Posted July 28, 2010

4 a.m. fire burns Front Street business to a crisp

Details are still trickling in about an early morning fire at an area furniture business that left a big patch of land in its wake.

At approximately 9:30 a.m. this morning, Millbrook Fire Chief Ted Bownas was still on scene, but by all reports, the fire had been contained and suffocated long before then.

Stay tuned online and in next week's paper for photos, a play-by-play timeline of events, and reactions from the community.

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Posted July 22, 2010

Millbrook girl suffers broken neck after alcohol-related car crash

By Olesia Plokhii

An early morning car accident July 11 stemming from an underage drinking party the prior night landed a Millbrook girl at Saint Francis Hospital with a broken neck and the mother of another passenger in handcuffs, a state trooper said.

In the print copy of the Independent, this article contains several inaccuracies; a correction will be printed in the next issue of the paper. We regret the mistake.

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Stanford history day brings out the big guns

By Olesia Plokhii

The only thing that marked the 21^st century amid a walking Harriet Tubman, a battle-ready and bayonet-pointing 150^th N.Y. Infantry, erected tents, smoldering bonfires, and costumed N.Y. Balladeers was Stanford town Supervisor Virginia Stern.

Wearing a flowing skirt and a white button-up cotton shirt, Stern was dressed in the classic frock of the 18-20^th centuries, a time period magnified and celebrated July 17 during the town’s first ever Living History Day.

“We’ve had a great response all day,” Stern said. “It’s so important to come together with old friends and new acquaintances to learn more about Stanford’s history, like the railroad,” she said.

Teaching younger generations about the Civil War was made a little easier Saturday with six N.Y. Infantry re-enactors.

“Our connection to the area is local history,” said Pete Bedrossian about his “emotional attachment” to his alter ego, one of 600 plus Dutchess County men recruited in Poughkeepsie in 1862 to serve in two of the most important battles of the Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg and Sherman’s March to the Sea.

“We started marching late June, arrived in Gettysburg July 2,” Bedrossian began, “and each one of us men fired 150 rounds of ammo July 3.”

It’s on the behalf of more than 200 men that didn’t return with the rest of the 150^th Infantry that Bedrossian came to Stanford July 17.

“We are a nation of short-term memory,” he said. “We’re speaking for those who’ve lost their voice.”

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Posted July 17, 2010

Millbrook’s 23-engine, 12-band march

Last week’s Fireman’s parade and carnival brought together a cross-section of more than a thousand people Wednesday through Saturday, with 23 different fire departments and a dozen different marching bands having participated in Saturday’s parade.

Millbrook Fire Department President Matthew Rochford reported that 22 trophies were given out Saturday evening.

‘Best Appearing Regulation’ in-county was awarded to Dover’s J.H. Ketcham fire department; ‘Best Appearing Non-regulation’ to the Amenia fire department; the ‘Augustine Rotunno Memorial Trophy for Best Overall’ in-county and out-of-county was given to the Union Vale fire department; the ‘Best Appearing Engine’ in-and-out-of-county went to the Beekman fire department; and the ‘Best Appearing Aerial’ both in and out-of-county went to Dover’s J.H. Ketcham fire department.

For more photos from the parade and carnival, pick up this week's paper.

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 Posted July 17, 2010

Village calls for voluntary water conservation

By Olesia Plokhii

The village of Millbrook has in a notice requested residents to conserve outdoor water use as best as possible in light of the recent heat wave, breaking seldom for rain, and resulting in low water tower levels.

Village mayor Laura Hurley said the notice heeds residents to either temporarily forego or use less water washing their car, running their sprinkling systems, or watering plants until water levels at the water works facility have stabilized.

“We noticed a substantial drop in underground water levels leading to the water tower,” said Scott Osborne, Area Coordinator for VRI Environmental Services, the company that operates village water and sewer facilities. “These levels are the lowest I’d seen in years so we wanted to take a proactive approach instead of waiting for an emergency situation.”

Find out more on the village's water vigilance in this week's Millbrook Independent.

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 Posted July 17, 2010

Animal den detected in village sounds alarm for wildlife awareness

Sightings of what is either a coyote, coy-dog, or grey fox from several village and town residents, including village mayor Laura Hurley, have prompted the village and its  animal control officer to post a notice on the village website warning people to beware.

The notice reminds people to secure their outdoor garbage and be “diligent in watching their small pets,” as well as never to leave small children unattended, especially at night.

While the village and animal control officer Ed Adams are currently planning on relocating the animal, suspected of keeping a den behind the town hall, resident attempts at cornering or otherwise intersecting the fox or coyote in the meantime are strongly discouraged and could be dangerous.

