Invited to be a featured speaker at The Millbrook School’s launch of The Firefly Environmental Arts Project on Friday, Feb. 21, Eileen Fielding, Director of the Sharon Audubon Center, paused for a photo with Bob, the American Kestrel, a long-term resident at the Center due to respiratory troubles.
MILLBROOK — Inspired by hope and resiliency found in nature, the Millbrook School is launching The Firefly Environmental Arts Project, assembling area artists, naturalists and environmentalists, seeking to build community through shared experiences in nature and the arts. The project will kick off at the Millbrook School on Friday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m.
In the event of snow, the date will move to Sunday, Feb. 23, at 1 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
Guest speaker will be Eileen Fielding, Audubon Center of Sharon Director since 2018, preeminent expert, active in the protection of wildlife within the regional landscape. The title of her talk will be “Bending the Bird Curve.”
“There are so many environmental and sustainability issues that it’s a challenge to decide where to focus,” Fielding commented on Saturday, Feb. 1. “For this talk, I’ll discuss climate change, and how we can address it in part through natural climate solutions as they can be applied in the Northeast,” she added.
Pleased to have been asked to participate in the Millbrook School’s environmental work and the current project, Fielding said, “There’s a rising cohort of young people who are capable, creative, concerned over the state of the planet, and motivated to do something about it. Audubon is one of the organizations offering pathways for young leaders to take action. I welcome this opportunity to invite their participation and encourage them. They have a lot to give.”
Tim Good of the Good Gallery in Kent was responsible for curating the art and artists. Students from eight area independent schools are expected to participate in the Firefly Project, along with 15 prominent visual artists from the region, all combining talents and energy to environmental issues.
“This event will allow young artists to display their work alongside established artists. That invitation is an important vote of confidence, a recognition that their work and their perspectives are valuable,” Fielding said.
“In the same way, the event recognizes a connection between art and advocacy for the environment. In my talk, I hope to highlight how these two endeavors can inspire and strengthen each other,” Fielding said.
Fielding earned a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources from the University of Massachusetts.
Before becoming the Sharon Audubon Center’s director, she volunteered to help with the bird rehabilitation department and contributed actively to the Center’s advisory board.
As I noted here in an article last spring entitled “Hands off Greenland”, the world’s largest island was at the center of a developing controversy. President Trump was telling all who would listen that, for national security reasons, the United States needed to take over Greenland, amicably if possible or by force if necessary. While many were shocked by Trump’s imperialistic statements, most people, at least in this country, took his words as ill-considered bluster. But he kept telling questioners that he had to have Greenland (oftenechoing the former King of France, Louis XIV who famously said, “L’État c’est moi!”.
Since 1951, the U.S. has had a security agreement with Denmark giving it near total freedom to install and operate whatever military facilities it wanted on Greenland. At one point there were sixteen small bases across the island, now there’s only one. Denmark’s Prime Minister has told President Trump that the U.S. should feel free to expand its installations if needed. As climate change is starting to allow a future passage from thePacific Ocean to the Arctic, many countries are showing interest in Greenland including Russia and China but this hardly indicates an international crisis as Trump and his subordinates insist.
Researchers believe that, buried beneath the mammoth glaciers covering most of the land are rich deposits of various rare earth minerals including those needed for modern batteries and other hi-tech devices. Trump has already made a deal with Ukraine to supply them more arms in return for rights to its underground “rare earth” deposits. Some have called this extortion but to Trump it was business as usual. Greenland’s buried treasures could be a much bigger deal.
But perhaps Trump’s lifelong obsession with size is the dominant reason he feels he must have the world’s largest island; like his planned White House ballroom, for him this is essentially an ego trip.
Greenlanders and Danes have made it clear from the beginning that they do not wish to become American and are not for sale, Trump’s subordinates have tried to advance a scheme whereby Elon Musk might buy a majority of the individual Greenlanders’ votes to sell their country to the U.S.; however Denmark has the last word and is not about to agree to selling Greenland to anyone.
Although Greenlanders have largely been in favorof eventual independence, since Trump’s intemperate demands they have locked arms with Denmark. Recently, large demonstrations in both places have expressed anger, but even more, sadness that their staunch ally would turn against them.
