Photo by Debra A. Aleksinas
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If you’re a recent arrival in Dutchess County from busier areas downstate, you may be puzzled to see this scenario: a pickup truck driven on a rural road by an older man slows down and stops, as the driver recognizes an old friend approaching in his own pickup coming in the opposite direction.
“How’s the fishing?”
“Not bad up my way. You?”
Or it’s two older women stopping to chat at the supermarket. They might not even know each other but they’re having a conversation because they recognize a kindred spirit. After a while they realize you’re trying to get past them to get a box of ziti, and they strike up a conversation with you as well.
What is all this idle chit-chat?
It’s not idle, we’re learning. These people have an instinct for the value of social connections.
At the Office for the Aging, we’re just starting to learn the value of social connectedness, even though seemingly mundane conversations about the weather. The isolation of those older people who couldn’t get to the grocery store or their fishing spot was seen as just an unfortunate byproduct of getting older. Can’t do anything about it, we may have assumed, incorrectly.
We can all help reduce social isolation and the negative health impacts that come with it. Regular readers know about OFA’s fast-growing “Friendly Calls” program that’s been connecting volunteer callers with Dutchess County older adults at risk of loneliness. As the program grows, we’ve invited Friendly Calls participants not only to receive calls, but to become volunteers themselves.
“Friendly Calls” is open to all prospective volunteers over age 18. If you’re just beginning to explore volunteering but don’t want to overcommit, “Friendly Calls” is ideal. The orientation takes less than an hour, and the once-a-week calls to participants last 20-30 minutes.
Every participant in the program has agreed to accept calls; and before a “Friendly Calls” session can begin, the volunteer and participant agree on what time and day of the week the calls will be made.
To find out more, visit www.dutchessny.gov/friendlycalls, email ledgar@dutchessny.gov, or call OFA at 845-486-2555.
Golden Living is prepared by the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, Todd N. Tancredi, director. Email him at ofa@dutchessny.gov.
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Letters to the Editor - April 25, 2024
Apr 24, 2024
Provided
Amenia sets open house at its decades-old Highway Garage
While there is no doubt the Town of Amenia needs a new Highway Garage, most residents don’t know how bad things are. To see for yourself, please come to our open house on Saturday, May 4 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the current Highway Garage (8 Borden Lane, Wassaic). We will also have renderings of the Proposed New Facility.
Our Highway Department is responsible for maintaining all town-designated roads, ensuring they are accessible for vehicular traffic every day, in all kinds of weather. This includes grading, paving, and sealing roadways; clearing, cleaning, and grading ditches; tree and brush trimming in the town rights of way; mowing roadsides; and plowing, salting, and sanding during the winter months. Amenia has 58 town roads, consisting of 30.83 centerline miles (61.66 lane miles) of road, seven bridges, numerous catch basins, and countless culverts.
The existing garage facility is outdated, past its useful life and literally crumbling. It consists of (i) a 80’ x 50’ concrete block garage building erected before 1955, (ii) a temporary 20’ x 40’ salt shed built in 2006, and (iii) a pole barn structure for equipment storage. The existing site is located on approximately 2.5 acres of usable land; is partially in a federal wetland and flood plain; and portions are built on an abandoned landfill. It has limited fuel storage, no backup generator, or fire suppression. There are potential safety issues and is unsalvageable.
For more than 15 years the Town Board has discussed the need to replace the existing facility. In 2019, after a lengthy negotiation with NYS, then Supervisor Victoria Perotti successfully secured a 5-acre lot on Route 22 south of the Tenmile train station and next to NYS DOT for a new facility. The Town Board in 2021 discussed hiring an engineer to develop a feasibility study. In 2022 the Town Board authorized a feasibility study request for proposal (RFP); six engineering firms responded to the RFP; and the project was awarded to LaBella Associates. The feasibility study was started in 2022 and finished earlier this year. You can review it here: www.ameniany.gov/highway-public-works
The preliminary design of the Proposed New Facility consists of a 13,000 square foot garage; 2,300 square foot covered storage; 6 double loaded drive thru bays; 80’ deep building allows for 2 trucks per bay; 50’ x 70’ salt shed; staff break and locker rooms, toilets, and office; on-site well and septic; increased fuel storage; backup generator and fire suppression system. The estimated project cost is $6.3M which will be financed through bonding, ARPA funds, and various grants. Delaying necessary capital projects only increases the ultimately cost and more importantly puts the health and safety of our community at risk.
Megan Chamberlin
Leo Blackman
Highway Superintendent Supervisor
Town of Amenia
Wonderful tale of trip to Totality
Thank you Maud Doyle for the wonderful tale of your trip to totality in Vermont in The Millerton News of April 18, 2024. It was a gift to all of us whether we found our own path to totality, had our observations obscured by clouds or were able to watch the sun partially eclipsed. You captured the delicate frailty of all of us in the presence of something truly awesome...something very old, very big, very far away and very much out of the control of everyone but the galaxy and the worlds beyond. You reminded us that wonder is alive — quietly as we stand beside strangers watching the heavens.
