Rocko, the rock snake, began to take shape at the Amenia Library on Wednesday, June 12. Applying bright colors to local rocks were Cooper Hale, 7, in the foreground, and his brother Murphy, 4. The all-important head of the snake was to be the work of Parks and Recreation Director Katie Sterk-Grassi, diligently engaged at the far end of the table.
AMENIA — A town-wide project to create a community snake to be made of brightly painted rocks got underway at the Amenia Free Library on Wednesday, June 12, as library patrons donned smocks, selected a suitable rock and set about the creative process.
A joint venture between the Amenia Parks and Recreation Department and the library, the project took place on the outdoor patio with plenty of acrylic paints and brushes at the ready.
“Mine is a rainbow snake,” exclaimed Murphy Hale, 4, as he applied finishing touches to his marbleized approach to rock painting.
Noting that all of the rocks were home-grown, found locally throughout the town with many coming from Beekman Park, Parks and Recreation Director Katie Sterk-Grassi spoke of the preparation that involved finding the many rocks of varying sizes and then the work of scrubbing each one clean. Most with smooth surfaces were granite, some with jagged edges were quartz.
“We’ll see how the snake grows,” said Sterk-Grassi. “We’ll keep adding to it.” Her own creation was the snake’s head, the size of a small pumpkin, painted bright green, with an accompanying red tongue.
To be named Rocko, the snake will be displayed in front of the Town Hall where residents are invited to add their own painted rocks. The hope is that the snake will grow to an impressive length.
AMENIA — The Village of Millerton’s Board of Trustees met on Monday, Nov. 18 to discuss two items – changes to the pool project at Eddie Collins Memorial Park and requests for new equipment for the highway department.
According to Kevin Hasselwander, an architect at Labella Associates, an amendment was needed regarding the pool and pool house.
“All we’re doing is adding the DOH (Department of Health) and Army Corps to the list of involved agencies,” Hasselwander said. “And we are going to change the numbers, like the disturbed acreage, just a little bit.”
Hasselwander asserted the amendment will not cause significant delays to the project, saying, “We don’t have to go through the 30-day approval process. What we’ll do is we’ll set a date, and you and I can talk about it… as to when it’ll get the negative declaration. That way, if there are any comments from the agencies, they’ll know when to see it by.”
He went on to say the biggest challenge for the project will be the septic system in the park. A small section in the corner of Eddie Collins Memorial Park caught the contractors’ attention, prompting them to take action sooner rather than later.
“Right now, it [the wetlands] would be considered Army Corps regulated, but come January, all wetlands will be DC [Delineation Concurrence],” said Hasselwander. “It will no longer be Army Corps. We may not have to do anything with it, but in the case that we do because of the septic system, there needs to be separation. If we do need to permit and have it filled in, it’ll be much easier if we go through Army Corps.”
Despite the concern for wetlands within the park, the Village of Millerton and Labella are working with many different agencies to ensure the safety of the community. “The Dutchess County Department of Health will ensure that we have the proper separation of background water to the high groundwater market,” Hasselwander said. “We’ve done so much soil testing within the park from all different times of the year.”
The second item on the evening’s agenda centered on equipment needs for the highway department. According to Peter Dellaghelfa, the Superintendent of Public Works, new trucks to plow and clear snow for the upcoming winter season are very much a necessity.
“Right now one of the front pistons is leaking, so that is losing pressure,” Dellaghelfa said. “Now the other pistons, I’m just waiting for that to start leaking because I’m putting more strain on it. It’s going to keep getting worse and worse.”
The department is considering the option of trading in their old trucks or keeping them to use for less intensive purposes. “I think it would be worth it to keep it [old trucks],” said Dellaghelfa. “It’s good to put one of the guys in who has no experience. You don’t want to put them in the brand-new truck and have it break. I think it can be used as a training tool.” Dellaghelfa is in possession of price estimates from John Deere and Caterpillar, but would like to look into Batco or alternate options.
Getting new equipment could take weeks for a truck and up to six months for a Batco. According to Jenn Najdek, mayor of the village, she would need to put together a spreadsheet to figure out the rates and loan payments and have more information set out to have this plan working if they choose before winter comes.
POUGHKEEPSIE — Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino announced the newest grants from the County’s 2024 Youth Wellness Supports Microgrants program, totaling over $45,000.
These grants support important programs that reinforce positive behaviors in children and keep them from harmful activities. The money will be going to four local organizations that already build up young members of the community will avert them from developing substance abuse or other destructive habits.
The four projects being funded through the 2024 Youth Wellness program include $5,000 for the Red Hook Public Library, $5,000 for the Millbrook Library, $19,000 for Mental Health America of Dutchess County, and $18,761 for James’s Warriors in East Fishkill.
