Electronic sign to be installed at Town Hall
Amenia Town Hall sits in town along Route 22. The town board has accepted a bid for a brand new LED sign along the road to share news with drivers.
Photo by John Coston
Latest News
Caterpillars, rezoning, warriors, sterile carp
Millerton News
May 06, 2026
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
May 2, 1935
Mrs. Eisenhuth Dies At Son’s Home
Mrs. Elsie Eisenhuth, 79, widow of the late Frederick Eisenhuth Sr., died Saturday at the home of her son, Hugo Eisenhuth, in Millerton. Surviving are two sons, Hugo and William Eisenhuth of Rockville Centre, L. I.; three grandchildren, Chester F. Eisenhuth of New York City, George N. Eisenhuth of Richmond Hill, L. I., and Jacqueline E. Eisenhuth of Rockville Centre, and several nieces and nephews. Two daughters died in infancy and a son, Frederick Jr., died a year ago.
Luckey’s Streamline Train Visits Millerton
A modern streamline train visited Millerton Tuesday. But instead of traveling on rails, it came here via the State highway. The train is making a tour of the Central Hudson Valley advertising the sixty-sixth anniversary sale of Luckey, Platt and Company in Poughkeepsie. The novel train is mounted on a White truck chassis.
Community Market In New Shufelt Building
The Community Market, managed by Bernard Manning, will open for business today in its new quarters in the Shufelt Building. The market occupies half of the new addition recently erected on the corner of Main and John Streets, the other half of the structure being occupied by the Nation-Wide Store owned by Wesley Plass.
Tree Owners Asked To Check Caterpillars
The Dutchess County Farm Bureau in a statement today is urging all tree owners of the county to take immediate steps in checking an impending outbreak of tent caterpillars. “Present indications,” states the spray information service of the Bureau, are that tent caterpillars will be even more destructive than last year when they were unusually abundant.”
May 6, 1976
Shopping Center Proposed: Board To Make Rezoning Decision
The North East Town Board will probably decide at its meeting on Thursday, May 13, whether to rezone property east of the Village of Millerton to accommodate a shopping center, Town Supervisor Frank Perotti said Tuesday.
General Development of Connecticut (GDC) applied last year to the Town Board for rezoning 50 acres of land on Route 44 at the New York/Connecticut State line from residential to commercial.
Town May Operate Rudd Pond Again
The Town of North East may again take over the operation of the Taconic State Park at Rudd Pond unless money is restored to the budget of the New York State Office of Parks and Recreation (OPR).
NorthEast Town Supervisor Frank Perotti said Tuesday that the Town Board was in agreement to take over the park’s operation if the Town can have the same contract it had last year.
In an unprecedented move in New York State, the Town of North East ran the Rudd Pond park near Millerton last summer after the State closed the park without warning on May 23, 1975, at the very start of the vacation season.
The Town opened the park again on June 27, 1975, and at the end of the vacation season in October, the Town found that it had spent less than its $18,500 budget and had made $4000 on the deal.
May 3, 2001
150th Anniversary Panel Needs Funds
MILLERTON - This August, the village of Millerton will celebrate its 150th anniversary. The village was settled in 1851, with the arrival of the New York Central Railroad.
Last summer, a committee, under the auspices of the North East Historical Society, was formed to plan a week-long celebration for the historical occasion. A program of events was established and efforts to raise the funds needed for the celebration began in September 2000.
No More Warriors? NYS Urges Schools To Drop Indian Mascots
WEBUTUCK - Is the Webutuck School District’s mascot, depicting a Native American with a feather headdress, “disparaging and disrespectful?”
This is one question a committee of community citizens will address in a series of meetings beginning May 9. The formation of the committee was prompted by an April 20 memorandum from state Education Commissioner Richard A. Mills.
Hermans, Gorman, Najdek Become Board Members at NECC
MILLERTON - Three new members have been added to the Board of the North East Community Center (NECC). Many residents know them already, as they have long been active in the community.
Over 100 Sterile Carp Fall Prey To Rudd Pond’s Winter
NORTH EAST — As part of an effort to thin the amount of aquatic weeds, 480 sterile, hungry carp found a new home in Rudd Pond last spring. Yet the unusually cold winter took its toll, killing a large number of fish, including up to 100 of the carp.
“A substantial number of carp unfortunately did not make it through the winter,” said Jim Campbell, who owns a house near Rudd Pond. “They knew they would lose a few — that’s just nature — but this was obviously beyond that.”
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John Montross O’Hara
Millerton News
May 06, 2026
SALISBURY — John Montross O’Hara Sr., age 96, a longtime resident of Twin Lakes, Connecticut, passed away peacefully at his home on May 2, 2026. Born in Torrington, Connecticut, John was raised in Twin Lakes, where he developed a deep and lifelong connection to the community. He graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village, Class of 1947, and went on to attend The Citadel before continuing his studies through the ROTC program at the University of Virginia, graduating with the Class of 1951. He proudly served his country for two years during the Korean War.
