LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Little Britches thanks fundraising supporters

We want to thank everyone who helped make our Sept. 29 Boots and Britches Ball a resounding success.

We were thrilled that some 200 people joined us to show support for Little Britches Therapeutic Riding.

The funds raised at this event will help Little Britches continue to bring the benefits of therapeutic riding to individuals with a range of disabilities.

We’re grateful to the many businesses and individuals who generously donated silent auction items and to the hardworking volunteers, including a team from Wells Fargo Bank in Woodbury, whose efforts made the evening fun for all.

The event wouldn’t have been possible without our sponsors — Dobson Pools, Maple Bank Farm, Mohegan Sun, North America Equipment, the Matthews Group, Westconn Pest Control, Constantine’s Restaurant, Davis Companion Animal Hospital, New England Equine Practice, Natural Marketplace, Phys-Ed Health & Performance, StudyWorks and Swank on Bank.

We also want to thank the band Nashville Drive, caterer Rock N Roll Chef, Visual Impact of Danbury for printing services, and the town of Bridgewater, which allowed us to use their pavilion for the evening.

Little Britches, which now serves about 80 individuals from 28 area towns, will mark its 40th anniversary next year.

We’re deeply grateful for the continuing community support that has allowed us to reach that milestone. Janie Larson, President, Stuart Daly,

Vice President, Little Britches Therapeutic Riding

Vote “Yes” for your public lands Nov. 6

What’s your favorite local place to hike, bike, camp, fish, and picnic or just enjoy the great outdoors? Above All State Park? Mohawk State Forest? Wyantenock State Forest? Housatonic Meadows?

We all treasure these state-owned parks and forests. We depend on them for their wildlife and spectacular beauty. We’re grateful for the protection these lands provide to our drinking water, streams and rivers. And we take for granted that they will always be available for us and our children to enjoy. But did you know that under our current state constitution, our beloved public lands can be sold or transferred with little or no public input? It’s hard to believe, but it happens every year in the General Assembly, often with no opportunity for the public to weigh in. Our public lands shouldn’t be sold, swapped or given away without your voice being heard.

On Nov. 6, Connecticut voters will have a chance to weigh in on the first statewide environmental ballot referendum. Under the proposal, the General Assembly would be required to hold public hearings on any transfer of public lands or properties and to achieve a 2/3 majority approval in the legislature if those lands are held by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection or Department of Agriculture.

Your “YES” vote is needed on Ballot Question 2 Nov. 6. Our parks, beaches, forests, farms and open spaces deserve a voice — your voice — before being sold, traded or otherwise lost from public ownership. The fate of our public lands deserves this transparency. Learn more at protectctpubliclands.org. Lynn Werner, Executive Director, Timothy Abbott, Regional Conservation Director, Housatonic Valley Association, Cornwall