To the Editor:

We would like to thank the Community for their generous support of the Stuff-A-Cruiser events at the Colonial Market on November 18^th and December 16th.  We broke our previous record at both events collecting a total of over 5500 pounds of food for the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries.

Our community is lucky to have such giving people.  One gentleman went into the store to buy a gallon of water and came out with a cart of groceries.  A woman who had just won some money on a lottery ticket and filled up two grocery carts of items to donate.  And yet another resident handed us a $500 dollar check to spend on food items.

Our appreciation also goes to the community groups who supported our efforts and provided entertainment:  Essex Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, the confirmation class of Our Lady of Sorrows Church,  the Deep River Fife and Drum Corp, VRHS Chorus, JWMS Choir and Grace Notes bell ringers.

The Soup Kitchen was extremely grateful for these donations at a very demanding time of year.  We couldn’t have done it without you.

Thank you.

 The Essex Community Fund

To The Editor:

We are writing to thank the many donors and volunteers who supported the blood drive at Essex Town Hall on December 2.  The goal was to collect 80 pints. Eighty-four pints were successfully donated.  We are fortunate that so many people in the area are personally dedicated to donating.  One person achieved the one-gallon mark; another received an 8 gallon pin. Eileen Patrie donated her 100th pint!  And there was one first-time donor.

Blood is always in short supply.  We are extremely gratified that so many recognize the ongoing need and are able to donate so that blood is available to transfuse those who are ill.

You may be surprised to learn that 19 volunteers were involved in this drive.  This includes friends who prepare the homemade goodies for the hospitality table as well as workers at the event.  In addition, we are very appreciative of the contributions made by local merchants.  Riggio’s Flower Shop donates roses for each of the drives, which we give to first-time donors and those who reach new “gallon” benchmarks.  IGA and the Knights of Columbus provide some of the food used to make sandwiches for the hospitality table.

We will be in touch for the next drive in Essex scheduled for February 3.

Sincerely,

Dick and Linda Levene

To The Editor:

Child & Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut is grateful to the members of the Essex Automobile Club whose fall car show benefits the children served by Child & Family Agency. The weather didn’t cooperate this fall and therefore the Car Show had to be cancelled. The Essex Automobile Club planned to return the registration fees to the participants but many asked that their contributions still be given to Child & Family. The Agency is grateful for this wide community support which allowed us to provide needed services to over 17,100 children and their families last year.

Thank you Essex Automobile Club and participants for your continued support!
With deep appreciation

Judy Lovelace

Director of Resource Development
& Community Relations

Child & Family Agency of SE CT

To The Editor:

At the most recent budget hearings in the spring, numerous elected officials and town residents advocated using a scalpel rather than an axe when addressing required budget adjustments following a failed budget vote. It appears that Mr. MacMillian is advocating just that. Rather than simply cutting certain line items, he is insisting on justifying their existence and funding them at an appropriate level. Requiring non-profit organizations to justify their contribution to the municipality which provides the funding is sound governance. This level of accountability is a must at all levels of government. Meals on wheels and visiting nurses are just a couple of the line items discussed in various letters and articles and identified as being “in jeopardy”. Arguably these two non-profits provide a service to Essex and will continue to be funded. Many of the other line items may also be justified. Some may not. Mr. MacMillian simply requires that justification.

With respect to the most recent “he-said – he-said” political mailing, this discourse serves two non-productive ends. First, it is a disservice to the voters. Playing on emotions of fear and threatening unjustified cuts by an opponent, although an excellent political move, leaves voters misinformed. Second, this sets a poor tone for the next board of selectmen. These two individuals, more likely than not, will be serving together for the next two years. The level of trust on that board is now shattered due to the misleading out-of-context references.

For those that have attended some of the board and commission meetings discussing critical issues in the past, we have seen some very polarizing discussions, accusations, and behavior. I fear that this polarization is about to continue.

Sincerely,

Phil Beckman

To The Editor:

It strikes me as odd that Mr. Needleman does not want to question some of the funding provided to non-profits from taxpayer funds.  For example, why does Essex provide $33,000 to Tri Town Youth Services Bureau, Inc., when our neighboring town, one of the Tri Town area, Deep River only provides $5,000?  Essex has 20% more children under age 17, but why such a large difference?  While I am sure Tri Town Youth Services does a great job, this annual difference, in just this one non-profit, has been going on for many years, resulting in a significant outlay of taxpayer funds.  Perhaps there is a good reason, however, one would expect a better answer than that given by Mr. Needleman who describes hundreds of thousands of dollars as a mere pittance.  It is definitely time to start asking tough questions of the people who are distributing taxpayers money!

Sincerely,

John Ackermann
Essex

To The Editor:

Mr. Wilson’s article provided plenty of Norm Needleman responses to questions during a telephone interview but precious little information on what Bruce MacMillian’s stand is on the issues. We know Bruce has denied the three points brought up in the hit piece that went out, but what exactly did he say during the telephone interview and during the debate?

Mr. Wilson, were you at the debate when Bruce said the libraries of Essex and Ivoryton would continue to get funding from the town because they do provide a return to the town? That was unequivocal. Did you hear him say he absolutely supports the fire department and emergency services because, with the police department, they are the most important services the town provides? At no time has funding for the library or essential services ever been a question. Did you hear Bruce talk about the fact we have two working constables when we’re paying for four? I believe that was one of the things he was referring to when talking about a professional police department. What’s professional about having half a force?

It bothers me greatly that Norm, as a current Selectman, has a very cavalier attitude about the tax money the hard working citizens of our town entrust to the Selectmen by using it to fund non-profit organizations that are best supported by individuals. Bruce is correct to want to carefully consider where our money goes. We need someone who is capable of saying “no.” With the likelihood State tax money given back to the town is going to be cut, we need someone who will be a tough protector of our treasury so we can afford to maintain our lovely town even if faced with less money, and not have it siphoned off to groups that do nothing to maintain our infrastructure or benefit our schools. It is not the town’s responsibility to provide money to non-profits.

Tomorrow’s vote is very important. We need to put Selectmen in office who have their priorities in order and who will be careful with the monies entrusted to them and not spend them on unnecessary expenditures. We need Bruce MacMillian and Joel Marzi to rein in the increasing town budget.

Sincerely.

Adrienne Forrest
Essex