Letters to the Editor - The Millerton News - 5-28-20

Amenia resident thankful for fellow resident’s helping hand

As a resident of Amenia for 96 years, I would like to comment on the election of Edward DeLaPino as the 2019 Town of Amenia Resident of the Year, a well deserved award.

He is a resident of one of the buildings on East Main Street and looks after that property in the absence of its owner.

The properties on this block have a right of way in the rear, which borders my property. The right of way has several trees along the border of which are aged. In the past year, a couple have fallen on my property, which were in the right of way. I am assuming the Main Street owners are responsible, as they use the area. Two of the owners have made some effort to remove the rubbish from my property.

However, branches and tree trunks have remained for some time. Ed has taken it upon himself to remove large pieces of the trees in the right of way and assisted me in clearing my property, some at his personal expense and efforts to help in the clean up. I have expensed over $400 of my money and he has also contributed, in addition to his labor. It is a sizable project. 

Over the years I have found it difficult to tend to these problems, from sewage to broken fences. The fence was put up by myself due to the patrons of The Gut, which used to be a bar by my house, using my property as an exit rather than the Main Street exit. Even the county representative was forever reluctant to correct the sewage problem. 

Mr. Henry Barlow, a former town building inspector from years ago, had placed no parking signs in the right of way as a fire precaution. And over the years, due to a very good fire department, fires in the buildings were promptly taken care of. When the old Lunch Box restaurant had a fire years ago, it was taken care of, and those signs saved the main portion of the town. 

At night, that area was full of parked cars. Mr. Barlow had placed no parking signs there, but the signs are now gone and the cars have returned. Ed has taken it upon himself to maintain this area behind Main Street.

I would also like to thank Larry Havens, Marvin Hill, Gene Handkey and Ed and Julia Spinner for their helping me during the current crisis.

Harry J. Jenkins

Amenia

Uniting to help feed Hudson Valley veterans during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges for all Americans, including residents in Hudson Valley, New York. As a result, the demand for food assistance has increased at an extraordinary rate.

While food insecurity — which is defined as the lack of access to enough nutritionally adequate foods to live an active and healthy life — is a serious issue impacting millions of Americans, it is particularly concerning for our nation’s service men and women.

Given this critical need, Humana, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and offices within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — including the VA Secretary’s Center for Strategic Partnerships,  Voluntary Service Office and Homeless Programs office — are mobilizing donors and volunteers for the “Uniting to Combat Hunger” campaign in an effort to help food insecure veterans and their families through this pandemic. By donating directly to VA medical centers across the country, we are able to take a targeted approach to assist our nation’s service men and women and ensure donations go directly to those who are experiencing food insecurity or are at risk of food insecurity, whether it’s providing food, gift cards to local grocery stores or even basic supplies they need to help them during this difficult time.

While our team’s efforts have helped to provide more than 200,000 meals thus far, we invite citizens and organizations to join us in this mission by visiting www.vfw.org/utch and making a monetary donation to a VA medical center near you, such as VA Hudson Valley Health Care System. Every donation will go a long way to help veterans in need.

Now more than ever, it’s important we don’t take anything for granted — including access to food. Let’s work together to ensure no one goes hungry and honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans and their families.

William J. “Doc” Schmitz, Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

Corning, N.Y.

Newman makes a bid for Webutuck school board

I would like to introduce myself to residents of — and particularly to the parents of children in — the Webutuck Central School District. 

I am a candidate for the Webutuck Board of Education, and I would like to tell you all why I am running for this position. The reason is simple, and although I know it has been said many times before: Our children are our future. Nothing is more important than providing our children with the best education possible. I believe that we have the resources to do just that, and I will be dedicated to that goal. 

My family and I first came to Millerton in 2007. We moved here because we love this community. I am running for this office because it is one way, I hope, to help our area prosper. 

To be honest, I do not know a lot about how the school functions. I have never served on a school board before. But I am a quick study, and, during a 40-year career in law and finance, I have dealt with many complicated — seemingly intractable — problems. So many problems can be solved by people of good will using analytic tools. Over the course of a three-year term on the Board of Education, I hope to listen, to learn, to assist the administration as I can, and to contribute to the success of the school system. 

These are challenging times. Often, fresh eyes on a situation provide fresh insights. The coming years will not be easy for any of us, and particularly not for our teachers and our children. I am hopeful that I can be a part of ensuring their success. 

Given the pandemic, the June 9th school board election will be held by absentee ballot. Residents who have voted in previous elections will receive a ballot in the mail.  If you have never voted in a Webutuck School election, you need to contact Tracy Trotta at tracy.trotter@webutuck.org to request a ballot. All you need to provide to Tracy is your name and address.

Jay Newman 

Millerton