Cheerfully fulfilling their assignment to the housewares department at the Grace Church Rummage sale on opening day, Friday, April 4, were volunteers James Prudden, left, and John Lacey, whose conversation included golf, rather than household items, at least for part of the time. Both are members of Grace Church.
MILLBROOK — A steady stream of bargain hunters took advantage of perfect weather at the annual “Great Whale of a Weekend Rummage Sale” at Grace Church on opening day, Friday, March 4.
The three-day event that ended with a Sunday bag sale, offered a grand selection of clothing, art, children’s items, furniture, jewelry, housewares, collectibles and more, artfully displayed throughout both floors of the church’s social hall.
Reflecting on the event, volunteer Lisa Lacey said that in addition to offering high quality items for sale at really low prices, a further advantage is that it invites people to experience the church.
Displaying what she said was one of her favorite framed artworks up for sale at the Grace Church Rummage Sale on opening day, Friday, April 4, volunteer Lisa Lacey was one of the many enthusiastic volunteers on hand to serve eager customers.Photo by Leila Hawken
“It’s also a great way to recycle,” Lacey said, noting that items were donated by numerous community members, items that were finding new usefulness and appreciation as they moved into other area homes.
AMENIA — For residents considering adding an Accessory Dwelling Unit within their homes or perhaps converting garage space to create an apartment, the Amenia Housing Board has announced a new grant program to begin soon.
The new program titled PlusOne ADU being introduced in Dutchess County will become active on July 14. Residents can complete an interest form by visiting the Town of Amenia website. The program is administered through Hudson River Housing.
Eligible homeowners can receive a grant of up to $112,500 plus technical assistance to create a new accessory dwelling unit or improve existing units. To qualify, the homeowner must fall within 120% of the Adjusted Median Income for Dutchess County.
Grant funding can be used to plan, design and build an ADU, the intent being to create more affordable housing opportunities, provide opportunity for property owners and promote long-term community stability. Provisions of the program stipulate that the homeowner must build or upgrade an ADU at their primary residence and use the new unit for year-round housing only. A family member is allowed to occupy the new unit. No short-term or vacation rentals are permitted.
Information is available from the Housing Board or by contacting Jordan Schinella, Community Development Manager at Hudson River Housing. To learn more, contact Schinella at Jschinella@hudsonriverhousing.org.
A recurring “No Kings” protest at Fountain Square on Saturday, July 5, drew horn toots and mostly positive reactions from passing motorists. Local activist and resident Kimberley Travis was joined by Angus Elliott. She plans to continue daily, except Sundays, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
AMENIA — Toots and a variety of political comments on all sides were heard from passersby on Saturday, July 5, inspired by a daily demonstration at Fountain Square initiated by a local resident.
Maker of the signs and initiator of the “No Kings” protest is Kimberley Travis of Amenia who began her solo appearances two weeks ago. By this weekend, one additional Amenia resident, Angus Elliott, had joined her to hold a sign and wave to motorists.
Travis said that she would like to have even more residents join in for some or all of the time. She plans to protest daily, except Sundays, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Self-described as “a full-time activist,” Travis said that she began her activism in 1974, protesting the Vietnam war as a child.
A former actress and stand-up comedian, Travis majored in Theater at New York University, and while pursuing a theater career, she worked as a legal secretary at a major New York law firm. She has worked as a personal trainer and been active in animal rescue work, volunteering at an animal shelter.
Her theatrical training supports her vocal projection strength, useful for conversation with passing motorists that she characterizes as mostly positive, like a toot. Even opposite viewpoints are delivered with good-natured civility, Travis noted.
George McGhee of Pine Plains restores a historical marker commemorating the location of the Irondale Cemetery.
MILLERTON — History is a family tradition for George McGhee of Pine Plains, who restores deteriorated historical event markers in and around the town of North East.
McGhee, a longtime employee of Herrington’s in Millerton, draws on his experience in the hardware trade to repair the recognizable blue-and-yellow signs to their original condition.
The Pine Plains native took to restoring the degraded signs owing to his grandmother’s influence. “My grandmother was a historian, so as a kid I’d help with the historical society and I’d do odd repair jobs for older people,” McGhee said. “More recently, I saw the signs deteriorating, so I thought to myself, ‘well why not just paint them?’”
Historical markers are installed by the state government through an application process, but maintenance of the signs is far from centralized and usually relies on volunteers like Mr. McGhee. According to the website of the New York State Education Department,“Local authorities maintain, repair, and replace historical markers often in cooperation with local historical groups and volunteers.”
McGhee assumed the role of maintaining signs in and around Dutchess County out of his own interest in seeing the signs properly cared for. “I just started repairing signs on my days off,” he said. “I didn’t ask anyone at first but now I’ll talk with the historical societies in villages, if they have one.”
Mr. McGhee brings his experience from the hardware profession to refurbish the markers with precision, down to the exact shades of blue and yellow paint used originally. “The first coat of blue paint is Rust-Oleum Royal Blue and the writing is Sunburst Yellow — that’s how [New York State] wants the signs done. You can get all that from the internet on the historical pages,” the volunteer restorer said.
Restoring the signs correctly is an extensive process. “I take some drives that are quite lengthy in mileage. One day, if I’m going through the area, I’ll stop and clean [the marker] and then I’ll wait a week and do the next part of it,” McGhee said.
To date, by his own accounts, Mr. McGhee has restored 64 signs in total, including 24 near Gallatin, 18 in his hometown of Pine Plains and five in Millerton.
McGhee cites the Hammertown and Rippon Road signs as the most historically significant markers he has restored. The signs respectively commemorate the Hammertown Sheath — a large, defunct manufacturing business dating back to the 1800s — and the boxing matches which occurred in Boston Corners during its lawless period.
The distinctiveness of Mr. McGhee’s services has attracted interest all over New York from people looking to restore signs of importance to them. “Two weeks ago… [a woman] sent me pictures of a sign [on her property] with the paint pretty well popped off,” McGhee said. “I asked her, ‘whereabouts are you?’ and she said ‘about 15 miles west of the Finger Lakes.’”
History may be in the past, but George McGhee’s restoration efforts are ongoing.
“I don’t plan to stop anytime soon,” Mr. McGhee said.
COPAKE — State regulators have issued their second notice of incomplete application this year for Hecate Energy LLC’s proposed Shepherd’s Run solar project.
On June 27, the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission found Hecate’s most recent application deficient in eleven areas. The company had filed an application in late December, which also waskicked back for deficiencies in February.
“Hecate continues to engage in a productive dialogue with ORES and the community. We look forward to moving ahead with a project that helps meet the state’s clean energy goals while protecting the rural character of Copake and the surrounding communities,” said Matt Levine, project director.
The project proposed by the Chicago-based developer of solar, wind and energy storage projects, has been a flashpoint for the rural hamlet’s residents since it initially was discussed in 2017. Then, it was planned as a 60-megawatt solar farm to be located near the intersection of Routes 23 and 7. In February 2024, the state granted a motion from the Town of Copake to dismiss the application, and Hecate regrouped, filing last December.
Citizen groups have both opposed and supported the project. In a recent statement following ORES’s notice of deficiencies, Sensible Solar for Rural New York said it is “unconscionable that ORES ... is ignoring smoke and fire risks to the adjacent Taconic Hills Central Schools” and residents near the 215-acre facility.
