Letters to the Editor - October 13, 2011

Listen to the message of the protestors

The Occupy Wall Street demonstrators are right, and we should all be listening to their message. This is a hopeful time, with people around the world standing up to global corporate domination.

Americans have been divided for a long time, because the two-party system pits Americans against each other in a divide-and-conquer strategy over emotional issues like abortion and gay rights. As long as you threaten someone’s personal rights, they’ll have to defend them.

Our individual differences will never be resolved, and as long as we cling to them we’ll stay locked in the left/right paradigm. We’ll all keep butting our heads together while our democracy is being gutted by corporatism and the military-industrial complex. Americans must come together because divisionism hurts us all. The theme for this movement should be the Beatles song, “Come Together.”

What’s more important to you: having a job, a house, feeding your family, a decent salary, medical care when you need it, banding together to reclaim our democracy from those who would divide us, dismantling corporate power structures that keep everyone in this country and around the world in bondage, or taking away someone else’s personal rights?

There are no parties in the Constitution.

The planet is in peril, not only from environmental degradation, but the threat of nuclear war. There is no simple fix; it’s going to take a lot of people working together to save democracy (by the people for the people — that kind!) and the planet, to dismantle corporate and military power structures that are capable of ending life on the planet as we know it. Thank god the protestors had the courage to start someplace.

To those who claim the protestors’ demands don’t allow a free market, I say it’s not a free market if it involves force, tyranny, slave labor, overthrow of governments, war, bankrupting America, robbing Americans of jobs. Where is the freedom?

Demands for the hopper:

1. Global ban on nuclear and space weapons.

2. End global imperialism.

3. Eliminate Xe (formerly Blackwater), a murderous for-profit paramilitary, with a 7,000-acre training base in North Carolina that received a billion-dollar contract to expand their presence in America. A for-profit army is not sworn to protect and defend American citizens, answerable only to their employer. This is extremely dangerous for Americans.

4. Prosecute abuses of power: G.W. Bush, his lawyers and entire cabinet for war crimes, deceiving the American people.

5. Congressmen who accepted corporate funds must resign their post.

6. Supreme Court justices and other federal judges must have no corporate connections.

7. End the two-party system that divides us.

8. End corporate funding of elections.

9. Close the revolving door between corporations and government.

10. Mandatory paper ballots and recounts.

11. Save the planet, stop blowing up mountains, fracking, spraying toxins.

12. Subsidize green energy, not oil.

13. Make it illegal to patent seeds, life.

We’re close to being a totalitarian state unless we all stand up.

Lauri Zarin

Kent
 

 

Generous hosts for Outdoor Leadership Program event

I am writing on behalf of myself, the Housatonic Youth Service Bureau staff and the Board of Directors to express our appreciation to Falls Village Inn owners Colin Chambers and Susan Sweetapple and the entire inn staff for their generosity in hosting the Robin Hood Radio Live Lunch on Sept. 29.

This successful event managed to raise over $1,100 for our new Outdoor Leadership Program.  We are so thankful for the many silent auction donors who helped make this a truly special day.  

While there is not space to thank all our generous contributors, I would like to recognize Joy Curry of New Milford, who helped us organize the silent auction, designed the table and brought numerous wonderful silent auction items to the table, including her own handcrafts.

I also would like to thank Joseph Jude Brien of Lost Art Workshops, the provider of our popular FYI Parent/Child Workshops, for entertaining guests with fire-making demonstrations.

Finally, I would like to say thank you to the staff of the Silver Lake Conference Center, especially Anne Hughes, for hauling their equipment out and being on hand to answer questions about the Outdoor Leadership Program, which they are facilitating. The Outdoor Leadership Program inaugurates on Oct. 22 with group-building field initiatives and completion of a low rope challenge course.  

Our agency depends on the generous financial support from our community to help us deliver these vital services and programs that benefit more than 300 families a year.

The support we receive from the many members of our community, from individuals to businesses, is amazing. Because of this support, we’re able to continue our mission that strives to serve the children, youth and families of our community.

Nicholas Pohl, MSW

Executive Director

Housatonic Youth Service Bureau

Falls Village

 

Education degree, coach and business expertise for BOE

Salisbury has a truly exceptional candidate for its Board of Education this year  — Dana Scarpa. Dana’s family has lived here for 11 years, and her sons have attended Salisbury Central School. During that time, Dana served on the PTO for six years, including as the vice president and co-president. In addition, Dana has coached soccer, basketball and baseball for the Salisbury Recreational Program, Berkshire United Soccer League and Webutuck High School.