“I don’t think anyone will get attacked,” Adams reassured, “and the animal looks good and healthy so there is no risk of rabies, but if the animal is hungry enough, they could pull something brazen like snatching your pet for dinner.”

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Posted Friday, July 9, 2010

Nocturnal ‘stoopers’ a welcome village sight

After years of informal evening meetings, Franklin Avenue’s most loyal patrons become official

By Olesia Plokhii

It’s 9 p.m.; do you know where your husband is?

Franklin Avenue. Again. With the rest of the boys.

They sit beneath the Millbrook Antique Center on Franklin Avenue every night. Lawn chairs assembled in a circle or semi-circle, depending how many of them show up that particular evening, they talk village politics, life under the Obama administration, women, cars, and everything else under the sun—or moon, in this case.

Although the players change, the group, which jokingly calls themselves Millbrook’s welcoming committee, has always been the same. Like clockwork, they gather around 8 p.m. and chart their territory until 11, sometimes midnight, depending on how juicy the conversation is.

Call it male bonding, call it late-night coffee and cigarette therapy, call it shooting the breeze. Just don’t call it boring—or overly serious.

“We’ve seen everything from flat tires, to mild hit and runs, to kids who had a little too much to drink, to people asking for directions, to pretty women walking their dogs,” laughed Joe Still, one of the founding members of the ‘stoop’ club. “But our favorite part is really just sitting here, talking to each other and the people who walk by.”

“This is the Times Square of Millbrook and I wouldn’t miss a day.”

And neither would other core club members Michael Lang, Pat Wing, and, with teasing resistance from the rest of the boys to naming him an official member before he’s “paid his dues,” 18-year-old Chuck Richwine.

Of course, there are other auxiliary members to this ten-person intergenerational arsenal, like former village mayor Don Briggs and 10-year-old Salix, a loyal black and white lurcher.

But the story really starts with a guy named Kenny Lilly.

To read the rest on Millbrook's 'stoop club,' pick up a paper today.

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Shunpike Dairy cleared for raw milk sales

Liz Baldwin’s Shunpike Dairy received its approval to sell raw milk on Friday and on Saturday a new sign appeared at her driveway announcing Raw Milk available there.

It was a long wait. The NY State department of Agriculture made it plain to Liz that she would have to jump through hoops to get her license, and she did.

She installed a new milk tank in a separate room with the most up-to-date cooling equipment designed to keep the milk at exactly the right temperature, she got the room sheathed in while vinyl for easy washing, installed a cement floor with drain, had the barn steam washed and cleaned, had the outside clean, and made sure there was no manure in sight. Then, they came back and said she needed a bunch more tests done to make sure her cows did not have brucellosis, a disease that the NY State Department of Health says is rare. Since 1993, there have been eight reported cases of brucellosis; two were lab-acquired, five were from drinking raw milk products from counties with endemic disease, and one was from an undetermined cause.

The brucellosis test was passed and on Friday the Shunpike Dairy was cleared as the 29^th dairy in New York authorized to sell raw milk at the farm.

Customers will have to bring their own jug or bottle and have Liz or one of her helpers fill the container from the milk tank. The price is $8 per gallon or $2 a quart.  The milk can’t be sold anywhere but at the farm or at a farmer’s market. Cheese can be made from raw milk, but it has to be aged for more than 60 days to be sold.

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Town of Washington Comp. Plan tentative schedule

The Town of Washington Comprehensive Plan Committee at last week’s meeting distributed a draft schedule of plans pertaining to the Comprehensive Plan.

The dates, not final and subject to change, are as follows:

-At the Committee’s 9^th meeting set to be held July 2010, the Committee plans to “suggest revised vision statement based on feedback and distribute widely.”

-At the third Community workshop set to be held in July 2010, the Committee plans to “schedule and conduct follow up workshop on vision statements, goals, and actions.”

-At the Committee’s 10^th meeting slated to be held on September 2010, the Committee plans to “conduct a committee meeting to review the revised vision, goals, and actions.”

-At the next Committee meeting in September 2010, a second meeting will be conducted to review the vision, goals, and actions.

-In October 2010, the Committee will “prepare draft Comprehensive Action Plan and Matrix and distribute announcement of its availability. Accept comments through the website or in writing.”

-At the next Community Workshop in November 2010, the Committee plans to “prepare and conduct a community workshop to present the draft comprehensive plan.”

-At their 12^th Committee meeting in November 2010, the Committee plans to “schedule and conduct committee meeting to review public comments and determine edits to the draft plan.”

