Hudson Valley Gospel Festival thrives in year five
The Hudson Valley Gospel Festival featured groups from across the region, including the Ulster County Mass Choir directed by Reverend Dennis Washington.
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MILLBROOK — Having been awarded a grant to participate in New York State’s Hometown Heroes program, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously at its regular meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 10, to create a budget item to manage the grant.
The Hometown Heroes program, administered through Dutchess County has awarded a grant of $5,000 to the town to honor veterans on banner flags to be displayed on utility poles throughout the town. Since receiving the grant, the town has received additional private donations totaling $1,000 for the local program.
Mayor Peter Doro reported that the program and the application process had been discussed over several local administrations before the application was submitted and the grant received. The next steps to implement the program will be open to residents’ comments. The anticipated date when banners would be hung is May 2026, in advance of Memorial Day.
“Supporters want the program to be inclusive and in keeping with the Millbrook aesthetic,” Doro said. “This program is for people who want it.”
Residents who wish to subscribe to a banner to honor a veteran may do so for a fee of $250 according to the program guidelines. About 20 or 25 banners are estimated to be correct for Millbrook.
Several towns who participate in Hometown Heroes have adopted various additional guidelines detailing location, and months when the banners are displayed, some putting them away into storage during winter months.
A resolution will be drafted in the coming weeks to implement the program and residents will have an opportunity to provide comment at that point.
Some public comments were heard from residents at the meeting, including from a few who felt that the town’s Tribute Garden provides a proper memorial for those who bravely served and sacrificed. Others saw an advantage in celebrating diversity and educating young people about their town’s history of service.
Some residents were concerned about traffic safety and the readability of the banners.
Accessible parking space formalized
A parking spot designated for accessible parking across the street from the Millbrook Library on Friendly Lane needed its existence to be formalized by the Trustees.
Accordingly, the Trustees set a date of Wednesday, Oct. 8, to hold a public hearing on the required resolution to agree to make the existing spot official. The space is located across the street from the library’s accessible ramp.
The library’s accessible space is one of five spaces throughout the village providing convenient access to town buildings, Doro explained.
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Photo by Aly Morrissey
MILLERTON — The Town Board has decided not to move forward with a petition to change agricultural district zoning that would have allowed construction of a new country inn and wedding venue.
The proposal, tied to a 36-acre parcel at Route 44/22 and Smithfield Road, came from John and Kristen King, who hope to develop a winery, guest accommodations and event space.
At the Sept. 11 meeting, Supervisor Chris Kennan announced the board was not ready to pursue changes to Code 180-40. Though the board initially seemed inclined to support the project for its economic potential, feedback from the Planning Board, the Conservation Advisory Council, and zoning consultant Nan Stolzenburg led members to reconsider.
“It is a question of whether we’re able to really feel that we understand the implications of what this could lead to,” Kennan said.
Attorney Joshua Mackey, representing the applicants, expressed disappointment and asked about next steps. Kennan replied that the board does not want to rush the process, noting the exhaustive commercial zoning review now nearing completion — a process that required more than 100 committee meetings.
Because the petition was still preliminary, no resolution was under review and no vote was required. Town Attorney Warren Replansky suggested the proposed amendments could be considered in the second phase of the zoning review, which will change focus from commercial to residential districts. “I think it would be too ambitious to include in this first round,” he said.
Kennan added that he hopes to launch the second phase before the end of the year and expects it to move more quickly. “The goal would be to get a committee appointed, hire the appropriate professional resources and move on that as quickly as possible,” he said.
Kennan emphasized the town’s interest in new investment. “We appreciate the applicant’s interest, and we welcome people who want to come and start a business and create economic activity. We just want to make sure it’s done in a way that keeps the nature of the town consistent with what we know.”
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Photo by Nathan Miller
A crowd gathered in Amenia’s Fountain Square to honor slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on Friday evening, Sept. 12. Amelia Bailey, right, of Amenia said she organized the gathering just after news broke of the shooting that killed Kirk on Sept. 10. About 40 people gathered at the square with candles and signs, Bailey said.
Continuing what is now a long-standing monthly gathering, the Amenia Library’s Tea Society’s event on Saturday, Sept. 13, featured teas and pastries from China. Organized by program assistant Megan Marshall, left, attendees were introduced to Asian pastries, including scones, lotus seed and mung bean mooncakes and sugar-coated hawthorns and more.
Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — Since the series began in 2024, the monthly Tea Society events at the Amenia Library have been a popular draw, inviting visitors to engage with teas associated with a variety of the world’s tea-drinking cultures and to sample accompanying culinary treats associated with those cultures.
Organized and curated by the library’s program assistant, Megan Marshall, every detail is attended to, including proper presentation with china teapots, cups and saucers and plates of goodies either made by Marshall or bought. A bonus is the neighborly conversation that a cup of tea invites.
The gathering on Saturday, Sept. 13, featured the teas of China: Dragon Pearl Jasmine and Lychee Black. Examples of treats were green curry onion scones, lemon jasmine tea scones, chestnut mung bean pastries, lotus seed and mung bean mooncakes, and more.
The next meeting of the Tea Society will be Saturday, Oct. 11, at noon. Marshall said that rather than the usual formal tea and pastries format, the meeting will feature a talk by area resident Madame Datura titled “Poison in Relation to Tea,” including spooky foods. As Hallowe’en approaches, the theme is thought to be timely.
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