Rona Boyer

When we lived in France Gerard and I made our own vinegar from the left over red wine at the bottom of the bottles. We tried to do the same here, but for some reason we never have any left over wine. Now we buy our vinegars and I have noticed just how complex the vinegar market has become. Much of this complexity is due to the fact that we now enjoy and cook food from man different culinary cultures, each seems to have its own vinegar, so I found it helpful to prepare a chart for myself to understand which vinegar was used for which purposes and thought I would share it with you.

I had no idea that the “No Farms No Food” message we see on car bumper stickers was the slogan of an official lobbying group until I accepted an invitation to join the group in Albany last week. I received quite an education— both in civics and in agricultural policy. The American Farmland Trust is a national organization. The New York chapter brought some 100 interested participants to Albany to let our New York State legislators know what we thought was needed to help support farming. As this is considered a truly bipartisan issue, we met with members of both parties. Before doing so, we were well schooled in Lobbying 101 (fascinating) as well as in the main points of each of the key issues and priorities.

Spring seems to be bursting with promise. A florist has taken the space next to the new pharmacy on Franklin Avenue and will be opening mid April. A number of Millbrook Business Association (MBA) members are reporting significant increases in business, and enough funds have been committed and are now being collected to finance the MBA’s Shop Millbrook campaign. Five thousand tri-fold brochures will be printed and distributed through out Dutchess County. Both a full-page ad in the Dutchess County Tourism guide and a half page in the Rotary’s business directory have been reserved. The participating retailers would like to thank the following fellow members who are contributing funds as sponsors of the program: Azar Wellness Spa; The Backyard Pet and Garden Supply; Bank of Millbrook; D'Arcangelo & Company; Franklin Avenue Real Estate; George T. Whalen Real Estate; Houlihan Lawrence; the law firm Iseman, Cunningham, Riester & Hyde; Joseph Velletri's Sons, Inc.; M.

Aquafarmed in Maineand sold in Millbrook at Marona’s, Duck Trap’s smoked salmon is a delight—just smoked enough, without too much smoky flavor. Gerard and I serve it on toast with a bit of butter and lemon to accompany a nice glass of French Chablis or other chardonnay before dinner.