Sign on Route 22 in Millerton is an effort to combat intolerance

MILLERTON — A sign displaying the message “Community + Kindness” was erected just before the traffic light in the Village of Millerton with the support of the Dutchess County Comission on Human Rights and Townscape.

Village Trustee and Townscape President Lisa Hermann announced there will be more to come. “After there were some hateful and discriminatory signs posted around the village a little while back, the Dutchess County Commission on Human Rights began to work with the NECC to discuss a way to fill the village with signs to offset those and show we are a welcoming community,” Hermann said. “From there, these groups reached out to the village, town and Townscape for additional assistance. We had a joint meeting with these groups and Svend Lindbaek and came up with the idea to launch the project through a large banner hosted on the fence of Svend’s property.”

“For the next phase of the project we hope to have additional property owners and artists throughout the village begin to put up art pieces, murals, banners, posters, etc. that represent the great diversity we have in our community to show our community members and visitors that we welcome kindness towards all here,” Hermann said. Townscape is hosting a webpage www.townscapemillerton.org/mcp that will continue to evolve as the project does to show other art installations, give thanks to those involved and be a hub for people that have questions or would like to offer their space or services. We plan to do a kickoff of the project in early to mid-January.”