Following his military service, John returned to the University of Virginia, where he earned his law degree. He went on to achieve the highest score on the New York Bar Examination at the time.
John began his legal career with the distinguished New York City law firm of Rogers & Wells, where he practiced for 10 years. In 1968, John and his family moved to Michigan to join R.L. Polk & Company as General Counsel. His leadership and vision led to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer in 1978, a role he held until his retirement in 1990. During his tenure, he made significant contributions to the automotive industry and was honored with a Distinguished Service Citation. He was also inducted into the Motor Vehicle Hall of Fame by the American Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association at a ceremony in Las Vegas. Following his retirement, John divided his time between Rancho Santa Fe, California, and his beloved Twin Lakes, Connecticut.
In 1954, John married Mildred Michel, with whom he shared many years until her passing in 1980. In 1984, he married Sally Henby.John was preceded in death by Sally and his brother, Jesse T. O’Hara. He is survived by his children, Pamela Johnson (Wally), John M. O’Hara Jr. (Amy), and Chris Baron (Mark); five grandchildren; one great-grandchild and Sally’s children and extended family.
John will be remembered for his intelligence, leadership, dedication to family, and the integrity with which he lived his life. His legacy will endure through the many lives he touched.
Funeral services for John M. O’Hara will be held on Tuesday May 12, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. in the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home 118 Main St. North Canaan, CT 06018. Burial will follow with full military honors in Grassy Hill Cemetery, Falls Village, CT. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Monday May 10, 2026 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. and again Tuesday morning from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers please contribute to the Twin Lakes Association, twinlakesorg.org.
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Thomas Scoville
Millerton News
May 06, 2026
TACONIC — Thomas “Tom” Scoville (Sept. 21,1942-April 22, 2026) devoted husband, father, historian, public servant, and lifelong adventurer — passed away peacefully at the age of 83 at his home in Taconic, Connecticut. He was the second child of Herbert “Pete” and Ann (Curtiss) Scoville.
Born into a family with strong international and literary ties, Tom’s early years were shaped by travel, culture, and formative time in Portugal, where his family’s historic estate, Quinta da Bacalhôa, would later become central to his life. From a young age, he developed a love of history, music, and exploration that remained with him throughout his life.
Tom was educated at Deerfield Academy, where he first cultivated both his academic interests and a passion for mountain climbing. He went on to the University of Virginia, graduating with distinction in 1965 after also studying in Grenoble, France. He continued at King’s College London, earning a Master’s degree in War Studies under Michael Howard.
In 1966, answering the call of service, Tom volunteered for the draft and served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. His experiences there shaped both his intellectual and professional life. He later worked as a civilian historian for the U.S. Army and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Political Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976. His doctoral work was later published as Reorganizing for Pacification Support.
Tom’s career reflected a lifelong commitment to public policy and international affairs. He contributed to several presidential campaigns, including those of Sargent Shriver, Morris Udall, Jerry Brown, and Jimmy Carter. He later served at the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, working with figures such as Paul Warnke, George Seignious and McGeorge Bundy, contributing to national discussions on arms control and defense policy.
Following the 1980 election, Tom played an important role in helping Pamela and Averell Harriman establish Democrats for the 80s, supporting efforts to rebuild the Democratic Party. He wrote speeches and op-eds for them and contributed to the Democratic Fact Book in 1982 and 1984, which became a widely used resource.
Tom later became Policy Director and then Vice President of the American Maritime Congress, where he spent nearly two decades shaping maritime policy and advocacy until his retirement in 2000. He also served on the Board of the Public Welfare Foundation, contributing to its philanthropic work on social justice and public policy.
In 1976, Tom met Cathryn Dickert at an international policy conference in Washington, D.C. They married in 1980 at the Washington National Cathedral. Together they raised two daughters, Claire and Genevieve, who were the center of his life and of whom he was immensely proud.
Beyond his professional life, Tom was a man of deep and enduring passions. From 1967, he dedicated decades to stewarding Quinta da Bacalhôa, the 15th-century Portuguese estate originally restored in 1936 by his grandmother, Orlena Zabriskie Scoville. Built in 1480 and now a National Monument, Bacalhôa is home to some of the oldest dated tiles in Portugal. In 1975, he developed the idea of producing one of Portugal’s first Bordeaux-style wines, working with his friend Antonio Francisco d’Avillez to bring it to life. The wine helped establish one of the country’s earliest château-style vineyards, producing wines widely regarded among Portugal’s finest.
He was also an accomplished mountaineer, climbing extensively in the Alps—including summiting Mont Blanc solo on Christmas Eve and climbing the Matterhorn five times. After his retirement, he spent extended periods in Crested Butte, Colorado, completing all 54 of the state’s 14,000-foot peaks twice, despite significant physical challenges.
