Annual Tritle organ concert at Smithfield
Kent Tritle at the organ of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC.
Joshua Smitth
Latest News
MILLERTON — The North East Fire District held a public hearing Tuesday, Oct. 21, to review its proposed 2026 budget. With no public comment, the Board of Fire Commissioners approved the $787,813 plan during its regular monthly business meeting, which followed.
Fire District Chair Dave McGhee read a resolution to override the tax levy limit established under New York’s General Municipal Law Section 3-c for the 2026 budget year. In a roll-call vote, the Board approved the resolution and adopted the budget.
The 2026 budget represents a 2% increase, consistent with the district’s typical year-over-year growth. The 2025 budget was $771,366 and the 2024 budget was $756,222.
Among the largest line items is the Capital Apparatus Reserve Fund, earmarked at $100,000. This includes funds for general equipment, which could go toward a new Quick Attack truck — a small, 4-wheel-drive vehicle designed to reach fires or emergencies quickly, even over rough terrain.
Property development also held a sizable line item of $130,000. Recent improvement projects have included maintenance at the Millerton Fire House, including new floors, gutter replacement to prevent water damage and flooding that had been a common occurrence, new siding and paint and a heated walkway to manage snow and ice in the winter months.
As required under New York Town Law 181, the North East Fire District conducts this budget process annually, including a public hearing, providing residents with the opportunity to give feedback. Copies of the adopted 2026 budget are available for review at the Town Clerk’s office, the fire district secretary’s office and the Millerton Fire House.
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The Dutchess County Transportation Council hosted a listening session at the NorthEast-Millerton Library on Oct. 22, giving northeast Dutchess County residents an opportunity to express the challenges they face in getting transportation.
Photo by Aly Morrissey
MILLERTON — Transportation challenges in northeast Dutchess County took center stage last week during a listening session held by the Dutchess County Transportation Council at the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex.
The event, held Oct. 22, was part of the Council’s effort to update its Coordinated Public Transit–Human Services Transportation Plan, which aims to “improve mobility for older adults, people with disabilities, low-income individuals and others who struggle to access reliable transportation.”
Data included in the 2021 version of the plan reveals the Town of North East and Village of Millerton have higher-than-average percentages of older adults, a group especially affected by limited transportation options.
“As people age, their need for services and transportation increases,” the plan states. “Given that we expect an increase in our older population, we can expect to see a concurrent increase in the demand for services that allow people to age in place and remain socially engaged.”
And yet, options remain limited in the northeastern part of the county.
In their presentation, the DCTC outlined the early stages of the six-month data collection and community feedback process. They acknowledged the region’s unique challenges — its distance from Poughkeepsie, smaller population and proximity to the Connecticut border.
In attendance was Martha Shultz, site manager for the Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s Friendship Center in Millerton. Shultz said she joined the meeting as an advocate for the members who regularly take advantage of the Friendship Center’s meals, activities and sense of community — many of whom face daily struggles getting to medical appointments, grocery stores and social activities.
Shultz said she also encouraged several of her center’s participants to join the session so that county officials could hear directly from those most affected. “It’s one thing for me to say something, but to hear it from the people who really need it is different,” she said.
“I often get calls from people who are looking for information about transportation,” Shultz added. “I usually refer them to the North East Community Center. They do the best they can, but they’re just one resource — that’s all we have out here.”
The NECC transportation program offers free rides to seniors, families and individuals from Amenia, Dover, Millerton, Pine Plains, Millbrook and Stanford. Transportation is available to those in need of medical attention, medication, groceries and laundry. Drivers also go to Sharon Hospital across the border in Connecticut. But advance notice is recommended, and priority rides go to those with disabilities and seniors with medical appointments.
Shultz said she appreciated that DCTC staff seemed receptive to feedback, including the need for better communication tools for seniors who may not use technology. She said, “It was worthwhile to go and have our voices heard.”
The DCTC will continue holding listening sessions around the county as it develops its updated transportation plan, expected to be released next year.
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Amenia Town Hall on Route 22.
Nathan Miller
AMENIA — Following weeks of meetings and review, the 2026 Preliminary Town Budget is scheduled for a public hearing on Thursday, Nov. 6, during the Town Board meeting beginning at 7 p.m.
The 2026 proposed budget shows total appropriations of $3,355,262 for the General Fund and $1,338,902 from the Highway Fund, or a total of $4,694,165, an increase of $543,570 over the current year.
Once expected revenues are applied, the General Fund amount is reduced to $1,930,638 and the Highway Fund to $906,562, for a total of $2,837,201 that will need to be raised by taxes, an increase of $143,126 over the current year.
A significant increase in the cost for ambulance service is anticipated, showing a total of $639,900, an increase of $159,138 over 2025 levels. The cost for the coming year is nearly 20% of the General Fund.
If the 2026 Preliminary Budget is approved, the mill rate for total town taxes would be 2.9% lower than the mill rate was in 2025. The total number of taxed properties in 2025 was 2,005, while in 2026, the taxable properties have seen an increase to 2,027.
The preliminary budget is posted on the town website at www.ameniany.gov. Printed copies are available in the Town Clerk’s office.
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The Millerton Village Offices on Route 22.
Photo by Aly Morrissey
MILLERTON — A 9:30 p.m. curfew will be in effect in the Village of Millerton on Halloween night for children under the age of 16. The Village Board of Trustees approved the curfew during its business meeting on Monday.
The board noted that while the decision comes just days before Halloween, information about the curfew will be shared through the Village’s Facebook page, its new TextMyGov alert system and local school email notifications to help spread the word.
During her regular update, Mayor Jenn Najdek acknowledged the anticipated demolition of the former Water and Highway Building. “Demolition is moving along — it’s far more complicated than we thought because of air quality concerns.”
With a focus on safety, Najdek said that as the building and its rubble are demolished, everything is being treated as contaminated debris. She said, “Air quality and safety are being carefully monitored during the cleanup, and things are moving forward.”
During Monday’s meeting, the Board also voted to appoint Andrew Rebillard as interim chair of the Planning Board to fill the vacant seat. His term will run until June 30, 2026.
The move comes amid ongoing participation issues on both the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals. Najdek and Village Clerk Lisa Cope noted that several residents have recently expressed interest in joining the boards — a positive sign after months of vacancies.
Still, continued volunteer challenges have prompted early discussions about a potential merger between the two boards.
“This is just an introduction to the idea,” Najdek said, adding that the possibility will be discussed in greater detail at the Nov. 10 workshop meeting. “We’ll be consulting with legal counsel on what’s possible. It’s a process that would take time and would likely not happen until after June 30, if it does move forward.”
Najdek said the main priority for now is to fill the open seats on both boards so that projects can continue to move forward while the consolidation discussion unfolds.
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