Letters to the Editor - The Millerton News - 6-1-23

Combating scam calls to ensure safety for seniors

I recently witnessed the potentially devastating impact of scam calls on seniors. Like many others from their generation, my parents feel more comfortable and secure using a landline. Unfortunately, this choice exposes them to a relentless stream of undesired and deceitful calls that exploit their vulnerability.

A staggering 85% of landline calls (www.joinimp.com/blogs/news/landline-landscape-2022-q-4-report) are now unwanted or spam. My parents have become frequent targets, facing relentless intrusion into their daily lives. Recently, they narrowly avoided falling victim to a caller who requested their bank details under the guise of verifying their account. It was a close call that spurred me into action.

After extensive research, I promptly added their number to the Do Not Call list and began exploring options for a spam call blocker. However, my journey revealed a stark truth: there needs to be more resources to educate and protect seniors effectively in the face of this growing menace. And it’s a more significant issue than you think, with half a million seniors in Connecticut (www.communityphone.org/landline/ct#landline-usage-statistics) still relying on a landline today.

The consequences of these scams are not limited to emotional distress; they also result in significant financial losses. The FBI’s Elder Fraud Report of 2022 (www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2022_IC3ElderFraudReport.pdf) revealed that a staggering $33,660,316 was lost due to scams, and 908 senior victims over 60 in Connecticut alone were targeted. On average, seniors lose $500 or more when they fall victim to these malicious schemes.

State and local authorities must step up and take bold, decisive action to address this urgent issue. Our seniors are counting on us. It is high time we allocate the necessary resources to develop robust educational programs that equip them with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves.

Seth Kavanaugh

Millerton

 

Supporting Lisa Erdner on the ballot

If you’re looking to vote for a Village of Millerton Trustee in the upcoming election, look for Lisa Erdner’s name on the ballot. I’ve worked with Lisa on numerous committees and events in the last couple of years and I can honestly say she’s one of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.

Lisa is currently Vice President of Townscape and is a member of the Village Zoning Board of Appeals.

Since getting involved in the community, she has spearheaded the opening party for Eddie Collins Park and now the Concert in the Park to be held July 8. Lisa attends Village Board meetings, Millerton Business Alliance meetings, housing meetings and even plants flowers in Veteran’s Park and on Main Street! She’s eager to learn about how the village works, and most of all, to get to know what our community is about and what it is that residents want and need.

I know she’ll continue to work hard to be sure that every voice is heard and do what she can to make Millerton the kind of place we deserve to live, work and play in. We all love our village; let’s vote for people like Lisa who love it too and want to see it be the best it can be!

Catherine Fenn

Millerton

 

The Trade of the Poet

Our job is to speak to you

About that certain part of you

That you do not know about

 

That part of you that’s potent to deceive

With which fear for yourself you will receive

That by iniquity you’ll feel cajoled

 

It’s that amount of the irrational that needs to be nurtured

That inevitable incoherence that needs to be heard

The peak of your vulnerability comes in times of idleness,
     when

Your essence dwells completely in the mind, and hence

It is in fear of fear — that you are held in mental anguish’s
     bind

Tim Lacy

Cornwall, Conn.

Latest News

Community playground: 
Eddie Collins Memorial Park

Children enjoy the expanded, repaired and resurfaced playground on at Eddie Collins Memorial Park.

JOhn Coston

Eddie Collins Memorial Park has been a mecca for generations of families in Dutchess County.

While it has been a hometown park for Millerton, families travel from nearby Connecticut and points south in the county to enjoy a day in the park or a Little League baseball game.

Keep ReadingShow less
Live music,
entertainment venues offer
many options

Stissing Center in Pine Plains offered a screening of the film ‘Our Farms, Our Farmers.’

Provided

Dutchess County offers a vibrant live music scene, with venues ranging from intimate bars to historic theaters. Whether you’re looking for a cozy night of jazz, folk, rock, or something more eclectic, these spots cater to every musical taste. From the homey Daryl’s House in Pawling to the lively Towne Crier Café in Beacon, you’ll find top-notch performances alongside great food and atmosphere. Whether you’re in the mood for a concert of classical music at The Chance Theater or a laid-back evening at a local pub, Dutchess County’s live music venues have something for everyone.

Daryl’s House
Located in Pawling, NY, Daryl’s House opened in 2014. Owned by Daryl Hall (of Hall & Oates), the restaurant and music venue was inspired by Hall’s web series “Live from Daryl’s House.” Designed in an 18th-century barn style, it features award-winning American cuisine and an intimate music experience with a top-notch sound system.

Keep ReadingShow less
Connections:
Mid-Hudson
Regional
Library System

Millbrook Library Director Courtney Tsahalis celebrates the collection of 1018 books sent to the United Way for distribution to area children. The volumes were donated by participants in the summer reading program with one book given for each book read by a patron.

Provided

The well known adage “There is strength in numbers” can be clearly seen through the web of facilities throughout the Mid-Hudson Regional Library System including six libraries providing the sort of resources that grow strong communities and solid, well developed citizens who, in turn, support their towns in many ways.

NorthEast-Millerton Library Director Rhiannon Leo-Jameson says that while each library has unique qualities which makes it special, they are also banded together as members of the system which provides a number of shared services and information. Libraries can learn about everything from regulations to up coming state budget plans and the latest trends in publishing.

Keep ReadingShow less
Horse boarding and training reflect long county tradition

Rick Maxwell of Danbury, Connecticut, visiting Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue’s namesake horse Lucky Orphan. Members of the public are welcome to visit with the rescue animals during operational hours after checking in with the main office.

Provided

Discover the best in equine boarding, training and sales and participate in a long tradition of equestrianism in Dutchess County. Barns cater to a wide range of skill levels and disciplines, ensuring that every unique rider has a place to fit their needs. Dutchess County is also host to a number of qualified equine therapists.

Mashomack Polo Club
Briarcliff Lane, Pine Plains, NY
Located on a historic 19th-century dairy farm in Pine Plains, the Mashomack Polo Club is an idyllic place for polo players of all levels to gather, learn and compete. The club offers professional lessons and clinics for polo players and a Saturday coaching league where players of all levels come together to play in matches “designed to help you learn the rules and hone your game,” according to Mashomack’s website. More information on lessons and boarding is available on their website, www.mashomackpoloclub.com, or by contacting Polo Manager Juan Olivera at (561) 601-9316.

Keep ReadingShow less