Tom also had a lifelong love of classical music—particularly Mahler, Strauss, and Wagner—as well as travel, history, fine wine and great conversation. In later years, Tom and Cathryn moved from Washington, D.C. to Taconic, Connecticut, where he continued to enjoy time with family and friends and reflect on a life richly lived.
He will be remembered as a gentleman and a scholar in the truest sense: thoughtful, generous, resilient, intellectually curious, and deeply devoted to those he loved.
Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Cathryn; his daughters, Claire and Genevieve; his son-in-law, Peter Bogardus; and his three grandchildren, Peter, Everardus, and Orlena Bogardus. He is also survived by his brother, Nicholas, and sister-in-law Helen Scoville; his sister, Molly Fitzmaurice, and her husband Frank; and Cathryn’s sisters, Carole Dickert Scherr and her husband Jacob, and Margaret Dickert Burgess and her husband John, along with their families, and a wide circle of other family members and friends whose lives he enriched and cherished.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship. https://scoville.org/donate/
A memorial service is being planned for later this summer.
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Clothing brand photoshoot occupies downtown Millbrook
Nathan Miller
May 06, 2026
Production crews photograph models on the steps of the Millbrook Library on Franklin Avenue on Thursday, April 30.
Photo by Madi Long
MILLBROOK — A film production crew took over downtown Millbrook Thursday, April 30, causing a stir among the community and speculation over a reported celebrity spotting.
Tommy Nisenson of Saugerties-based production company Tracksuit Productions said he couldn’t go into specifics about the shoot, but he could say his crew was filming and photographing clothing for an upcoming fashion line. Branding at the shoot appeared to be from clothing line “U.S. Polo Assn.,” the official brand of thecountry’s polo governing body, although Nisenson wouldn’t confirm.
Nisenson said the crew faced repeated questions from local students about Justin Bieber’s involvement in the shoot. Nisenson said Bieber had no connection to the production.
Bieber had been spotted in the Millbrook Diner earlier in the week, according to public posts on social media.
“They should probably go back to school,” Nisenson said to a curious onlooker inquiring about students’ absence from school.
Nisenson started Tracksuit Productions three years ago, he said, in pursuit of a dream to work with his friends and acquaintances producing advertisements in the Hudson Valley and beyond. Since founding the company, Nisenson has worked with brands such as Crocs, Converse and FedEx.
The crew on Thursday consisted of 70 people from across the world, Nisenson said. Such a large production required months of coordination and effort.
“I’ve been working on this since January,” Nisenson said. He expects another two months of work on the project before it’s wrapped up.
Nisenson praised Millbrook for welcoming the shoot. Local officials were happy to accommodate his team and assist in routing traffic around the production on Franklin Avenue. Nisenson called out Mayor Peter Doro and Police Chief Keith Dworkin for their help.
“I’ve never had a mayor of a town be so involved and so helpful,” Nisenson said. “It’s a great place to shoot.”
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Garden Club talk provides promise of spring
Leila Hawken
May 06, 2026
Innisfree Garden Landscape Curator Kate Kerin presents a virtual tour of Millbrook’s renowned public garden at the annual meeting of the Amenia Garden Club, held at the Amenia Free Library on Saturday, May 2.
Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — More than 30 members and friends of the Amenia Garden Club gathered at the Amenia Free Library on Saturday, May 2, to hear a talk on Innisfree Garden in Millbrook.
Innisfree Landscape Curator Kate Kerin brought the experience of the 185-acre garden to life with a virtual tour detailing the plantings and planning concepts. She described the long history of the landmark garden that combines modern and Romantic-era ideals with Chinese and Japanese garden design principles. Included also was information on how the climate affects the whole.
The program began with the annual meeting of the Garden Club during which Ken Monteiro won resounding re-election to continue to serve as President.
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Community puppet shows off to a strong start
Leila Hawken
May 06, 2026
Children’s Programming Assistant Michele Boynton presents her Puppet Storytime on Saturday, May 2. Children and adults alike were invited to enjoy “Daffodilly,” a story with handcrafted puppets that would combine all of April’s puppet presentations around a spring theme.
Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — A series of puppet vignettes drew a crowd of all ages to the Amenia Free Library on Saturday, May 2.
As the program is designed, the Saturday performance assembled puppet vignettes presented at the library throughout April.
Youth programming assistant Michele Boynton exercises her talent and reputation for puppetry to bring stories to life for youngsters and adults alike. Listeners on Saturday were treated to an original story, titled “Daffodilly,” involving elements of spring, including the sun, bunnies and their brood, a nested robin with hatchlings, and, of course, daffodils.
Boynton creates the puppets that she uses in her storytime shows and may offer a class in puppet-making as public interest grows.
The series will continue with all-ages community puppet shows scheduled for selected Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Each storytime in May will build around the theme of “Gardens” toward the Saturday, June 6, storytime that will tie together May’s puppet adventures, Boynton said.
An additional feature during Saturday’s program, Boynton read William Wordsworth’s “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” often called simply “Daffodils.”
For more information, go to www.amenialibrary.org.
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