MILLBROOK — Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced on Tuesday, Jan. 11, that the much-loved Millbrook Library will be receiving an infrastructure grant to the tune of $200,000.
It was welcome news to Millbrook Library Director Courtney Tshalis and her library staff, as it will be used the make the library more comfortable for patrons as well as its workers.
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this funding and want to thank Legislator Deirdre Houston (R-25) and all those in the Dutchess County Legislature who supported this grant, as well as Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro for recognizing the critical need for funding for infrastructure projects,” said Tshalis. “This funding will help make our building more sustainable and accessible.”
Houston, whose district covers parts of the Harlem Valley including the village of Millbrook, was recently re-elected to her third term.
“More than ever, many Dutchess County residents need the vital services these important organizations provide,” she said. “I’m proud of the County’s Agency Partner Grant [APG] Infrastructure Program, as well as my legislative colleagues’ support, which made it possible, enabling these nonprofits to deliver these critical programs.”
Tshalis said the money would be used to help the library replace its “aging heating and cooling system with an electrical system that is more energy-efficient.”
She added, “Our HVAC system does pretty well during the winter, but cannot handle summer heat and humidity — in some parts of the building it can reach 80 degrees during the summer. It’s uncomfortable for both patrons and staff.”
Molinaro announced last week’s award in this first round of grants; $904,500 will be divided among six different projects to be doled out by the county for important infrastructure projects.
The grant was supported by the 2022 Dutchess County APG infrastructure program. APGs are awarded to local nonprofit agencies to use for capital and operate infrastructure initiatives, which the county said are “vital to cover service gaps and other needs.”
In December 2021, the Dutchess County Legislature allocated $3 million in the county budget for the APG program. The county plans to announce additional grants in the near future.
The Millbrook Library also received funds from Dutchess Invests, the Learn, Play, Create grant program in June of 2021, also allocated by Molinaro.
In that instance, $50,000 was used to update the library's children’s space with new furniture, technology and books.
The Learn, Play, Create grant was part of a $3 million one-time grant for local nonprofit groups in Dutchess to help lessen the burden of organizations struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Molinaro’s office stressed that the importance of local libraries cannot be overstated. Along with books and other reading materials, the county executive reminded his constituents that libraries have much to offer their communities.
The Millbrook Library provides access to computers, CDs, DVDs and games, space for groups to meet such as the Historical Society and also offers The Gallery, where art exhibits are held. The Millbrook Arts Group (MAG) often presents concerts at the library, which is also home to the annual Millbrook Literary Festival, usually held in May during non-COVID times.
Tshalis and her staff have maintained numerous programs and offered many services during the past two years, despite hardships created by the pandemic and working with various restrictions placed on them by the state and health departments due to the health crisis.
Often times, the library has had to close to the public, but for the most part is has been able to function and remain open, at least virtually or with some restrictions in place.
Current programs are still being offered, though at the moment all programs are only available online; materials needed for specific programs may be picked up at the library.
To learn more about the Millbrook Library, located at 3 Friendly Lane, to see its current schedule of events or to register for an activity, go to www.millbrooklibrary.org or call 845-677-2099.
AMENIA — The concept of “rewilding” the environment will be the focus of a discussion at Troutbeck in Amenia on Saturday, Nov. 8, featuring environmentalist Ben Goldsmith and Dr. Joshua R. Ginsberg, president of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. The program begins at 3 p.m.
Admission is free, but registration is requested. Troutbeck encourages attendees to arrive early for lunch or stay afterward for dinner in its dining room.
Goldsmith, a prominent advocate for environmental restoration, views nature as a source of spiritual renewal. His work focuses on helping landscapes regain their natural balance and biodiversity through organic processes rather than human intervention.
He is involved with initiatives such as Nattergal, a British nature recovery company, and the Conservation Collective, a network of local environmental foundations.
Ginsberg, a conservation scientist and former senior vice president of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Global Program, will join Goldsmith to explore the intersection of science, policy, and ethics in environmental restoration.
To learn more, visit www.troutbeck.com
Water from the damaged pipe has bubbled up to the surface of Route 44 near Park Avenue in Millerton on Monday, Nov. 3. Water department crews are expected to repair the leak between 5 p.m. and midnight.
MILLERTON — Drivers passing through Millerton should expect delays on Main Street/Route 44 around Park Avenue as a Water Department crew works to repair a leak under the westbound lane.
Interim Superintendent of Public Works Joe Olenik said the work will begin around 5 p.m. tonight, Nov. 3, and he expects repairs to be finished by midnight. “There’s concrete under that, so it’s going to take a little longer,” Olenik said, pointing to a picture of the puddle that has accumulated on Route 44 because of the leak. “It’s not just blacktop and dirt.”
The crew will close one lane of traffic on Route 44 to complete the repair.
Residents and businesses in the area of Park Avenue and Main Street/Route 44 should expect water outages while the repair is being made.
Village officials sent out a notice of the repair work around noon today, Nov. 3.
Demolition crews from BELFOR Property Restoration began demolishing the fire-ravaged Water and Highway Department building in the Village of Millerton on Monday, Oct. 27
MILLERTON — The long-awaited demolition of Millerton’s Highway and Water Department building began Monday, Oct. 27, marking a major milestone in the village’s recovery from the February fire that destroyed the facility.
