The Lakeville Journal and The Millerton News, published by the nonprofit organization LJMN Media, held their annual Jubilee gala at the Sharon Playhouse Sunday, Oct. 11, to celebrate five years of nonprofit ownership and honor Dick Hermans with the Estabrook Community Leadership Award.
About 200 attendees, including contributors, board members and staff, gathered in the Bok Gallery at the Sharon Playhouse at 49 Amenia Road to enjoy food and a live performance by The Joint Chiefs and pay tribute to Hermans.
In an address to supporters, Publisher and CEO James Clark said the papers’ survival had been uncertain five years ago, before the transition to nonprofit ownership. Clark thanked attendees, board members and others in the community whose grassroots support enabled that transition.
“You demonstrated that The Lakeville Journal and The Millerton News are essential community assets worth supporting. That support has allowed us to do much more than sustain two newspapers,” Clark said. “We’ve strengthened our newsroom, expanded our reporting, and invested in the people and resources needed to cover our communities more thoroughly.”
Brian Ross, the board vice chair, also addressed the gathering.
The Estabrook award, named for the publications’ former owners, Mary Lou and Robert Estabrook, recognizes outstanding work in the community. Clark praised Hermans’ “longstanding commitment to this region,” saying he “made a lasting difference” as the owner of Oblong Books and as a community activist.
Dan Dwyer, board chairman, connected that commitment to the support of those in attendance, crediting them with helping keep the newspapers going despite widespread closures across the industry.
“Newspapers across the country, thousands of them, have closed in the last 30 years. Similarly, bookstores around the country have too,” Dwyer said.
He pointed to Hermans and the Estabrooks as examples of the community commitment that helps such institutions endure.
“It’s because the Estabrooks established the pivotal role of the newspaper in this community. And Dick Hermans, through his business and his public service, has identified community service as the role that a citizen needs to play.”
For Dwyer, Hermans’ work embodied the practice of good citizenship.
“A bookshop is not just a place where you sell books.It’s where people come… it’s a place where ideas are exchanged,” Dwyer said. “If you want to talk about good old-fashioned civics… this is the guy who’s practiced it for his whole life.”
Hermans’ daughter, Suzanna Hermans, and Dwyer presented him with the award. In his remarks, he reflected on his business, his work establishing the Harlem Valley Rail Trail and his upbringing in the area.
“The store has succeeded beyond my wildest dreams and the Rail Trail is more beautiful than anybody could expect from an old railroad line,” said Hermans, who was “instrumental” in its establishment.
Hermans also reflected on his own experience in journalism, starting as a college radio host for the now NPR-affiliated WJHU in Baltimore. Hermans also co-founded the New Pine Plains Herald, a non-profit community newspaper.
“Accurate information and good news about things our neighbors are doing is a key to maintaining a cohesive community,” he said. “By being here, you’re part of The Lakeville Journal/Millerton News community. It is so important that we keep our communities sane.”
Attendees gather at the Sharon Playhouse Sunday, Oct. 11, for the annual Jubilee gala, celebrating five years of nonprofit ownership of The Lakeville Journal and The Millerton News.Photo by Patrick Stachniak
Kim Yarnell supplies all the young dancers with gold star trophies to mark their completion of the six-week pilot program at NECC on Sunday, Oct. 11.Photo by Nathan Miller
