Millbrook rocks into the New Year

MILLBROOK — The village of Millbrook was filled with music and joy as the community celebrated 2012 during the eighth annual New Year’s Eve Millbrook on Dec. 31.New Year’s Eve Millbrook is organized by the Millbrook Rotary Club. Millbrook Rotary President Matt Anderson said that at least 1,500 people ventured to the area this year, which was 300 more than last year’s event.Every year the Rotary asks art teachers from the local schools to have their students draw a picture that encompasses their feelings on New Year’s Eve. The Rotary then selects a picture to make into a button, which is sold as admission to New Year’s Eve Millbrook for $5 to help fund the event. Millbrook High School student Leigh Davis designed this year’s button, and she will receive a scholarship for her efforts. “It was our most successful New Year’s Eve Millbrook yet,” Anderson said after the festivities. “We had all the entertainment that was there. We sold 1,000 of our 2012 buttons, which was the button that we did for this year. We sold out of the buttons by 5 p.m. Joyce Heaton had a box of old buttons from years prior and we sold another 400 of those.” Anderson said that New Year’s Eve Millbrook is not a fundraiser but a community service event, and that it is funded by local businesses and philanthropists. The people who attend and buy pins also help pay for the entertainment. That entertainment spread performances throughout the village. The Little Big Time Magic Show came for its first New Year’s Eve in Millbrook, offering illusions, juggling and tricks. At Grace Church Chapel, Kofi and Sankofa African Drum and Dance gave an interactive musical performance. In the Lyall Church Gathering Room, Bindlestick Bill entertained attendees with storytelling and folk music. An all-female chorus called Evergreen Chorus of Sweet Adelines performed songs from a variety of musical genres at the Grace Church Chapel.Town of Washington Clerk Mary Alex has experience as a party planner and worked to bring in all the new artists who performed Saturday evening.New Year’s Eve Millbrook also welcomed back past performers, such as the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, which did a Vaudeville tribute at Elm Drive Elementary School. Peter Muir and Friends performed blues in the Parish Hall of Grace Church, while Larry Ham and the Jazz Professors gave a performance at Lyall Church Sanctuary. Bassist Lou Pappas, drummer Tom Melito and pianist Ham are all professors at the Dutchess Community College. The whole crew has previously performed on New Year’s Eve in Millbrook. The Handman String Quartet also performed at Lyall Church Sanctuary. Millbrook Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9008 sold refreshments, while Balloon Twister D. Bielski and Deborah Coconis’ Drama Queen Masks entertained the crowd. Anderson and the Rotary gave thanks to all the businesses, foundations and people behind the scenes who helped make New Year’s Eve Millbrook a success.“All the people from the community that come every year [are key],” he said. “If it wasn’t for them [we couldn’t do it]. We thank them and we thank everybody in the Rotary. I have the privilege of having a great club of volunteers and they come out and help. I can’t thank them enough.”

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