Other than Trump’s appointees those who support the President’s claim to Greenland are hard to find in the U.S. or elsewhere. While most Republican political leaders have avoided speaking out on the matter, a few have including Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and former Majority leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, both condemning the possible “taking” in no uncertain terms . Seasoned diplomat, Michael McFaul has called Trump’s insistence on “owning” Greenland as “the worst idea in American history.”
After speaking to the assembled crowd of political leaders and industrialists at Davos, Trump began discussions with Mark Rutte, secretary General of NATO and others after which, in a striking turnaround,he announced that they had put together the basis of a “deal” regarding Greenland.
But neither Greenland nor Denmark had been involved in those discussions; both rejected the agreement’s proposal that the United States would have sovereignty over the military bases both new and existing. Another facet of the proposal giving the U.S. control of underground mineral rights may proveexcessive to both Greenland and Denmark.
Although everyone seems relieved that the crisis appears to be largely over, the rupture between Europe and the U.S. remains. Considering President Trump’s erratic state of mind (in his speech at Davos he referred to Greenland as Iceland at least 3 times), who knows what he may demand tomorrow?
Architect and landscape designer Mac Gordon lives in Lakeville.
It is hard not to equate military spending and purchasing with diplomatic or strategic plans being made, for reasons otherwise unknown. Keeping an eye out for the physical stuff can often begin to shine a light on what’s coming – good and possibly very bad.
Without Congressional specific approval, the Pentagon has awarded a contract to Boeing for $8,600,000,000 (US taxpayer dollars) for another 25 F-15A attack fighters to be given to Israel. Oh, and there’s another 25 more of the F-15EX variant on option, free to Israel as well.
Meanwhile, many European countries have switched their purchases of the F-35 fighters to the French Rafale or the Joint European Fighter as well as Saab’s advanced concept fighter Gripen.Turkey and Airbus, meanwhile, have sold the Hurjet trainer to Spain and other countries over the US trainer. And France is about to begin laying the keel for a new aircraft carrier (though that will take almost a decade). Meanwhile, Airbus is now, since 2024, the primary supplier to all EU countries for military helicopters… Saab is making GlobalEye airborne aircraft for France, Italy and Germany… France’s Rafale Company is making and delivering Iron Beam high-energy laser weapons… Airbus has ramped up delivery to all its new EU customers of 18 new C295 tactical transports.
Some may wonder why EU leaders as well as the UK, have been so soft tongued when it comes to this Administration’s recent diplomatic transgressions over Greenland (oops, Iceland?). The reason is simple: For decades the US has been the cheapest and best supplier of the finest military hardware – planes, tanks, weapon systems, and defense capability. What every nation understood was that the US held the controls of the safe operation of those aircraft. For example, the electronics of every F-35 can be controlled remotely from the US. Go against us? We can pull the plug. That was never an issue before, where we had trust and mutual goals. The current rush to re-prioritize local EU manufacture and longer term self reliance in the EU is a direct consequence of this Administration’s changing of priorities and allied trust.
It is true that DJT can take credit for EU and UK increased military budgeting and preparedness, his actions have forced them to that reality. It is also true that his long term damage to American jobs and industry are just now becoming evident as less of our hardware is attractive to foreign buyers and our military oversight will be slowly eroded to a position where nations no longer feel the need for diplomatic or industrial reliance on America.
Peter Riva, a former resident of Amenia Union, New York, now lives in Gila, New Mexico.
A small group of protesters voice opposition to President Trump's administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Amenia's Fountain Square at the intersection of Route 44 and Route 22 on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025
The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, and before him Renée Good, by federal agents in Minnesota is not just a tragedy; it is a warning. In the aftermath, Trump administration officials released an account of events that directly contradicted citizen video recorded at the scene. Those recordings, made by ordinary people exercising their rights, showed circumstances sharply at odds with the official narrative. Once again, the public is asked to choose between the administration’s version of events and the evidence of its own eyes.
This moment underscores an essential truth: the right to record law enforcement is not a nuisance or a provocation; it is a safeguard. As New York Times columnist David French put it, “Citizen video has decisively rebutted the administration’s lies. The evidence of our eyes contradicts the dishonesty of the administration’s words.”
Separately, law enforcement agencies across the country are expanding their capacity to watch the public. Here at home, as we’ve reported, Dutchess County’s Real Time Crime Center brings together feeds from automated license-plate readers, including systems provided by Flock Safety, allowing police to track vehicles across jurisdictions in real time. These tools collect detailed movement data on vast numbers of people who are not suspected of any crime, often with limited public discussion of safeguards or oversight.