-In December 2010, the Committee plans to “revise draft plan following community input.”

-Also in December 2010, the Committee plans to “consult with Planning Board on draft plan and integrate comments.”

-In January of 2011, the Committee’s 13^th meeting will “discuss Planning Board comments.”

-In January of 2011, the Committee will refer “the Draft Plan to the Town Board. The Town Board conducts hearing on drat plan.”

-In February 2011, the Town Board will refer “the draft plan to Dutchess County and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets for their required reviews and commences SEQRA review.

-In March/April 2011, the Committee plans on the third SEQRA Presentation Hearing, where “all SEQRA requirements are completed including all required notifications and waiting periods.

-In April 2011, there will be a final review, where “final comments are integrated into the final Comprehensive Plan, and in

-April of 2011, the “Town Board conducts a hearing on the final plan” and adoption commences.

Posted Thursday, July 1, 2010

High School graduates leave words, memories by which to remember Millbrook

By Olesia Plokhii

At the 55^th commencement of Millbrook high school’s graduating seniors June 26, 104 smiles shone brighter than the scorching sun.

The jubilant ceremony took place on the front lawn of Alden Place Elementary School, where white and blue robes, flowing balloons, adoring family members, slices of cake, and flowing humor gave promise to the significance of the near-perfect day and the optimistic future ahead.

High School Principal Christine Ackerman warned the students that while they are growing up and entering unchartered territories, some things will never change.

“Soon, you will be able to send text messages whenever you want and go to the bathroom without asking,” she said to a smiling audience of at least 500. “But never forget that your parents will always love you, worry about you, and that Millbrook will always be your home.”

The Salutory Address was given by graduating senior Jarred Hoyt.

“Today is a day to think about where you will go from here and what mark you will make on the world,” he said.

To read the rest of the story on the 55th graduating class, grab a copy of the paper today.

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Village seeks Police Chief

By Olesia Plokhii

Millbrook has for the last week been accepting applications for the position of a part-time Police Chief.

Village trustee Edward “Buddy” Cox, a retired Poughkeepsie police officer who serves as the village board’s liaison to the police department, said Monday the department is looking to fill a void in its administrative wing.

“We’re looking for someone to set rules, regulations, policies and procedures,” Cox said. “It’s been a while since we had someone in that role.”

Millbrook Police Officer-in-Charge Justin Scribner, who currently does much of the department’s administrative work, is also responsible for at least 18 hours of village patrol. Cox stressed that while Scribner has done his job well, most fire, highway and police departments have positions solely dedicated to administration.

 Find out more on this story by purchasing this week's Millbrook Independent.

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RASCO refuses to go before ZBA; ‘neg dec’ declared by Planning Board

By Tonia Shoumatoff

The application to manufacture asphalt out of petroleum contaminated soils for a road base product at the Mid-Hudson Recycling Center in Dover Plains has reached a roadblock. It is stuck between the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) in a complicated use determination. 

On May 17 the Dover Planning Board referred the application to the Zoning Board for a determination on the use but on June 21 the applicant submitted a letter to the Planning Board insisting that their business should be grandfathered in based on “new evidence.” The applicant’s counsel stated at the June meeting that they would not go before the Zoning Board.

The attorney for the Planning Board, Victoria Polidaro, explained: “Under the Dover Town Code, only a legal use can be grandfathered in and there is a question about whether the prior operation was legal,” she said. “Only the ZBA can determine the pre-existing use and the Building Inspector will have to decide whether the prior use was legal.”

The attorneys for all concerned parties will be holding a conference call to discuss what the procedure will be to move forward and get the ZBA’s judgment since the applicant refuses to appear before the Board. Polidaro also said that the letter submitted to the Planning Board claims that the applicant has found additional information that supports their pre-existing use status and wants the Board to accept that.

“The Planning Board cannot make that determination, only the Zoning Board can,” Polidaro said.

Former Town Attorney Shannon LaFrance, who is now the counsel for the Oblong Land Conservancy that owns the Carruth Preserve contiguous to the site of the proposed Rasco operation, also submitted a letter to the Planning Board at the June 21 meeting. She said there is no evidence that TT Materials (the prior entity who operated a similar operation from 1993 until it was shut down by the NYS DEC in 2003) ever obtained the required local approvals or special use permit necessary to lawfully run their operation.  

Posted Sunday, June 27, 2010

BP oil begins washing up on Florida shores

PENSACOLA—The westernmost part of Florida’s panhandle had, until last week, not seen the effects of British Petroleum’s April oil spill, the worst in U.S. history. But on June 11, Pensacola, the region’s largest city, got its first foul taste.

