On Saturday, June 3, Friends of Stissing Landmarks (FOSL) sponsored a well-attended Patchin’s Mill Community Day. The mill was opened to the public – some of whom didn’t know there was a mill, some had not been in it since childhood and some who couldn’t help but notice that something was going on at the compact intersection that centers the hamlet. Best of all were the newest residents who were meeting each other and FOSL for the first time. The event also brought out a pair of possible future Dutchess County Executives – Sue Serino and Pine Plains native Gregg Pulver.
Keith Cisco led tours of the mill while Scott Chase gave tours of the Mill house. Joe Schmidt provided killer brownies and cookies which kept people around and coming back. Jeanine Cisco provided refreshments and Mike Manning brought a scrapbook showing the history of the mill and its place in local lore. More than 30 email addresses were added to the FOSL mailing list and swag sales and donations raised over $750. The funds will be used for this and other ambitious FOSL projects.
One of these projects is the new trail being constructed from Thompson Pond to the fire tower. Saturday, June 10, there will be a Volunteer Trail Work Day to help design and build a sustainable trail. Volunteers of all abilities and ages are welcome. This event is sponsored by FOSL, the Dutchess Land Conservancy and the Nature Conservancy. The second Volunteer Trail Work Day is scheduled for Sept. 23. Both events run between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information on volunteering this weekend sign up here:
There will be other opportunities to help FOSL this summer. Hear about it by subscribing to their newsletter here: FOSL
