Maybe it’s time to notice how many major infrastructure projects have been landing on the desks of our municipal leaders.

Amenia is facing a federally mandated inspection of its water lines, and water district maintenance. At a meeting in mid June, the town board was called upon to release funds so that the Amenia Water Committee can begin to apply for grants. The committee needs to perform records research, home inspections for all water district customers and service-line inspections. Amenia’s Wastewater Committee needs $45,000 to move ahead on work to map, plan and define a wastewater district within the town. The money would go to hiring an engineer and an attorney to pursue applications for infrastructure grants.

For months, the Amenia Recreation Commission has been planning the first phase of a five-year master plan for the Amenia Green project on acreage surrounding Town Hall. This month, residents were presented with information about the project and its challenges by Jane Didona of Didona Associates in Danbury, Conn. Paul Winters, Amenia’s recreation chairman, emphasized that the project wouldn’t be attempted “all in one shot” and explained that the intention is to build the project with grant funding. Next up would be another presentation to the public. Town board approval is needed. Engineering drawings would then show the design and contractors could estimate cost.

In Pine Plains, the town board is discussing a moratorium on solar-power projects. The rationale for such a move is a recognition that the current law could be made better, as well as a realization that the town could face a proliferation of solar projects. The elephant in the room is the Carson Power solar project, which made progress last week toward approval when the town’s planning board concluded that the project didn’t pose significant harmful impact on the environment, or otherwise. The company is proposing to build a commercial solar farm on 174 acres at Pulvers Corners. The panel’s decision comes after nearly half a year of consideration and three public hearings that heard testimony from residents and experts who spoke mostly against the project.

Also this month, the Town of North East met to discuss “another step in the very long process that we have to form a wastewater district for the Town of North East,” in the words of Town Supervisor Chris Kennan. The process will be time-consuming and will require many meetings, public hearings and discussion about grant funding, of which there are many sources. The proposed district comprises the boulevard district of Route 44 from CVS to the Connecticut state line and will, when complete, connect to the wastewater district being simultaneously formed by the Village of Millerton, with the village owning and operating the system. The Village of Millerton and the Town of North East will create an intermunicipal agreement governing how the two entities will work together to operate the system.

Millbrook has a project to repair, remove and reconstruct new sidewalks, necessitating the removal of five trees along Franklin Avenue. Village trustee Mike Herzog has long been an advocate for keeping Millbrook’s Tree City USA designation and recently attended the Tree City USA award ceremony and accepted an award on behalf of the village for the 31st year in a row. He also has been a long proponent of acquiring the means to have the village sidewalks repaired or replaced and has worked to apply for grants for the work.

Town and village board members, committee members and citizens who make all this happen should be commended for doing the basic work — and transparently so — that we need for everyday life.

Latest News

Amenia board honors employees for service

Long-term town employees were recognized at the Town Board meeting on Thursday, June 12. Honorees pictured with Town Supervisor Leo Blackman, were Judy Carlson, Office Manager at the Town Garage, center, for her 35 years of service to the town and Megan Chamberlin, current Highway Superintendent, for 20 years.

Leila Hawken

AMENIA — Acknowledging the many years of service accumulated by town employees, the Town Board paused to honor that service at its meeting on Thursday, June 12.

“Thank you for making a difference,” said Town Supervisor Leo Blackman in recognizing Judy Carlson, Office Manager at the town garage, for her 35 years of service.

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Historic marker dedicated at Amenia Union Cemetery

In anticipation of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution in 2026, new historic markers are appearing at each of the local cemeteries where Revolutionary War veterans are buried. Unveiling the new marker at Amenia Union Cemetery on Saturday, June 21, were left to right, Town Historian Betsy Strauss, Jim Middlebrook representing the regional chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Gail Seymour, President of the Union Cemetery Association.

Photo by Leila Hawken

AMENIA — One by one, new historic markers are appearing at local cemeteries where Revolutionary War dead are buried. On Saturday, June 21, community members gathered to see a new marker unveiled at Amenia Union Cemetery on Leedsville Road.

A tent provided welcome shade for the attendees and refreshments as about 30 residents gathered for the unveiling and to share stories of local history with one another.

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Millerton Street Fair celebration June 28

Bee Bee the clown, face painters and a community wide scavenger hunt are among the activities planned for the Millerton Street Fair in Downtown Millerton on Saturday, June 28.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLERTON — The Millerton News, in partnership with the North East Community Center (NECC) and the Millerton Business Alliance, is hosting its first Street Fair on Saturday in a celebration of the town.

Rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, the fair will bring together local nonprofits and businesses, with live music, entertainment, kids’ activities, local eats, and family fun in Veterans Park, in front of the Millerton Inn, and beyond.

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Millbrook Historical Society announces summer Quaker lecture series

The Nine Partners Road Quaker Meetinghouse, built in 1780, will be the site of two summer lectures sponsored by the Millbrook Historical Society.

Photo by Leila Hawken

MILLBROOK — Long in the planning, the Millbrook Historical Society has announced that it is sponsoring two lectures in observance of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Both lectures relating to Quaker history are to be held in the historic Quaker Meeting House on Nine Partners Road.

For the first talk, scheduled for Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m., the historical society has invited Sarah Gronningsater, Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, to talk on “Quakers, Anti-slavery, and the American Revolution.” The topic will explore the role that New York’s Quakers, especially in the Hudson Valley, played in the rise of the anti-slavery movement that followed the American Revolution.

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