AMENIA — Almost six years since it first opened in Millerton to offer the community a taste of authentic Mexican cuisine, Avocado Cafe recently expanded its business in northeastern Dutchess County by opening up a second location in Amenia.
As owner and operator of the Avocado Cafe, Ivan Carrera said he was originally drawn to the idea of opening up a cafe in Millerton when he saw that there were few Mexican eateries around, and he wanted to try to open a place that would cook authentic Mexican food.
“We wanted to open with good food and fast service,” Carrera said. “We wanted to try to make good food and fast food at the same time.”
This coming May will mark the sixth anniversary of the Avocado Cafe’s opening in Thompson Plaza, located at 208 Route 44 in Millerton. From the tasty range of burritos to the more traditional Mexican dishes, customers have been delighted by all of the menu’s offerings — particularly the beef and pork dishes — and when the COVID-19 pandemic reached the village, customers offered the cafe their support by ordering take out.
“We always try our best to please our customers,” Carrera said. “They keep us open.”
Though the cafe was initially affected by the pandemic by a drop in revenue and orders, he said customers have now seen that the cafe is following all COVID-19 safety protocols (requiring face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, social distancing, etc.), and they are now more comfortable coming into the cafe. That said, the cafe is still only offering take-out only at this time.
Given the positive feedback he received from customers in Millerton, Carerra said he started to think about expanding before the pandemic struck. Believing the pandemic wouldn’t last forever, Carerra said he and his employees felt encouraged to move to south to Amenia, which is in the same plaza as the popular and long-time seasonal ice cream stand, Fudgy’s, on Route 22. He emphasized that he hasn’t closed his Millerton location, which continues to operate in Thompson Plaza seven days a week from noon to 8 p.m.
After two months of renovations that started this past fall, Avocado Cafe opened at 4789 Route 22 in Amenia on Saturday, Dec. 26.
Though the new cafe features the same menu as the Millerton Avacado Cafe, Carrera said the Amenia restaurant will add new dishes like rotisserie chicken and offer margaritas, Sangria, beer and wine once it gets its liquor license. Planning to take advantage of the patio area, he said he will offer outside dining for customers during warmer weather.
Avocado Cafe is currently operating in Amenia on Mondays through Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m.
By this spring, Carerra hopes to change the hours to keep the cafe open seven days a week from noon to 9 p.m. He also hopes to have more customers come in once the pandemic is over, though he said he has to see first how customers respond to his food.
“We are hoping that the Amenia location will have a lot of people because every town has their own taste,” Carerra said. “We’re just hoping we’re going to be able to give them what they like.”
For more information on the Avocado Cafe in Amenia, call 845-233-8389 or go online, to www.avocadocafe.net.
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