The demolition, handled by BELFOR Property Restoration, is now underway. Eddie Collins Park, located next to the site, remains open to the public, though visitors are asked to steer clear of the demolition area.
One village official is particularly invested in seeing the process move forward. Caroline Farr-Killmer, the village’s fire project manager, has been working closely with Mayor Jenn Najdek and the Board of Trustees to oversee every phase of the recovery. She has coordinated contractors and engineers, tracked inventory losses, and ensured compliance with building codes.
Mayor Jenn Najdek noted in a Monday, Oct. 27, meeting of the village's Board of Trustees that air quality management is one of the aspects of demolition that contributes to the price tag.Photo by Aly Morrissey
“This milestone is a significant one,” Farr-Killmer said. “It has been a work in progress that individuals have poured a lot of their time and effort into.” She acknowledged that while it may have seemed like progress was slow, this process required thoughtful and thorough management. “It is not something that can be accomplished overnight. I am grateful for the team effort put in by all of those involved.”
In the weeks after the fire, Farr-Killmer visited the charred building almost daily and documented damage to the structure and inventory. She said the fire itself was only the beginning, and pointed out that navigating insurance, rebuilding plans and deadlines have been hidden challenges.
The demolition marks the first physical step toward rebuilding. Farr-Killmer and Village leaders are developing plans for two replacement facilities — one for the Highway Department and another for the Water Department, designed to meet modern building codes and accommodate future needs.
“For the Village, it means we are starting from scratch, but things will continue to run smoothly, efficiently and effectively,” Farr-Killmer said.
With demolition underway, the Village of Millerton will begin a new chapter — one that will be complemented by the upcoming renovations that are planned at Eddie Collins Memorial Park. Construction for that major project, which will include a short-course Olympic pool and pool house, is scheduled to begin in July 2026 after the 175th celebration.
A preliminary draft of an impact analysis study for a Keane Stud subdivision application drew residents to a Planning Board meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
AMENIA — Residents had the opportunity on Wednesday, Oct. 22, to weigh in on the proposed Keane Stud subdivision, a plan that would divide roughly 605 acres into 27 mostly residential lots, during a meeting of the Amenia Planning Board.
The session was part of the State Environmental Quality Review Act process, following the board’s decision that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement should be prepared to evaluate potential environmental and scenic impacts from the project.
The study will help inform the board’s review and approval process.
Wednesday’s meeting served as a public scoping session, allowing residents to suggest which environmental and community issues should be analyzed as part of the study.
Peter Feroe, an environmental planner with AKRF, Inc. of New York City representing the developer, presented an overview of the project and outlined the preliminary scope of analysis.
About 35 residents attended the meeting at Town Hall, where Feroe explained that the plan calls for 23 residential-agricultural lots and four lots to be set aside for conservation and equestrian use. Two of the preserved parcels would remain forested as conservation areas, while the other two would support equestrian activities.
The 23 lots would be sized at 10 acres each. Since the entire area is within a designated Scenic Protection Overlay District, the layout requires Planning Board approval.
The proposal calls for the 23 lots to be served by three roads that presently exist as farm roads on the acreage, Feroe said, although the three roads would need to be improved for use.
“This is not a public hearing on the subdivision application,” Planning Board attorney Paul Van Cott said, noting that the decision will be made after the completion of the impact studies.
“There will be full public hearings on the impact studies and on the full Keane Stud subdivision application, perhaps two months from now,” Van Cott said.
Feroe reviewed maps of the property located on Depot Hill Road, off Old Route 22. Nine of the ten acres on each lot would be conserved.
“A full 90% of the site would be reserved for agriculture,” Feroe said, noting that no buildings are envisioned as part of the subdivision application. Purchasers of the lots would need to come before the Planning Board for site plan approval.
The Planning Board had asked the applicants to consider the effects of future potential residential build-out on the acreage.
“The goal is to continue to promote agriculture to preserve the rural character,” Feroe said, noting that the town’s comprehensive plan favors balance in development.
Since planning for the subdivision began in 2021, Feroe said, multiple project modifications have been made, including reductions in size, removal of lots, and revisions to the layout. The maximum home footprint was scaled back, and the maximum home height reduced to 28 feet.
All development restrictions imposed by the Planning Board would be included in covenant deed restrictions to be adhered to by lot purchasers, Feroe noted.
Residents’ comments centered on the theme of a feared loss of agricultural heritage inherent to the community’s character, and the desecration of the view from the DeLaVergne Hill lookout to the west.
Resident George Bistransin spoke of diminished agriculture in the area and its impact on farming, noting that he now buys hay from a Salt Point supplier for his animals.
Mark Doyle, representing the Conservation Advisory Council, described potential impacts on water bodies and active farmland.
“There should be no division or construction on the viewshed area,” said resident Sharon Kroeger, secretary of the Committee to Save the View from DeLaVergne Hill, an organization dedicated to protecting the viewshed seen as key to the community’s identity.
Recalling his past experience serving on the Planning Board, Town Supervisor Leo Blackman spoke of the iconic view from DeLaVergne Hill, called by many the “Gateway to the Berkshires.”
Blackman said he was troubled by the idea that the unobstructed agricultural land would be broken up, suggesting the house lots should be separated from the agricultural expanse.
The next Planning Board meeting, on Wednesday, Nov. 12, is expected to include adoption of the final draft of the current scoping analysis. The study can be viewed in full on the town website.
