Letters to the Editor - The Millerton News - 1-21-21

Sen. Schumer, thank you, for supporting independent theaters

Over the past months, we have kept you, our loyal customers, updated on our cinema’s situation, and we’d like to share a further update with you now to thank a key champion who was instrumental in ensuring that independent cinemas in our state of New York can bridge the pandemic.

During the months that Congress deliberated over COVID relief, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has worked tirelessly and successfully to secure aid for New York’s cultural institutions, including independent movie theaters. This assistance is critical to keeping the industry alive, supporting the livelihoods of entrepreneurs and workers and protecting a critical piece of New York’s economy. We also want to acknowledge the support of all the bipartisan senators and members of Congress who worked to ensure that movie theaters could get the relief we need to survive the financial impact of the pandemic.

Senator Schumer championed this relief program and worked to include independent movie theaters in the proposal. He played a key role in the COVID package negotiations, and ultimately, was successful in working with the bill sponsors Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) to pass relief for theaters.

The senator has been relentless in his efforts to get this done and is now working with the Small Business Administration to enable the Save Our Stages program so it can begin accepting applications ASAP. He and his office are diligently working with New York’s independent movie theaters to ensure they all have the tools and information they need. 

I wanted to make you all aware of the wonderful work Senator Schumer has done and to express my gratitude for his tireless championship of our industry.

Carol Sadlon

Owner, The Millerton Moviehouse

Lakeville

Looking for some hope

We are all groping for a way forward after the vicious insurrection Jan. 6 that killed five persons and almost killed our democracy. We must be thankful that the center held, that our representatives, senators and the vice president courageously fulfilled their constitutional duties in the middle of the night, and that the election of Joe Biden has now been confirmed. But what now? 

On Jan. 10, I attended the Morning Prayers at The Church of the Regeneration in Pine Plains via YouTube (https://bit.ly/regen-youtube). Mr. Jack Banning offered a Reflection that was very helpful to me and that I share in part with you:

“What was troubling me as I was preparing this reflection for this morning’s service is a very basic question which I am asking myself as well as asking all of us in this congregation, and, indeed all Americans: How do we reconcile the desperate need for us to come together and heal with the desire for punishing the wrongdoers: the insurrectionists themselves as well as those who enabled them, indeed encouraged them through their seditious words? 

“The answer to that question — how do we heal — most definitely does not lie in taking vengeance; vengeance is, and always has been, the Lord’s, not ours. That seems pretty clear, at least to me. 

“But, what then? 

“I was struggling aloud with this fundamental question with my wife Irene as I was pondering how I was going to offer some words of faith or comfort of some kind this morning when she urged me to suggest that the answer lies in the concept of Justice. That there must be justice before there can be healing. And, Justice, of course, includes punishment. But, that only with Justice can we begin to heal. That got me thinking, and I decided that I think that she is right. That the Way of Love in this time and place has to be the path of Justice. From Justice will come that Love; and from that Love, the Healing that we so desperately need.

“But — and this is critical — we must, when we think of justice, be mindful that justice implies so much more than simple retribution for a crime or trespass. Yes, that is a kind of justice. But, for there ultimately to be justice in our world, there needs to be true justice in the much larger sense — social justice, racial justice, justice for All. And, while we’re at it, yes… Mercy … And Compassion …And from these, Hope.”

Thank you, Jack. Let us be hopeful based on punishment but not vengeance for the crime, combined with social justice, racial justice, economic justice, justice for all, mercy, and compassion.

G. A. Mudge

Sharon

Salisbury Bank thankful for holiday donations

As many families in our communities are experiencing hardship during these unprecedented times, Salisbury Bank is proud to have sponsored our 13th annual “Fill-the-Basket” food drive to benefit local food pantries.

Our 14 branch offices located in Berkshire County, Mass., Litchfield County, Conn., and Dutchess, Orange and Ulster Counties in New York, collected food and cash donations throughout the months of November and December. Together we were able to collect and donate over 1,700 non-perishable food and household items as well as $719 in cash donations. In addition, Salisbury Bank donated $1,000 to each organization in the communities we serve.

All items collected, including monetary contributions, were donated directly to local food pantries serving each area:

• Center for Compassion (Dover Plains, N.Y.)

 • Fishes and Loaves (Canaan, Conn.)

• Fishkill Food Pantry (Fishkill, N.Y.)

• Hudson River Housing (Poughkeepsie and Red Oaks Mill, N.Y.)

• Millerton Food Pantry (Millerton, N.Y.)

• Ella’s Closet (Sharon, Conn.)

• People’s Pantry (Great Barrington, Mass.)

• Sheffield Food Assistance (Sheffield and South Egremont, Mass.)

• St. Mary’s Hope Food Pantry (Newburgh, N.Y.)

• The Corner Food Pantry (Lakeville and Salisbury, Conn.)

• The Family of New Paltz (New Paltz, N.Y.)

On behalf of our employees, we are honored to support local food pantries that serve hundreds of families during the holiday season and throughout the year. We are grateful for all the customers and community members who helped make this possible.

Shelly Humeston, 

Sr. Vice President, Salisbury Bank and Trust Company

Pine Plains