AMENIA — In a region like northeast Dutchess County, where health care options are limited and changing all the time, a more centralized, “wraparound” approach, at least for the children in a family, can be a major time-, money- and academic life- saver. Such is the case with the School-Based Health Center (SBHC), the first in Dutchess County, in the Webutuck Central School District (WCSD).
Located in a hallway between Eugene Brooks Intermediate School (EBIS) and Webutuck High School, the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) was initially set up in May 2022, and has been running full steam since September. It is a fully functioning facility open to all students residing in WCSD.
Officially known as part of the Nita M. Lowey Center for Health in Schools, reflecting the Westchester congresswoman’s efforts on behalf of children’s health, the Center is accepting enrollment on an ongoing basis. Currently at about 35% of the district’s total of 625 students, the staff hopes to reach 70% in the near future.
What are FQHCs?
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are facilities that offer health care to individuals in local communities without regard to whether or not those patients can pay for services or are insured. For some students, the school-based FQHCs replace primary care providers, while for others, their primary care providers still provide much of their care.
On March 30, Livia Santiago-Rosado, MD, FACEP, commissioner of Dutchess County’s Department of Behavioral & Community Health, paid a visit to Webutuck’s SBHC. An emergency physician for about 20 years in Queens, Manhattan, Long Island and recently at Vassar Brothers, Santiago has seen the health care system from many angles.
In the early days of her tenure as commissioner, Santiago was dismayed to note the incidence of school absenteeism in some communities, and set about seeking reasons and remedies. The burdens on parents to find providers who have appointments available, take time off work to take their children to the appointments, and other delays result in loss of academic and work time. Her research led her to Open Door Medical Center and its community and school-based models.
In New York state, it’s children-only in SBHCs
To the commissioner’s query as to whether parents and teachers partake of services, operations director Sara Hodgdon of Open Door — with centers in Westchester, Putnam, Ulster and now Dutchess counties — noted that New York state mandates that school-based centers treat only students, with some exceptions.
Several years ago during an outbreak of bird flu, SBHCs were permitted to vaccinate parents and other family members as well as teachers against that. At present, students may get all their vaccinations at school.
The commissioner, expressing that it would be even better if all family members could take advantage of such convenience, noted that the same issues of access to health care, productivity and efficiency apply also to other family members, especially in rural areas. If the parent is ill, the child may not be able to go to school, and a child’s illness may prevent a parent from going to work.
WCSD Superintendent Ray Castellani admitted that easily available health care for everyone is a good goal to aim for, but that schools are generally shut down after the extended school day, so access would be problematic. Both agreed that for purposes of whole-family access to medical care, stand-alone facilities are doubtless better.
One such facility is currently being built in North Canaan, Connecticut, conveniently sited near a supermarket and other stores. There are a few in Dutchess County.
Hodgdon elaborated on that theme, noting that many of Open Door’s current providers are pediatric nurse practitioners (NP), whereas in a whole-family facility, “a whole different model of employment” would be required.
Currently, other staff include Lindsay Neptune, a nurse practitioner and director of SBHC clinical services; Angela Sinon, NP, who is relatively new on the job; and in the school nurse’s office adjacent, Brandice Roberts and Colleen Hazelton. Other providers may be brought in as needed.
Services students receive encompass what they would receive from a primary care provider and include once-yearly wellness visits, in which individual needs are determined; rapid testing for strep, influenza, and samples for PCR COVID-19 tests; pregnancy testing, with assured confidentiality for older students; management and forestalling of asthma attacks; arranging prescriptions, if needed, to be immediately available to parents; and other services.
Occasionally it is as simple as supplying a place for a student to rest a while, then sending them back to class.
Parents need to sign a one-time consent form and enroll their children via a link on the website or at community events.
Mental health services
Another exception to the students-only rule is in mental health services available at the Webutuck location. Families may be brought in to figure out whole-family solutions to issues that present in children and teens.
On its first day of operation, Karen Fink, of Family Services of Westchester, which works in tandem with Open Door, introduced social worker Brooklyn Talarico, recently arrived from Poughkeepsie where she worked with children as well as adults and is glad to be surrounded by young people in this “satellite” mental health clinic at the Center. When adults are included in sessions, the focus in on the family as a whole.
All present agreed that “it’s a brilliant use of space” when students can have their physical and mental/social-emotional health needs met in the place where they spend most of their waking hours.
