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Letters to the Editor - 4-11-24
Apr 10, 2024
Looking at North East’s LED sign issue
Thank you for calling attention to the LED sign problem that the Town has been facing for several years now.
The News called the Webutuck sign an “Electronic Messaging Display,” which is not accurate. This sign is an LED sign, just like the sign in front of the Legion post. Both of these signs are capable of, and do, display multiple colors and animated images. The photo of the school sign showing sedate white on black words is not what I saw when the sign first appeared and the only thing keeping the bright colors from reappearing is will power.
While there are some vocal proponents for changing the town’s zoning to permit LED signs, or to rebrand them as EMDs, many in our community find these signs to be distracting and unattractive, causing dangerous glare at night. I’m one of them.
Before the Town’s officials consider allowing LED signs, I hope that they’ll consider why our commercial districts have fared so poorly in recent years. As the Boulevard (Route 44 heading East) has deteriorated over time prospective business owners looked around and decided to set up shop elsewhere. A proliferation of LED signs will make revitalizing these areas an even tougher job.
The News correctly pointed out that it’s impossible to regulate sign content. In today’s politically charged environment, do we really want to encourage signs that can advertise a two-for-one special at one moment, followed by a four-letter diatribe the next?
Bill Kish
North East
Questioning judicial training in abuse cases
Upon reading the article about domestic abuse in The Lakeville Journal, April 4, I began to wonder what, if any, kind of training and education a judge receives before he begins his tenure. I am referring to a domestic violence case from September, 2017.
It is shameful that the judge in this case (Edward McLoughlin) with his level of education and work experience, was so ignorant regarding domestic abuse. Hypothetically speaking, if a daughter of his had been a victim of domestic abuse, I’m sure he would have become very informed on the topic of DV. He would have learned that the most dangerous time for a woman living in a DV situation, is right before she leaves her abuser. Thus, a woman just can’t just up and leave whenever she wants to.
His finding that Nikki Addimando did not meet the requirements of a reduced sentence, is pathetic and laughable. But, Addimando was not laughing.
Those who are in power, police, judges, and politicians, to name a few, must be educated and exposed to the true root of why women stay with their abuser, When the abuser and the victim end up in a courtroom, it is even more imperative that those who are making life altering decisions, be thoroughly appraised of the multiple causes for a woman to stay with her abuser.
Until the denial, naivete and apathy ends, which afflict many court cases involving DV, relief and healing for the victims of DV will be little if any at all.
Laura J. Kisatsky
Cornwall, Conn.
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The following excerpts from The Millerton News were com- piled by Kathleen Spahn, Vivian Sukenik, Nancy Vialpando and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
91 years ago: April 13, 1933
‘About Millerton’: Miss Violet Pulver, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Pulver, has just written a one-act play entitled “Why Mothers Get Gray”, to be presented by the members of Stockbridge Grange on April 27. Miss Pulver is a senior at Williams High school at Stockbridge, Mass.
Little Barbara DeWitt had been ill at her home with ear trouble.
Truckloads of the new beer arrived in town on Friday.
‘Dover Plains Trees Leave for Chicago’: Foresters from Danbury, Conn., have been chopping down trees on the property owned by Alfred Guifert, and it is rumored that fifty carloads of these cedar trees will be shipped to the Chicago World’s Fair.
‘About Millerton’: Miss Pearl Wheeler caught a native trout weighing 1 pound, 3 ounces in Webotuck [sic] Creek on Sunday.
Ken and Hiram Brown brought in a nice mess of trout on Saturday.
50 years ago: April 11, 1974
‘Millerton Brush Fire Scorches 150 Acres’: Volunteer firemen from Millerton and Amenia were called out Sunday afternoon to extinguish a large brush fire on top of Reservoir Hill behind the Millerton Gun Club on Route 22, Millerton. The fire, described as the largest one this year, was first reported shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday, and charred approximately 50 acres before it was brought under control some two hours later.
‘Historical Society to Restore Jail’: The Historical Society of the North East plans to restore the old jail behind J.B. Reed’s in Millerton. The jail was given to the society by Community Service of Lakeville. It is estimated that the structure was built prior to 1880. A committee headed by Chet Eisenhith, and including Stan Smith and Herman Gray [...] accepted the donation [...]
25 years ago: April 8, 1999
‘No-TV Week Celebrated Locally’: MILLERTON – Oblong Book and Music and the North East Community Center will host a community wide celebration of National TV Turn-Off Week April 24. The event will be sponsored jointly by the Partners for Preschool Enrichment Program of the North East Community Center and Oblong.
National TV Turn-Off Week has been held every April for the past five years and is sponsored by TV Free America of Washington, D.C.
‘Bunny, Hayrides and Hotdogs Highlight Egg Hunt in Millerton’: Four hay wagons full of children eager to begin the annual Easter egg hunt rode through the village last Saturday. The event, sponsored by the Millerton Fire Department, the Millerton Gun Club, Burger King, and the Round Tuit, attracted a large crowd. Everyone enjoyed the festivities, especially the wagon rides. The Easter Bunny handed out candy at the fire house [sic], before the wagon caravan snaked through the streets to an enthusiastic response from passersby.
Once the caravan arrived at the Millerton Gun Club, the massive egg hunt began. Everyone was treated to a hot dog and refreshments.
Golden Egg prize winners were Spencer Tanner, Justin Katan, Maddie McAvoy and Miranda Murphy.
‘Chamber of Commerce Reviving in Millerton?’: The Millerton-North East Chamber of Commerce could be revived, according to the manager of the Millerton Antique Center, Stuart Miller. Mr. Miller told the village board Monday a group of merchants is beginning to reorganize the chamber, which has been relatively inactive in the last couple of years.
