Millerton’s big plans for Earth Day 2021

MILLERTON — Last year the worldwide shutdown brought on by the global coronavirus pandemic didn’t just put a damper on the enormous efforts the North East/Millerton Climate Smart Task Force (CSTF) made to celebrate Earth Day throughout the village and town —  it wiped them out entirely. 

This year, the CSTF was determined to help its little corner of northeastern Dutchess County celebrate Mother Earth and all of her majesty despite COVID-19, so Millerton Earth Day organizer and North East/Millerton Climate Smart Task Force Coordinator Kathy Chow and her throng of enthusiastic volunteers got to work planning an incredible series of activities and events throughout the area — indoor and out, virtual and in-person — to suit any physical situation, family situation, health situation or even weather situation that local residents may be dealing with during the current health crisis.

Jennifer Dowley is one of Chow’s volunteers, and a member of the Climate Smart Task Force. She explained some of the concepts for the multi-day Earth Day celebration, officially a global holiday on Thursday, April 22, which promotes “things that are green,” like home composting, enriching the earth, using electric vehicles, relying less on fossil fuels, etc.

“The whole theme of Earth Day this year is restore our earth… Most of the merchants think what this will do is just give people another reason to come to the village, and our merchants are all down for that because that just means more customers for them,” said Dowley. “And they are unified in helping with 100 trees for Millerton, which is really wonderful.”

100 trees for the park

One hundred trees for Millerton is a project to plant 100 new trees at the to be renamed Eddie Collins Park on Route 22, which is currently being renovated as a more comprehensive recreational space for the entire community. A new swimming pool will be built there; the former pool was shut down years ago due to severe cracks and leaks. 

The trees cost $600 each, so the CSTF is hoping to raise $60,000, which would be enough money to purchase, plant and tend to the trees for a year. Dowley said a card rack was being designed and should be ready by Earth Day, and that most merchants are totally behind the campaign. 

“Oblong Books is setting aside 10% of its earnings that weekend for the trees. It’s just so fabulous,” she said. “Our community is so supportive.”

There are many local businesses, community organizations, farms, even the library, getting into the spirit of Earth Day, with activities planned on Thursday, April 22; Saturday, April 24; and Wednesday, April 28. For more on some of what’s planned, turn to Page A2.

NECC clean up

“Our other big partner is the North East Community Center [NECC], and its annual Rail Trail and garden clean up,” said Dowley.

That clean up is taking place on Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. until noon at NECC, located at 51 South Center St., which backs up onto the Harlem Valley Rail Trail.

Residents are asked to join the community center and local student volunteers to spruce up the Rail Trail and the NECC grounds, help prepare its garden beds for planting, spread wood chips on its paths, organize its garden tools and (depending on the weather) repaint its picnic tables.

Volunteers are asked to bring gloves, shoes and clothes they won’t mind getting a little dirty. Health-safety protocols will be maintained throughout the event and masks are mandatory. 

Volunteers should just show up; afterward they can enjoy a takeaway barbecue lunch that will be provided once the work is completed. For more information, email nathan@neccmillerton.org or call 518-789-4259, ext. 129. 

EV on Century Boulevard

Dowley is also very excited about North East Ford, located just outside of the village on Route 44. The dealership is bringing a 2021 Ford Mustang Mock E, a fully electric vehicle (EV), to a tent it’s going to set up on Century Boulevard on the 24th. That’s where she hopes an EV charging station will ultimately be established by the village for future EV drivers. 

Dowley is currently working with the Village Board, which has been awarded a grant; it now has to go out to bid to pursue the project, she said.

“The whole thing about EVs is so new and interesting and the Mustang is such an iconic car, and although nobody can take this one on a drive on Earth Day they can sit in it and make an appointment for a test drive on Saturday, from 10 to 5,” said Dowley excitedly. “It’s coming — it’s coming very soon.”

Climate Smart Community website

In addition to all of the Earth Day events, the CSTF just launched its new Climate Smart Community website — perfect timing, according to North East town Supervisor Chris Kennan, who mentioned it in his newsletter email on Saturday, April 3.

“And, ta-da… spring is bringing us the launch of the Climate Smart Millerton website, which couldn’t be more exciting,” stated Kennan, sharing the link at www.climatesmartmillerton.org. “Rather than spend a lot of time and words describing this website, I encourage everyone to go to it and explore. Dive in! It’s the most visible product of the Town and Village’s participation in New York State’s remarkable and ambitious Climate Smart Communities program.”

The program aims for communities to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to make themselves better able to thrive under climate change,” according to Kennan, who said “one way we do that is by bringing information to the public, and this website does just that.”

Kennan continued to explain why caring about climate change is so important to our planet’s future — regardless of where one lives. 

“If you’ve ever thought, ‘what does it matter, we are a small community and our impact on the global climate is zilch,’ think again,” he said. “Because if every community like ours, and bigger, took actions to improve our climate, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce our carbon footprint, the combined effect would be to help slow global warming, with all the negative impacts it is having and will have. Our Climate Smart program is part of addressing that challenge, and it’s across the board: individuals, groups, businesses, organizations, and yes, your local government.”

The town supervisor credited the task force for contributing “hundreds and hundreds of hours of volunteer work,” and said the town has “been blessed with a knowledgeable and dedicated group of people who have slaved over it. While many have contributed to its formation, I would like in particular to thank Kathy Chow, our fearless Climate Smart Communities Task Force leader, and Tom Parrett and Rich Stalzer, who have shouldered so much of this burden. Thank you all!”

CSC supports wastewater petition

In the meantime, a petition drive was launched during the weekend of April 17 “to build support for the creation of a wastewater disposal system for the heart of the Village of Millerton,” according to the North East/Millerton Climate Smart Community, which sent out notification about the petition drive via an email blast from the Millerton Business Alliance (MBA).

According to the email, “The MBA wants to register its support of the Village’s effort to install a wastewater treatment plant. It is our understanding that there are currently federal funds available through the American Rescue Act for the development of wastewater treatment infrastructure and that it is likely that there will be future monies available through pending federal infrastructure bills.”

 Copies of the petition can be signed at Montage, at 25 Main St., or Oblong Books & Music, at 26 Main St. Those who prefer may send a letter of support to the mayor and town supervisor.  

Look for further details about the wastewater petition in next week’s edition of The Millerton News. Read more about Earth Day on this week’s Opinion Page.