Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.
housing

Amenia’s housing board supports first affordable unit, elects officers

Amenia’s housing board supports first affordable unit, elects officers
The town-owned parcel of land that Habitat for Humanity plans to buy a half-acre portion of in the Town of Amenia, as seen from the Harlem Valley Rail Trail parking lot on Mechanic Street. The electric vehicle charging station shown above is located on the parcel, and the town will have to divide that portion of land from the rest of the parcel before Habitat for Humanity takes ownership.
Photo by Nathan Miller

AMENIA — Citing recent Town Board action to subdivide a town-owned parcel for a Habitat for Humanity home, the Housing Board on Monday, March 23, applauded what members called a significant step toward creating the town’s first unit of affordable workforce housing.

The board also unanimously elected new officers. Juan Torres was named chairman, succeeding Charlie Miller, who remains on the board.Torres said he will recuse himself from any matters involving Silo Ridge or the Keane Stud development to comply with conflict-of-interest rules. Joshua Frankel was elected vice chairman, and Kenny Merritt was elected secretary.

The board agreed to shift its regular meeting schedule to the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. The next meeting is set for April 13.

Members highlighted recent progress by the Town Board in subdividing a parcel on Depot Hill Road, a move intended to allow Habitat for Humanity to purchase the site and construct a single-family home.

If completed, the project would mark Amenia’s first affordable housing unit, an effort several board members noted has been in development for roughly four years.

Miller said Habitat for Humanity has specific criteria for selecting a participating family, including having school-aged children enrolled in the Webutuck School District and a commitment to volunteer service.

Since February 2025, Amenia has been designated a pro-housing community, making it eligible to apply for state funding to support the development of affordable workforce housing.

Looking ahead, board members discussed the potential creation of a Housing Trust Fund and how it could be used to support initiatives such as accessory dwelling units, multi-generational housing, housing for volunteer firefighters, and rental assistance programs for tenants or landlords.

The board plans to further outline ideas for administering a housing trust fund at its April 13 meeting.

housing

Latest News

Boondocks Film Society brings exclusive screening to drive-in

Boondocks Film Society brings exclusive screening to drive-in

Jorma Taccone, left, takes part in a Q&A before a screening of "Hot Rod" at Four Brothers Drive-In in Amenia on Aug. 31, 2023.

AMENIA — Four Brothers Drive-In will host a screening of the new dark comedy Over Your Dead Body on Thursday, Aug. 6, with director Jorma Taccone on hand for a pre-screening Q&A as part of a partnership with the Boondocks Film Society.

The film stars Samara Weaving and Jason Segel as a married couple. Each is secretly plotting to kill the other. Taccone, a North Canaan resident and founding member of the comedy troupe The Lonely Island, will discuss the film before the screening.

Keep ReadingShow less
film screening

The Millerton News - July 30, 2026

The Millerton News - July 30, 2026

Download directly

Tri-Corner Real Estate - August 2026

Tri-Corner Real Estate - August 2026

Download directly

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Baseball, wine and jazz at Millbrook Winery

Baseball, wine and jazz at Millbrook Winery

Bernie Williams and his Band of Friends at Millbrook Winery in 2025.

Provided

Throughout the history of Major League Baseball, precious few greats have been considered five-tool players. New York Yankee Bernie Williams was one of them.

To be considered a five tool player, one must show exceptional proficiency in five categories: hitting for average, hitting for power, running bases, fielding and arm strength. But there’s another tool Williams possesses that didn’t make it to the back of his baseball card: his mastery of jazz guitar.

Keep ReadingShow less
community

Lucky Orphans offers sanctuary for horses and healing for people

Lucky Orphans offers sanctuary for horses and healing for people
If horses could speak, Hearn believes they would offer just one piece of advice: “They’d tell us to slow down.”

From feeding retired racehorses before sunrise to guiding veterans, grieving parents and troubled teenagers through equine-assisted therapy sessions, Deanna Hearn rarely has a quiet day. As founder of Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue in Dover Plains, she oversees the care of more than 40 sanctuary horses while leading a nonprofit whose mission extends far beyond animal rescue.

What began as a childhood love of horses has evolved into a place where healing runs in both directions — for horses and for people. By the time you leave Lucky Orphans, it becomes clear that this place isn’t really about horses. The horses are simply how it begins. For Hearn, every rescued horse represents something much larger: hope, resilience, healing and second chances. The organization’s mission, she says, is simple: “People helping horses heal people.”

Keep ReadingShow less
our community

Weekend in Norfolk returns for four days of art, music and community

Weekend in Norfolk returns for four days of art, music and community

A brass quintet at the Yale Music Shed at Weekend in Norfolk 2025.

Jennifer Almquist

Norfolk bursts with activity in midsummer with Weekend in Norfolk (WIN). An all-volunteer committee transforms the town with free public events for all ages. WIN 2026 begins Thursday, July 30, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 2.

Norfolk sculptor Jon Riedeman, the new head of Norfolk Artists and Friends (NAF), organized the group’s 19th annual art exhibition, featuring paintings, sculpture, photography and jewelry by area artists in the Art Barn on the grounds of the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. Riedeman expanded the show this year by inviting artists from New Marlborough, Massachusetts, to participate. The exhibit opens with a reception Thursday, July 30, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Keep ReadingShow less
weekend-in-norfolk
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.