Letters to the Editor - 2-1-24

Opposed to Amenia’s wastewater project

Amenia does not need a wastewater project to clean our water supply. Our ground water is among the best in the state and our trout streams are pristine.

The purpose of a waste water project is to enable further development. Some well-meaning people believe it will bring businesses to the Hamlet of Amenia. But much larger and denser towns are loosing businesses to Amazon and box stores. The increase in population needed to bring in and support new businesses in the Hamlet must spill out into rural districts and change the rural nature of the Town of Amenia. Some say, by having pockets of density, the rural districts will be protected. But the expense of building and maintaining a waste water facility, $20 million just to build, must necessitate growth out into agricultural lands. A wastewater project in Amenia will destroy the rural quality of life we presently enjoy.

The particular wastewater project proposed now for Amenia is compromised and potentially dangerous to the environment. The site chosen for the sewage treatment facility is too small to have holding tanks. It is questionable how clean the water will be that is dumped into the Wassaic Creek. In addition, solid waste won’t be treated at the facility, but left in existing septic tanks, with the promise that these will be emptied by truck — presumably by a private company. Although the need for leach fields may be diminished, the requirement for each property to have a septic tank will limit the possibility of high density in the Hamlet. And the site is too close to the Lake Amenia residential neighborhood and the odor could make the neighborhood unlivable.

At the last Town Board meeting by a 3 to 1 margin, the Town Board voted to spend $45,550 to make a wastewater district plan with the treatment plant on Lake Amenia Road. This appropriation is subject to a permissive referendum.

I urge those who want to keep Amenia a small rural town to sign the petition. For information contact me at midvalefarm@aol.com.

George Bistransin

Amenia

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Amelia R. Wright

Amelia R. Wright

Falls Village – Amelia Rosalie (Betti) Wright, 91, of Falls Village died September 30, 2024 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of the late Robert Kenneth Wright.

Amelia was born September 6, 1933 in Torrington, CT, daughter of the late Benjamin and Mary Eliza (Passini) Betti. Amelia worked at Camp Isabella Freedman as the Head Housekeeper. She was employed there for 35 years. She attended the Falls Village Congregational Church and had been very active at the Senior Center in Falls Village. She enjoyed collecting. She also enjoyed the craft classes offered by Adult Ed at the Housatonic Valley Regional High School. She enjoyed traveling, especially to the Cape, Vermont and New Hampshire. An avid flower person, Amelia had traveled to the major flower shows in both Boston and Philadelphia.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan Osborn and her husband David of Falls Village, her son, Robert H. Wright of Falls Village and her son, Donald Wright and his wife Kate of Millbrook, NY; her sister, MaryAnn Betti of Falls Village; her grandchildren, Benjamin and Katie Osborn and Jacob Wright. Amelia is also survived by her great grandson, Gunner Osborn. Amelia was predeceased by her brother, Donald Betti.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 5, 2024 in the Mountain View Cemetery, Sand Road, North Canaan, CT. Calling hours will be held at the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home, 118 Main Street, North Canaan, CT 06018 on Friday, October 4, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Falls Village Volunteer Ambulance Association, 188 US-7 South, Falls Village, CT. 06031

Stissing Mountain faces tough challenge in Rhinebeck rematch

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Makayla Robinson, no. 3 of Pine Plains, dribbles the ball down midfield past Rhinebeck’s Ellie Firestone, no. 13, at a soccer match at Stissing Mountain High School in Pine Plains Wednesday, Sept. 25.

Photo by Nathan Miller


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sports

Let’s talk about dirt: soil ecology hikes at the Cary Institute

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Jane Lucas, who holds a doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology, at right in all black, leads an educational hike through the woods at the Cary Institute in Millbrook Sunday, Sept. 29. The group followed Lucas down the trail to Wappingers Creek, where she explained the nitrogen cycle, the phosphorous cycle and the carbon cycle and the important role soil microbes play in each.

Photo by Nathan Miller

MILLBROOK — A crowd of nearly 30 went undeterred by cool rain for a hike and lecture on soil ecology at the Cary Institute Sunday morning, Sept. 29.

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environment