From left, Dutchess County Historian Will Tatum is with Robert McGrath, president of the Millbrook Historical Society, at a meeting on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Millbrook Library.
Photo by Judith O'Hara Balfe
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Children enjoy the expanded, repaired and resurfaced playground on at Eddie Collins Memorial Park.
JOhn Coston
The park is named after Eddie Collins, who played major league baseball from 1906 to 1930 for the Philadelphia Athletics and the Chicago White Sox. Born in Millerton in 1887, Collins was not only a big leaguer, he was Ivy League, having graduated from Columbia College. He also was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
When the park began to show its age in recent years, a group of civic-minded volunteers launched a renovation project. Due to their efforts, the Millerton community has witnessed a phased revitalization of Eddie Collins Memorial Park over recent years. The park brings the community together, and with its continued expansion seeks opportunities to provide accessible engagement for all.
Stephen Waite, chair of the project committee for the park, recalled that he used to play baseball at the park as a youngster.
“When my nephews started playing here,” he said, “I saw that it had really deteriorated, and I thought we should get the community and its volunteers to make it a project.”
Webutuck Little League celebrates trophy day at the Eddie Collins Park. John Coston
The initial renovation of the park, located at 5991 N. Elm Ave., cost $2.2 million, and was completed in 2022.
That included regrading of the park, a new entrance and paved parking areas, a soccer field, accessible playground upgrades, new basketball courts and pavilion improvements.
A planned pool in the next phase would feature a pool house. In addition, the project envisions a commercial kitchen, community room and other community-oriented spaces.
Lighting of the Little League field for night games will be donated by a group of private citizens. Citizens will handle the installation of the lights from start to finish, then donate them to the Village of Millerton.
In addition to the baseball field, today families enjoy a pavillion, a children’s playground, the basketball courts and a soccer field.
The initial phase of the park’s restoration included new basketball courts. Olivia Valentine
The Village hopes to break ground on a pool in 2025.
“I spent a lot of time at the old Denney Pool as a kid and made many friends there, some I still keep in contact with,” said Waite.
“The pool served the community well for 50 years until closing in 2016. It’s taken eight long years, but I’m pleased that people will once again be swimming in Millerton in the not-too-distant future.
The pool, along with the rest of the park, will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Funding for this phase of the project is coming largely from a NY SWIMS capital grant that awarded $6.385 million to the village to build a community pool, a bathhouse, community room and septic system at the park. It was part of $38 million in grants to Dutchess County and towns and cities in the Mid-Hudson region just before Labor Day.
Learning on a two-wheeler with training wheels at Eddie Collins Park. John Coston
Millbrook Library Director Courtney Tsahalis celebrates the collection of 1018 books sent to the United Way for distribution to area children. The volumes were donated by participants in the summer reading program with one book given for each book read by a patron.
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By sharing ideas, each library has an opportunity to grow and continue to be responsive to the current desires and needs of patrons.
Leo-Jameson explains that at a time when budgets can be tight, not every library can provide the latest best sellers nor an expansive selection of specialty publications or DVD’s. However, thanks to a robust interlibrary loan system which had recently been upgraded, patrons can search an online catalog and request material from libraries other than their own with items delivered within a day or two and streamed material available immediately.
A huge reading tree became the center of the children’s room at the RoeJan Library in Hillsdale in late August. Assembled by library patron and carpenter Jim Germain, the popular feature contains a bench where parents can sit and read to their children as well as shelves to display books to tempt young imaginations. Kate Shannon
She says that as the very expensive ebooks have been increasing in popularity, shared resources are particularly helpful. Individual libraries purchase copies of material with the items being available on a first come first served basis to that library’s patrons, but others are welcome to join a waiting list that is computer monitored to keep access fair.
While most patrons find a home at their local libraries, library cards are connected through the Mid-Hudson System and so are valid throughout the region and card holders welcome at all the networked locations. With a few exceptions, patrons have access to traditional material as well as various other items through the increasingly extensive “Library of Things” which the libraries have developed.
All boast a wide range of regularly scheduled programs for patrons of all ages which are listed on their web pages, as well as special programs which are presented though out the year.