Dana holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Southern Connecticut State University, as well as having graduated from Tobe-Coburn School in fashion merchandising and marketing. She has worked for Bergdorf Goodman, Ann Taylor and was director of sales and marketing at Saybrook Point Inn and Spa.  

This year Dana opened her shop, Encore Designer Consignment Boutique, on Main Street in Salisbury, while also working part-time as office manager and bookkeeper for Quarry Hill Arabian Horse Farm in Lakeville.

Dana’s support of Salisbury Central School was most recently demonstrated when she organized the Fall Festival Family Hoedown fundraiser, from which all monies were donated to the SCS eighth-grade class trip to Washington, D.C. The event added $767 to their class funds and added a great family entertainment event to the Fall Festival weekend.

Dana’s degree in early childhood education, along with her coaching experience, business and finance training and expertise all make her one of the best, most highly qualified candidates for Board of Education that we have had in a long time. She is an energetic inspiration to all and undoubtedly will put her knowledge and energy into continuing Salisbury’s commitment to maintaining the best quality education at Salisbury Central School.

I encourage all voters to support Dana Scarpa and vote for her on Nov. 8 when you go to the polls.

Mark A. Lauretano

Lakeville

 

Three solid candidates in Sharon election this year

During the 32 years since our family moved to Sharon, I have marveled at the quality and dedication of those who serve in the selectmen’s office, regardless of party affiliation.  

This year, we Sharonites have the opportunity to vote for an exceptional trio, my idea of a dream team: Bob Loucks, John Perotti and Meg Szalewicz.  

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a registered Democrat, Bob and John are Republicans and Meg is a Democrat.  All three candidates have long served in activities to benefit the town and bring remarkable skills to these tasks.

   Bob Loucks knows how to do things right.  A dozen years ago he told me the Sharon Methodist Church needed a new kitchen.  I thought, OK — a new stove, maybe new cabinets.  No, to Bob a new kitchen meant ripping out all the walls, the ceiling, the floor, and replacing everything.  That new kitchen will be going strong for serving meals to the community for a generation.  

More recently, Bob installed an emergency generator system in my house. During the many power outages since, it has performed flawlessly.  This summer, I watched the Waters Construction firm road grinder chew up the old pavement past my house.  Their capable crew came back a week later and laid down two layers of smooth asphalt. The rebuilt Sharon roads that he promised us will be in good condition long after we taxpayers have paid off the low-interest bond that Bob obtained.

John Perotti knows how to do things right.  In an era of bank merger mania and irresponsible lending practices, he led the Salisbury Bank with good old-fashioned prudence. He kept it local, financially strong and customer friendly, while introducing the latest technology to provide even better service.  

Now, in his well-earned retirement years, John is willing to contribute these same financial, management and people skills toward keeping the town fiscally sound, providing needed services to our residents and creating an attractive environment for new businesses. He and Bob Loucks share the same spirit of contributing to a town where they have deep roots.

Meg Szalewicz also knows how to do things right. My 17-year-old granddaughter insists that anything boys can do, girls can do — only better. She’s right, of course, and Meg is living proof.  As the sole Democrat on the selectmen team, she has to be. Everything she touches becomes better organized as a result.

A relative newcomer, by Sharon standards, she has become totally involved in the community.  In addition to her hard work at the Town Hall, she is one of the smiling volunteer faces that make the firehouse breakfasts so enjoyable, and she helps keep the flowers in the triangle a vibrant welcome gateway to the town.

So this is my dream team.  It is a joy to endorse all three to my fellow Sharon voters.

Charles E. Hepner

Sharon

 

Community needs better clarity on Sharon Hospital ownership

Your story about Sharon Hospital is misleading. Sharon Hospital will be sold to RegionalCare Hospital Partners. From a narrow, legalistic perspective, Essent is calling its sale a merger, which is a misnomer.

After reviewing documentation (obtained under the Freedom of Information Act) submitted to OHCA (Office of Health Care Access), it is clear that ownership of all Essent’s assets — including Sharon Hospital — will go to RegionalCare, the new owners.

Essent states: “Essent will remain as the surviving corporation, will retain its name and will be wholly owned by RegionalCare.”

