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