Locations and websites include: Amenia Free Library, 309 Route 343, Amenia, amenialibrary.org; Millbrook Library, 3 Friendly Lane, Millbrook, millbrooklibrary.org; NorthEast-Millerton Library, 75 Main St., Millerton, nemillertonlibrary.org; Pine Plains Free Library, 7775 S. Main St, Pine Plains, pineplainslibrary.org; Roeliff Jansen Community Library, 9091 NY-22, Hillsdale, roejanlibrary.org; and Stanford Free Library, 6035 Route 82, Stanfordville, stanfordlibrary.org.
Young patrons spent a recent Saturday at the North-East Millerton Library preparing for their future world by learning to create robots. Above, Devon Johnson was delighted with her art robot.Naomi Schmid
Rick Maxwell of Danbury, Connecticut, visiting Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue’s namesake horse Lucky Orphan. Members of the public are welcome to visit with the rescue animals during operational hours after checking in with the main office.
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Southern Dutchess Equestrian Center
187 Robinson Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY
Southern Dutchess Equestrian Center offers a range of boarding services and lessons for riders of all skill levels. The 20 stall shed row barn boasts a heated tack room and refrigerator. Southern Dutchess aims to create a fun and relaxed atmosphere for riders, with a focus on keeping things “fun and rewarding for both rider and steed.” The barn also offers summer camps for children and serves as a venue for birthday parties.
Netherwood Acres
883 Netherwood Rd, Hyde Park, NY
This full service barn features a full cross-country course, indoor and outdoor rings and a close relationship with the Millbrook Hunt Club. Riders interested in show jumping, dressage, cross country and fox hunting can enjoy the barn’s facilities and join fox hunting meets at their leisure. Netherwood also offers sale services and lessons for riders of all levels.
Casper, Monty and Ollie enjoying grass and hay in one of the paddocks at Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue in Dover. Lucky Orphans takes abused, neglected or abandoned horses and other farm animals and provides them with care and a home until their final days.Provided
Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue
2699 Route 22, Dover Plains, NY
Unlike the rest of the facilities on this list, Lucky Orphans doesn’t lease out space to boarders. Rather, this barn is a nonprofit rescue for injured, abused and neglected animals to come and live out the rest of their days in stress-free bliss. Lucky Orphans hosts local children and school groups for educational events and runs an equine therapy program. The farm hosts regular line dancing nights in it’s converted indoor ring and on Oct. 25 will be hosting a Halloween party complete with a haunted hay ride through the woods.
Runnin Broke Ranch
123 Nottingham Road, Clinton Corners, NY
For those in need of western style equestrian training, Runnin Broke Ranch offers lessons and clinics in barrel racing and western disciplines. One hour private or group lessons are available for riders of all levels, even if they’ve never sat on a horse before. Runnin Broke also offers full and turnout board with discounts for multiple horses.
Mountain View Ranch
341 Maloney Road, Wappingers Falls, NY
This picturesque facility in Wappingers Falls features a 1/2 mile race track in addition to its indoor and outdoor rings. The 120 acre property is surrounded on all sides by farmland criss-crossed with trails. Mountain View Ranch offers full training board for its clients with access to all facilities and trails with breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley.
Uphill Dressage Center
45 Ice Pond Lane, Salt Point, NY
Uphill Dressage Center is dedicated to helping its clients become the best dressage riders they can be. The regulation size indoor arena is heated and features mirrors lining the walls so riders can watch and analyze their riding from every angle. The facility also has access to miles of trails for when riders want to get out of the ring.
Calypso Farm
25 Seelbach Lane, Staatsburg, NY
Calypso offers full service board and training to its clients and access to facilities including a large riding field, cross country course and 40 acres of trails. Lesson horses are available for riders that don’t have their own, or riders can bring their horse in for lessons.
Netherwood Acres in Hyde Park has a long relationship with the Millbrook Hunt Club. Kristen smith, the owner and head trainer, has sale horses, leased horses, and owners hunting three days a week. They have an expansive cross country field, outdoor show jumping arena, dressage arena, a large indoor arena, and trails available to ride over.Provided
