Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.

2024 Election: Hinchey, Barrett win; Pulver edges out challenger

Town Board races close; Library support propositions pass

2024 Election: Hinchey, Barrett win; Pulver edges out challenger

Campaign signs adorned yards across Dutchess County, like this collection outside NBT Bank on Main Street in Millerton.

Photo by John Coston

MILLERTON — Democratic incumbents State Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Didi Barrett won reelection on Tuesday, Nov. 5., according to unofficial results of the Dutchess County Board of Elections.

State Sen. Hinchey, D-41, outpaced Republican challenger Patrick Sheehan with 55% of the vote compared to Sheehan’s 44%. Assemblymember Barrett, D-106, defeated Republican challenger Stephan Krakower by 54% to 45%.

Dutchess County Comptroller A. Gregg Pulver, a Republican, edged out Democrat Dan Aymar-Blair in the race for County Comptroller with 50.1% of the vote, compared to Aymar-Blair’s 49.78%, or a difference of 475 votes.

Municipal elections were held in North East, Amenia, Millbrook and Stanford.

In North East, Republican Christopher L. Mayville, a current Town Board member, defeated Democrat Rachele Grieco Cole by a margin of 53% to 47%. The election was for an unexpired term on the Board.

In Amenia, Nicole Ahearn, a Republican, defeated Charlie Miller, a Democrat challenging her for her seat. Ahearn had 54.5% of the vote, compared to Miller's 44.6%

In Millbrook, Peter Doro was elected Mayor with 95% of the vote in an uncontested race. In a race for two seats as Millbrook Village Trustees, Democrat Julia Bucklin received 27% of the vote and Republican Elizabeth Molella Socci won 24.95%. Democrat Shannon Mawson trailed with 24.75%. Republican Kay Vanderlyn Ulrich won 23% of the vote.

In Stanford, Adrienne Zetterberg, a Republican, won election for an unexpired term on the Town Board by 50% to 49%, defeating Democrat Theodore Eagleson Secor.

Amenia voters also approved a proposal on the ballot to increase the town’s contribution to the operating budget of the Amenia Free Library by a 60% to 40% margin.

Similarly, voters in North East voted 72% to 28% to increase the level of support for the NorthEast-Millerton Libary in Millerton.

A third proposition, which was before voters in the Town of Washington to increase the contribution of the town to the Millbrook Library, also passed by a 56% to 44% vote.

A New York State proposal, called Prop One, also passed by a 57% to 43% margin in Dutchess County. The proposal protects against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability and sex.

All results are unofficial.

Latest News

Nearly 3,000 flags mark the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11

Firefighters, veterans and color guards stand before a hillside covered with nearly 3,000 American flags during Stanford’s ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Photo by Graham Corrigan

STANFORD — Nearly 3,000 flags covered the hillside at Stanford Recreation Park as hundreds of people gathered for the town’s annual ceremony honoring those killed in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Residents from across the region attended the ceremony, along with veterans groups and fire and rescue crews from Stanford, Millbrook, Amenia, Pine Plains and West Clinton.

Keep ReadingShow less
Former Amenia bank finds new life as coffee shop

Bean Bank Coffee owners Amy and Dave Cocheo stand inside their newly opened coffee shop and bakery at Freshtown Plaza in Amenia on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Photo provided

AMENIA — After an extensive renovation, Bean Bank Coffee has transformed the former Bank of Millbrook branch at Freshtown Plaza into a coffee shop and bakery serving Amenia and the surrounding community.

The business began its gradual opening Monday, Aug. 24, serving coffee and tea through its drive-through window and drawing curiosity from passersby. By Monday, Sept. 7, Bean Bank Coffee was fully open for business.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Kent Tritle’s annual Smithfield organ concert coming up on Sept. 19

Acclaimed organist and choral director Kent Tritle, pictured at the Smithfield Church organ at his 2024 concert, is returning for his annual recital on Saturday, Sept. 19 to benefit the Oratorio Society of New York.

Photo provided

AMENIA — New York Philharmonic organist and acclaimed choral director Kent Tritle will bring his lively, personable and intimate performance style to The Smithfield Church in Amenia on Saturday, Sept. 19. A highlight of the area’s performance season, the 3 p.m. concert will benefit the Oratorio Society of New York, where Tritle serves as Music Director.

This will be the 14th annual organ recital Tritle has performed on the Smithfield Church’s historic 1893 Johnson and Son tracker organ, meticulously restored and moved from its original location at the First Congregational Church in Kent, Conn.

Keep ReadingShow less

Innisfree hosts fall bird walk Sept. 20

Innisfree hosts fall bird walk Sept. 20

Naturalist Dr. Loren Merrill will host his second early-morning walk of the month at Innisfree Garden on Sunday, Sept. 20, turning his focus to the peak of the autumn bird migration.

Merrill, a scientist, writer, and photographer who began leading popular programs at the 185-acre Millbrook garden earlier this season, will guide participants through the landscape during the quiet hours before the property opens to the public.

Keep ReadingShow less
New owners take over three Millbrook mainstays

Babette’s Kitchen on Franklin Avenue was among three longstanding Millbrook businesses that celebrated changes in ownership with a joint ribbon-cutting ceremony last week.

Photo by Graham Corrigan

MILLBROOK — Three longstanding downtown Millbrook businesses, two on Franklin Avenue and one on Front Street, celebrated changes in ownership last week with a joint ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The new owners of Babette’s Kitchen, Village Wine & Spirits of Millbrook and the Millbrook Antiques Center gathered with friends, family members and Millbrook Mayor Peter Doro to mark the occasion.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.