Pat Murphy becomes Millbrook Deputy Mayor

MILLBROOK — Mayor Tim Collopy began the Village Trustee meeting on Wednesday, June 12 by announcing that Pat Murphy is the new Deputy Mayor.

In other business, representatives from the fire department announced the addition of 7 new members. Mayor Collopy congratulated them, prompting all the trustees to show appreciation.

Fire Chief Dominic Boscardin raised concerns about new proposed OSHA guidelines that would require double the training of new recruits as well as expensive gear requirements.

Every member would be required to have two sets of in-date turnout gear, which would complicate their financial standing. Chief Boscardin urged Mayor Collopy to prepare letters as concerns are being brought to the state legislature.

Newly appointed Police Chief Keith Dworkin announced the department was awarded a $129,000 Law Enforcement Technology Grant after their initial application in December 2023.

“That money will be used for improvements and upgrades to the department’s infrastructure, including computers and computer servers,” said Dworkin.

Since Arbor Day the Shade Tree Committee led by Trustee Mike Herzog has planted 14 trees around the village. Herzog also pointed out that village members can inquire with the committee about having a tree planted in their own yard.

A proposal to switch street light bulbs with LEDs was made by Herzog.

Despite hesitation about the brightness and color temperature of the proposed lights the trustees agreed to a changeover, noting that electric bill savings would cover the cost of the project in three years.

Latest News

Fallen trees injure man, destroy fences at dog shelter

Two uprooted locust trees still lie in the yard in front of Animal Farm Foundation’s original kennels where they fell on a fence during a storm on Thursday, June 19.

Nathan Miller

AMENIA — Fallen trees, uprooted and splintered during a thunderstorm, injured a man, destroyed fences and damaged a dog kennel at the Animal Farm Foundation facilities in Bangall.

Isaias Nunez was cleaning along a road on the property with Marco Ortiz, another employee of the dog shelter, when the storm rolled in on the afternoon of Thursday, June 19.

Keep ReadingShow less
Siglio Press: Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature

Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.

Richard Kraft

Siglio Press is a small, independent publishing house based in Egremont, Massachusetts, known for producing “uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.” Founded and run by editor and publisher Lisa Pearson, Siglio has, since 2008, designed books that challenge conventions of both form and content.

A visit to Pearson’s airy studio suggests uncommon work, to be sure. Each of four very large tables were covered with what looked to be thousands of miniature squares of inkjet-printed, kaleidoscopically colored pieces of paper. Another table was covered with dozens of book/illustration-size, abstracted images of deer, made up of colored dots. For the enchanted and the mystified, Pearson kindly explained that these pieces were to be collaged together as artworks by the artist Richard Kraft (a frequent contributor to the Siglio Press and Pearson’s husband). The works would be accompanied by writings by two poets, Elizabeth Zuba and Monica Torre, in an as-yet-to-be-named book, inspired by a found copy of a worn French children’s book from the 1930s called “Robin de Bois” (Robin Hood).

Keep ReadingShow less
Cycling season: A roundup of our region’s rentals and where to ride them

Cyclists head south on the rail trail from Copake Falls.

Alec Linden

After a shaky start, summer has well and truly descended upon the Litchfield, Berkshire and Taconic hills, and there is no better way to get out and enjoy long-awaited good weather than on two wheels. Below, find a brief guide for those who feel the pull of the rail trail, but have yet to purchase their own ten-speed. Temporary rides are available in the tri-corner region, and their purveyors are eager to get residents of all ages, abilities and inclinations out into the open road (or bike path).

For those lucky enough to already possess their own bike, perhaps the routes described will inspire a new way to spend a Sunday afternoon. For more, visit millertonnews.com/tag/bike-route to check out two ride-guides from local cyclists that will appeal to enthusiasts of many levels looking for a varied trip through the region’s stunning summer scenery.

Keep ReadingShow less