Letters to the Editor - The Millerton News - 4-2-20

Ancram neighborhood group offers a helping hand

Ancramdale Neighbors Helping Neighbors Association (ANHN) serves the Ancram Township, including Ancram, Ancramdale and Boston Corners.

During this uncertain time of ever-changing facts and policies facing our community and families as a result of the COVID-19 virus, many of our neighbors will face the reality of furloughed jobs, financial hardships and social isolation.

Ancramdale Neighbors Helping Neighbors stands ready to help in any way we can. We have made necessary changes to our weekly (Monday) food pantry program following CDC guidelines to provide more protection to our volunteers and recipients. We are working closely with the Regional Food Bank to ensure that our supplies remain adequate. If additional families need to come onto the program during the weeks and months ahead, we extend our hand. We can also provide counsel and direction in getting families newly in need of social services to the right local agencies.

All emergency medical issues should be referred to 911 or your personal doctor. The New York State Department of Health Hotline is 1-888-364-3065. If you are elderly and in need of transportation or shopping assistance or simply need to discuss your situation and how we can help, please let us know.

We are fortunate to live in a community of kind, caring neighbors who look out for each other. But like many communities, our volunteer population is aging. In fact, almost all of our volunteers who make the weekly food program happen are in the 60-plus category — the age group most vulnerable to COVID-19.

If you are able-bodied, under 60 and can spare an hour or two each week, please let us know. We would welcome your help during this tough time.

For assistance or more information, please call Jack Lindsey at 518-329-7306 or Hila Richardson at 917-414-8270.

Jack Lindsey

Ancram

Hila Richardson

Ancramdale

Co-Chairs of Ancramdale
Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Old Amenia concrete plant revived

From the roadside of 307 Leedsville Road in Amenia, little can be seen of the industrial empire that once was in John Segalla’s heyday. A meager yellow sign, now tattered and rusty, still hangs by the road and proclaims the prosperity of an age gone by: “Amenia Sand & Gravel.”

The facility is impressive to say the least with a sand processing plant (no longer functioning), an asphalt production plant (still in use), a concrete plant (recently revived) and countless garages and storage buildings.  No phrase more accurately describes the scene than “ghost-town.”

Recently, however, the concrete plant has become inhabited once again, breathing new life to a property gasping for air.  Century Concrete, of Canaan, Conn., is now renting the plant, has made necessary repairs and will be servicing the area as far south as Brewster.

When you see the unmistakable blue and orange concrete mixer know that the town of Amenia is alive and well!

Joseph Brennan

Canaan, Conn.