Santiago pointed to future efforts as Medicaid rules are expected to change later this year. A true Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) network would be able to identify all the aspects that affect a person’s mental and physical health, refer that person to the appropriate providers, and then assure that the services they need are provided — that last point being the new angle, so that all along the line, providers and agencies are “on the hook,” and nobody falls through the cracks.
Webutuck’s School-Based Health Center is the first SBHC in Dutchess County, in an effort to provide a more seamless approach to health care equity for all.
AMENIA — Pedestrians will soon be able to walk safely between Broadway and Beekman Park, now that a construction contract has been awarded.
The planning process continued for many months, culminating in an invitation to bid. The Town Board voted unanimously at its regular meeting on Thursday, March 20, to select the lowest bidder, clearing the way for work to begin.
The contact was awarded to Southern Industries Corporation of Tarrytown, New York, the lowest of three bids received and reviewed by Engineers LaBella Associates of Poughkeepsie.
The project that will extend the sidewalk along Route 44 to provide pedestrians with access between the hamlet center and Beekman Park will cost $234,326.50, according to the bid documents. The amount will be paid from the town’s Capital Project Fund.
With several local committees working on town planning activities, the Town Board discussed ways to find commonality and cooperation among those various deliberations.
Town Supervisor Leo Blackman reported that he had attended the recent Century Boulevard planning meeting in Millerton and had found it instructive. He recalled that in 2004 Amenia had worked with landscape architect Mark Morrison who created a design proposal that upon Blackman’s review, seems relevant to the community today. Researching further, Blackman reported that he had found that there have been 13 reports done over the years by architects and landscape designers, each with ideas that could be useful in local planning.
In an effort to find commonality among the many reports, Finance Director Charlie Miller prepared and presented a summary of plans and visual depictions of overlap.
Miller said that he focused on the Morrison plan from 2004, the Recreation Department’s plan from 2006, Leo Blackman’s plan from 2016, and the Fountain Square plan and the Amenia Green plan from 2024.
Grants are available for communities seeking to improve walking convenience, connectivity, access, parking and passive recreation, Miller reported. He saw value in bringing residents together to hold planning discussions.
Blackman saw the importance of coordinating such planning with the current work of updating the Comprehensive Plan that is now underway and sharing ideas with the community planners about to begin work with the comprehensive plan committee.
A goal, Blackman said, could be to work toward qualifying for a state New York Forward Grant program.
“The initial part would not cost money,” said councilmember Rosanna Hamm.
Councilmember Nicole Ahearn observed that the timeline between community input and grant application seemed “ambitious.”
“It’s a matter of pulling all of this together,” Miller responded. The slide presentation will be posted on the town’s website.
General discussion continued, touching on the town’s ongoing needs for downtown pedestrian safety, ease of access, community enhancement and revitalization.
Blackman reported that he has spoken with the Department of Transportation about imposing a parking time limit in front of the post office and accommodating parking for handicapped drivers.
Crosswalks are a concern also. Blackman felt that where there are presently two along the stretch of Route 343 between the traffic light and Mechanic Street, there should be four.
“Our expectation is that we will have a more vibrant downtown and the way to do that is for people to not be afraid for their lives when they cross the street,” Blackman said.
Hamm suggested flashing lights at crosswalks and Ahearn saw the need for reflective paint marking the crosswalks, noting that the existing lines are faded.
Spring has officially arrived with freezing night time temperatures forecast through the first week of April.
Victoria Kelly, Cary Institute Environmental Monitoring Program Manager and Senior Ecologist, prepared this report.
MILLBROOK — Since 1988 the weather station at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in the Town of Washington has been keeping track of our local weather — precipitation, temperature, wind, air quality, etc.
The News asked Cary’s Victoria Kelly what records showed about this winter. Were these months colder and snowier than last year? How do they compare to historic winters? Is this a normal winter?
December’s average temperature was 30.3 degrees Fahreneit, 1.3 degrees below the 1991-2020 average, which is what weather people refer to as “normal.” The January average temperature was 25.2 degrees, 1.1 degrees below normal, and the February average temperature was 28.4 degrees, 0.3 degrees below normal. So, it’s not your imagination, this has been a cold winter. Note that the 30-year average used to determine “normal” changes every 10 years and doesn’t include the warm winters of the last few years in the comparison.
The record high winter temperature was a balmy 78 degrees Fahrenheit on February 21, 2018, and the record low was a very chilly minus 27 degrees Fahrenheit on January 27, 1994.
