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.
In addition to fresh floral arrangements offered at The Little Flower Bar, a new business at 8 Old North Road in Amenia, owner Kelly Deneen offers an array of gifts in an attractive price range.
Since its soft opening Saturday, Nov. 29, at the 8 Old North Road plaza, Deneen said business has been steady, with a strong showing during the holiday season.
“It’s going to evolve,” Deneen said of the young enterprise.
The flower bar includes a wheeled, multi-shelf display of fresh-cut flowers. Deneen said the portable setup can be brought to hospitals, businesses or private events, where people can select individual stems to create their own arrangements or purchase flowers to go, making it an interactive and visually engaging feature.
A thriving new business in town, The Little Flower Bar created a fresh floral arrangement on the spot for Walter Irvine of Millbrook on Thursday, Jan. 8. Owner Kelly Deneen paused for a photo with the satisfied customer.Photo by Leila Hawken
Adding to the shop’s charm is a curated selection of affordable gifts, ranging from photo frames and wine glasses to themed trays for milestone occasions, as well as items for sports fans and holidays.
“Valentine’s Day is coming up next,” Deneen noted.
Flowers are offered by the stem, and arrangements can either be made for customers or created by customers themselves. Flower selections change weekly based on the season and availability from local gardens. During the winter months, flowers are sourced from area wholesalers.
“Carnations will always be on the bar,” Deneen said, “because most importantly they were my grandmother’s favorite, but also for their quiet beauty and long-lasting charm.”
Deneen grew up in Millerton and purchased her grandmother’s home following her death in 2021. Her grandmother had lived there since 1962, and her grandfather grew up on Belgo Road.
Before opening The Little Flower Bar, Deneen spent her career in the auto racing industry.
“I worked in the car racing industry my entire adult life. I started right here at Skip Barber Racing School when I was 21. In 2013, I moved to Indianapolis to work for Andretti Autosport. I spent the next 12 years in the IndyCar paddock,” summarizing her connections to the auto racing world and her experience in large-scale event planning.
A seasonal selection of fresh flowers will be offered at The Little Flower Bar, a new business at 8 Old North Road in Amenia combining creativity and small-town affordability to customers. Owner Kelly Deneen is poised to assist customers with arrangements to go, a varied selection of gifts, and event planning.Photo by Leila Hawken
Five years ago, she started working from home in Millerton, traveling to the races. That was when she nourished her love for flowers, purchasing flowers just to play with arranging.
“We have the best flower farmers right here in the Northwest Corner,” Deneen said.
“Every flower has a personality that can speak for you when words fall short,” Deneen said.
“This is so lovely, and that’s a man saying that,” said customer Walter Irvine of Millbrook on Thursday, Jan. 8, as he stopped in for a made-to-order custom floral arrangement. Irvine recalled that he and Deneen have known each other since the 1960s, having a common interest in the auto racing industry.
The Little Flower Bar is open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m until 4 p.m. The phone is (845) 231-6341. For more information go to
