Millerton Climate Smart to promote heat pumps

Standing next to one of the nine heat pumps installed at the Amenia Town Hall last year, code enforcement officer Mike Segelken described them as split units offering quiet operation.

Leila Hawken

Millerton Climate Smart to promote heat pumps

MILLERTON — Climate Smart Community (CSC) is launching a community campaign July 13, at the Summer Stroll on Main Street to inform residents about the benefits of electric heat pumps.

Climate Smart is a New York state program that helps local governments limit their carbon-footprint and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

North East and Millerton are each Climate Smart Communities.

During the Summer Stroll, Climate Smart will conduct a campaign about electric heat pumps.

Heat pumps have the lowest known emission of any heating source. They are able to heat and cool buildings more efficiently than propane, oil or other traditional systems. The pumps also do not emit carbon monoxide, making the surrounding areas healthier to the public.

In 2018, the Town of North East and the Village of Millerton signed a pledge to develop ideas to improve sustainability with CSC. The Town of North East was certified a Bronze town in 2022, meaning it has collected over 120 points by taking action to implement climate-smart projects.

Last August, the Amenia Town Hall celebrated nine installments for new heat pumps, which was a significant step towards renewable energy.

Climate Smart has a goal of at least 5 installations in Millerton, which will then earn the town $5,000. Installing these new heat pumps will not only give incentives to the town, but also to the residents.

“Award money comes from taxes on everybody’s electric bills, so it’s not something the state has to allocate…,” said Kathy Chow of the Climate Smart Community Task Force. Chow addressed the North East Town Board on Thursday, June 13.

CSC is trying to educate owners of buildings about electric heat pumps and the importance of a greener community.

Latest News

Amenia approves pool at Troutbeck estate hotel

Troutbeck's sign at the intersection of Leedsville Road and Route 343 in Amenia.

Archive photo

AMENIA — Public hearings continued from the previous meeting concluded at the regular meeting of the Amenia Planning Board on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Having considered public comment, the board approved applications from Troutbeck for an indoor pool and from DaVinci Windows for a sign installation.

No public comment was heard in connection with the Troutbeck proposal to construct an outdoor pool as briefly described by project engineer Rich Rennia of Rennia Engineering of Dover Plains. The application is part of Phase 8 of Troutbeck’s adaptive reuse application, revised recently to reduce the environmental impact.

Keep ReadingShow less
Final grant of $675,000 awarded for Eddie Collins Memorial Park pool project
Eddie Collins Memorial Park in Millerton will the the site of a new community pool, with construction expected to begin by Spring 2025.
Archive photo

MILLERTON — Calling the ongoing revitalization of Eddie Collins Memorial Park “the largest project the village has taken on,” Mayor Jenn Najdek has disclosed additional funding has come through in support of its upgrade.

This past December, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation awarded the village a matching grant of up to $675,000 in support of the Eddie Collins Memorial Park Swimming Pool Project. With these monies, funding for Phase II of the project, which stems largely from a NY SWIMS capital grant, is now at $7.56 million.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pine Plains median home prices stay relatively steady at year's end

This 3 bedroom/2 bath renovated raised ranch at 7760 Main St. in Pine Plains sold for $590,000.

Photo by Christine Bates

PINE PLAINS — From August through November there were 14 sales in Pine Plains with only one on Lake Road selling for over a million dollars and two homes for over $500,000 — a midcentury modern in town closing for $590,000 and a historic house on 8.5 acres for $660,000.

Since September 2021 the median price for publicly listed properties in Pine Plains has hovered at around $350,000. Properties listed in mid-January include seven residences ranging in price from $150,000 to $8.95 million, six pieces of land and Harvest Homestead Farm on 343 acres with a fully functioning distillery formerly associated with 1930’s mobster Dutch Schultz.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Francis ‘Frank’ McNally

MILLERTON — Donald Francis “Frank” McNally Jr., passed away peacefully at Vassar Brothers Medical Center on Wednesday Jan. 8, 2025, after a short illness. Frank was a resident of Millerton since 1996. He was born on Jan. 27, 1955, in Cold Spring, New York, at Butterfield Hospital and was raised in Garrison, New York, where he enjoyed exploring and camping in the wilderness of the Hudson Valley, participating in the Boy Scouts as a bugler, and competing as captain of his high school wrestling team.

He was a graduate of James I. O’Neill High School in Highland Falls class of ‘74 and SUNY Cobleskill class of ‘76 where he majored in animal husbandry, specializing in equine science. He then proudly volunteered for the United States Peace Corps where he accepted an assignment to his host country of the Philippines, where he met his wife. Frank would then pursue his lifelong passion for horses and horseback riding on several horse farms in Dutchess County. Later he would work for New York state where he would then retire, spending his time caring for animals, reading, fishing and taking photographs. Frank enjoyed a good laugh with family and friends, while also occasionally winning a game of RISK. Frank was an avid reader, often reading several books a week while in the constant company of his cat.

Keep ReadingShow less