Overall, the winter of 2024-2025 has been colder with less snowfall than normal. It’s not over yet though. Remember the blizzard on March 14, 2017? Or the April Fool’s Day blizzard March 31-April 1, 1997? March has been known to go out like a lion before, it could very well do it again. Total snowfall this winter so far is 22 inches. Our last accumulating snow was February 15-16. As with many of our events this winter, it began as snow and changed to ice and then rain. We call that mixed precipitation. If we get no more accumulating snow this winter, it will be the fourth winter in a row with less than average snowfall. Our record low snowfall was 13 inches in the winter of 2015-2016. Our record high snowfall was 92 inches in the winter of 1994-1995.
Reports from the suppliers or heating oil and propane estimate that demand increased 15% to 30% so far this winter confirming the findings of the Cary Institute.
The North East Fire house on the south side of Century Boulevard.
MILLERTON — The commissioners of the North East Fire District recently held their monthly meeting at the firehouse to discuss their current needs and general business.
Discussion centered around the current work on the 2025 budget and proposed expenditures, which ranged from upgrading their heating/cooling system to the possibility of replacing car no. 3.
The possibility of obtaining a new vehicle, such as a pickup truck, was also considered. In the end, the discussion was put on hold with chair Dave McGhee saying, “We have time.”
Updates on planning and training were discussed. Fire chief Keith Roger reported that 15 calls for medical assistance came in for the previous month, two calls came in for motor vehicle accidents, one call for a fire and one call came in for a propane issue which was quickly resolved. There were 35 calls for downed wires.
Physicals were also a topic of conversation. The fire district currently has 47 members, some of whom still need physicals. The district’s plan is that all members will be caught up on physicals by autumn.
The Easter egg hunt to be held on April 19 was discussed in addition to the need to look into hay wagons for the event.
As part of the chief’s report, Roger discussed equipment. Hose-testing is scheduled to be conducted on April 9. He also stressed the need to order brush equipment and side mirrors. Roger stated he needs to figure out exactly what is needed to fill department needs, but “bib overalls, radios and wands,” are on his wish list as well as new labels for equipment.
The discussion then turned to two events. On March 27, assistant county executive Gregg Pulver will be holding a closed meeting to discuss EMS issues. On April 18, Kelly Roger will be utilizing the firehouse for an event. Building use was approved for both events.
The subject of air packs then came up as one had sustained damage. Chief Roger also reported he is looking into which responders are in need of new equipment. Additionally, he has been trying to meet with new vendors. He has also started a log book for recordkeeping purposes around equipment to enable the department to track its movement and usage throughout the department.
Responder Chris Reyes discussed his work on the annual dinner and requested that $15,000 be made available for associated expenses. A motion was made to allow, which was officially passed.
No new members have recently joined the fire department, but recruitment efforts remain ongoing with interested parties being encouraged to come to the fire district on Monday evenings at 6 p.m. to learn more.
The next meeting at the firehouse will be a workshop on April 1. A regular meeting will be held on April 15.
Town supervisor Chris Kennan hands memorandum of understanding documents to Millerton Mayor Jenn Najdek for her signature at the town board’s special meeting on March 21. Town councilperson Chris Mayville, left, and deputy supervisor Lana Morrison, right, in foreground.
MILLERTON – The Village’s need for space in the wake of the fire that gutted the Water and Highway building last month was addressed at a special meeting of the town board on Friday, March 21.
By a unanimous vote, the board approved a resolution to grant the Village usage of the Town’s old highway garage on South Center Street.
Town supervisor Chris Kennan gave his approval to the measure, saying, “I’m very eager to see us help the Village in this respect.”
Mayor Jenn Najdek was on hand at the meeting to sign a memorandum of understanding — the first step in the Village being able to utilize the unused Town structure.
The agreement, formally approved by the Village Board on Monday, March 24, will aid in alleviating the space crunch the Village has been experiencing since the Feb. 3 fire. Currently, Village staff and vehicles displaced by the fire have been temporarily housed at Village Hall amid space constraints.
The damaged structure and its burned contents still remain off-limits to the Village as the scene has still not yet been released by investigators.
In addition to approving the Village’s use of space at the former highway garage, the board also continued its review of the recommendations put forth by the now-defunct Zoning Review Committee. Additionally, they discussed potential upgrades and redevelopment of the Boulevard once zoning and funding challenges are sorted out.
