State Representative Didi Barrett (D-106), center, visited Eddie Collins Park in Millerton on Thursday, July 25, with, from left, North East Town Supervisor Chris Kennan, New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Dutchess County Legislator Chris Drago (D-19) and Village Mayor Jennifer Najdek.
MILLERTON — Carl Heastie, Speaker of the New York State Assembly, joined State Representative Didi Barrett (D-106) at Eddie Collins Memorial Park in Millerton Thursday, July 25 to announce that Phase Two renovation of the park that includes a swimming pool will have its funding ensured.
Phase Two includes, besides a pool, a bathhouse with offices, a concession stand and a community room.
The initial renovation of the park cost $2.2 million, was completed in 2022 and included regrading of the park, a new entrance and paved parking areas, a soccer field, accessible playground upgrades, new basketball courts and pavilion improvements.
The remaining phase is estimated to cost approximately $7.5 million.
In May Village trustees voted to apply for a $6.3 million grant under the NY SWIMS intiative, a capital grant program included in the 2025 New York State budget.
The Village also has applied for a $675,000 grant through New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Speaker Heastie is currently on his annual statewide tour and visited the park and its recent additions. Heastie and Barrett were joined by several members of the Millerton community, including Stephen Waite, former Village of Millerton trustee, Town Supervisor Christopher Kennan, Village Mayor Jennifer Najdek and Jennifer Dowley and Jeanne Vanneck, advocates for the transformation of the park.
Heastie and Barrett pledged to provide funding for whatever costs not covered by the state grants.
“Somehow we will figure out how to fund this entire project,” Heastie said.
The Speaker said he is dedicated to providing opportunities to New York state residents, regardless of ability.
“A new pool is another step in our continued efforts to provide all communities accessible opportunities to swim,” he said.
In a statement, Barrett said, “I’m pleased to welcome Speaker Carl Heastie back to my district and to announce funding for a new, state-of-the-art pool and pool house at Eddie Collins Memorial Park.
“This park has been an integral part of the northeastern Dutchess community for generations, and I worked closely with Millerton Mayor Jenn Najdek, North East Town Supervisor Chris Kennan and the project leaders to help them secure phase one funding, including $125,000 for handicap-accessible bleachers at the baseball field.
“Today’s announcement will ensure that phase two of this important project will be completed, and that residents and visitors alike will have a place to learn to swim and to gather.”
The Millerton community has witnessed the revitalization of Eddie Collins Memorial Park over recent years. The park brings the community together, and with its continued expansion seeks opportunities to provide accessible engagement for all.
The planned pool would be located in front of the playground, with an L-shaped pool house beside it. Dowley and Vanneck said the pool house would include a commercial kitchen, community room and other community-oriented spaces.
Decisions on the grant applications should be announced starting in September.
Built in 1820, 1168 Bangall Amenia Road sold for $875,000 on July 31 with the transfer recorded in August. It has a Millbrook post office and is located in the Webutuck school district.
STANFORD — The Town of Stanford with nine transfers in two months reached a median price in August of $573,000 for single family homes, still below Stanford’s all-time median high in August 2024 of $640,000.
At the beginning of October there is a large inventory of single-family homes listed for sale with only six of the 18 homes listed for below the median price of $573,000 and seven above $1 million.
July transfers
79 Ernest Road — 4 bedroom/2.5 bath home on 6.87 acres in 2 parcels sold to Matthew C. Marinetti for $1,225,000.
29 Drake Road — 3 bedroom/3.5 bath home on 2 acres sold to Harper Montgomery for $850,000.
6042 Route 82 — 4 bedroom/2 bath home on 1.09 acres sold to Spencer Thompson for $795,000.
125 Tick Tock Way — 3 bedroom/2.5 bath ranch on 1.9 acres sold to Fleur Touchard for $475,000.
August transfers
102 Prospect Hill Road — 3 bedroom/2 bath home on 6.35 acres sold to Karl Creighton Pfister for $565,000.
252 Ernest Road — 2 bedroom/1 bath cottage on .85 acres sold to Meg Bumie for $465,000.
1196 Bangall Amenia Road — 4 bedroom/2.5 bath home on 2.16 acres sold to Roderick Alleyne for $875,000.
Hunns Lake Road (#759929) — 59.1 acres of residential land sold to Argos Farm LLC for $3,325,000.
* Town of Stanford recorded real estate transfers from July 1 to August 31 provided by Dutchess County Real Property Office monthly transfer reports. Details on each property from Dutchess Parcel Access - properties with an # indicate location on Dutchess Parcel Access. Market data from One Key MLS and Infosparks .Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Advisor with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in Connecticut and New York.
Hunt club members and friends gathered near Pugsley Hill at the historic Wethersfield Estate and Gardens in Amenia for the opening meet of the 2025-2026 Millbrook Hunt Club season on Saturday, Oct. 4. Foxhunters took off from Wethersfield’s hilltop gardens just after 8 a.m. for a hunting jaunt around Amenia’s countryside.
Joining in the fun at the dedication of the new pollinator pathway garden at The Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4, local expert gardener Maryanne Snow Pitts provides information about a planting to Lorraine Mirabella of Poughkeepsie.
MILLBROOK — Participating in a patchwork of libraries that have planted pollinator pathway gardens to attract insects and birds to their native plantings was one of the accomplishments being celebrated at the dedication of a new pollinator garden at the Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4.
“A lot of work went into it,” said Emma Sweeney, past President of the Millbrook Garden Club, who started the local library’s initiative two years ago.
The Pollinator Pathway program is a national effort to plant native plants that native insects depend upon for sustenance and preferred plants for their own seasonal reproduction.
Jana Hogan of Ridgefield, Connecticut, Executive Director of the Pollinator Pathway program, was on hand to present a plaque to the library for its successful participation.
“A garden is not just a garden,” said garden designer Andy Durbridge of Wassaic, designer of the library’s garden. “It may serve as a model for other gardens along the line.”
Speaking to the 50 visitors at the dedication, Durbridge said that the library’s garden has a mission, that it is a working garden, planned to serve insects and birds over their seasons. The earliest plants support pollinators, while the full range of plants continues to serve the needs of those they attract, offering habitat, shelter and food.
A pollinator garden is akin to a prairie, rather than a formalized European garden, Durbridge noted.
The garden project was supported by the library’s Friends group using funds raised during the Holiday Silent Auction and ongoing book sale. A grant from the Millbrook Garden Club also provided support.
Amenia Town Hall on Route 22.
AMENIA — After gathering comments from the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals, as it considers adding alternate members to those boards, the Town Board discussed possible changes to local laws governing those boards at its meeting on Friday, Oct. 3. The meeting date, usually on a Thursday, had been changed to accommodate a holiday.
In recent weeks Town Board attorney Ian Lindars has been compiling comments from the affected boards along with comments from the Town Board. The new laws may bring the appointment of two alternate members to each board. Alternate members are likely to be required to attend all meetings and be prepared to be seated if needed and be familiar with the applications being discussed. They would also need to take training required of all board members.
Lindars will prepare a draft of the new local laws to be reviewed by the Town Board and the affected boards.
As the Town Board begins work on the town’s annual budget negotiation process and anticipating an increase in some budget lines to accommodate major projects, the board unanimously approved three resolutions. The first will override the tax levy limit imposed on municipalities by the state of New York, a limit generally tied to the rate of inflation.
A public hearing on the proposal to override the levy limit was set for Thursday, November 6, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall.
