Letters to the Editor - The Millerton News - 6-4-20

A thank you from Ancram Fire Chief David Boice

I would like to thank everyone who came out to watch the Memorial Day Morale Drive, as well as all the people who were involved in organizing and participating in the Morale Drive.

The organizers and participants of the Morale Drive believed our communities needed this celebration to hopefully bring back some semblance of normalcy.

We did not realize how much it would mean to all of the people involved as well as to our veterans — and we all wanted to say a great thank you to everyone who watched.

Best wishes to all for a safe summer.

David Boice

Ancram Fire Chief

Ancram

Rail Trail user’s car towed, now wants to warn others

I am a 64 year old woman and have had a very unpleasant encounter while visiting the Rail Trail in the Hillsdale/Copake area. I parked alongside some woods on Underhill Road about 5 yards from where the Rail Trial crosses. I figured it was a safe place to park, very little traffic and safely 12 feet from a sign that marked an upcoming curve.

To my shock, I came back tired and thirsty from my walk to find my car gone. I first thought in my panic that I forgot where I parked my car, then I saw the drag marks from the tires in the dirt at the side of the road. That’s when my heart sunk and I thought my car was stolen. Who would steal a Hyundai, I thought, but I was so tired and confused I couldn’t think straight. 

No one I called to help me was home, so I had to walk another mile to the police/sheriff station and wait for them to arrive. The officer (Leonard) found out that a homeowner near where I parked had it towed. I then had to walk another 1/4 mile to the garage where it was towed since the officer would not drive me. 

He was kind enough to escort me back to the scene near 50 Underhill Road and told me he wasn’t sure it was town property where I parked and that it was a civil matter. Since then I have found no agency that could tell me if the car was parked on private or public land except one kind deputy clerk who thought it might be 25 feet from the center of the road.

I’m still feeling assaulted and confused by this experience and am hoping you will print part or all of this letter to keep other people from having this experience and facilitating proper signage so the public will know where not to park. 

I was parked 17 feet 8 inches from the center of the road. If anyone has any knowledge of the distance from the center of the road onto the berm that is town property, I would greatly appreciate it.

Barbara Ray

Copake