Touristy Perdido key, a long, sandy island that stretches for miles along the coastline into Alabama, also showed signed of contamination.

BP’s best efforts to stop the gushing well have, as of yet, been unsuccessful.  Perhaps of more concern to many Gulf Coast residents, though, is how to keep the oil off the shore—and what long-term health affects the spill may reveal.

The first major land to begin turning color as a result of oil was a stretch of beach 100 yards long at the end of Perdido key in West Pensacola, which prompted a recent 200-strong community rally and protest against BP. Angry community members who turned out demanded answers.

Among them was Darla Klein, whose daughter was recently fired from her part time job at the marina.

“My daughter was working down at Brown’s dock for a fisherman, and now the owner is fishing in Texas and sending everything up here to his distribution center in Pensacola for shipping, so she’s out of a job,” Klein said. “And that’s off the books too.”

“How’s she going to get that claim in to BP?”

To read the rest of this story, pick up this week's copy of the Independent.

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 Posted June 27, 2010

Village dissolution likely to increase town taxes while services remain same

Millbrook continues exploring shared service options, has little incentive to dissolve

By Olesia Plokhii

MILLBROOK—Achieving greater government efficiency and paying lower taxes as a result of dissolving village functions and services to operate one single town administration is in many cases more myth than truth, experts say.

According to a March 2010 New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal (NYCOM) Officials guide to consolidation and dissolution, efficiencies of an average of only two to five percent have been noted in villages that have dissolved.

The minimal savings, the NYCOM report said, come as a result of towns and villages already running “relatively efficient operations” involving shared services that streamline efforts and eliminate overlap.

Citing studies of all 41 cases since 1921 where villages have dissolved, or terminated existence of their government in favor for full consolidation with the town, the NYCOM report warned that while every village is unique, dissolution wouldn’t likely bring a lottery-size payoff.

In some cases, the opposite may happen instead.

Published as an informative guide after the passing of an updated dissolution law that gives voters the right to force a referendum on the issue without completion of a study, the NYCOM report states that both costs and taxes could increase.

For more on the analysis of village dissolution, pick up a paper today.

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BEAR IN OUR BACKYARD

Barry Schnoor spotted this black bear in Mabbestville June 11.

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Posted Thurs, June 17, 2010

After a century of injustice, murder victim is given headstone

While relatives of Sara Brymer close a chapter in Millbrook’s most famous murder, the pages of history continue to turn 

By Olesia Plokhii

When she was brutally raped and murdered one hundred years ago on Millbrook’s South road, a beautiful Scottish au pair had little idea her murder—and burial—would entwine the lives of a New York historian with a knack for detective mysteries, a southern belle who bought a home with a story, and a 90-year old retired schoolteacher poking into the past.

And neither did they.

But this past Sunday, the historian, Stan Morse, the southern belle, Alexandra Marshall, and the schoolteacher, Laura Willhite, were brought together at a cemetery in Meriden, Connecticut, to remember a murder they all wish never happened and a woman—the au pair, Sara Brymer—they wish was never forgotten.

“We are here today to shed light on Sara,” said Pastor Susan DeSousa to Brymer’s family and friends from inside a tiny brick and wood chapel on the cemetery grounds under gray skies.

The modern day characters of this unraveling turn-of-the-century murder mystery were also there to lay a headstone on Brymer’s grave, which was unusually buried in the pauper section of the cemetery instead of the family plots, and without a headstone.

Poking into the past

‘Why’ there was no headstone is a question Willhite, a second cousin of Brymer, had been asking without answer for decades.

“I saw an illustration of a family tree once, and whenever I would ask my uncle Will to tell me about Sara, he would just weep and say it was too sad to talk about.”

So Willhite did some investigating of her own, finding out her second cousin died young after in 1904 emigrating from a big Scottish city named Dundee to Meriden, Connecticut, where she lived with Willhite’s newly emigrated Scottish parents, the Fergusons. There, Brymer went to nursing school before taking a job as an au pair on the Compton estate in Millbrook, New York, in the Fall of 1909.

She would die there several months later.

For the full story on the Sara Brymer murder mystery and more historic photos, pick up this week's copy of the Millbrook Independent.

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Mashomack Polo Season Begins

By Carola Lott

The 2010 polo season at Mashomack is now underway with the first tournament – the eight goal Tracey Mactaggart Challenge Cup – starting on June 18. 

