Free hot chocolate at Fountain Square provided by Freshtown was a popular Celebration of Lights feature in advance of the traditional holiday parade organized by the Amenia Fire Department on Friday, Dec. 15.
Photo by leila Hawken
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County executive Sue Serino is prioritizing safety, community well-being and collaboration in Dutchess County government.
Photo by Krista A. Briggs
POUGHKEEPSIE — Last December, the Dutchess County legislature passed its 2025 budget by a vote of 23-2.
While it wasn’t a unanimous decision, the bipartisan support of the $629 million-plus spending package reflected the collaborative inroads County Executive Sue Serino, R-Dutchess, has been striving toward over the past year.
While Serino didn’t win over lawmakers Chris Drago, whose district includes North East, Millerton and Pine Plains, and Brennan Kearney, D-11, she was not discouraged, saying, “I’ll just have to try harder next time around.”
Serino’s budgetary package includes a record $2 million in funding for EMS service.
The lack of EMS access was a concern Serino weighed in on last November prior to the budget’s passing.
“Emergency medical services are a vital lifeline for our residents,” Serino said. “This funding will not only improve EMS response times but [will] also reduce pressure on mutual aid services, ensuring each community has the coverage it needs.”
As part of Serino’s strategy to address emergency service deficiencies, a temporary supplemental ambulance coverage plan was launched at the beginning of 2025 to fill coverage gaps after the county entered into an agreement with Empress Ambulance Services.
A potential secondary provider, Ambulnz by DocGo, may eventually be added into the mix, contingent on contract negotiations.
DocGo, the proposed secondary supplemental ambulance transport provider, is probably best known as the organization which controversially partnered in 2023 with New York City mayor Eric Adams in a highly lucrative no-bid contract to fill immigrant needs such as housing and meal delivery to recent arrivals in the city despite its lack of expertise in these service areas.
While improved ambulance service rolls out, Serino has continued work on additional EMS-related goals including workforce development initiatives aimed at bumping up recruitment numbers for emergency responders and a social media campaign designed to raise awareness of EMS service in the county. Additionally, her budget is focused on community and public-safety programming.
Serino’s Real Time Crime Center, an initiative with a $200,000 price tag attached to its launch from the Community Benefit Fund, debuted at the end of 2024. It enables law enforcement to monitor events as they occur via video feeds and other technology. It also provides a rapid response to incidents in progress.
Real Time Crime Centers, which can be found throughout the United States, enable collaboration between law enforcement entities in the sharing of information through audio, video, cameras, license plate readers, and other methods.
The data collected is funneled into a cloud-based view to provide mutual access and awareness by law enforcement. While some may find its surveillance-heavy approach unsettling, Serino maintained Real Time Crime Centers are a valuable and effective tool in preventing and combating crime.
“[It’s] additional security and safety,” Serino said. “I’m all for it.”
Youth-based initiatives are also a target. As part of her youth advocacy, Serino has set up in the budget a new $250,000 grant for the establishment of YOU — Youth Opportunity Union — Drop-In Centers, which provide gathering spaces for young people to make connections and positive choices by engaging with peers and mentors.
Additionally, $75,000 is being provided for YOU mini-grants to establish recreation programs for Dutchess youth. An additional $400,000 has been allocated to an anti-vaping initiative and another $250,000 will go toward the preservation of children’s mental health, a program in partnership with Family Services, Inc.
Also included in the budget were community-based items supporting seniors, veterans, and individuals with challenges as well as food insecurity initiatives.
Serino remains committed to her current responsibilities, and was quick to shoot down rumors of a gubernatorial run. She confirmed she’s been asked to run on the Federal level, but higher office is not an ambition.
She was even quicker to quell any whispers of retirement and plans to remain active, one way or another. “I always keep busy,” she said, maintaining that her priorities outside the county executive’s office are her family and her dog.
She was also quick to dispense chatter about discord in local government, pointing out how much she enjoyed coming together recently with her fellow lawmakers at county comptroller Dan Aymar-Blair’s swearing-in ceremony in January. She maintains cooperation in politics tends to yield positive results which, in turn, benefits Dutchess residents. Said Serino, “That’s what it’s all about.”
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Paul Winters
Photo provided
AMENIA — The flag at the Town Hall flies at half-staff to honor the memory of Town Board member Paul Winters, who died suddenly on Sunday, Feb. 16, at the age of 52. His active involvement in a variety of town programs made news of his death a town-wide shock.
In early January, Winters had announced his candidacy for the office of Town Supervisor, having been nominated by the Republican Town Committee.
During the official Town Board meeting on Thursday, Feb. 20, town officials offered reflections on the myriad ways that Winters had served the town that he cared deeply about.
“Paul is irreplaceable,” said Town Supervisor Leo Blackman, remembering his “large personality.” He recalled Winters’ volunteerism on behalf of the Recreation Commission. Although Blackman conceded that he and Winters often differed in views about town issues, Blackman said, “We were friends when we left the room.”
