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“Over the past few weeks, many of you have reached out with questions, concerns, and heartfelt stories about the Heritage House. I understand why this space means so much. It holds so many of our memories. Personally, it's the reason I studied film. I watched so many classics from the pews of the chapel. There have been concerts, gatherings, celebrations, and community milestones. It has been part of the rhythm of life here, and I feel that too. Because some of you shared that it felt like we were talking around the issue, I want to say this clearly. At our October 1st meeting, the Alliance voted not to renew our lease for 2026. This decision came after a months-long, sincere conversation about the building’s needs, what falls outside our responsibility, and what the Alliance can realistically carry into the coming year. This is not about stepping away from a community space. It is about giving ourselves a year to breathe, and make thoughtful choices about the future. We want those choices to honor our values and serve the whole community well. We want to understand what people truly need and how we can support that in a sustainable way. What I hope you hear most is that your voices matter. Your stories, your worries, your hopes for what comes next all guides us. We’re your neighbors and friends. We're volunteers who care deeply about this town and the people who make it what it is. If you want to talk or share more, we're listening. Our next board meeting is December 3rd at 7pm. It’s a hybrid meeting, and we have some room in-person at the Westport Health Center (6097 NYS Route 9N, Westport, NY) thanks to a collaboration with Elizabethtown Community Hospital. You can also join us online by following this link: Zoom Meeting, Passcode: 234037. Please have your name viewable so we know you're not a bot. We hope you'll join us and let us know your thoughts. If you can't make the meeting, please know that we're working on ways to hear more in-person community feedback, and we're always happy to read your concerns at gowestportny@gmail.com. Thank you for caring about this amazing town. Sincerely, Alyssa"
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