Lakeville Journal Editorial

Now that the midterm elections have wrapped, at least in Connecticut and New York, it’s time for all those elected to think about governing. Sounds so simple, but it’s really not, is it? Especially in the current divided climate, it will take deep thought and commitment to public service to be effective in office now.

Perhaps one of the rarest traits to survive the years of societal change due to the worldwide pandemic is empathy. Seems ironic, doesn’t it?

Until last year, for every election cycle in the life of this newspaper, there has by now been an endorsement editorial in this space. We have always welcomed the letters to the editor relating to election preferences, and this year those continue unrestricted.

When a controversy erupts in any area, there are often groups formed that react to it with alternative solutions or simple opposition. They operate with varying degrees of effectiveness. Those affected by such open discussion in a community can only hope that out of engagement might come a better outcome.

There are some reading this who have experienced violence in their homes in the past year. For some of us, it may have been the first time such ugly and unwelcome treatment surfaced in what should be a place of refuge.

To everything there is a season, from beginnings to endings and everything in between.

The complexities of running rural businesses of any kind are legion. With medical facilities like hospitals the problems are only made worse by the need to provide such a wide range of services that it can become next to impossible to choose what is most needed by their patients.

This newspaper includes in its mandate communicating not just with its readers, but also with its colleagues across the region through press associations and other groups, such as the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors.