared about a week and a half ago, but she did not know who put it up. A spokesman for E. Daskell Construction, the firm that is repairing the Webatuck Creek bridge, said the shelter had been donated by Flood Sanitation and Herrington’s Hardware.
‘One Year Later, Round Tuit on the Rebound’; NORTH EAST: Dale Culver, owner of the Round Tuit Restaurant on Route 22, had a strange feeling late in the afternoon on Nov. 11. It was the one-year anniversary of a fire that nearly destroyed his business.
“I feel like it’s been five years,” Mr. Culver said as he and his daughter Sarah Della went about afternoon chores with his cows in back of the Round Tuit recently.
Mr. Culver lost all his clothes and personal items in the fire. The family cat, “Purry,” perished in the smoky blaze, which still makes young Sarah Della really sad.
The community rallied behind Mr. Culver and, miraculously, the Round Tuit was reborn in a matter of weeks. It is a popular eatery offering breakfast 24 hours a day. But it is also a place where people can discuss current events with friends in a pleasant environment.
November 25, 1999
‘Goodman reflects on 20 years of photos’; MILLERTON: When Mark Goodman first came to Millerton in 1971, he was given an assignment by his instructor, who taught at the former Apeiron Photography Workshop school on Silver Mountain.
“Our first assignment was to go into the village and look around,” recalled Mr. Goodman, a noted photographer who returned to Millerton Friday and Saturday to promote his new collection of Millerton photographs, entitled “A Kind of History.”
The book contains almost 200 halftone photographs of the young people who inhabited the village from 1971 to 1991.
‘NE Crew Fixes Water Problem’; NORTH EAST: The town highway department recently completed a project which restored water pressure to a house on North Center Street. And the crew earned high praise from the residents.
“I’m really happy with the town guys,” said North Center Street resident Michelle Lull. “They worked hard the whole time, and they are working clean. It’s terrific.”
“They did an excellent job,” Supervisor David Sherman said.
