When I read this letter and saw the line that said "And we should all know more about the larger issue of suicide and how to prevent it" I took this as my que to do exactly that.
My name is Joan Spencer and I lost my 16 year old son, Jeffrey Taylor, to suicide a year ago September. Since then I've been a volunteer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and they offer trainings on exactly that. I will contact the regional director and see about getting trainings down here for the community. As you have just seen, suicide affects not only the families but the community.
Through education you will be empowered by having the knowledge to know 'How to Save a Life' ....my son's favorite song...
J
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
I get so much more out of your issues than any other paper
Bob,
I can't thank you enough for taking this project on. I get so much more out of your
issues than any other paper. I hope it can continue for a long time to come.
Madeline
A Senior who has spent every summer at Copake Lake since l938
as a senior who has spent every summer at Copake Lake since l938 and still do I enjoy the chronicle for its happy and sad moments and pass it on to friends all fielded with fond memories of their lake days....
Muriel
Muriel
Hudson Valley Fresh is a Local Milk Producing Cooperative
Hello everybody and sorry to interrupt your day with a request. The Hillsdale I.G.A. is now carrying the Hudson Valley Fresh dairy products and I need to thank Chuck Weldon for this. Hudson Valley Fresh is a milk producing cooperative composed of only eight high quality, local farms. Jim Davenport, Walt’s Dairy (the Kiernan’s), Jon Conklin at Langdon’s and the Skoda’s are all members.
Many people ask me where to buy milk because they are worried about quality and food safety. I consider these some of my top farms. Requirements for them to ship milk to Hudson valley Fresh are that they do not use BST, keep their somatic cell counts very low and have the type of farm that people can visit and want to buy their products. They are also feeding more hay to increase D-3 levels. Their milk is now sold through the Hudson Valley including many quality vendors in New York City.
This milk and cream will be fresh because it produced and bottled locally and I think you will love the taste. The price will be higher but the farmers receive all of the profit. There is no middle man.
It is time that all of us support the farmers in this area. Recent events compel us to look at our role in helping. We want the green fields and open spaces that farms provide we must care enough to help. I guarantee that you’ll love the milk and cream.
Thank for your time,
George Beneke
Many people ask me where to buy milk because they are worried about quality and food safety. I consider these some of my top farms. Requirements for them to ship milk to Hudson valley Fresh are that they do not use BST, keep their somatic cell counts very low and have the type of farm that people can visit and want to buy their products. They are also feeding more hay to increase D-3 levels. Their milk is now sold through the Hudson Valley including many quality vendors in New York City.
This milk and cream will be fresh because it produced and bottled locally and I think you will love the taste. The price will be higher but the farmers receive all of the profit. There is no middle man.
It is time that all of us support the farmers in this area. Recent events compel us to look at our role in helping. We want the green fields and open spaces that farms provide we must care enough to help. I guarantee that you’ll love the milk and cream.
Thank for your time,
George Beneke
I feel for all of you
Hi Bob
The very sad news about Don Pierson reached me the other day via NPR. His act speaks of a desperation that is orders of magnitude beyond what most of us face on a daily basis, and yet, as Eric Ooms mentioned, we are a mere perfect storm of events away from that terrible dimension. As a student, I lived in a house with a man who apparently had serious mental health problems - he and his wife lived downstairs from me. I was in the middle of studying for exams, in my room, and all at once the coroner and police showed up. He had committed suicide. Though I didn't know him well, it took me months to come to terms with the shock. I had to postpone my exams, and final papers - couldn't keep a coherent thought in my head, other than the mundane, day to day stuff. I feel for all of you, and hope and pray that your sense of community will be source of strength going forward.
Linda Gabaccia's article touched on so many personal and insightful points, that I hope everyone affected by this will be able to read it, or speak with her...
As you all confront this sorrow, know that you are in my prayers,
Very Sincerely Yours,
Anne
The very sad news about Don Pierson reached me the other day via NPR. His act speaks of a desperation that is orders of magnitude beyond what most of us face on a daily basis, and yet, as Eric Ooms mentioned, we are a mere perfect storm of events away from that terrible dimension. As a student, I lived in a house with a man who apparently had serious mental health problems - he and his wife lived downstairs from me. I was in the middle of studying for exams, in my room, and all at once the coroner and police showed up. He had committed suicide. Though I didn't know him well, it took me months to come to terms with the shock. I had to postpone my exams, and final papers - couldn't keep a coherent thought in my head, other than the mundane, day to day stuff. I feel for all of you, and hope and pray that your sense of community will be source of strength going forward.
Linda Gabaccia's article touched on so many personal and insightful points, that I hope everyone affected by this will be able to read it, or speak with her...
As you all confront this sorrow, know that you are in my prayers,
Very Sincerely Yours,
Anne
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
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
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Heartbreaking News
BOB,
That was heartbreaking news about Dean Pierson. I use to bowl with his dad Helmer and he was one
hard working farmer. Great family. Keep up the good
work on the paper. Walt
That was heartbreaking news about Dean Pierson. I use to bowl with his dad Helmer and he was one
hard working farmer. Great family. Keep up the good
work on the paper. Walt
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