We know virtually nothing about RegionalCare. OHCA, charged with protecting the interests of Connecticut’s healthcare consumers, has decided that the parties did not require a certificate of need (CON) application nor a public hearing concerning the sale. The law states that if there is a change of ownership, a CON must be submitted.

OHCA wrongly decided that because the subsidiary corporation operating Sharon Hospital — Essent Connecticut — did not change its name and kept the same board of directors, there was no ownership change.

However, actual ownership of the assets will change. Any board of directors can be changed by its parent corporation, just as different governance policies can be enacted anytime that RegionalCare chooses. OHCA’s reading of the statute is too restrictive and narrow and doesn’t address that substantive change will occur.

OHCA has failed in its responsibilities with its decision not to require more information. The regulators aren’t regulating.  

With this lack of transparency, our community doesn’t know how much debt the restructured Sharon Hospital will have or RegionalCare’s future plans.  Since RegionalCare is privately held, without a CON, we can’t see its financial statements or determine its financial ability to provide continued quality medical care, including vital charity care.

About 10 years ago, when Sharon Hospital was for sale to Essent, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, now our U. S. senator, held a series of important public hearings before the CON was issued, ensuring that all facts came out so that the community could be assured of continued quality medical care.

RegionalCare is just another Nashville-based, private leverage buyout firm started only two years ago; it has since acquired several hospitals and is said to have borrowed several hundred million dollars.

If this purchase consummates, we can rest assured that in five to seven years, Sharon will be sold again — and again. Aren’t we all tired of financial shenanigans and debt-burdened companies working their financial magic? This has led to the U.S. economy’s downturn and the financial bubble.

If we want Sharon Hospital to survive, it is time to contact our representatives, the attorney general and OHCA asking that OHCA reverse its decision, require a certificate of need application and a full public hearing. Then we will to able to examine RegionalCare’s financial statements, their plans for Sharon Hospital, and question their senior executives.

Victor Germack

Salisbury

 

In support of Loucks and Perotti

Bob Loucks became aware of our increasingly deteriorating road and bridge infrastructure here in Sharon and went into action by running for first selectman. Bob’s success as a local businessman has enabled him to manage the town the way it should be run and not the way it was being run in the past.Bob has not been an absentee selectman, and his focus is the taxpayers’ best interest. He is hands on with all town demands, is open and available to our questions and concerns.

Electing John Perotti as a selectman will be a welcome addition in these trying times ahead of us. John is certainly well qualified and respected due to his long career at Salisbury Bank & Trust and many hours of community service. John will listen to all opinions while being fair and decisive. Sharon needs leadership that works together for the common good of all.

In my opinion, Bob and John are the type of strong leaders that our town deserves.

Scott L. Garay

Sharon

 

Vote for Riva

The current gridlock between our two political parties in Washington prompts me to write this letter in support of Bob Riva for Salisbury selectman in the coming election.

Bob has been part of the town’s leadership that has accomplished some positive changes for Salisbury, including completing the new building at the Town Grove and creating a new firehouse, where Bob served as the chairman of the Firehouse Building Committee.

The past few years of our town government have been free from political infighting with the result that much has been accomplished. Therefore, let us vote to return Bob Riva to his current office with the slogan, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

Rusty Chandler

Lakeville

 

Sharon roads need more work

After reading the letter to the editor in the Oct. 6 Lakeville Journal written by Richard Carley, praising our first selectman’s wonderful road paving, I felt obligated to respond.

I live on River Road in Sharon, which is in the 30 percent of unpaved roads and does not ride like “you are on air.” River Road is very well traveled, since it provides the approach to the Appalachian Trail as well as containing more than 14 homes.

I have recently been on newly paved roads where there is little or no traffic and far fewer homes. Therefore, it seems to me that this represents some inappropriate fiscal planning.

In addition, the 15-year bond issue will, by necessity, result in future increases in taxes for all of us. I would hope that our future selectmen will represent the entire community and in these difficult economic times be more fiscally prudent.

Franklin M. Klion

Sharon

 

More about the Region One board

Regarding Patrick Sullivan’s Oct. 6 story, “Region One board meeting canceled, stirring rumors,” the first thing I’d like to clarify is I had arranged days earlier for my alternate to attend the board’s Oct. 3 meeting, so whoever implied to Patrick that I was partly responsible for canceling the meeting because of the lack of a quorum was not accurate.