This is the second year of the tournament, which is held in honor of a friend who brought so much energy and enthusiasm to the game she played here on the Hawk Hill Team.  Last year, the challenge was won by Parker Thorne’s Coldstream Farm.

Eight teams in two brackets will enter the tournament of four games played over two weekends – Friday and Sunday June 19 and 21 and Friday and Sunday July 3 and 5.  The top team from each of the two brackets will go on to the finals while the remaining six teams will play in a consolation match on July 5. 

This promises to be an exciting summer for Mashomack polo under a new manager, Rebecca Gutierrez. Gutierrez, who grew up in England’s Lake District, has managed teams in this country for almost twenty years – for some time in Florida and most recently in Aiken, SC.    

The Tracey Mactaggart Challenge will be followed by the 6-8 goal Eddie Moore Invitational, to be played over the last three weekends in July. In addition, there will be polo throughout August, most notably with two twelve-goal matches on the 6-15 August and 20 August – September 6.

Polo players are assigned a goal or handicap by the US Polo Association based on horsemanship, experience, malletwork, game sense, and overall results.  For an eight-goal match, the handicaps of the 4 players on each team must not exceed 8 goals. 

Back in the 1920’s and ‘30s – what could be called the golden days of American Polo - legendary players like Thomas Hitchcock, Louis Stoddard and Watson Webb had 10 goal handicaps.  The highest handicap players at Mashomack this summer (Agucho Zavaleta, Tomas Franco, Julio Ezcurra, Mrtin Ravina, Tatin Zubiaurre and Julian Aguilar) all have 5 goals.  Today the majority of amateur American Players have handicaps in the lower range of B or 1 goal. 

To find out more on Mashomack Polo, pick up this week's copy of the Independent.

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Posted: Wed, June 9, 2010

  Seeds of change sprout at organic farm

 From in the red to in the market, one Clinton Corners family redefines farming

By Olesia Plokhii

CLINTON CORNERS—“Hold the baby,” said 34-year-old Lisa Kilmer as she ran into the house to get a .22-calibre rifle she moments later fired at a chicken-snatching fox her and husband Terry had been trying to nab for weeks.

After three missed shots she blamed on a blurry scope, no more rounds of ammo, two silver-gray draft horses galloping into their stables, Kilmer’s two and a half year old daughter Gretah grasping at mommy’s side, and one taunting fox striding back and forth in the distance, Kilmer decided to put the .22 down and call for reinforcements.

“This is a farmer’s worst nightmare,” she said with a rush of adrenaline as she calmed Gretah, sat her three-month old infant Adelle back on her hip, and dialed Terry. “If you come now, you’ll get him.”

It was a typical day at the Kilmer’s USDA Certified Organic Gray Horse Farm in Clinton Corners, where hungry foxes and disappearing chickens result in huge output and monetary losses every month. In fact, loss is one of the persistent challenges of life on a ten-acre organic dairy and livestock farm—with no hired help.

“Organic farming is a tough business,” said Kilmer, one hand holding Gretah, the other pushing a stroller carrying Adelle, as she checked on baby chicks huddled in a brooder on the farm. “The feed is expensive, the labor is intensive, and there is a lot of loss.”

But somehow, somewhere along the road to family life, organic farming, and pushing hard for a consumer-driven food revolution, the Kilmers have managed not only to stay in business, but also to stay alive.

When they purchased the property—then overgrown with weeds and almost completely wooded—in 2001, the couple had little experienced in farming: Terry’s grandfather was a “dairy man,” and Lisa had two saddle horses she rode in her youth. It was only after Lisa fell inexplicably ill, first misdiagnosed with Crohn’s disease and later diagnosed as cholitis, that the Kilmer’s thought to blame the food they were eating—and do something about it.

“I was medicating up to five times a day,” Kilmer said. “They would take me off dairy, take me off this, off that, but they never thought to take me off of conventional meat, which was contaminated, and that was the source of my health problems.”

“So we started out with this idea of better health and raising our own meat.”

And over several months in 2001, while the farm’s four draft horses plowed, logged, and spread manure on the land, Terry and Lisa built special light fixtures for the chicken brooder, constructed barns, put up fences, and bought their first few animals.

Now, almost ten years later and into its fourth (barely, Kilmer is quick to point out) profitable season, Gray Horse Farm is a proud New York USDA Certified Organic farm—one of two certified organic livestock farms in Dutchess County, and its only certified organic egg farm.

What used to be just a wooden expanse has flourished into a working farm with a pond, four draft horses, a few saddle horses, one cow, one miniature horse for Gretah, turkeys, hogs, and hundreds of meat chickens and laying hens.

