My View: Common sense optimism

Veteran's Corner by Larry Conklin

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.

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Millerton News and The News does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

Latest News

Stanford home market sees nine sales in July and August

Built in 1820, 1168 Bangall Amenia Road sold for $875,000 on July 31 with the transfer recorded in August. It has a Millbrook post office and is located in the Webutuck school district.

Christine Bates

STANFORD — The Town of Stanford with nine transfers in two months reached a median price in August of $573,000 for single family homes, still below Stanford’s all-time median high in August 2024 of $640,000.

At the beginning of October there is a large inventory of single-family homes listed for sale with only six of the 18 homes listed for below the median price of $573,000 and seven above $1 million.

Keep ReadingShow less
Out on the trail
Nathan Miller

Hunt club members and friends gathered near Pugsley Hill at the historic Wethersfield Estate and Gardens in Amenia for the opening meet of the 2025-2026 Millbrook Hunt Club season on Saturday, Oct. 4. Foxhunters took off from Wethersfield’s hilltop gardens just after 8 a.m. for a hunting jaunt around Amenia’s countryside.

Millbrook Library dedicates pollinator pathway garden

Joining in the fun at the dedication of the new pollinator pathway garden at The Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4, local expert gardener Maryanne Snow Pitts provides information about a planting to Lorraine Mirabella of Poughkeepsie.

Leila Hawken

MILLBROOK — Participating in a patchwork of libraries that have planted pollinator pathway gardens to attract insects and birds to their native plantings was one of the accomplishments being celebrated at the dedication of a new pollinator garden at the Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4.

“A lot of work went into it,” said Emma Sweeney, past President of the Millbrook Garden Club, who started the local library’s initiative two years ago.

Keep ReadingShow less
Amenia Town Board continues discussing board alternates

Amenia Town Hall on Route 22.

Nathan Miller

AMENIA — After gathering comments from the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals, as it considers adding alternate members to those boards, the Town Board discussed possible changes to local laws governing those boards at its meeting on Friday, Oct. 3. The meeting date, usually on a Thursday, had been changed to accommodate a holiday.

In recent weeks Town Board attorney Ian Lindars has been compiling comments from the affected boards along with comments from the Town Board. The new laws may bring the appointment of two alternate members to each board. Alternate members are likely to be required to attend all meetings and be prepared to be seated if needed and be familiar with the applications being discussed. They would also need to take training required of all board members.

Keep ReadingShow less