Millerton, North East get greener

Millerton, North East get greener

Jeanne Vanecko, project manager, and Stephen Waite, chairman of the Eddie Collins Memorial Park Revitalization Committee, guided a public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 17, about phase two of the park’s redesign, which includes a pool and pool house.

Photo by Christine Bates

NORTH EAST — 2023 was a good year for advances in sustainability, improvements in the Village of Millerton and Town of North East.

Wastewater treatment

Work on the much-discussed, much-needed sewer system for Millerton and North East has finally begun; it is projected to be operational in about two years.

The village, following a feasibility study, opted to build a “hybrid” system, based on its success in Hillsdale and other municipalities. The design utilizes existing septic tanks and calls for constructing a network of “veins” that connect them to the new wastewater plant, to be located on village-owned property on South Center Street. Because the relatively small pipes can be drilled in horizontally, streets will not have to be dug up.

The village, along with engineers from of Tighe and Bond of Rhinebeck, then defined the district it will cover in its first two phases. Wastewater Committee Chairperson Jeanne Vanecko and the engineers then began their surveys of the 110 relevant properties to gather information needed to design the system.

The village will own and maintain the entire system including, as needed, replacement of septic tanks. Residents and businesses will pay a monthly fee based on use.

The new system will permit the opening of new businesses that had heretofore been unable to locate in Millerton.

The total cost is estimated at $13 million; a federal grant of $1 million is certain, and other grants are being sought.

Sustainability

The North East/Millerton Climate Smart Communities task force has been busy shepherding projects to save energy, money and to demonstrate our area’s green bona fides in pursuit of Climate Smart Bronze certification in 2024. Completion of work on the New York State Department of Conservation’s Office of Climate Change 2018 matching grant was carried out jointly by the town and the village; one keystone project was a Road-Stream Crossings Report, which inventoried and prioritized all 500 culverts and bridges, leading to upgrades in flood-prone areas.

Also significant was a Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Climate Action Plan, intended to track all energy consumption, calculate emissions and prioritize mitigation options.

2023 Infrastructure and safety improvements on Main Street included signalized crosswalks with flashing lights; and the town’s long-closed, unusable landfill was evaluated for solar installation.

New Town Hall, garage

The Town of North East bought the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses at 5603 Route 22 on July 18 for $430,000: The 4,512 square foot building will become the new Town Hall. (“The cost of less than $100 per square foot seems like a bargain compared to building new,” noted real-estate reporter Christine Bates in these pages.) Renovations are expected to begin this year, after which the current Town Hall will be sold and returned to the village tax roll.

The new town/village garage on Route 22, built on land purchased in 2020, will be fully operational once the driveway is completed — asphalt paving can only be done in warmer months.

Eddie Collins

Memorial Park

The first phase of the redevelopment of Eddie Collins Memorial Park — originally suggested years ago by village resident Stephen Waite — has finally opened to the public, thanks to a committee of dedicated trustees and volunteers. A pavilion, soccer field, playground, new parking lot and dozens of shade trees have welcomed visitors for several events since the park’s grand reopening this past summer.

Phase 2 will see the addition of a swimming pool and bathhouse.

Latest News

‘Maple Syrup Madness’ draws visitors to Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo for sweet treats

Dan Cohen, left, dispenses whipped cream on a plate of maple syrup treats during a demonstration on the making of maple syrup at Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo on Millbrook School’s campus.

Photos by Aly Morrissey

MILLBROOK — The Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo hosted its sixth annual Maple Syrup Madness Weekend on March 7 and 8, drawing visitors eager to sample fresh maple syrup, learn about the sugaring process and enjoy one of the region’s sweetest seasonal activities. The event will continue March 14 and 15, as long as the sap continues to flow, organizers said.

Visitors were treated to free tastings of locally made maple syrup with a side of waffles, while Alan Tousignant — a woodworker, syrup maker and director of the Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo — led demonstrations showing how sap collected from nearby maple trees is transformed into syrup.

Keep ReadingShow less
Stolen stroller returned to owner after grassroots recovery effort

Relief Chiropractic and Wellness on South Center Street in the Village of Millerton, where a stroller was reported stolen and later returned after Tyler Van Steenbergen

MILLERTON — News of a stolen stroller swept through Millerton last week after a grassroots effort to recover the expensive baby equipment gained traction on Main Street and social media.

The stroller, an UPPAbaby Vista model — widely considered a high-end brand and valued at more than $1,000 — was taken from outside Relief Chiropractic and Wellness on the corner of Main Street and South Center Street before it was anonymously returned the following day.

Keep ReadingShow less
Stanford parents call for more representation in school closure talks

Cold Spring Early Learning Center on Homan Road in Stanford. Pine Plains school district officials proposed closing the building last year citing budget constraints and declining enrollment.

Photo by Nathan Miller

STANFORD — Community members gathered on Wednesday, March 4, for a first look at a newly-formed committee that will analyze the impact of closing an elementary school building in the Pine Plains Central School District.

Town Supervisor Julia Descoteaux arranged the Wednesday meeting at Stanford Town Hall to find volunteers to represent the town in the district-wide Building Utilization Advisory Committee. The committee's first district-wide meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 12.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Accuracy and reputation key to local news

Accuracy and reputation key to local news

Publisher James Clark, left, and Executive Editor Christian Murray speak at Scoville Memorial Library March 7.

Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan

SALISBURY — What makes or breaks a local newspaper is its reputation, Lakeville Journal Executive Editor Christian Murray said at the Scoville Memorial Library Saturday, March 7.

Murray and publisher James Clark led a discussion at the library that was originally scheduled for January, but the weather intervened.

Keep ReadingShow less
Library building expected to reopen one month after burst pipe floods basement

The Millerton fire crew watches a pump hose carry water from the NorthEast-Millerton Library’s basement on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

Photo by Nathan Miller

MILLERTON — Library officials expect the NorthEast-Millerton Library to be fully open the weekend of March 14-15, a full month after a burst pipe forced librarians to move operations to the annex building on Century Boulevard.

Executive Director Rhiannon Leo-Jameson said the temporary relocation has been stressful, but library patrons have been understanding and using the library to the fullest extent possible.

Keep ReadingShow less

Alfred Lyon Ivry

Alfred Lyon Ivry

SALISBURY — Alfred Lyon Ivry, a long-time resident of Salisbury, and son of Belle (Malamud) and Morris Ivry, died in Bergen County, New Jersey, on Feb. 12 at the age of 91, surrounded by family members. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he was a graduate ofAbraham Lincoln High School and Brooklyn College, where he earned a B.A. in English literature and Philosophy and served as drama critic for the school paper.

Alfred earned a PhD in Medieval Jewish Philosophy from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts in 1963 and in 1971 was awarded a D. Phil in Medieval Islamic Philosophy from Oxford University, Linacre College.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.