In addition to selling their eggs to McEnroe’s—from whom they purchase organic beef for resale—participating in the Poughkeepsie Farm Project CSA, and selling their eggs, pork, chicken, and turkey meat to various retailers, Kilmer said the farm operates on an “honor system” at their year-round Farm Stand, where you can dip into the freezer to grab slabs of meat and cartons of eggs without conscience in return for dropping a few bills into a box.

So, even in the dead and howl of winter when all the animal waterers are frozen and Terry goes outside with a blowtorch to unthaw the water as part of his 3 a.m. chores before heading off to his day job at 6 a.m; when another fox is blamed for several vanished chickens and diminished balance sheets; or when Lisa hears one more potential customer complain about her $4.50 cart of organic eggs (cheaper if you buy bulk), Kilmer said the improved health of her customers makes it all worthwhile.

“We do it because it’s a passion and we are providing safe food to people who have serious ailments,” Kilmer said about the quality of their products, including chicken, which she said far exceeds Trader Joe’s organic poultry. “There are so many loopholes in organic certifications that big businesses with lawyers can find them, be labeled organic, but still sell you an unnatural product.”

For Kilmer, who hasn’t suffered health issues since switching her diet to her own organic meats, raising livestock in open pastures with natural feeds, no injections of growth hormones or antibiotics, and selling in a close proximity to minimize her carbon footprint is the only way to eat with common sense.

“Plus, I like seeing the people who buy from me face to face,” she started with a smile, “so they can watch me shoot a fox and miss three times.”

When she took her fourth shot yesterday afternoon, though, it was bullseye for the otherwise resilient fox, lying dead in the pasture as the hen that was seconds before clutched between its teeth limped to safety.

For more information on Gray Horse Farm, visit them online at grayhorsefarm.org.           

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Posted: Wed, June 9, 2010

 Cary’s GASLAND screening warns of Marcellus shale drilling

By Carola Lott

When a natural gas company offered Josh Fox’s family $100,000 to lease their land for natural gas exploration, Fox reacted in an unusual way: he picked up a camera and began asking questions. The result was an award-winning documentary on the dangers of natural gas fracking, a growing grassroots campaign to put a lengthy if not permanent moratorium on the practice, and a movie watching tour that took him last Tuesday to a packed house at the Cary Arboretum.

The Fox’s land is located in Pennsylvania's Delaware River Basin, just across the border from upstate New York. It lies atop the Marcellus Shale (the energy companies call it the “Saudi Arabia of natural gas”), a vast geological formation that stretches from New York through Pennsylvania to Virginia, and as far west as Ohio, allegedly containing 50 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. 

Drilling in the Marcellus Shale would mostly take place at depths greater than 2,000 feet where the rock is extremely tight, making gas exploration and extraction both difficult and expensive. However, new technology, principally hydraulic fracturing known as “fracking,” which is legal in New York, make drilling possible and this area desirable to exploration companies. 

Read more on GASLAND in today's Independent.

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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Vision Statement Workshop yields big turnout, new ideas

Public contributions to be added to revised statement

Next workshop date not set

By Olesia Plokhii

The Farm and Home Center was bustling with bodies and dialogue May 22 when more than 150 town residents provided input, suggestions, and criticisms on a draft Vision Statement during a workshop held by the Town of Washington Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee.

Reigning in property taxes, limiting commercial development to and within the hamlet of Mabbetsville and the village of Millbrook and preserving and protecting a rural, biodiverse landscape, as expected, were central themes during the workshop.

The topic of “a healthy diversity of housing,” a portion of one of the Vision Statement goals, was also not surprisingly met with dissenting views about it’s necessity in light of a Comprehensive Plan survey that showed it a low priority to town residents.

Also on the discussion docket was the town’s collaboration with the village of Millbrook, yet to begin its own Comprehensive Plan. In addition to being surprised the full village board was not present to participate in the workshop, several tables favorably brought up the idea of village-town consolidation.

Although the atmosphere during the three-hour workshop—which ran almost an hour late, costing a dozen people to leave—was constructive and collaborative, Tony Sloan, a town resident and member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, questioned the tone of the meeting even before it began.

“Using a metaphor, I asked why we were going into Afghanistan with submarines when it’s a desert,” recalled Sloan, who has, with non-profit organization Millbrook Matters, accused the Committee of working too unilaterally. “I think the Vision Statement should be publically agreed on before the goals are discussed and I don’t think we should rush the process.”

