Millerton — The Millerton Business Association is on a roll; it held its third meeting since reorganizing, at the old Irondale Schoolhouse on Wednesday, July 15. The turnout was solid, with about 18 businessmen and women in attendance.
“It was good,” said group leader Dick Hermans. “There were no people just sitting on their hands — everybody was participating. So we had a nice chat with several major outcomes.”
One such outcome was the decision for the business association to spend $3,500 to get its website refurbished.
“We’re going to get it updated and get it going,” said Hermans.
The group decided to hire member Thorunn Kristjansdottir of Thorunn Designs to do the work.
“She’ll be working on that in conjunction with our marketing team,” said Hermans. “Hopefully we can get that started by early fall and then get it launched. We’ll be looking for input from all members. The goal is to have a website attractive to anyone who stumbles upon it and to be a thorough directory of the whole town of North East, of everybody who does business here from carpenters to the bank.”
Listing on the website, www.enjoymillerton.com, will be free. There will be nominal charges for those who want graphics or photos with their listing to help cover costs. The website, which isn’t active at the moment, will also have a new host.
Last week’s meeting also addressed the upcoming Fall For Arts event, originally set for Sept. 26 and 27. Because of a conflict with the North East Community Center’s 25th anniversary barn party, the association decided to reschedule Fall For Arts.
“We shifted it to Oct. 3 and 4, because the community center was having their big shindig and we didn’t want to step on their operation at all,” said Hermans.
There was also a lively discussion about what sort of things will be happening during Fall For Arts. The business association is hoping the weekend will culminate with a number of festive parties, including a dance party and a social party.
“We haven’t quite fleshed out the details yet but hopefully it will be the social event of the season, or at least of the week,” said Hermans. “During the day, obviously, we’ll have the art showing, and we’re hoping to get artists out painting on the street, setting up easels, creating an atmosphere of a nice fun activity with an appreciation of art. If we get artists displaying in all of the places it could be quite stunning.”
There will even be an appraiser to assess artwork at the Irondale Schoolhouse that weekend.
Merchants are encouraged to contact an artist prior to the event; if a business doesn’t know of an artist the 14th Colony Artists art collaborative will help coordinate things. The business association is going to “encourage everybody that has a storefront to do something,” said Hermans. “Hopefully everybody will get on board and do it.”
The next Millerton Business Association meeting is set for Monday, Aug. 3, at 5:30 p.m. at the Irondale Schoolhouse. Currently there are about 40 members.
“We have the willing; now we’re going to go after the ones who hesitated,” said Hermans about membership. “I think our goal should be 80 or 90 members. Hopefully this year we’ll get there and hope that what we’re going to do will make people realize it’s a good idea.”
For more information about the Millerton Business Association call Hermans at 518-789-3797 or email him at dick@oblongbooks.com.
Justine and Victor Valla in their studio with a painting of Victor’s,”Jonah and the Whale.” Robin Roraback 
A ceramic vase by Kathleen Heidemann.Provided 
Joy Brown’s delightful ceramic sculptures.Provided 
