Linda's personal essay was more than courageous!!!

Hi Bob --


As usual, another important issue of the Copake Chronicle. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

The issue of farmer suicide is enormous overseas, particularly in India, where hundreds, possibly thousands (by now) farmers have taken their own lives in desperation over low crop prices and the deep deficits they face. Unfortunately, our region's dairy farmers have been facing similar conditions now for months -- and so much of their suffering, I fear, has occurred in silence. Worse, the community at large has been largely deaf and blind to how serious this suffering is. Even coverage of the dairy-assistance act has been well "below the fold," as it were. And you could argue that government assistance has come too late to make a real impact, anyway.

Unfortunately, suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem -- and as Linda described so well, the major reason suicide is so infuriating, frustrating and deeply saddening to the survivors. Your coverage of the so very, very sad Pierson suicide was excellent, and Linda's personal essay was more than courageous!!! Intelligent coverage of the suffering of our farmers needs to reach the light of day until we all wake up, certainly. And we should all know more about the larger issue of suicide and how to prevent it. Thank you, Bob, and thank you, Linda.

I am also struck by the sweet (and sad!) toll house on Route 23 and the wonderful old post card you discovered that identifies what this structure was in its heyday. Like so many of your stories, it provided one of those "ah ha!" moments! Thank you for this! I wonder if there is any effort to preserve the tollhouse, which looks more and more derelict with every passing year. (I'm sure I am not alone in my concern and curiosity -- we all pass it regularly and wonder and worry.)

Best, Shawn