Second, I respectfully disagree with Chairman Judge Manning’s assessment that there was nothing “of particular urgency” on the agenda. All of the board’s business is important, if not urgent, and if the board finds it has time on its hands at a regular meeting, it could amend the agenda and start talking about the myriad of issues that need addressing, including the looming budget season.

Third, I’d like to clarify — again — that the ABC Committee is a committee of the Region One Board of Education and as such does not have the power to act on anything. It can only make recommendations to the Region One Board, which may — or may not — act upon the recommendations. The superintendent’s comment in the article that the ABC Committee had requested revisions in the administrators’ contracts and Roger Rawlings’ confirmation of that comment are irrelevant distractions from the core issue.

The core issue is the fact that some of the terms of some of the administrators’ contracts were changed and the contracts were signed by Chairman Judge Manning without a motion, second, discussion and vote by the board. It is not the first time the chairman exceeded his authority by acting unilaterally without board approval. Are the contracts legally binding without board action? I doubt it, but I think we should find out.

Finally, there are other rumors circulating concerning the sudden departure of Lucille Paige, the superintendent’s executive secretary, who left sometime in September, apparently on sick leave. Lucille, who has been executive secretary to three superintendents over the past 20 years or so, is an incredible resource with institutional knowledge of the workings of the Regional Schools Service Center (sometimes called “Central Office”).

Her sudden departure should concern everyone; it is reminiscent of the sudden departures of former Principal Gretchen Foster and former Assistant Principal Maryanne Buchanan in August 2010.

The superintendent indicated in an email that the board’s October meeting will not likely be rescheduled this month. I’ve asked the chairman to reschedule the meeting as soon as possible. With November elections a few weeks away, refusing to hold this particular meeting may be perceived as an attempt to suppress discussion of these issues in order to manipulate the election.

Gale Courey Toensing

Falls Village Representative to Region One

Falls Village

 

Ah, baseball in autumn

Congratulations to the Detroit Tigers for beating the New York Yankees.

When I was a little boy growing up in Brooklyn, the kids in the neighborhood all used to play games together on the block. From a silly running tag game where we used trees for bases to stickball in the park, after school every day was a wonderland of childhood games.

The kids all had different athletic ability levels. Some ran very fast; some were bigger and stronger than others; some had a keen eye; and some struggled in the athletic department but excelled in other academic areas.

In choosing up the sides, we elected two captains who would then fairly start picking players one by one. In doing this little ritual, the object was to divide the two teams up to make it as balanced as possible in order to make for a fair and honest competition where neither team really had an advantage.

It wasn’t perfect, but we tried to make it as fair as we could, so that the effort of the players would decide the outcome and not the fact that one team was athletically superior to the other.

These were the rules that we as children knew were right and just, and made perfect sense in order for a fun game to transpire and have harmony.

Then we grew up.

Professional sports sadly do not operate based on this premise. The team that has the most money, who buys the best players, always has the advantage. The team that has been to the playoffs the most and has won the most World Series championships coincidentally is the team that has the highest payroll: the New York Yankees.

I always root for the team that has the lowest payroll and has the highest odds against them as I do in life. This year I am rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers, and hopefully the Tigers, whose community has been decimated by poverty and unemployment, and could use the boost in the economy. The players and fans in those cities also deserve a little sunshine sometimes.

I think it is a horrible example of values that we display for our children by the way we structure sports and our society.

He who acquires the most wins the game. Originally we know that is wrong, but as we grow up we learn to abandon those basic graces.

God also bless the beginning of what is going to become a real movement with all the protesting going on that is starting to spread. May we change the world peacefully but in a steadfast unwavering way.

Apparently people are fed up with the imbalances, and rightly so.

Brett Diamond

West Cornwall

 

Randall will take care of Sharon

The residents of Sharon are fortunate to have Howard Randall running as second selectman. Howard has lived his life believing that if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

He is thoughtful, not reactionary; he has opinions but is not opinionated; he is committed to the health of our environment and has actively written petitions to curb the use of herbicides and pesticides in our waterways.  Howard has regularly attended selectman meetings for the last five years because he cares deeply about Sharon.

Howard is a smart businessman and understands how to work with people, how to negotiate and how to compromise.  He will make an important contribution to our team of hard-working and dedicated selectmen.

