Letters to the Editor - The Millerton News - 5-25-23

Backing Jenn Najdek

I’ve always thought hat’s off to anybody willing to run for public office, having served myself, I am aware of the time and devotion these positions require. I know both candidates for Mayor and both candidates are good people, however, I must put my support behind the current Mayor Jenn Najdek.

Jenn is currently spearheading two of the largest projects this village has ever seen, a new handicap accessible community swimming pool and a waste water treatment infrastructure system. Jenn has both of these projects underway; she has developed contacts and built a rapport with state and federal politicians to help fund these projects, now is not the time to change Mayors.

Jenn needs our encouragement and support to see these long-needed projects through, another term makes perfect sense.

John Scutieri

Former Millerton Mayor

Millerton

Supporting Lisa Erdner

In the years that I have been on the Townscape board, Townscape has expanded from an organization which put up holiday decorations and did plantings in the Village to an organization which has participated in, and in some cases spearheaded, major civic projects.

When I joined Townscape in 2014 we had under $5,000 per year in donations, we now receive about $50,000 a year. In the last several years Townscape has raised money to pay for the engineering and maintenance of the Rail Trail composting toilets, we have assisted with the planning and fundraising for Eddie Collins Memorial Park and paid consultants to write grants for the Park.

We have also contributed substantially to the Village to pay for the engineering fees for the wastewater project. Recently, Townscape paid for the replacement of the trees on Main Street and for the installation of electrical outlets in each tree wells when the new sidewalks were installed.

I give this information about Townscape because I want to highlight the fact that Townscape has become an important force in our community and it is therefore important that our next president has the capacity and will to continue what it has taken years to build. Specifically, it is important the next president support the completion of the Eddie Collins Memorial Park and the wastewater project, two projects which will transform our community, the first to bring back a community pool and bathhouse, and the second to allow for economic growth and a grocery store.

Lisa Erdner supports both of these projects and she is an unusually well qualified person to take over the leadership of Townscape and to be a Village Trustee. Lisa has been an engaged Village citizen since she moved to Millerton. She attends most Village Board meetings to stay informed about local issues.

Since she has become a Townscape member, she has worked tirelessly to advance community projects. She is extremely organized, unfailingly discerning, and personable. Lisa will provide Townscape with the leadership it needs to continue to do its valuable community work and she will be the kind of forward Village trustee who will help bring to fruition our two important civic projects. I strongly encourage Village residents to vote for Lisa a Trustee on June 20th.

Jeanne Vanecko

Townscape, President

Millerton

Thank you, local EMS providers

In recognition of National Emergency Medical Services Week (May 21 – 27), I would like to celebrate the work carried out by our team of dedicated EMS practitioners and the crucial services they provide each day within our region.

In my role as EMS Coordinator at Sharon Hospital, I interact regularly with the EMS providers in the hospital’s service area. Many members of our local EMS Rescue Squads and Fire Department Ambulance Corps., volunteer their time and skills for the sake of others and to serve as a pillar of support in our community.

We thank them for everything they do to provide highest quality of prehospital care for patients, helping them reach Sharon Hospital and our neighboring healthcare facilities safely and quickly. Working together with our hospital-based staff, particularly those in the Emergency Department, our EMS teams and the Sharon Hospital staff provide life-saving care to patients in the Northwest Corner.

As a paramedic myself, I am proud to work alongside this team of professionals that each dedicate themselves to caring for others. Our EMS practitioners are often called upon during high-stress situations and are required to manage the care needs of the patients, while also ensuring families, loved ones, or witnesses are tended to as well.

This EMS Week, I kindly ask the members of our community to join me in honoring members of the EMS community who regularly go above and beyond the call of duty and treat each patient like family. As our frontline workers deliver these lifesaving services and care during a patients’ and families’ ultimate time of need, and often go unrecognized. Thank you for all that you do for our community!

David Jensen,

EMT-Paramedic

EMS Coordinator

Sharon Hospital

Sharon, Conn.