Community Day brings Millbrook center alive

MILLBROOK — There is a definite wonder to the aura of local events, like Millbrook Community Day, which haven’t happened in three years and now are resurrected. Millbrook held its street fair on Saturday, Sept. 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with bright sunny skies and warm temperatures. Downtown was once again filled with people of all ages, from those older folks who had likely attended Community Day many times in years past and volunteered for different aspects of it, all the way to children who may have never attended and who found all of it new.

One thing that has not changed is the dog-friendly atmosphere, with almost every family or individual walking their dogs up Franklin Avenue. The parade, which took off at 1 p.m., was led, as always, by a lively group of dogs and their humans ready for anything. The 4H Club marched, as did young Northern Dutchess Raider football players and cheerleaders. The tractors from Reardon Briggs delighted the younger children in the viewing crowd.

The Millbrook Farmers Market, operating from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., had lots of fruits and vegetables as well as baked goods, granola and more. The Millbrook Inn was running a raffle for a three-course dinner for two and two hand-crafted cocktails. They recently won praise from Chronogram for the best burger in the Hudson Valley. The Cary Arboretum and Millbrook Rotarians had booths, giving out information on their current initiatives.

And the Millbrook Community Partnership had a table, where planning committee member Patsy Bollack and chair George Whalen said many people had stopped to hear about the upcoming town restoration projects for the Thorne Building Community Center and the capital campaign to fund them. Go to www.thornebuilding.org to see more.

The Millbrook Rotary Club had an active booth, with materials on the Rotary project and a shelter box set up so the crowd could see what people in disaster areas in need of shelter have provided by Rotary International. Club member and past president Mona Staff-Gunther greeted visitors from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and informed them of the projects Rotary does in town, including the business directory that has long been published by the club.

There was plenty of good food for any taste. A bake sale to benefit the Northern Dutchess Raiders was a popular stop in front of Stewart’s. The VFW had sausage and peppers, and Central Baptist Church served chicken, fries and more for a hearty lunch. There were delicacies from a British food truck at the Farmers Market, and Jamaican food as well.

And there was an ice cream truck ready for kids of all ages, as well as a Bouncy House for the youngest attendees only.

The Hammerhead Horns jazz band provided irresistible background music that had everyone’s feet tapping. Go to www.hhhorns.com to see their upcoming schedule.

The 4H Club was blooming with enthusiasm. Photo by Janet Manko

The Farmers Market was a draw for those in search of freshly harvested fruits and vegetables and locally baked goods. Photo by Janet Manko

The Northern Dutchess Raiders cheerleaders and football players walked and sang their cheers. Photo by Janet Manko

The 4H Club was blooming with enthusiasm. Photo by Janet Manko

Latest News

A scenic 32-mile loop through Litchfield County

Whenever I need to get a quick but scenic bicycle ride but don’t have time to organize a group ride that involves driving to a meeting point, I just turn right out of my driveway. That begins a 32-mile loop through some of the prettiest scenery in northern Litchfield County.

I ride south on Undermountain Road (Route 41 South) into Salisbury and turn right on Main Street (Route 44 West). If I’m meeting friends, we gather at the parking area on the west side of Salisbury Town Hall where parking is never a problem.

Keep ReadingShow less
Biking Ancramdale to Copake

This is a lovely ride that loops from Ancramdale north to Copake and back. At just over 23 miles and about 1,300 feet of elevation gain, it’s a perfect route for intermediate recreational riders and takes about two hours to complete.It’s entirely on quiet roads with little traffic, winding through rolling hills, open countryside, picturesque farms and several lakes.

Along the way, you’ll pass a couple of farmstands that are worth a quick visit. There is only one hill that might be described as steep, but it is quite short — probably less than a quarter-mile.

Keep ReadingShow less
North East town records brought into the digital age

Chris Virtuoso reorganized parcel records in the North East Town Hall basement by parcel number during the process of scanning and digitizing the documents.

Photo by Grace DeMarco

MILLERTON — Within the walls of the two-story Victorian housing the North East Town Hall lies a room-full of town records dating back to the late 19th century. Stored in labeled cardboard boxes and protected by dehumidifiers, the records are in the process of being dated, organized, and scanned into categorized online programs.

As the Town Hall works to relocate to 5603 Route 22 at the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, the consolidation and digitalization of records, as well as the disposal of those unneeded, is a time-sensitive project. Marcy Wheatley, the Deputy Town Clerk, emphasized their current heavy focus on organizing and scanning. “Now, when we move, we can get rid of a lot,” Wheatley stated.

Keep ReadingShow less
Millbrook Fire Department Carnival returns

The Thorne Building on Franklin Avenue in the village of Millbrook.

Archive photo

MILLBROOK — Summer fun is just around the corner, thanks to the fire department and the return of the Fire Department Carnival scheduled to open on Wednesday, July 9, and continue through Saturday, July 12, on the Thorne Building grounds on Franklin Avenue.

Opening night activities will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9. The Carnival will open each night at 7 p.m., remaining open until 11 p.m.

Keep ReadingShow less