A Taste of Millbrook June 11

MILLBROOK — The Millbrook Educational Foundation’s annual Taste of Millbrook will be held on Saturday, June 11, from 6 to 9 p.m., at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery. Area restaurants will showcase their specialties and local growers will be featuring foods grown and produced in the Hudson Valley. The event will benefit the Millbrook Educational Foundation (MEF). This past year marked significant growth for MEF, as more than $68,000 was raised in 2010 and the foundation reached $380,000 in grants made since its establishment in 2002.Millbrook Central School District Superintendent Lloyd Jaeger praised the Millbrook Educational Foundation for supporting arts, technology, sports and science programs in the district. “MEF is extremely generous to our district,” Jaeger said. “One-hundred percent of what they raise through events like Taste of Millbrook goes directly to the school district. On average, they contribute $60,000 to $70,000 annually to support innovation, creativity and special programs.”Millbrook Educational Foundation chair John Dux said the foundation doubled the grants for the district’s Arts-in-Residency program because of the success and feedback about programs like Vanaver Caravan, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, the Millbrook High School drama club and Singapalooza.“Seeing kids enjoying these unique programs really makes it fun to be a fundraiser and booster for the district,” Dux said.“A Taste of Millbrook is a joyful coming together of the community to celebrate a truly deserving cause: our children’s education,” said MEF Board Member and Taste Chair Eleanor Pelc.This year’s A Taste of Millbrook will feature performances by the award-winning Millbrook High School Jazz Band and Madrigal Singers, as well as a silent auction that includes such ticket items as vacation getaways, artwork, hot air balloon rides over the Hudson Valley, bird watching and fly fishing tours, spa experiences, college planning, tutoring services, heating oil and baskets of goods and services donated by local merchants. “And, of course, A Taste of Millbrook includes samplings of some of the finest cuisine in the area, donated by our area restaurateurs and served by our student volunteers,” said Pelc. Millbrook Educational Foundation Board Member Marlene Weber, a past chair of A Taste of Millbrook, said, “The momentum of this event over the past six years has built steadily to a well respected and anticipated event. It is truly the work of dedicated and unwavering supporters of our schools that makes Taste better each year.”Tickets to the event are $75 per person, $50 of which is tax deductible. They may be purchased online at www.tasteofmillbrook.com or at Brennan’s Supermarket, Merritt Bookstore, Village Wine and Spirits, Rollins Garden Center and in LaGrange at Robo’s Deli. Babysitting is available at Millbrook Community Preschool at Grace Church for $5 per child and can be arranged by calling 845-702-5379 or emailing mcpatgrace@hotmail.com.