When citizens document state power, they are told to step back or trust official explanations. When the state documents the public, continuously and at scale, it is framed as efficiency. One form of observation is treated as suspect; the other as routine.
What magnifies the alarm in the Minnesota shootings isn’t just the loss of life, but the response that followed. Federal force was used against members of the U.S. public, and officials responded not with clarity or accountability, but with statements that collapsed under visual evidence. That willingness to lie, and to do so reflexively, signals a deeper problem: an administration increasingly willing to treat truth as an obstacle rather than an obligation.
A democratic society depends on shared facts. The right of citizens and journalists to observe, record, and document matters because it anchors truth in evidence, not authority. That right is not a threat to public safety. It is among the few remaining tools the public has to insist that power remains answerable to the truth.
New co-owners of the Blue Door, Danny Greco, left, and Frank DiDonato, right, expect to open their new restaurant venture on Route 44, between Millbrook and Pleasant Valley, in March.
PLEASANT VALLEY — La Puerta Azul, the Pleasant Valley restaurant known for its Mexican fare and live music, abruptly shuttered its doors at the end of 2025. The space is now set to re-open under new ownership and a slightly new name — The Blue Door Steakhouse.
The Blue Door is expected to open in March and will shift to an American and Italian menu, including pasta, steak and seafood dishes.
New owners Danny Greco and Frank DiDonato — both Hudson Valley residents — have worked together for the past two years across the street at Salt Point Market and Cafe. They described the new concept as “a familiar place, but elevated.”
Greco, who will manage all front-of-house aspects of The Blue Door while DiDonato will serve as the executive chef, said he is excited about the new venture. “It’s going to be rooted in community, inspired by tradition and thoughtfully refined,” he said.
Chef DiDonato began working at Salt Point Market and Cafe years prior to Greco’s 2023 purchase of the establishment. The two have since developed a close working partnership — one they joke began when Greco walked in for a sandwich and never left.
After learning La Puerta Azul had closed at the end of 2025, Greco and DiDonato moved quickly to pursue the space. They signed the lease on Christmas Day and described the timing as a gift.
“When I look at this space, I don’t see it under construction,” Greco said. “I see it open and running — and a place that feels like home to our community.”
The restaurant is currently undergoing a full interior renovation, but the new owners plan to preserve several elements as an homage to La Puerta Azul. The hand-painted bar tiles imported from Mexico will stay on the bar top, they said, and the waterfall at the entrance will also remain.
The pair also plans to preserve a wall mural titled “La Ballena/Long Bar” attributed to “A. Favela” and dated 2005.
In a nod to the building’s history, additional tiles left behind will be repurposed across the street at Salt Point Market and Cafe, where they will be used to accent a new pizza bar top. Greco and DiDonato say they want to extend the story of the previous restaurant beyond its original walls.
While the partners initially considered infusing Mexican flavors into the menu to honor the restaurant’s history, they ultimately decided to focus on what they know best.
“We realized that we should do what we know, and do it really well,” DiDonato said. “We want to give the community the best version of what we know how to do.”
Both owners said their approach is rooted in building trust locally — something they believe will carry over from their work at Salt Point Market and Cafe.
“You can’t just come into a small town and beat your chest,” Greco said. “People want to feel comfortable, and we believe that being a real part of the community is everything.”
DiDonato has built a local following for his culinary expertise, including meatballs, lasagna, and other Italian dishes. Regular customers ask what’s on the schedule and when certain items will be available.
Greco and DiDonato said The Blue Door will combine a playful, welcoming atmosphere with a serious focus on craft and hospitality.
The restaurant is expected to be open Wednesdays through Sundays from 3 p.m. to closing, with lunch services provided on the weekends. The owners will also accept catering requests and consider opening on Mondays and Tuesdays for private events.
With the opening still a month and a half away, the buzz is already strong. Former La Puerta Azul performers have reached out about returning for live music, and early social media comments — including questions about vegetarian and gluten-free options — have helped inform planning for the new menu.
“This was a busy restaurant before, and we believe it can be again,” Greco said.
The Blue Door is currently hiring for several positions and interested candidates can apply at contact@thebluedoorny.com.