Red Hook intends to use the funding to train local librarians in Youth Mental Health First aid and develop an action plan for youth mental health crisis intervention. Millbrook plans to create an additional children’s book section focusing on mental health and substance use prevention. In addition, they are implementing a six-month kids’ yoga course, consisting of 24 classes, to enhance mindfulness and help children develop healthy coping skills.
Mental Health America of Dutchess County is designing a custom landscape for the Ellen’s Place outdoor classroom, which will allow children to have a creative space for their imaginations. James’s Warriors will purchase items to create coping kits to give out to schools after the organization’s presentations on mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
The wellness program focuses on many factors, including prevention, public awareness, social media awareness and safe use. The proposals for the grants should include one or more of the focus areas.
County executive Sue Serino said, “Every child deserves a promising future. In Dutchess County, we’re lucky to have numerous community partners who help guide them toward success. These grants will support crucial programs that encourage positive behaviors in our kids, keeping them away from risky activities that might derail their success.”
Individual recipients can receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $19,000. The Youth Wellness Support Microgrant program has been funded with $200,000 in opioid settlement funds gained from litigation against the pharmaceutical industry. So far, $95,060 has been awarded.
Town Hall in Amenia on Route 22.
AMENIA — Engaging in a variety of discussion topics, the Amenia Town Board at its regular meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21, agreed to hire a surveyor to define the boundaries of the small park in the center of Wassaic village.
The vote was unanimous to have surveyor Kirk Horton conduct the survey of the spot known locally as “Wassaic Pocket Park”” for a fee of $900.
Town Supervisor Leo Blackman noted that the surveyor’s fee is low because he indicated that he has done considerable surveying in the immediate area of the little park, so would have numerous existing points to measure from.
Reporting on discussion heard at the Wednesday, Nov. 20, meeting of the Water Committee concerning inaccessible meters, chairman Bill Flood sought Town Board approval for imposing a fine on property owners who have failed to allow access to repair non-functioning water meters.
The Town Board agreed that the Water District will make one more contact with the property owners, asking for access and notifying them of a pending fine. If no response is received, a fine of $500 will be levied, in accordance with water district policy.
Flood reported that an initial effort to access and repair non-working meters identified about 30 such meters within the water district. An initial mailing was successful in reducing the number to its current level of 19 meters, as homeowners responded and provided access.
“It’s much better if the meters are reading,” Nancy Nowak had said at the Water Committee meeting the previous night, commenting on her office’s responsibility for usage billing.
Flood reported that daily water usage within the district averages 225,000 to 250,000 gallons, although it fluctuates.
Discussion continued about the drafting of a local law to regulate any retail cannabis establishment.
Distances from schools, houses of worship, cemeteries, parks, and other public places where young people might frequent were again discussed, along with where the measurements are taken from, whether property line or doorway.
Town Board member Paul Winters indicated that state law dictates that measurements be taken doorway to doorway.
“The state law is pretty detailed,” Town Attorney Ian Lindars commented.
The town’s planning consultant has been reviewing the state law, comparing the town’s views on restrictions to the state’s statutes, seeking to clarify relationships between the two. The consultant has found that most area towns with retail cannabis establishments require a special permit in order to operate.
Resident Walter Dietrich spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, indicating that the town can impose stricter guidelines than those of the state, if the town wishes to.
“The whole idea of a dispensary should be put to a town vote,” Dietrich said, “rather than be decided by the Town Board.”
Before the close of the meeting, Winters responded to Dietrich’s comment, indicating that town residents have already given the authority to the Town Board to act on their behalf.
MILLBROOK — Millbrook student Lindsay McMorris is working alongside Lyall’s Community Church to serve free dinner and study sessions.
Beginning Thursday, Nov. 7, Lyall Church started hosting study sessions from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each week. The program aims to help Millbrook students from Kindergarten through twelfth grade with homework or studying while providing dinner at the same time.
“I am working towards my Girl Scout Gold Award, which is a big project,” said McMorris, “The two women I am working with, Lynn Grange and Kristen Reed, ran a very similar program, and it kind of fizzled out after COVID. So while looking for ideas for my Gold Award, I was like, ‘Oh, I can bring this back.’”
According to McMorris, she is hoping to reach as many students as possible through the study dinners program to assist with schoolwork but also with food insecurities many face. The program’s first week only saw two students, yet it is progressively growing. Approximately ten students had registered for the session on Thursday, Nov. 21.
“I’m just really hoping to have a program out there for kids who need study help because grades are very important to me. I know they’re very important to a lot of people,” McMorris said, “So having something out there that they can use to help them improve grades or just understand topics better, as well as we also address local food insecurity because we do provide a free meal at every meeting.”
To RSVP or for questions, email: lyallchurchstudydinner@gmail.com.
