Millbrook schedules two public forums on school capital projects referendum

MILLBROOK — Having received conceptual planning describing a major capital project to include needed maintenance and upgrades, the Board of Education at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 8, agreed to hold two public forums in advance of a mid-November referendum.

Postcards summarizing the project are being sent to all households to announce the forums planned for Wednesday, Oct. 30 and Wednesday, Nov. 13 at the Middle School Auditorium, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The referendum to vote on the capital project is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 19, from noon until 9 p.m.

To view details of the plans for the capital project prepared by BBS Architects, go to the Millbrook Central School District website at: www.millbrookcsd.org.

As presented by BBS, the capital project is divided into three major partitions. The first would see improvements to HVAC systems in all schools within the Central School District, supported by three bonding propositions.

The second would address building condition issues (maintenance and repairs) needed at Elm Drive and the Middle School, as well as Alden Place, supported by two bonding resolutions.

And the third would promote energy performance in all the schools, supported by three bonding propositions.
The total cost for all three partitions as now proposed would be $59,867,973, although some of the impact would be offset by available state funds and energy savings over time.

BBS engineers noted that state law requires that a school Building Condition Survey be completed every five years.
Existing HVAC systems are aging out, according to BBS, particularly at the Elm Drive School, where a “dedicated outdoor air system” is being proposed.

Latest News

Village meeting to explore ICE cooperation limits set for Tuesday, July 29

The Millerton Village Offices on Route 22 north of the intersection with Route 44.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLERTON — The anticipated follow-up to the May 21 special meeting regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement will take place Tuesday, July 29, at 6 p.m. Legal counsel for the village is expected to attend.

At the May meeting, nearly 20 residents and community members urged the village board to adopt a local law limiting cooperation between Millerton’s police and ICE, aiming to protect immigrants, including undocumented individuals. While no resolution was reached, Mayor Jenn Najdek committed to holding a follow-up meeting where village legal counsel would be present to help clarify questions and explore the proposal in more depth.

Keep ReadingShow less
Books and bites beckon at the upcoming Sharon Summer Book Signing

Author and cartoonist Peter Steiner signed books at Sharon Summer Book Signing last summer.

Photo by Stephanie Stanton

The 27th annual Sharon Summer Book Signing at the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon will be held Friday, Aug. 1, from 4:45 to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 3, at noon.

Friday’s festivities will honor libraries and the power of the written word. In attendance will be 29 locally and nationally recognized authors whose books will be for sale. With a wide array of genres including historical fiction, satire, thrillers, young adult and non-fiction, there will be something for every reader.

Keep ReadingShow less
Voices from Ukraine to America come to Stissing Center July 27

Ukraine Emergency Fundraiser at The Stissing Center in 2022 raised over $120,000 for Sunflower of Peace.

Photo by Michael Churton

The spirit of Ukraine will be on display at the Stissing Center in Pine Plains on Sunday, July 27. Beginning at 5 p.m., the “Words to America from Ukraine” fundraiser is set to showcase the simultaneous beauty of Ukrainian culture and the war-time turmoil it faces, all the while fundraising in support of Ukrainian freedom.

“Words to America from Ukraine” aims to remind and spread awareness for the suffering that often gets forgotten by those who live in comfortable worlds, explained Leevi Ernits, an organizer for the event. “We are trying to make an attempt to remind people that we are human, and we are connected with human values,” she said. “With very few words, poetry can express very deep values.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Grumbling Gryphons’ set to celebrate 45th anniversary with gala and summer theater camp

Celebrating its 45th year, the Grumbling Gryphons will perform at HVRHS Friday, Aug. 1, at 7 p.m.

Photo provided

The Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children’s Theater is preparing to celebrate its 45th year — not with fanfare, but with feathers, fabric, myth, chant, and a gala finale bursting with young performers and seasoned artists alike.

The Gryphons’ 2025 Summer Theater Arts Camp begins July 28 and culminates in a one-night-only performance gala at Housatonic Valley Regional High School on Friday, Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. Founder, playwright, and artistic director, Leslie Elias has been weaving together the worlds of myth, movement and theater for decades.

Keep ReadingShow less