Spring has slowly and gratefully crept back into our lives as Punxsutawney Phil predicted. Goodbye 2024.
Daylight saving time is upon us which always messes with my mind. In retrospect I’m grateful for the opportunities, good times and support afforded me by close-knit family and close friends and for the opportunity to address military, veteran, Constitutional, national and local issues and outdoor sports and conservation to you interested readers.
You and I can disagree on occasion and that’s okay. The majority of this country sent a loud and clear message during the 2024 general election. They were not happy with the ‘status-quo’ and demanded change. Common sense and survival overcame political prejudice, power grabs and personal greed. Onward.
I predict 2025 will culminate in a gradually improving economy, personal and national safety and security and a scaled down federal government designed to work for the people as intended. Political agenda institutions will be cleaned up or eliminated. Government waste and useless jobs will eventually be gone. Most mainstream and social media, which has proven to be deceiving and lying to us for several years will reform or disappear leaving us with truthful and factual reporting.
Our Southern and Northern borders will be secured quickly, open to legal immigrants we approve of and will embrace. Our military and first responders will be compensated well and morale and recruiting become an all time high. The Pentagon will experience a long overdue housecleaning.
Most of us will become more tolerant and understanding. I know I’m being very optimistic. But I know it can happen by using common sense. Be pragmatic: listen carefully to differences of opinion, walk the streets, take public transportation, talk to police officers, veterans and fire fighters then go to the grocery store to face reality. Just one message I’d like to extend to President Trump: ‘Mr. President — just do the job this nation elected you to do.’
Gotta prepare my seasonal transition ‘things-to-do’ list. More on that next time. God bless you patriotic readers and your families. Wishing you a happy and healthful 2025.
Town of North East resident Larry Conklin is a Vietnam veteran and a member of both the Millerton American Legion Post 178 and the VFW Post 6851 in North Canaan, Connecticut.
Susan Schneider, owner of Shandell’s, creates a variety of products with marbleized surfaces in her Ashley Falls studio.L. Tomaino
Roger McKee naming the winners with the first place entry over his left shoulder. Patrick L. Sullivan 
Muriel Stockdale’s “Kevin” took second place in the juried art show at Trinity Episcopal Church.Patrick L. Sullivan
