AMENIA — Engaging with the task of updating the town’s comprehensive plan of development, an open session on Monday, June 9, invited residents to come to the Town Hall and share comments on present strengths of Amenia town life and to suggest ways in which town life might be enhanced in the future.
About 100 residents representing a robust variety of demographics attended the community event and stayed to visit with one another and study the displays of town maps while watching the growing display of ideas.
“Here we are again, looking at moving forward,” said town board member Rosanna Hamm, who offered a brief opening statement. “We’ve come a long way and we want to look forward to the future,” she added, reflecting on the town’s history.
The plan of development that serves as a reference base for all zoning decisions was last updated in 2009, underscoring the need to make appropriate revisions to meet the present day and a decade or two to come.
“Twenty-five years ago was the original town plan,” recalled former town supervisor Bill Flood, offering a brief comment. “Now together, we will make it better.”
“These are the next steps in the planning process,” said Nina Peek, who serves on both the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee and the Planning Board.
The town’s Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, with the guidance of Nexus facilitating consultants associated with Pace University’s Land Use Law Center, convened the event titled “Engaging Amenia,” seeking to hear from as many residents as possible to advance the work of the planning update.
Residents gathered for an “Engaging Amenia” event at the Town Hall on Monday, June 9, to share views on the town’s present and future, a step toward updating the town’s Comprehensive Plan of Development, last updated in 2009.Photo by Leila Hawken
Comment stations on Monday invited residents to begin by writing a single word on a whiteboard that would encapsulate personal views of the town. A sampling of the single words included “friendly, community, history, land, home, potential, neighborly, view, future, rural, safe and friendly, support, sidewalk hellos, family, respite and values.” To provide balance, two identical entries, “unengaged,” played off the event title.
Attendees were then invited to visit any or all of five stations, each with a review committee representative providing information and inviting written comments on post-it notes to be affixed to a whiteboard. A pink post-it signaled a town strength; a green post-it represented a town need.
The five stations invited comment on Sustainability and Recreation, Natural Resources, Housing, Business, and Infrastructure and Municipal Services. Residents lingered to see the growing collection of post-it messages, numbered in the hundreds.
“It’s a really good turnout in spite of the rain,” said Nexus consultant Jaclyn Tyler. “It shows the interest of the public that they want to be involved in the process.”
“It’s a great turnout,” assessed Tiffany Zezula, Deputy Director of the Land Use Law Center at Pace University. “I’m very happy with it.”
Residents’ comments will continue to be gathered throughout the summer months. A website has been created by the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee to allow residents to see others’ comments as they are submitted and to add their own about the subject categories. To access the website, go to www.engagingamenia.com.
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Artistic talent is on display at the Fountains’ Summer Art Show, which opened Thursday, June 11. The exhibition features works by several residents and drew a strong turnout of artists and guests, who were welcomed on opening day by art instructor Ellen O’Shea.
Resident Shirley Fernekes is one of the featured artists with several paintings on display, selected to show the breadth of her works over a lifetime. Included are depictions of wildlife, seascapes and New England scenes, reflective of her travels. She recalled beginning in acrylics before switching to her preference for oils and watercolors.
“I’ve always been painting…all my life,” Fernekes explained, having attended Wooster and Silvermine art academies for her studies.
Her work has brought several awards, including recognition by the Connecticut-based Kent Art Association.
“It’s almost like I can’t not do it,” said resident artist Gail Curcio whose father Theodore Wheldon was an accomplished artist, as was her grandfather.
“I’m thrilled with the art classes and Ellen’s encouragement,” Curcio said, speaking of Fountains art instructor Ellen O’Shea who mounted the exhibit.
“The talent is fantastic. Everyone is very interested in learning,” O’Shea said of the show, noting that all are welcome to join in art classes or work on their own. Several works were included that were by six resident artists who are improving with good results. They are Lucy Johnson, Margaret Cornell, Reiko Ramsey, Graham and Sheila Attlesey and Mary Kay Blasi.
The Fountains houses a significant presence of talent, including in the visual arts. The Summer Art Show that opened on Thursday, June 11, features the works of several residents, accomplished in interpreting the world around them. The opening was well-attended by residents and friends.Photo By Leila Hawken
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