Letters to the editor: Nov. 7, 2024

Thanks to Barrett for advancing Melanie’s Law

We write today to express our deep gratitude to Assemblywoman Didi Barrett for her pivotal role in advancing Melanie’s Law. Named after Melanie Chianese, a woman from Dutchess County who lost her life to domestic violence. As sponsors of this legislation, we worked across party lines to ensure its success, united in our commitment to protecting domestic violence survivors and honoring the memory of Melanie.
Without Assemblywoman Barrett’s leadership and support, Melanie’s Law might not have made it out of the Judiciary Committee. Her dedication to this cause and seniority allowed the bill to reach the Assembly floor for a full vote, passing with nearly unanimous support.
Domestic violence is an issue that transcends politics, and this bill is a critical step toward ensuring greater safety for survivors in New York State. We are proud to have worked together in a bipartisan fashion, and we recognize that the success of this legislation is shared.
We thank Assemblywoman Barrett for her partnership and look forward to the bill’s future impact on the lives of those affected by domestic violence.
Assemblyman
Brian Cunningham
Assemblyman Anil Beephan

Note to the sign thief

To the person who “took” the election signs from my property on Rudd Pond Road, I would just like to say thank you for confirming that once again, I have made the correct choice on Election Day.
Ray “Dan” Simmons
Millerton

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Millerton News and The News does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

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Out of the mouths of Ukrainian babes

To escape the cruelties of war, Katya finds solace in her imagination in “Sunflower Field”.

Krista A. Briggs

‘I can sum up the last year in three words: fear, love, hope,” said Oleksandr Hranyk, a Ukrainian school director in Kharkiv, in a February 2023 interview with the Associated Press. Fast forward to 2025, and not much has changed in his homeland. Even young children in Ukraine are echoing these same sentiments, as illustrated in two short films screened at The Moviehouse in Millerton on April 5, “Once Upon a Time in Ukraine” and “Sunflower Field.”

“Sunflower Field,” an animated short from Ukrainian filmmaker Polina Buchak, begins with a young girl, Katya, who embroiders as her world becomes unstitched with the progression of the war. To cope, Katya retreats into a vivid fantasy world, shielding herself from the brutal realities surrounding her life, all while desperately wanting her family to remain intact as she awaits a phone call from her father, one that may never come.

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William F. Buckley Jr.: a legacy rooted in Sharon
Provided

Sam Tanenhaus, when speaking about William F. Buckley, Jr., said he was drawn to the man by the size of his personality, generosity and great temperament. That observation was among the reasons that led Tanenhaus to spend nearly 20 years working on his book, “Buckley: The Life and Revolution That Changed America,” which is due out in June. Buckley and his family had deep roots in Sharon, living in the house called Great Elm on South Main Street, which was built in 1812 and bought by Buckley’s father in 1923.

The author will give a talk on “The Buckleys of Sharon” at the Sharon Historical Society on Saturday, April 12, at 11 a.m. following the group’s annual meeting. The book has details on the family’s life in Sharon, which will, no doubt, be of interest to local residents.

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