Letters to the Editor June 23

Look closely at overlay map

The new proposed Scenic Protection Overlay (SPO) map reported on in the June 16 edition of The Millerton News is of great interest and significance to all area residents, especially property owners in the town of Amenia, including the proposed developer of the now idle Silo Ridge golf course.

According to the article, an unnamed “working group” has presented to the Planning Board a new map that covers “roughly 30 percent of the town.” The reporter related that “the working group creating the map chose this number so that the SPO wouldn’t be drastically changed. The current SPO covers roughly 20 percent of the town.” A 50 percent increase in the area covered sounds drastic to me, but why quibble with the Planning Board presenters’ spin.

The matter is of great interest because the SPO is a mechanism of municipal power to regulate private property rights, particularly development rights. “Land included in the SPO will still be allowed to be developed but anyone wishing to develop that land must go through a site plan review to demonstrate to the Planning Board and the Town Board that they have taken the scenic impact into account. They will also have to screen major projects to preserve the scenic views of the region,” according to the report.

The matter is of great significance because, again according to the reporter, “the working group organized to redraw the map decided that due to the importance of DeLavergne Hill’s view, it would receive special attention and would be automatically included in the SPO, regardless of what method they decide to use to draw the rest of the map.”

This obviously will have a major impact on the most significant (but unmentioned) “major development” now pending before the Planning Board: Millbrook Development Corp.’s resort proposal for the currently fallow Silo Ridge property. My recollection is that the only pending issues, besides the moribund economy, are a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the town’s connection to the resort’s sewage treatment plant and final Site Plan Approval from the Planning Board.

How could this major development go forward as heretofore proposed and thus far approved if the developer would now, again according to the report, “also have to screen” the hotel and resort development “from the scenic view” from DeLavergne Hill?

Once again, we see government regulation standing in the way of job-creating private development.

Let’s hope that the approval process requires that a public hearing with advanced notice, and comment period, precede adoption of the new, expanded SPO. The proposed new SPO map, presented at the June 2nd Planning Board meeting, has yet to appear on their web page.

Dan Brown

Amenia

 

Big time under the big top

Big time under the big top

The people of Millbrook and surrounding communities enjoyed the highly entertaining Kelly Miller Circus on Saturday, June 18.  More than 900 tickets were sold and an additional 200 tickets were donated.

The Millbrook Lions Club thanks the village of Millbrook and many local businesses for their support in making this event possible. We are grateful to our business sponsors, Millbrook Electric and the Bank of  Millbrook. We would also like to acknowledge the vital work of our ticket outlets: Brennan’s Supermarket, Iannucci’s Stagecoach Market, Village Wines and Spirits, and Vincent’s Pharmacy, plus Royal Carting, which generously supplied dumpsters.

The circus brought a day of fun and excitement to our village and the Millbrook Lions Club was pleased to host this event. It would not be possible, however, without the gracious support of our community.

Cecilia Collopy

Millbrook Lions Circus Coordinator

Millbrook
 

 

Strawberry fest proved a treat

The members of the United Presbyterian Church of Amenia thank so many from our community and surrounding area for supporting our 38th annual Strawberry Fair. We were sorry that some of our vendors who had signed up did not come due to the weather.     

We thank Freshtown for the donation of all the strawberries.  And we thank also Leslie Rowan,  who spent the day at the Fair selling the berries.  All the money from the sale is donated to the church.    

Many thanks to area businesses and others who donated to the silent auction and to the raffles. They were: Coby Adrian, Amenia Fire Company, Back in the Kitchen, Barnes Insurance Company, Cascade Spirit Shoppe, Cascade Winery,  Kevin Cook, Copperfield’s Restaurant, Daisi Hill Farm, Delango’s Automotive, Four Brothers Pizza, Freshtown, Fudgy’s Ice Cream, Gilmor Glass, Harney & Sons Fine Tea, H.G. Page, IL Compare Restaurant, Jessica’s Salon, Mane Tamers, Monarch Flower Shop, McEnroe Organic, New England Cleaners, New England Village Center, Paley’s Farm Market, Pawling Corporation, Riley’s Furniture, Rooney’s Design, Santo’s Pizzeria, Stewart’s Ice Cream, The Pines Restaurant, The Pond Restaurant, Tractor Supply Store, Under Mountain Golf Course and Video Supply.   

We thank all those who donated food and money to the bake sale. Thanks also to those who helped cut up strawberries, set up tents and tables and many other things in preparation.  

We wish you all the best and have a great summer.

Helen M. Cook, Moderator

Women’s Association

Amenia
 

 

Thank you, generous merchants

On the weekend of June 4 and 5, members of the Millerton Business Group pledged a portion of their sales to the Friends of the Irondale Schoolhouse.

We sincerely thank all those participating merchants for their generous contribution.

We look forward to the day when the Irondale Schoolhouse moves down Route 22 to its new home on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, serving as Millerton’s Visitors and Cultural Center.

Ralph Fedele

The Board of Friends of the Irondale Schoolhouse

Millerton

 

Less than idyllic episode: bullying at the fair

Millerton is a beautiful town. Many of the residents here sponsor wonderful family friendly events, like the Lions Club  Carnival. We have pancake breakfasts, block parties and Halloween haunts, thanks to the efforts of those of you who volunteer. In the interest of our kids, the school offers a great after-school program and we have a well-run “zero tolerance” to bullying policy there.

What about after school?

I stood in horror, as an adult, and watched my 10-year-old daughter being bullied on a ride at the fair Friday night.

She had been on many rides and once around on the teacup. Then, two classmates, both boys, joined her. She thought they were being friendly. I could see they were setting her up. She asked them not to spin the inside seat and that’s when it started.

They told her what they were going to do. I told them to move or let her exit the ride. One child did. Before the ride started, I told the remaining boy again not to spin the ride from the inside.

The ride started. The boy spun the ride for the whole time. My child started to scream. She begged him to stop. I kept telling him to stop. She asked the ride operator to stop the ride, as did I.

Unfortunately, she held it in until she got off. Perhaps the bully would have learned something if she was sick on him.

These two boys then followed us to every ride, every food stand, and teased her mercilessly. Again, I told them to stop. The only reason we didn’t leave was to keep these boys from defeating our good time.

Finally, I got in the young man’s face and told them to stop. Then, we followed them, right to the firemen’s booth. I asked several adults who he was. They all knew, but no one spoke. Not one person stood up. Believe me when I say these kids enjoyed the show.

So eight brave guys who fight fires just let a 10-year-old child dictate their actions. No wonder the kid is a bully.

As to shutting down the ride for a minute to let her off? They say they can’t. Why not? Who controls the stop button anyway? Yes, the rides have force and momentum, but they still stop. The operator controls stop.

The following day, one child was not so amused when his parents were contacted and followed up. My daughter received an apology and the young man is grounded. The other youngster — he’s probably laughing even harder, planning the next “good time.” The next time this kid bullies someone, what will it be?

These kids are learning to do it bigger, better and sneakier. Next time, he might smash a store window for kicks. Now, he’s 10 and about my adult size. What about this guy at 15? Will he punch someone just to see the reaction? Or commit a crime because no one speaks up and when they do, bully more in spite of us and to intimidate us? How effective are the monies we spend to keep these kids well educated and entertained, keep them off the streets, when we don’t respond each and every time this bullying occurs?

Anyone who has taught school, trained a pet or raised a child knows that intermittent rewards are among the most effective teaching tools.

Ask Jesse Saperstein. In his words, “Someday has to be today.”

Claire Herz

Pine Plains

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