MILLBROOK — In addition to the personable Village Mayor Tim Collopy being on hand to chat with residents as part of the Community Tea series sponsored by the Millbrook Library on Saturday, May 18, there was the excitement of a pet adoption fair featuring cautious kittens, boisterous puppies and even chinchillas hoping to find suitable homes.
Those activities, combined with regular Saturday morning library users, made for a busy Saturday at the local library.
Social connection was the goal.
Participating in the second of a series of community teas hosted by the Millbrook Library on Saturday, May 18, was Village Mayor Tim Collopy who began by greeting residents on the porch and later moved inside to be near the indoor action for the library’s pet adoption event.Leila Hawken
Collopy spoke of current projects underway throughout the village including the most major of projects, an upgrade for the present wastewater treatment plant, projected to take three years to complete at a cost of $10 million. Village Trustees are beginning the supplemental infrastructure funding process that requires detailed engineering studies to be completed in the coming months.
Another project, now well underway and visible to residents, is the planting of trees in the village. It has been a four-phase project, Collopy said. Five new trees were recently planted along the south side of Franklin Avenue.
The final phase will see the crosswalk redone where Franklin and Front Streets meet, Collopy noted. As Franklin is a state highway, the work will be done when it can be scheduled.
“It’s a good opportunity to highlight the good work these organizations do,” said Library Director Courtney Tsahalis, pleased with both events as they unfolded.
Chinchillas were a favorite at the pet adoption event held at the Millbrook Library on Saturday, May 18. This as yet unnamed youngster is held by Deana Matero of “My Hope’s in You” Small Animal Rescue of LaGrangeville, one of the participating nonprofit rescue organizations.Provided
Chinchillas, young and very young, were shown off by My Hope’s in You Small Animal Rescue of LaGrangeville. Also showing pets up for adoption were Compassionate Animal Rescue of Dutchess County, Hudson Valley Animal Rescue and Sanctuary of Poughkeepsie, and the Stray Cat Network of Red Hook.
“We’re here to check out the kittens,” one young couple was overheard saying as they headed for the display by the Stray Cat Network. Camryn Lauffer, president of that organization, said that the Millbrook Library event was her first-ever adoption event, since she began her tenure in 2020.
While no one could go home on Saturday with a pet, there were inquiries about the necessary application process and lots of bonding with potential pets loaded with charm.
Bashful young chinchillas drew admiring gazes from kids and parents at the pet adoption event at the Millbrook Library on Saturday, May 18. Freya Hersey, 9, and her sister, Akicita, 6 (almost 7), paused to have a look at the popular display of My Hope’s in You Small Animal Rescue of LaGrangeville.Leila Hawken
Karina Powers teaches traditional dances from Mexico in Millbrook.
Powers received a master’s degree in Mexican folklore dance from Escuela de la Danza in Baja California, Mexico. Since moving to the United States, she has built a career in performance and teaching. She has not only served as a dance director and performed as a professional vernacular music singer in California, but she has also worked towards her Doctorate, which she will receive in October.
As the founder of her company, Powers works tirelessly to make sure her dancers have everything they need, including costumes, proper flooring, music and a space to practice. Her husband built wooden panels, called tarimas, for students to dance on with their folklórico shoes. Millbrook Mayor Peter F. Doro allows Powers and her group to practice in Millbrook Hall, where she brings the tarimas to every practice along with costumes and proper footwear.
Powers dreams of owning her own studio where she can practice with her group, offer more classes, store costumes and create a space for her dancers to do their hair and makeup before performances. She said she hopes people learn about her classes so her company can grow and she can teach dances from a wider range of Mexican states while having greater access to traditional dress.
As a single mother and professor, Powers’ mother, Carmen Méndez, put her children in dance classes and signed them up for track and field, always keeping them goal- and career-oriented. She helped Powers with her company by creating all of the costumes her dancers wear in their performances. After her mother’s death in 2021, Powers said she has dedicated herself to carrying forward the passion, work ethic and love of dance her mother instilled in her.
“I miss her terribly, and I’m here because of her,” Powers said. “That’s why I want to do this, because of her. She gave me a lot, with the costumes, with her support. I do it for my mom.”
Karina Powers and her students practice in Millbrook Hall.Lucia Iandolo
Dancers in Powers’ group are dedicated to learning the art of dance from different states in Mexico on Tuesday and Friday nights at Millbrook Hall. They travel from many different places in New York to participate, with some dancers traveling more than an hour to make it to rehearsal each week.
“It’s a lot of work, but they learn it. I believe they love it, and it’s a way to come together, to do something good, to do something healthy, and to have people around you who appreciate this kind of art,“ Powers said.
Powers has studied with professor Eloy Jiménez Figueroa since childhood and said his mentorship inspired her to become the teacher she is today. She added that while she may not be the best teacher, she learned from the best.
While living in California, Powers taught elementary, high school and college students, as well as adults. She was recruited to teach traditional Mexican folkloric dance because of the region’s large Mexican community. Today, she encourages people of all backgrounds to explore the rich traditions of Mexican dance.
“This type of dance is not only for people from Mexico,” Powers said. “This is an art and the arts unite nations.”
Powers hopes to continue sharing that art in Millbrook and one day teach in the Millbrook Central School District. Powers and her group will perform at the Millbrook Library on Nov. 21, presenting traditional Mexican dances and inviting audience members to participate.
As a professor, dancer and singer, Powers stays grounded by believing in something greater than herself. She says that praying and putting herself in the hands of God has helped anchor her. She hopes to teach and dance for as long as her body allows.
“My mom, for me, is an angel. I put myself in her hands, and I have faith,” Powers said. “I have faith that God, or something good, is going to be there for the group and for myself.”
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