Councilperson Rosanna Hamm also acknowledged that she and Winters often differed. “He could leave things in the meeting room,” she said, remembering Winters’ deep pride in his family and his abiding concern for the interests of the community.
“We will miss him,” Hamm said of Winters.
“He was so many things,” councilperson Brad Rebillard observed. “His spirit remains and what he did for the town will remain.”
Recalling that she and Winters had first met when serving on the Recreation Commission, councilmember Nicole Ahearn sensed a hole that Winters’ death has left in the community’s very heart.
“I hope to help by keeping alive and completing the work that Paul envisioned on behalf of the town of Amenia,” Ahearn said.
Reflecting on Winters’ service to the Recreation Commission, recently appointed Recreation Supervisor Paul Bogin provided some comments on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
“To say Paul Winters will be missed is a profound understatement. He was a force of nature, a man with visionary ideas and an even greater personality,” Bogin said, adding, “Paul’s impact on Amenia is undeniable, particularly in bringing us the cherished summer concert series and the beloved Parade of Lights, where his legendary annual portrayal of the Grinch brought so much joy.”
“As the new Amenia Recreation Supervisor, I was immediately struck by Paul’s warmth and generosity. His insightful guidance and unwavering commitment to open communication spoke volumes about his character. He was a truly remarkable individual,” Bogin said.
Winters won election to the Town Board and began his service in January of 2024.
Between 2021 and 2024 Winters had concurrently served on two town committees, the Recreation Commission and the Wastewater Committee.
Volunteer service positions had included ten years, beginning in 2010, of coaching youngsters on the Amenia Minors Little League baseball team.
In an official notice from the town, Blackman noted the high level of Winters’ involvement with town-wide interests. “He put enormous energy into all his efforts for Amenia — recreation, cannabis, term limits, and always supported the big change-making projects — highway garage, water, wastewater & housing. Our heartfelt condolences to his wife Michelle, and his children. He’ll be missed,” Blackman said.
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The Millbrook girls varsity basketball squad put up a solid fight against Rondout in the first three quarters of the Wednesday, Feb. 19, game at Millbrook High School. The score was close until the last quarter when Rondout put up 18 points to win 37-23.
Photo by Nathan Miller
MILLBROOK — The Millbrook varsity girls basketball squad hosted Rondout High School Wednesday, Feb. 19, for the final home game of the regular basketball season.
The at-once competitive match ended in a Rondout blowout of 37-23 after the Rondout girls went on an impressive scoring run in the final quarter.
Millbrook held their own against the visiting squad for the first half, putting up 12 points against Roundout’s 14. Abby McEnroe, no. 1, and Makenna Freeswick, no. 5, led scoring for the Millbrook Blazers with 6 points each. McEnroe’s 6 points came from two three-pointers, one in the first quarter and the second in the third quarter.
Millbrook's Abby McEnroe, no. 1, put up six points to be one of the Blazers' top scorers for the night.Photo by Nathan Miller
At the end of the third quarter, the Blazers led Rondout 20-19, setting the stage for an epic battle in the final quarter.
Rondout met the challenge readily, nearly doubling their score in just eight minutes and denying much of Millbrook’s attempts at the net.
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Donna Aakjar
Feb 26, 2025
CANAAN — Donna Aakjar passed away peacefully on Feb. 20, 2025 at Noble Horizons. Born on Dec. 14, 1941, at Geer Hospital in Canaan to Maybelle Voorhees and Louis Peder Aakjar, Donna’s life was a testament to education, service and a deep love of the arts.
She attended North Canaan Elementary School and the Housatonic Valley Regional high before graduating from Southern Connecticut State College. Donna began her career teaching fifth grade at Sharon CenterSchool. While teaching, she earned a master’s degree in Library Science and became the first librarian in the newly renovated basement library. Later, the library was relocated upstairs and, several yearsthereafter, was completely redesigned under her guidance.
After retirement, Donna continued to nurture her passion for reading by working in the children’s department at Oblong Books. Throughout her career, she touched countless lives, and in her later years, many came forward to express their gratitude and admiration for her contributions. She also served on the board of NCCC and was president of a chapter of the NEA. An avid lover of the arts, Donna’s legacy is further enriched by the joy she shared with others-so much so that for her epitaph she requested the words of a former student: “She read to us with such joy.”
Later in life, Donna became a devoted animal lover, cherishing her poodle Honey Bun and her cats Gracie and Rosie. She is survived by her sisters; Nancy Perry, Sheffield Massachusetts and Maryann Aakjar of Boston; her nieces, Donna Perry of San Antonio, Texas and Linda Snyder of Hiram, Georgia, and her grandniece, Madison Snyder of Powder Spring, Georgia.
A beloved sister and aunt, Donna was cherished by all her knew her. Our heartfelt thanks go to the staff at Geer Lodger-especially those on the Hillside Unit for their compassionate care. Memorial services will be held in the spring.
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