Agri-tourism group reunites

By Mark Reynolds
Posted 8/2/22

The agri-tourism organization Meet Me in Marlborough has brought back their networking events. They met recently at the Brix Gastropub restaurant.

MMiM Director Sheila Mannese said they decided …

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Agri-tourism group reunites

Posted

The agri-tourism organization Meet Me in Marlborough has brought back their networking events. They met recently at the Brix Gastropub restaurant.

MMiM Director Sheila Mannese said they decided to revive these networking events, “because we found them successful, especially because it gives local business owners a chance to meet one-on-one and we wanted to do something for our members to get to know each other in a nice social setting.”

Mannese said she picks different locations for the event to give the membership an opportunity to see an establishment that might not be familiar to them.

“We try to represent the town as a whole because that is what makes Marlborough and to represent our agriculture, our businesses, our services, our civic and school groups through our newsletter, our Facebook and in our calendar,” she said.

Supervisor Scott Corcoran spoke to the association, praising them for doing a great job in promoting the positive things about Marlborough. He stressed that Marlborough will always be an agricultural-based community but knows that organizations like MMiM have played an important role in promoting the town.

“Now we understand that to compete with other communities we still have to open up our doors and say we are accepting of other people to come into our community,” he said, touting the fiscal benefits of the proposed Bayside and Dockside residential projects, just north of the hamlet of Marlboro.

Corcoran said he can easily be contacted via the town’s website at townofmarlboroughny.com.

Michael Connors is starting his third year as a member of the school board and was recently elected President for the 2022-23 school year. He pointed out that the school tax levy “is $3 million lower than when I started but it is less than what it was 8 years ago when we had the turmoil with the power plant.” He noted, however, that the board has to keep an eye on where the issue of the power plant is headed and can it be re-imagined in a way that can meet the state emission standards by 2030. He said this issue is important because they are the largest taxpayer in the district, “so if they get hurt, we get hurt as a community.” He added that the district must also look closely at pollution levels that may come from a new future plant.

Connors encouraged people to attend school board meetings if they can and he can be reached by email that is listed on the home page of the school district. He offered praise for Superintendent Mike Brooks who is retiring later this month and will be honored at is final school board meeting on August 18.

“Michael did a phenomenal job with us. He came on when all this turmoil hit with the whole tax situation and I think he did an amazing job,” Connors said.

B.J. Mikkelsen, President of Meet Me in Marlborough, said the attendance of the networking meeting is encouraging.

“We have a lot of excitement in Meet Me in Marlborough because it is really picking up, not just our organization, but the town itself; things are happening,” he said. “People coming out to an event like this is a very good sign for us.” He added that another networking session is scheduled for September 22 and that MMiM will try to host one every three months.

Mikkelsen said the organization is functioning more like a Chamber of Commerce, which is attracting other business owners who may not be involved in agriculture. He said the organization,“is definitely seeing a renaissance but now it’s up to us to keep the momentum going.”

Meet Me in Marlborough was established nearly 20 years ago and today the membership stands at about 60 entities. Information on joining is available on their website at www.meetmeinmarlborough.com.

The newest members of Meet Me in Marlborough are Hoffman Equipment; Goodness Within LLC; Key Bank; Locust Grove Brewing Co.; Brigadier Concepts (Farmer’s Insurance); Haven Acupuncture; Dawes Transport/Septic & Repair; Hazel Rose Bakery; Schenker Optometry; Shawna Odell – Avon; Edward Jones and AliceTroncillito - Primerica.