Beautiful. I’m so grateful.
Jennifer Dowley
Millerton
Enforce the rule on LED lights
Not long ago the issue of LED lights in Millerton was an issue. The Zoning Committee, and the Town Board researched the issue, debated and voted. It was decided to not allow them.
We are a small community in the scenic Hudson Valley. LEDs give a commercial a vibe. They are distracting.
Fast forward to this week. Driving by Webutuck High School I was startled by their LED sign. It was distracting and created a potential traffic hazard. This is in violation of the Town’s law.
Our officials work long hours, dedicate themselves to serving our community. It is a slap in the face when members of our community flaunt the rules agreed to. Furthermore, the Board of Education is sending a message to our students that laws need not be obeyed.
I look to our Town Officials to enforce the rule against LEDs.
Mary Howard
Millerton
Pancake breakfast appreciation
On Sunday, April 21 the Amenia Fire Company sponsored our final monthly Pancake Breakfast of the season. We were pleased to have a nice crowd of 131 people in attendance for our monthly meal. We rely on the breakfasts to raise needed money for general operations and we always appreciate the support of the community. We thank everyone who attended our meals this season and we will return again in the fall.
Andy Murphy
On behalf of the Breakfast Committee
Amenia Fire Co. and Auxiliary
Amenia
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The following excerpts from The Millerton News were com- piled by Kathleen Spahn, Vivian Sukenik, Nancy Vialpando and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the NorthEast-Millerton Library.
91 years ago: April 27, 1933
‘Only Lawyers May Practice in N.Y. State: New Bill Bars From Practice all Who Have Not Passed Bar’: Under a bill signed by Governor Lehman a few days ago, nobody but an attorney admitted to the bar will be allowed to practice in any court or before a magistrate anywhere in the State after Sept. 1 next. That has heretofore been the rule as to cities, but it is now made to apply everywhere.
‘About Millerton’: Donald Silvernail was eight years old on Friday, and a number of his boy friends found it out and went up to his home and made more noise than a pack of wolves. If the noise was any indication of a good time, they sure had it. About 6 o’clock Donald spread their supper out on the lawn, and all fell to in [sic] great style.
Little “Skippy” Dean celebrated his third birthday on Tuesday by entertaining several of his friends at a party. His guests were Anne Valentine, Muriel Hoyt, Robert Fenn, and Arthur Manning.
‘Unemployed to Work at Copake Falls’: Supervisor J. Sterling Wyckoff has arranged to give our unemployed men relief jobs on town roads Single men are given one day a week and married men two days a week.
50 years ago: April 25, 1974
‘Officials Declare Law Day, May 1’: North East Town Supervisor Frank Perotti and Mayor Albert Anderson, of Millerton issued a joint proclamation this week declaring Wednesday, May 1 as Law Day. The slogan this year will be “Young America! Lead the Way. Help preserve good laws, change bad laws, make better laws”
‘No-Fault Auto Insurance Compulsory in New York’: As of February 1,1974, no-fault automobile insurance became compulsory in New York State. The new Automobile insurance system has evolved due to problems stemming from the past difficulties in determining negligence fault in auto accidents.
‘The Royal Court’: [...] Dutchess County Dairy Princess Marth Morrison, 17, of Millerton, [...] and dairy Maids Adrienne Murphy, 17, of Amenia, Linda Shaffer, 17, of Millerton, [...] The girls will all halp to promote the milk industry in the county in the next year. The fifth annual contest was held on Friday, [...] at the farm and Home Center in Millbrook. [...]
25 years ago: April 22, 1999
‘Loop Bus To Poughkeepsie’ [letter to editor] – “Necessity is the mother of invention,” Miss O’Neil recently arrived in Millerton from England and has discovered the “Loop Bus” is the answer to her needs, shopping in Poughkeepsie, strolling along Millbrook’s lanes, hopping to Amenia and running to the train at Dover. Her message to all who would like to get about without the encumbrance of a car is hop on the Loop. – Sally Ann O’Neil, Millerton
‘Village Trustees Give A Thumbs-up to MFD Rescue Vehicle’: MILLERTON – One final flare-up from the town board was extinguished when the village board approved the purchase of a new fire-rescue vehicle for the fire department Monday.
The board of trustees voted 3-1, with Mayor Michael Cawley not voting, to approve a $239,998 bid from the firm of E-One for a new rescue vehicle with built in Jaws of Life capability, a lighting tower, a double cab and a Cascade air system[…]
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