To the Editor:

Rumor has it that Smitty’s — a decades-old Voorheesville restaurant and tavern — is closing.  The local population will definitely feel the loss.

Townsfolk are trying to save Smitty’s with online petitions and signs posted around the village.  Smitty’s has been around for a long time and means more to the town than a place to grab a pizza and a beer.

It has been a meeting place for Voorheesville residents — a place to  come together when things happen — both good and bad.  It’s been a gathering place for returning Voorheesville high school grads, a place to celebrate life’s milestones, to share triumphs and tragedies, and to discuss local government.  It’s like Cheers:  “a place where everybody knows your name.”

The owners of Smitty’s have a right to sell and move on, but in doing so, a void will be created.  We can only hope some entrepreneur will see an opportunity and open another establishment in Voorheesville to replace what is lost.

Sandra Paige Sorell

Delmar

Editor’s note: Sandra Paige Sorell will move to Voorheesville soon. Stories on the pending sale of Smith’s Tavern to Stewart’s are online at www.AltamontEnterprise.com.