“We are very active,” Mr. Miller said. “We are reorganizing.”
Mr. Miller also said a predominance of merchants were opposed to a strict enforcement of two-hour parking limits in the village. According to businesswoman Marti Steed, the first meeting of the new chamber is tentatively set for April 20 from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Manna Dew Café.
‘Schroeder to Leave DC Politics’: Harry Schroeder, who announced his retirement from the Dutchess County Legislators this week after a 20-year stint, is a lot like Harry Truman.
They Both Have Recognized the sovereignty of the people in a democracy, and have been known to have a way with words. In his retirement announcement, Mr. Schroeder said he could “now spend more time with my cows and grandcalves [sic] and perhaps less time with my tongue in cheek.”
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GOSHEN, Conn. — With or without a car, getting around the Northwest Corner can be a challenge.
At its April 4 meeting, Northwest Hills Council of Governments (COG) heard presentations on how to improve road safety, comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, and increase senior transportation options in the rural Connecticut.
University of Connecticut’s Safety Circuit Rider Program tracks road safety data and compiles reports through the Training and Technical Assistance Center. Safety Technical Associate Jason Hughes provided a summary on how municipalities can take advantage of these resources to make safety improvements.
In addition to traffic reports, towns can receive free rental equipment to improve road safety including radar guns, speed feedback signs, pavement marking reflectors, and range finders.
Training sessions are held regularly to educate municipalities on best practices.
“Let my team help your team,” said Hughes.
The next course to educate town employees will be held April 25 in Bristol and will focus on ADA policies, self-assessments, and transition plans.
Department of Transportation (DOT) ADA Coordinating Engineer Katherine Hedberg reviewed municipal requirements when it comes to ADA compliance.
Hedberg’s presentation showed that per U.S. Census Bureau data, more than 26% of Connecticut adults 18+ live with a disability.
There are seven items that need to be in compliance for public entities with more than 50 employees (including school staff): Designation of an ADA Coordinator; Accessibility to public services; Provide public notice of accessibility; Adopt a grievance procedure; Conduct a self-evaluation; Make evaluations publicly available; Develop a transition plan to come into compliance.
Falls Village, the one town in COG with less than 50 town employees, is not required to designate an ADA Coordinator, adopt a grievance policy, make self-evaluations publicly available, or develop a transition plan. These steps are recommended by DOT.
DOT’s goal is to make all town and state sidewalks ADA compliant with curb ramps by 2034.
“When alterations happen to roadways, such as resurfacing, curb ramps are required to be updated at that time,” said Hedberg. She added that bus stops, parking, push buttons for road crossings and sidewalks must also be in compliance, or noted on a transition plan.
At the April 4 meeting, Hedberg noted that seven COG towns have yet to designate an ADA Coordinator and eight COG towns have not completed self-assessments.
Municipalities can access sample transition plans and self-assessments through DOT, and more information will be provided at the April 25 training in Bristol.
For senior transportation services, DOT’s Richard Nakatsuka shared information on a grant matching program to offer rides to the elderly. Each year, up to $5 million is allocated at the state level for this purpose, and towns are eligible for funding based on the percentage of senior residents and total land area.
Combined, COG towns can receive up to $506,688 in matching funds to put toward elderly dial-a-ride transportation. The funds are intended to be used for day-to-day operations including driver salaries, gas expenses, and vehicle upkeep.
Nakatsuka said town can apply individually, jointly, or through the COG.
“We really want the COGs to work with towns to... look at potential opportunities for coordinating service,” said Nakatsuka.
The deadline to apply for funding for the next fiscal year is May 15.
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MRC holds women’s safety seminar
Apr 10, 2024
Poughkeepsie Police Officer Kristen Norbom was part of a Dutchess County women’s safety seminar on March 19.
Elizabeth Beggan
POUGHKEEPSIE —The Dutchess County Medical Reserve Corps hosted its annual women’s safety night on March 19 at the county’s Department of Emergency Response campus.
The seminar was filled with women ranging from the ages to 19-60, eager to learn about the importance of self defense. Female Poughkeepsie police officers Kristen Norbom and Det. Lindsay Chomicki. Amanda Snyder directed the event with slides and videos to go along with the lecture.
The officers introduced themselves and proceeded to make everyone comfortable, aiming for an atmosphere where learners felt confident in asking concerns and questions.
They started off with their training goals:
—Know the important role your instincts and gut reactions play;
—Discover potentially dangerous situations and know how to avoid them;
—Learn how to make a safety plan, and to decrease the odds of becoming a victim.
“There are no fair fights when it comes to safety,” said Norbom, following the showing of a slide of a woman screaming and kicking to escape a situation.
With there police officers teaching the seminar, the women in the audience asked questions about what to do, how to react to situations along with other comments and concerns.
The MRC is part of a national network of volunteers who support public health infrastructure, preparedness, and response in their local communities.
“About 3 years ago we started them (the seminars), on a need basis but requests have been through the roof, it depends on the MRC seeing a need for it is usually how we base these seminars,” said detective Chomicki. “ These events are important because it’s getting people back into the mindset of knowing their surroundings,”she said. Chomicki currently is working with the department to spread the seminars to high schoolers and freshman in college.
College safety with the nightlife culture (especially in the town of Poughkeepsie) has been a problem that needs to be addressed.
Pat D’Antono said “this was definitely a positive thing to come to, I learned a bunch of little things that could help me in the long run.”
The women in attendance seemed to find a common bond, even as strangers. They shared stories about different situations, and answered each other’s questions, at times also sharing laughs.
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