While Sloan’s comments elicited a short episode of hostility between a resident and Margaret Irwin from River Street Planning & Development, the consulting firm hired by the Town to assist in the process, a show of hands indicated a large majority of people generally agreed with the vision statement and were ready to contribute to it.

Over the next several hours, six roundtables seating from ten to 20 people discussed each of the five goals of the vision statement, switching to another goal every half hour and documenting thoughts, ideas, and action plans on a giant sheet of paper. Moderators, comprised of Committee Co-Chair Don Hanson, members David Strayer, Jerry Baker, and several River Street Consultants, including Irwin, took questions and steered the discussion at each table.

Sitting at a table with Millbrook Deputy Mayor Stan Morse and Millbrook Matters co-founder Julia Widdowson was Ed Shaughnessy, who echoed sentiments about seeing nothing wrong with the first goal of the vision statement—except clarity.

“This sounds like apple pie, moms, and American flags,” Shaughnessy half-joked about the goal of ‘A Healthy Natural Environment’ that included buffers, an emergency pumping station, watershed protection, controlled land use around aquafer recharge areas, and protection of a backup water supply. “It’s great but I don’t understand any of it.”

“We need a buffer for what? I don’t know what an emergency pumping station is.”

Committee member and Cary Ecologist David Strayer noted that many points within the broad goal would have to be specified before walking to the other end of the table to get within hearing range of another suggestion—to add air protection to the overall goal.

“It’s hard to regulate air but we don’t want to contribute to the problem either,” he said as he added the thought to his list, totaling by the end of the workshop 16 pages that included the need to do further research on sand and gravel practices.

At another table discussing the goal of “A High Quality of Life,” conversation focused on “a healthy diversity of housing.”

Lisa Shwartz, a real estate broke in the area, didn’t question whether or not there was an affordable housing demand in the area—instead, she said there was a supply.

“Is the intention to build or use pre-existing units,” she asked, “because I have rentals I can provide.”

“Let’s use what we have—we have tons of rental signs all over the place.”

A data sheet circulated by Millbrook Matters showed 126 single-family homes under $350,000 for sale in the area.

While Irwin stressed that building new developments wasn’t the only way to deal with the issue of affordable housing and she heard loud and clear that housing was not a priority for survey takers, she warned that official census results may tell a different story.

The main reason the Committee was pushing the item, she said, was to avoid a potential lawsuit against a municipality for a lack of affordable housing—using Westchester County as an example.

“We continue to talk about it because there is case law that has overturned comprehensive plans because there seemed to be an exclusion of affordable housing,” Irwin said. “But this measure doesn’t necessarily have to be about building more affordable housing.”

When someone broke the discussion by saying that property taxes were more of an issue than affordable housing, Chris Mann suggested fiscal measures like taxing tax-exempt institutions.

On the subject of recreation, someone mentioned building a skate park for youth.

Discussing “A Scenic Rural Landscape,” Alexas Orcutt stressed preserving the historic aesthetic of the town.

“As other areas get modernized, our village will be a draw,” she said. “In 50 years we could potentially be the only place that represent this period.”

Jan Greben, an architect who spends weekends in Millbrook when she is not in New York City, took it a step further.

“Preserving historic buildings is important, but in terms of guidelines for new architecture, standards for good quality should be supported, not just traditional architecture."

The area, including stone walls, should be protected as a registered historic district, said Elizabeth Logan Baravalle, and historic homeowners should receive benefits and be educated on how best to renovate their properties, if need be.

At a corner table, James Turino, Dean Temple, Alex Tulle and Peter Groffman were discussing goal 5, “A Vibrant Village Of Millbrook and Hamlet Of Mabbetsville,” which centered on cooperation with Millbrook and steering business development to the village and/or hamlet of Mabbetsville.

A measure to consider adding other hamlets—the only entities in the town that are commercially zoned—to the town was strongly rejected, as was granting special permits for commercial development in areas other than hamlets.

Still, there seemed to be confusion with the draft wording.

“What does ‘minimize new business competition with the village’ mean,” asked a woman at the table. “Does it mean not allowing the farmers market because we want to support Morona’s?”

“It means no Starbucks,” Tuttle said.

Groffman pointed out the goal of creating a vibrant village of Millbrook seemed to be in conflict with zoning laws.

“Mandatory parking law inhibits the opening of new business,” he said. “You can’t open a place because there isn’t enough parking on the street.”

When the group agreed it was “unfortunate” the village and town weren’t simultaneously working on their Comprehensive Plans, Dean Temple brought up the issue of consolidation.

“Where does the issue of not having the village as a separate government entity come up,” he asked. “Do we need it?”

The resounding answer around the table, and the room, was no.

