AMENIA — Over a decade since she first joined the New York State Association of Magistrates Court Clerks (NYSAMCC), Dawn Marie Klingner’s time, leadership and commitment toward her duties with the association were recognized as she was designated as its president earlier this fall.
For Klingner, this honor has been a long sought-after accomplishment that she’s been working on for the last few years. She was elected to serve as a director on the Board of the New York State Association of Magistrates Court Clerks in 2010. Along with serving on a number of committees, Klingner served as the board’s secretary for four years.
Though Klingner, also Amenia’s town clerk for many years as well as one of its justice clerks, said she found her niche through the time she spent as the group’s secretary, her colleagues had other ideas. One of the board’s former presidents encouraged her to lead the NYSAMCC.
“It was kind of a joke why I stayed as secretary instead of making the jump,” Klingner said, adding she never forgot that day.
She later took the plunge, joining the Executive Board and serving in various capacities: as third vice president from 2016 to 2017, then as second vice president from 2018 to 2019. She currently serves as the executive board’s first vice president.
All the while Klingner has been Amenia town clerk since 2013. She was recently re-elected to her fifth two-year term during the Nov. 2 election.
In between her official duties, Klingner volunteers with the Amenia Fire Company as an EMT and serves as 1st Lieutenant for the Rescue Squad and as a Fire Prevention Officer. In 2018, she earned her designation as a Registered Municipal Clerk, followed by her designation as a Certified Town Official in 2020.
On Tuesday, Sept. 14, Klingner was sworn in as president of the New York State Association of Magistrates Court Clerks during the annual conference and banquet dinner held at The Desmond in Albany. Though away in Albany for the event, Klingner said she felt she was at home surrounded by her loved ones.
“Just to have those friends and family there with me, I didn’t worry,” she said. “I had my support with me.”
NYSAMCC President Jonah Triebwasser swore Klingner into her new position, and as a special touch to the evening, Klinger said she “was able to do something for the first time in 41 years in creating a hometown color guard.”
Klingner’s color guard was comprised of Sgt. Joseph Perusse from the New York State Police; Deputy John O’Brien from the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office; Amenia Fire Company Chief Aaron Howard Jr.; her husband, Amenia Police Constable and Town Justice-elect Christopher Klingner; and her son, Amenia firefighter Zachary Klingner.
“They really brought that hometown feel, and I couldn’t be more grateful for them coming up and being part of such a memorable night for me,” Klingner said with feeling. “The evening is intended to be a personal event and it was awesome to have these men come up and present the colors for me. I had Jonah, the outgoing president of the magistrates, swear me in.”
Reflecting on what this new position means to her, Klingner said, “It’s just such an accomplishment. It takes a lot of time away from your family with all my travels that it means something to be able to represent [my community], and I want to do it the very best I can and I want to continue to be the professional I know I can be as I represent my colleagues.”
Klingner said she looks forward to her year as president and to working with her new board, along with her myriad other responsibilities.
AMENIA — The first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School went smoothly, with teachers enthusiastically greeting the eager young students disembarking from buses. Excitement was measurable, with only a few tears from parents, but school began anyway.
Ready for her first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School, Liliana Cawley, 7, would soon join her second grade class, but first she posed for a photo to mark the occasion.Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — While the courage and perseverance of Revolutionary era patriots is well understood and celebrated, the stories of the fate of British loyalists in New York are not as clear.
Seen as the initial event in observance of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Amenia Historical Society will present a talk titled, “The Plight of a Loyalist in Revolutionary New York,” examining the journal of Cadwallader Colden, Jr., spanning the period of 1777-1779. The speaker will be noted author, genealogist and historian Jay Campbell.
The talk is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. at the Smithfield Presbyterian Church in Amenia. The handicapped-accessible church is located at 656 Smithfield Valley Road. Refreshments will be served.
Colden was the son of a New York Lieutenant Governor. He was a surveyor, farmer and mercantilist, serving as a judge in Ulster County. His fortunes changed dramatically with the dawn of the Revolutionary War when he remained loyal to the British Crown. His arrest came in 1776, just before the start of his journal.
Campbell is a historian specializing in Hudson Valley history, and the regional stories of Revolutionary era families.
Erin Rollins of Millbrook in the Fashion Feed booth, open year round, at the Millbrook Antiques Mall. All proceeds from Fashion Feeds go to the Food of Life Pantry. As an interior designer by trade, Rollins designed this booth to evoke a high-end department store to align with the designer brands she carries.
MILLERTON — The Townscape 50/50 raffle drawing has collected a pot of more than $7,000.
That raffle drawing will take place this Saturday at 2 p.m. in Veteran’s Park. The moment is not just about picking a winner, but also about reflecting on how far Townscape has come since its humble beginnings in 1998, when founder Catherine Fenn — alongside Renee Vollen and Jan Gilmor — first set out to beautify her beloved village.
Fenn’s connection to Millerton runs deep. “I moved here from the Bronx when I was eight years old and fell in love with the place, even as a child,” she recalled, remembering camping trips at Rudd Pond and enjoying the quiet pace of life.
At 15, her family relocated to southern Connecticut. “My dad didn’t think there was much here for us, so we moved. I left kicking and screaming, literally, and I said, ‘Someday I’m coming back.’”
Years later, after marrying, divorcing, and raising children, Fenn kept that promise. She returned to Millerton and married a childhood friend who was very involved in the fire department. After his passing, Fenn threw herself into her own way of giving back.
“I care about this village deeply. Townscape is my way of helping Millerton be the best it can be,” she said.
What began as an informal effort to gather volunteers and plant flowers eventually blossomed into something larger. “We started with flowers up and down Main Street — barrels of them everywhere. Then it grew into benches, tables, trees and even events. It was such a fun world, a really wonderful organization with so many people involved.”
Fenn’s service to the community extends beyond beautification. She spent roughly two decades on the Planning Board, served as Town Supervisor and worked with the county housing authority. Still, her passion for flowers, trees and landscapes has left the most visible mark on Millerton — shaping not only how the village looks, but how it feels.
In 2006, Townscape became a nonprofit organization. But beautification, Fenn admits, isn’t always the easiest cause to fund. “We’re just putting flowers out — and I shouldn’t say ‘just,’ because to me it’s really important. The trees, the benches, all of it matters. But it’s not high on most people’s list when they think about charitable donations. Still, people have been wonderfully generous over the years.”
This Saturday’s raffle drawing is one way neighbors can show their support. The winner does not have to be present to claim the prize, but those who stop by can enjoy cookies, lemonade and artwork by local creators on display in the park.
MILLBROOK — Local crows should prepare to become highly spooked as planners of Millbrook Community Day, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, have announced that a Scarecrow Contest will be part of the festivities.
Residents are invited to get creative and devise their own renditions of a scarecrow from traditional to whatever imagination might come up with.
Judging criteria will include creativity, including originality, new ideas, or perhaps whether the scarecrow tells a story. Design criteria include the creator’s technique, materials — recycled materials are emphatically a plus — and durability.
Rules include that scarecrows be free-standing, able to stand on their own or with minimal support. No scarecrow can be store-bought. Entries must be able to fit within a 6 x 6 foot space once assembled. A stand is available upon request. Scarecrows must be non-political, family friendly, and in a good-natured spirit.
Entrants are responsible for set-up, scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m. on Sept. 20, location to be assigned the week before. Judging will begin at 1 p.m. Winners will be announced at 2 p.m.
For more information and to register to participate, email mba@millbrooknewyork.com or go to www.millbrooknewyork.com/community-day-2025
