Letters to the Editor - The Millerton News - 7-29-21

Reader supports HVN and the paper’s different perspective

My good friend Andy Durbridge says that the local edition of Jim Langan’s Harlem Valley News is “insulting the intelligence of Amenia and Wassaic residents” and “disregarding media guidelines and basic respect.” 

While Andy is of course entitled to his opinion, I respectfully disagree, and cannot for the life of me understand quite how the HVN has gotten under his skin and inspired such a dramatic response. Perhaps the recent local Republican Primary Election in the town of Amenia has inflamed his passions. Politics does have a way of doing that.

We all have our own points of view. From his writing, Jim Langan is right-leaning, while most other journalists tend to be left-leaning. I appreciate his perspective because it is different, and is communicated in an original and entertaining way. 

Most everything that is written says as much about the author as it does about its subject matter. I don’t have any problem with that. What does bother me, however, is when journalistic bias becomes so relentlessly one-sided that readers become overly comfortable with it, and start to lose the ability to appreciate other points of view.

Like others, I began receiving the HVN in the mail, unsolicited, this past winter, and I found its diversity to be refreshing. 

While Andy’s criticisms are not very specific, I find no fault in a publication that tends to say nice things about people like Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and State Senator Sue Serino (R-41), because they deserve it (even if they are Republicans!).

We should all welcome diversity, and diverse views, in our community. Among other things, that’s what makes horse races. 

If you disagree with Mr. Langan’s point of view, I am sure that he would be more than happy to discuss it with you. 

More important than horse races, that’s what also makes a healthy democracy.

Michael Chamberlin

Amenia Union

To the supporters and fans of the Millbrook Literary Festival…

We wanted to let you know that we are still here. This past year-and-a-half has been difficult on many levels, but our festival has survived, and a version of it will take place with an alternate format this fall. 

In 2020 we were proud to have organized one of our best festivals yet, with diverse literary offerings for all ages, only to find it impossible to host a gathering of people on the planned date in May. While we were saddened to not be able to share this program with you, our hope was that we would be able to simply postpone it until the next spring. That also proved impossible.

With the uncertainty of the pandemic still around us, and the fact that it takes many months to plan our traditional literary festival, we will not be offering our usual author talks and book sales under the tent this year, but, instead, will host a community read and discussion that will place during Millbrook’s Community Day on Saturday, Sept. 18. 

We are happy to be partnering with Merritt Bookstore and Millbrook Library for this unique program that will fulfill the festival’s goals of supporting our community, while promoting literacy. 

In this time of healing and self-reflection, we have chosen four short books from Thich Nhat Hahn’s “How To” Collection: “How to Eat,” “How to See,” “How to Fight” and “How to Walk.” Everyone can choose one (or more!) of these books to read, which will be sold at a discounted price at the bookstore and other places in the village. 

On Sept. 18, discussions around each book will be held throughout the village of Millbrook, moderated by community members. 

In addition, we will be collaborating with the Millbrook Library on some wonderful children’s programs that they have planned for Community Day. These include story times, crafts and a visit by author Lesa Cline-Ransome.

Be on the lookout for more details to be posted on the festival’s website (www.millbrookliteraryfestival.org) in the next few weeks. 

In the meantime, you can go there to read about past festivals (including what we had planned for 2020), and see how you can support the festival. 

Thank you!

 Sam Falk

Chair, Millbrook Literary
Festival Public Relations

Millbrook

Former highway super surprised bids rejected, not that garage is still a mess

I read The Millerton News online that was published on July 22 and read that the Town of North East Garage bid was not accepted by the Town Board. 

They were in the process of trying to build a new Highway Garage when I went to work for the town’s Highway Department on May 1, 1970, and were still at it when I retired 20 years later. Now it is 51 years later and still, no garage. 

In my recent trip to Millerton, I went down to the Town Garage on South Center Street and visited North East Highway Superintendent Bob Stevens and I said to myself, “How much longer is this building going to remain standing?”

If you like living in a slow-paced place, Millerton and North East are the place to live. I just can’t believe anything could take this long.

Bill Crawford

Crossville, Tenn.

Editor’s note: Mr. Crawford started working for the North East Highway Department in 1970, and continued working there for 20 years, six of which he served as superintendent. He said the garage on South Center Street was in “poor condition” when he started and after a recent trip to Millerton he can attest that “it hasn’t improved.” After residing in the village of Millerton and town of North East for more than 60 years, he said he has since happily retired to Tennessee.

Thanks, Democratic Committee

I would like to thank the Democratic Committee of the Town of North East for their endorsement to run for another four-year term on the Town Board.

I pledge to continue to serve all of the residents of our town, young and old alike, to continue to improve our quality of life.

Ralph Fedele 

North East Councilman

Millerton

Somebody, please, pinch me!

Please wake me, I must be dreaming. We have COVID protocols in place discouraging visitors from our Canadian neighbors. Yet we allow thousands to enter our country from the South, with few if any limitations. How does this make sense? Must be COVID isn’t as bad as the government would have us believe. That must be it!

Progressives tout gun control, NYC puts strict enforcement in place when they approved the Sullivan law years ago. Well folks, we know how that’s working, don’t we? If guns are outlawed, only criminals will have guns!

Do we really have the right to bear arms? How about the couple that brandished weapons in defense of their home after crowds broke into a private development? No shots were fired, they never left their property. Yet they were arrested, fined and had to give up their weapons.  Perhaps the judge isn’t familiar with the Second Amendment? This alone should make one cringe.

It gets worse. Recently a NYC man shot and killed another party. After his arrest it was later determined he was out on parole for a similar offense. A NY cop was hit on the head with a bottle that required stitches. That gentlemen had two previous arrests for a similar occurrence. Seems rather obvious what we’re doing isn’t working, unless you’re a progressive, that is. They must walk around with blinders on.

Believe me readers, the worst is yet to come. Government keeps extending rent forgiveness, it has become fashionable to sit home and collect pumped-up benefits rather than find a job. Nice, as this is somebody who pays. What happens when you run out of other people’s money?

In case you hadn’t guessed, it’s called inflation. Government has a habit of paying back debt with cheaper dollars — that would be your dollar’s, people! For all you seniors out there, not to worry, your social security check will surely reflect the increased cost of living. Food for thought?

John Walters

Millerton