guest commentary

Townscape of Millerton and North East – 25 years strong

Townscape of Millerton and North East – 25 years strong
Lisa Hermann

If you love the spring flowers at Veterans Memorial Park and on the bridge coming into town; appreciate the many splendid tree plantings everywhere; are cheered by the holiday lights on Main Street during the winter; and enjoy sitting at the benches and tables in Veterans Park — did you know Townscape of Millerton and North East was behind it all for the last 25 years?

Visit our redesigned website to see a visual history of the many projects Townscape has initiated and an acknowledgement of the many volunteer board members who have brought them to fruition. If you would like to get involved, our contact page is townscapemillerton.org/contact.

Townscape was originally founded as an outreach committee in 1998 by Catherine Fenn, Renee Vollen, and Jan Gilmor. It brought together many folks for fun, family-friendly beautification activities, galas, and events. In 2006, Townscape was incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)3. Its mission is to enhance the aesthetic, natural, and historic environment of our town and village.

Townscape not only beautifies our streets and parks, but also acts as a social and financial conduit in support of other local community initiatives. Some of Townscape’s most recent projects include a guide to Accessible Millerton and an online historic walking tour. Both can be found at townscapemillerton.org/explore-millerton.

In 2023, Jeanne Vanecko stepped down after seven years as president. Her contributions to Townscape’s projects are deeply appreciated, especially her oversight of the annual holiday lighting project, and her tireless advocacy for the Accessible Millerton initiative and the wastewater infrastructure plan.

Townscape welcomes Village Board member Lisa Hermann (nee Erdner) as the new president, with the following board of directors: Jeanne Vanecko (vice president), Edie Greenwood (treasurer), Teri Goetz (secretary), Catherine Fenn (founding president), Charlotte Cooper, Claire Goodman, Mitra Walter, Elizabeth Barrett (new member), and Sarah O’Connell (new member). We say goodbye to Pete Hathaway and Karen Pitcher and thank them for their valuable service.

“I look forward to increasing Townscape’s visibility through our website, organizing community events, and finding creative ways to raise funds so we can keep up the good work!” says Lisa Hermann.

If you would like to donate a tree or a bench in memory of a loved one, please contact us. Or perhaps consider making a tax-deductible donation to help continue our work: Send checks to Townscape, PO Box 835, Millerton, NY 12546, or visit our website www.townscapemillerton.org/donate.

guest commentary
The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Millerton News and The News does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

Latest News

Millerton Police Dept. rebuilds after fire; new cruisers on the way

Millerton Police Dept. rebuilds after fire; new cruisers on the way

The borrowed Pine Plains cruiser parked on Main Street in front of the Millerton Inn during the Millerton Street Fair on Saturday, June 28.

Photo by Aly Morrissy

MILLERTON — After receiving substantial state grant funding in July 2024 and beginning to roll out new equipment that fall, the Millerton Police Department suffered a setback when the February fire at the Village Water and Highway Department building destroyed much of its newly acquired gear — including patrol vehicles outfitted with cutting-edge technology.

Thanks to full-value insurance coverage and swift support from the Town of Pine Plains — which loaned the department a vehicle — Millerton officers were able to remain active in the community. Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik said two custom-built, four-wheel-drive Ford Interceptor cruisers are now in production and are expected to arrive by the end of the summer.

Keep ReadingShow less

Uncertainty looms over Millerton community pool timeline

Uncertainty looms over Millerton community pool timeline

Groundbreaking of the new pool planned for Eddie Collins Park has been delayed after the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation intervened to determine the status of wetlands in the proposed building site.

Archive photo

MILLERTON — The long-awaited groundbreaking for a new community pool at Eddie Collins Memorial Park — once expected this past April — now faces significant delays with no definitive timeline in sight, Mayor Jenn Najdek said.

The primary setback stems from a still-pending permitting process, as the village awaits final approvals from the Dutchess County Board of Health and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regarding septic placement and wetland buffers. A patch of wetlands on the site — roughly five feet by five feet, Najdek said — requires a protective buffer, which could range anywhere from 5 to 100 feet. That determination will dictate whether the current pool design needs to be altered or moved altogether.

Keep ReadingShow less

North East town records brought into the digital age

North East town records brought into the digital age

Chris Virtuoso reorganized parcel records in the North East Town Hall basement by parcel number during the process of scanning and digitizing the documents.

Photo by Grace DeMarco

MILLERTON — Within the walls of the two-story Victorian housing the North East Town Hall lies a room-full of town records dating back to the late 19th century. Stored in labeled cardboard boxes and protected by dehumidifiers, the records are in the process of being dated, organized, and scanned into categorized online programs.

As the Town Hall works to relocate to 5603 Route 22 at the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, the consolidation and digitalization of records, as well as the disposal of those unneeded, is a time-sensitive project. Marcy Wheatley, the Deputy Town Clerk, emphasized their current heavy focus on organizing and scanning. “Now, when we move, we can get rid of a lot,” Wheatley stated.

Keep ReadingShow less

Fun, food and facts bring crowds to downtown Millerton

Fun, food and facts bring crowds to downtown Millerton

Nora Garcia, 6, of Millerton, bottom right, gets a face painting treatment from Maddy Rowe, a Webutuck High School senior. Nora’s sister, Juliana, 8, top right, is decorated by Giana Kall, a Webutuck senior. The program was sponsored by the Webutuck PTA.

Photo by John Coston

Locals and visitors packed into downtown Millerton Saturday, June 28, for the first ever Millerton Street Fair hosted by the Millerton News, the Millerton Business Alliance and Townscape. Representatives from local nonprofits, businesses along Main Street, Bee Bee the Clown and face painters from Webutuck High School drew in crowds all afternoon.

Festivities officially opened at 10 a.m., and a steady stream of visitors soon followed. Volunteer firefighters hosted a bouncy castle, a duck pool, a “put out the fire” ring toss game, and the “touch a truck” event at the fire department’s garage.

Keep ReadingShow less