Presenting the annual Citizen of the Year award to Aaron Howard Jr., right, Town Supervisor Leo Blackman spoke of Howard’s many contributions to the Amenia community. The traditional ceremony took place at Fountain Square on Sunday, Dec. 1, as part of the Parade of Lights holiday celebration.
AMENIA — During a traditional event at Fountain Square that occurs just before the annual Parade of Lights, the Citizen of the Year award for 2024 was presented by Town Supervisor Leo Blackman on Sunday, Dec. 1, to Aaron Howard Jr.
While residents awaited the presentation and endured a frigid breeze, a contingent from the Webutuck high School Band, led by Band Director Eric Weiner, performed a program of holiday-themed music. Freshtown volunteers were distributing hot beverages.
The new Silo Bakery, slated to open around mid-February, opened its doors to distribute freshly baked cookies to passers-by. By all accounts, the cookie effort was successful and the cookies received great reviews.
Key to the selection of former Fire Chief Aaron Howard was the breadth of his volunteerism detailed by Town Supervisor Leo Blackman who said that it was difficult to keep track of the myriad ways in which Howard has served his community as a lifelong resident. Upon graduation from Webutuck High School in 1999, Howard served in the U.S. Marines in the Middle East for seven years.
Since high school, Howard has been a member of the Amenia Fire Company, serving as Chief from 2017 to 2022. He presently serves as vice-president of the Fire Company Board and is a member of the Fire Advisory Board. He has also served in a variety of leadership roles within the Dutchess County Chiefs Council.
His memberships include the Lions’ Club and both local VFW posts, and he remains active in local and area youth activities, coaching youth soccer and baseball, along with teaching 6th grade catechism at Immaculate Conception Church.
At Webutuck High School Howard is a technology and career teacher, one of the programs that helps students to look ahead to their years after high school.
Howard and his wife, Kathleen, married soon after his service in the Marines and have two children, Nolan and Elaina.
POUGHKEEPSIE — Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino announced the preservation of the 143 acre Obercreek Farm in the Town of Wappinger, bringing the total land preserved by the county’s Partnership for Manageable Growth to over 5,000 acres.
The County’s Partnership for Manageable Growth is a program aimed at protecting agriculture and open space resources. It provides a local fund for purchases of land for preservation, covering up to 50% of the total cost. So far, the program has helped protect 5,722 acres of both farmland and open space, including awaiting projects, in Dutchess County.
Obercreek Farm marked the 29th farmland preservation that has been completed by the Partnership for Manageable Growth since 1999. However, through the program, the County has protected a total of 39 projects including both open space and farmland proposals, totaling over $42 million. Dutchess County’s Partnership for Manageable Growth program provided 25% of that funding, $481,981, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets contributed $1,442,378 and the Dutchess Land Conservancy gave $6,000.
Alongside the environmental benefits, the preservation of land through Partnership for Manageable Growth allows support of the agricultural industry’s economic viability. This allows farmers, who participate in the program, to protect their land and further benefit the community by farming for more generations to come.
POUGHKEEPSIE — Starting in early 2025, public transit ridership in Dutchess County will see modifications to routes throughout the county.
Northern Dutchess riders will see changes to Route D service, which currently runs between Poughkeepsie and Dover. Its easternmost stop will now be in the village of Millbrook. Due to low ridership, Dover and Wassaic stops on Route D will be eliminated.
In addition to the route changes, Dutchess ridership will also see expanded service and greater exchanges of information with the public regarding improvements and updates coupled with web-based tracking and the creation of the new, enhanced SPOT app which replaced the DoubleMap app in October. Some of the features on SPOT include real-time updates and customization abilities.
According to county executive Sue Serino, the upcoming revisions are the result of public input and subsequent government response. “Over the past year, we have listened to our community’s concerns and input about bus service,” Serino said. “The team at Dutchess County Public Transit has worked tirelessly to fine-tune fixed-route changes, addressing the various concerns and ensuring efficiency in the bus system to keep it sustainable for the future.”
For more information, visit dutchessny.gov/publictransit or call (845) 473-8424.
MILLERTON — The Millerton Business Alliance is hosting a Winter Walk in the Village of Millerton on Friday, Dec. 13.
From 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, the community is invited to stroll through Main Street to enjoy stores with extended hours, limited exclusive sales, giveaways, treats and soak in the vibrantly decorated streets.
Some of the expected festivities and deals are the Abode Home Goods raffle for a $100 gift certificate, BES Shop will host a holiday party with drinks, snacks, music, and a pop-up shop. Designer Finds will feature sales between $5 and $20 off with festive cheer and a jewelry pop-up shop. Millerton Wine & Spirits will be having a wine tasting, karaoke at Hunter Bee, NBT Bank will be serving hot chocolate and giving out candy canes, gloves and hats on Main Street. Much more is expected to be announced.
The MBA hopes to spread holiday cheer with the help of many local businesses that were willing to participate in the Winter Walk.
This year’s participating stores are Country Gardeners Florist, Demitasse, Oblong Books, Abode Home Goods, The Elephants Tusk, Designer Finds, BES Shop, Harney Tea, Candy O’s, Millerton Wine & Spirits, Montage Antiques, The Dutchess Trading Company, Hunter Bees, NBT Bank, Willa Restaurant, The Millerton Inn, Taro Restaurant, The Oakhurst Diner, T-Shirt Farm and Millerton Antique Center.
Visit www.visitmillertonny.com for more information.
Located in the Troutbeck community, 25 Green Road — built in 1985 — has 2,812 square feet on 2.67 acres and was sold for $880,000 on Oct. 17, 2024.
AMENIA — October was a busy month for Amenia with ten transfers; three in Silo Ridge and seven outside the club. Town of Amenia prices remain modest with a median sale price of $320,000. A comparison of property tax assessments versus sales prices in October is revealing while the courts, lawyers, town and owners continue to litigate the level of assessments in Silo Ridge. The total assessed value of all seven town properties transferred in October was $2.7 million, 14% over their combined assessed value. In contrast the sales total of only three properties transferred in Silo Ridge totaled $13.7 million — 69% over their assessed value. Resales are now happening in Silo Ridge with handsome returns over the previous price paid as noted below.
In early December there were 18 single family homes for sale in Amenia including seven over $1 million and six under $400,000.
Silo Ridge Transfers
307 Pheasant Run — 2 bedroom/2.5 bath townhouse sold in November 2020 for $2,208,800 and resold in October 2024 for $3.1 million.
24 Snowy Owl Court — 3 bedroom/3 full bath/2 half bath sold in March 2021 for $2.29 million and resold in October for $5.25 million.
413 Pheasant Run, Unit 2C — 4 bedroom/4.5 bath town house sold in October 2019 for $3,514,000 and resold in October 2024 for $5.3 million.
Town of Amenia Transfers
35 Lower Powder Road — 1.43 acre vacant lot sold privately for $105,000.
83 Cascade Road — 2 bedroom/1.5 bath saltbox home on .34 acres sold for $285,000.
81 Kent Road — 3 bedroom/1.5 bath home sold for $315,000.
50 Railroad Ave. — 2 bedroom/1.5 bath cottage sold for $320,000, the median price for single family home transfers in the month of October.
34 Cascade Road — 18 acres of land sold for $368,000.
42 Bog Hollow Road — 3 bedroom/2 bath home sold for $462,500.
25 Green Road — 3 bedroom/3 bath home on 2.67 acres sold for $880,000.
