Concern about funding for our local projects
As I read about the slash-and-burn of government agencies and programs in Washington over the past two months, I am greatly concerned about the impact this will have on Amenia. It can be hard to connect the news from DC to our local lives. But as a town very close to starting work on a long-delayed highway garage and to much-needed repairs for our drinking water system, it appears the federal grants which would help a small rural town pay for such projects have just been frozen, diminished or eliminated. Work to prevent flooding from the Wassaic Creek will not happen without the DEC. Not-for-profits that provide essential social services will try to keep operating on greatly reduced budgets, as will our clinic. Seniors and veterans are likely to see Social Security and Medicare cut back.
Leo Blackman
Amenia Town Supervisor
Wassaic
Models walk the organic runway at HVSFW. Ilan Harel 
Susan Schneider, owner of Shandell’s, creates a variety of products with marbleized surfaces in her Ashley Falls studio.L. Tomaino
