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Arbor Day tree planting will further Amenia’s Tree City USA goals
Leila Hawken
Apr 22, 2026
AMENIA — Plans are in place for the town’s second annual Arbor Day tree planting scheduled for Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m. The event will be held at the head of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail in Wassaic, near Maxon Mills.
Sponsored by Amenia’s Enhancement Committee, the event is taking place under the guidance of committee member Maryanne Snow-Pitts, a local gardening professional, naturalist and owner of Earthworks Organic Gardener in Wassaic. For the second year, the Amenia Garden Club has donated the tree to be planted.
The tree planting is a required annual event for Tree City USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation. That designation is part of a nationwide program that began in the 1970s to promote community trees in public spaces.
For more information, contact Snow-Pitts at 845-877-9013.
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Residents ask Amenia to issue proclamation for Tree City USA designation
Leila Hawken
Apr 22, 2026
AMENIA — As Arbor Day approaches on Friday, April 24, the Town Board heard a request from local gardeners to issue a proclamation that would move the town toward Tree City USA designation from the national Arbor Day Foundation.
Detailing the requirements for the application process, gardening expert Maryanne Snow-Pitts spoke at the regular Town Board meeting on Thursday, April 16. Spearheading the application process is resident and showcase gardener Paul Arcario, who also spoke.
Both asked the Town Board to agree to issue a proclamation in support of becoming a Tree City. Town attorney Ian Lindars advised that the board would need to pass a resolution to move forward with the proclamation, indicating that he would prepare the resolution for action at the next meeting.
To complete the application, Snow-Pitts said the town needs to observe Arbor Day with an event that includes planting a tree on the fourth Friday in April, the nationally recognized date of Arbor Day.The tradition of Arbor Day began in Nebraska in 1872, where settlers saw a need on the treeless prairie to introduce trees for protection against wind, and as a source for heat and lumber. A million trees were planted soon after.
Other application requirements include the town establishing a tree management policy and a Tree Board to administer the policy while promoting local tree planting. The town would also need to designate $2 per resident to fund the program, which in Amenia, with its population of about 3,500, would total around $7,000. However, Snow-Pitts noted that the value of volunteer hours can offset some of that total.
The Tree City USA program is a nationwide recognition program. Communities that meet the Arbor Day Foundation’s standards can apply every year for a designation. The program aims to promote community tree plantings and encourage communities to plant and care for more trees.
“We started last year with a tree planting on the Rail Trail in Wassaic,” Show-Pitts said, noting that this year’s tree planting will happen at the same location on Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m., near Maxon Mills. The Amenia Garden Club is providing the tree.
“We feel that the proclamation is doable, since we already have an Arbor Day event,” said Arcario, adding that the area towns of Pawling and Millbrook have achieved Tree City designation.
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Local volunteers lead successful Bulk Trash Day in Millerton
Millerton News
Apr 22, 2026
Local volunteers from the Village of Millerton and Town of North East commemorate 2026’s Bulk Trash Day with a group photo.
Nathan Miller

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Roadside cleanup across northeast Dutchess
Millerton News
Apr 22, 2026
Stanford Conservation Advisory Council Chair Curtis Devito, left, and Mike Frisch, who founded the Hunns Lake Road Association, posed for a photo at Roosters Route 82 in Stanfordville where volunteers could pick up trash bags for roadside cleanup day on Saturday, April 18.
Nathan Miller
Millerton library offers free Spanish lessons free
Graham Corrigan
Apr 22, 2026
File photo
MILLERTON — A child’s ability to absorb language can feel almost like a superpower — and the Millerton Library is leaning into that idea with a new series of free Spanish lessons for young learners.
The program, designed for children ages 5 to 7, will run over the next four Saturdays beginning April 25, led by instructor Isabel Gutiérrez Rendón.
Rendón taught English to children in her home country, Colombia. She began teaching Spanish to children in the U.S. shortly after moving here and working as an au pair.
“It’s something I can share with other kids,” Rendón said. “If they’re interested in learning a new language, I’m happy to do it.”
The lessons are aimed at young children, according to Kim Yarnell, an organizer with the library. “At that point, they’re old enough to pay attention,” said Yarnell with a laugh. “The gift of a second language is one of the best things you can give your kid.”
The curriculum is designed to tackle the basics, for that age. The first lesson will cover greetings and introductions, followed by sessions on numbers, days of the week, and seasons. But it won’t be a typical classroom experience. “The kids aren’t going to just be sitting and listening to me,” she said. “I want them to be up and moving.”
They’ll tackle Spanish in a variety of ways: music, physical activities, games, and simple conversational practice are all on the docket.
The offer of free lessons comes as the mid-Hudson valley has welcomed larger numbers of Spanish-speaking residents in recent years. Dutchess County’s Hispanic population increased from 11% in 2010 to 17% in 2024. “We’re building bridges” with new residents, said Yarnell. “It’s also reflective of the importance of our local library.” The first class is on Saturday, April 25, at the Millerton Library.
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Webutuck hosts Catskill for 2026 home opener
Millerton News
Apr 22, 2026
Ciara Grey makes contact with a pitch during the Webutuck softball team’s home opener on Tuesday, April 14, at Webutuck High School.
Nathan Miller
Nathan Miller
Ciara Grey throws a ball to home plate to defend against Catskill runners during Webutuck softball’s home opener on Tuesday, April 14, at Webutuck High School. The game against Catskill ended with a 20-5 win for the visiting team, with Webutuck putting up modest runs in the latter half of the game.


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