A refined vision statement, promised to reflect community input, will be presented at the next workshop in several weeks.

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Posted May 19, 2010

Amenia signs $12 M bond resolution to remediate old landfill

By Antonia Shoumatoff

After 13 years, it looks like the PCB-ridden old Amenia landfill site might finally start getting cleaned up this year.

The town of Amenia signed a bond resolution for $12 million at a May 13 town board meeting to pay for the landfill remediation. The bond will pay for the costs of dredging, filling, capping and remediating the site and will be paid back over 20 years.

PCB’s, lead, mercury, copper, zinc and many other noxious and hazardous materials have been identified in the sediment from years of illegal dumping. The parties identified as responsible for the pollution including IBM, Curtis Wright, Sharon Hospital, the town of of Sharon, Syngenta and several pharmaceutical companies. As part of a settlement with the town, a total of $1.5 million has been paid and is now in an escrow account.

Check out the Independent for more on this story.

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13 Questions with State Assemblyman Marc Molinero

By Olesia Plokhii

What is the mood coming out of the Assembly in Albany?

For the first time, rank and file democrats are feeling the same anger that those of us in the minority have felt. The Governor is unengaged and declaring enemies. The State government is in deep need of significant reform and the current power structure in the legislature is dysfunctional at best.

Did you vote for the Governor-proposed furloughs—where State union workers would be forced to take an unpaid day off—whose implementation was recently restrained by a federal judge?

The court has approved a temporary restraining order on the furloughs until May 26. Because a State budget was not passed April 1, every week we are passing budget extender bills. I have not voted for one and I will not vote for one because that provides another seven days for them to do nothing. If I was convinced that there was serious negotiation and if there was compromise and concessions, I would have voted for the furloughs, but right now it’s total inaction and it’s the worst kind of government.

The Governor has been in the spotlight lately. Are the criticisms accurate?

He made some smart moves in the beginning but his political expedience has, as of late, been somewhat disastrous and has resulted in low popularity. He’s a nice guy but he’s not equipped to be governor. 

What did you mean when you said the Governor is “declaring enemies?”

The governor has been AWOL on union negotiations since April 7. Yes, the unions have to compromise because the dollars don’t exist and you have to come up with some options, but to blame the unions when you are not engaging in negotiations is dishonest. You can’t just issue press releases. Our job is to get the parties around the table and cut taxes and reign in spending.

Where can spending be cut?

Pick up the paper to read Molinero's answer to this and other questions.

Posted Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Newly appointed village mayor Laura Hurley presents 2010-2011 budget

Although spending is down, property taxes will see slight increase

By Olesia Plokhii

Shortly after being inaugurated April 27 by village clerk Linda Wiltse as the first female mayor in the history of the village, Laura Hurley set out to talk about what she knows best—budgets.

Presenting the 2010-2011 budget four days before the May 1 deadline, Hurley, who has a reputation for keeping meticulous accounting records for the town of Washington where she works full-time as Bookkeeper to the Supervisor, said the village will this year be able to pay off the last $30,000 of a sewer debt.

Pick up today's release of this week's Millbrook Independent for more on the village budget and Laura Hurley.

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 Posted Wednesday, May 5, 2010

School Board gears up for budget vote

Board vacancy to be filled by appointment

By Stephen Kaye

On May 18 voters will trek into the Millbrook High School to register approval or disapproval of the school budget for the 2010-2011 school year.

The budget they will be voting on was carefully crafted with two ideas in mind: to minimize the impact of increases on taxpayers and to continue the academic programs in tact despite the cuts in State aid.

A synopsis of the budget, together with notes, is given in today's Millbrook Independent.

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 Posted Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Bennett demolition hearing enters legal arena, stays there

Property owner cites 30-day demolition order impossible; village says it’s a starting time frame

By Olesia Plokhii

MILLBROOK—An administrative hearing of an appeal made by the Bennett property owner and developer against a village-mandated February 28 demolition order for Halcyon Hall ended without a settlement four hours after it began April 29.

The hearing, during which attorneys from the village and Bennett LLC presented arguments to an independent hearing officer, came to an end but not a resolution last Thursday night when, at 11:00 p.m., several appellant witnesses remained to be heard.

Initially meant to have concluded Thursday, the hearing will continue once a date has been set. At that time, hearing officer Richard B. Golden, in effect playing judge, will take several weeks to make a decision on whether or not to demolish Halcyon Hall.

“Two weeks after the close of the hearing, I will issue my decision,” Golden said several minutes after the hearing began. “That will be a final order.”

Read more in today's Independent.