Lynn Kearcher

Sharon
 

Willing volunteers are wonderful

It is always a pleasure to have someone say, “Yes,” as was the case with Sharon photographer Jonathan Doster.

He willingly volunteered his time and photographic expertise to host an after -school program, Photography — the Art of Seeing, at Sharon Center School. This enrichment program was fun, informative and in conjunction with the Spirit of Sharon photo contest.  

So, thank you, Jonathan, for all your generous support for the children, the contest and Sharon.

Kathleen Fuhr for the Sharon Website Committee

Sharon

 

Had concerns about Region One action

This responds to last week’s article regarding Region One. About a week before the Oct. 3 meeting, I wrote to board members expressing my concerns with the administrative agreements/contracts that Chairman Judge Manning had signed and asked that that topic be included on their Oct. 3 agenda.

I took this step only when the item did not appear on the agenda of either the Aug. 25 or Sept. 12 meetings after asking the superintendent in mid-August to include it. Despite my written communication and request, the topic was not on the Oct. 3 agenda, and curiously the meeting was canceled.

In mid-August I made a Freedom of Information request for the contracts and the signed amendments to the contracts/agreements in force for the administrators that the board approved on March 7 and March 24.

The other related motion approved in March was the following: “That the Region One Board of Education have their board attorney review each of the administrators professional agreements and bring them into uniformity in language and format.” This motion in no way constituted the board’s automatic approval of what the attorney might eventually submit.

The superintendent hand-delivered the documents to me, but the agreements/contracts that Judge Manning signed in late June were not the agreements/contracts/amendments in place that the board approved in March. Instead, what was signed were the documents submitted by the board attorney and included in the board’s June 6 packet entitled “Professional Agreement/Contract for Employment of ____,” which were never discussed nor approved by the board.

In fact, three administrative contracts were given to administrators to sign either prior to or on the June 6 meeting date. The approved amendments to the existing contract were quite narrow in nature — a 2 percent increase in salary, a year’s extension to each contract to 2014, language regarding health insurance and, in the case of the Director of Pupil Services, two more personal days and for the supervisor of education an increase in her work year from 190 to 200 days.

Despite what the superintendent implied in last week’s article, when a comparison is made between the approved contracts/agreements/amendments that were in place in March with the “Professional Agreement/Contract for Employment” documents signed by Mr. Manning, it is quite evident that there are curious wording changes; some documents contain completely new sections, language and terms. In fact, all the agreements/contracts for employment are not necessarily uniform in language and format.

The fact that a public discussion and consideration of these changes by the board was not initiated by the chair reinforces the belief of many that there is a serious lack of transparency. Further, the fact that he signed these documents without the knowledge, consent or authorization of the board is problematic. He, as chairman, cannot take action that is reserved for the board, and it appears that what was done may call into question the validity of the agreements/contracts.

This issue should be properly addressed and corrected. It certainly seems important enough to include on an agenda.

Patricia Allyn Mechare

Falls Village

 

Lauretano will be good for Salisbury

Writing as the campaign chairman of Friends of Mark Lauretano, I feel that it is important to explain why our community would be best served by electing Mark to be one of our selectmen.

It has been said in support of Bob Riva’s re-election as a selectman that Bob works well with the two Democratic selectmen. That might appear to be a positive aspect of Bob’s past service, but is it really?

Members of the Salisbury Republican Town Committee overwhelmingly endorsed Mark as its choice for selectman because there exists a clear need for a new representative at Town Hall who will continually ask probing questions and resist the temptation to not make waves.  

Sadly, Bob Riva, a Republican, is too closely allied with local Democrats. At the September 18 Democratic rally held at the Town Grove and attended by Bob Riva, it was the expressed consensus of the party leaders that Bob was their choice.  

“They are behind me,” said Bob.

Perhaps one cannot blame Bob for garnering votes from Democrats, but there can be disappointing consequences for the town when all three selectmen move in lockstep.  Let’s recognize that the selectman’s job is not a tenured position.

We are all aware of Mark’s superb credentials as evidenced by his law enforcement career, military experience and attainment of an MBA degree. His integrity and fairness are widely known. Not only is Mark well qualified to be a full-time selectman, he would also bring a much-needed alternative to rubber-stamp government.  

He will listen and promises to respond to our concerns.  Let’s provide Curtis Rand with someone who will work hard to resolve the town’s issues through well-reasoned decisions.

Peter L. Becket

Lakeville

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