The Bank of Millbrook may be opening a Town of North East branch on Route 44 at the location of Elizabeth’s Jewelry and Fine Gifts, according to bank president George Whalen III.
MILLERTON — The Bank of Millbrook’s site plan for a drive-through bank is still seeking approval after the Town of North East’s planning board’s public hearing on Aug. 28.
The application was to open another branch on Route 44, where Elizabeth’s Jewelry and Fine Gifts is located. The bank is planning on converting the 2,500-square-foot store to host different amenities for the public.
“Part of the conversion is reconfiguring the existing parking lot and the driveway. So what is proposed is that we are going to add a through-lane which would allow patrons to access the proposed teller window,” said Peter Cody, a representative of the bank. “Also included is a new exterior ATM, which will be in front of the building, and a new septic and canopy.”
At the last planning board meeting, the board members had issues with the lighting surrounding the outside of the building and asked for it to be looked at again.
“There were some clarifications we needed for lighting, which we reconfigured to be more uniform throughout the site, providing adequate lighting for all the parking areas,” Cody said. “As well as in compliance with New York banking regulations.”
According to Bill Kish, the planning board’s lighting expert, the Bank of Millbrook’s proposed lighting is six times the amount New York State requires.
“When I hear them say it’s six times the amount New York requires, that does seem excessive, and it does seem like it would be too bright for our community,” said Leslie Farhangi, a board member. “I don’t think we want to create more work for you, but on the other hand it seems silly to be putting something that is six times what is needed.”
The board asked the Bank of Millbrook to return to the next meeting with a plan to lower the 100-watt lights on the perimeter of the building to 50-watt in order to reduce the amount of light radiating from the plot, which is similar to the first proposal they brought to the board.
“I hate to get stuck in a position where it’s like ‘here is something bad’ today, then come back with, excuse me, something worse,” Kish said.
With the news of the Bank of Millbrook taking over the previously owned lot of Elizabeth’s Jewelry and Fine Gifts, the jewelry store announced that they are not closing down for good.
Elizabeth’s Jewelry intends to move into Trotta’s Fine Wine and Liquors on Route 44, and a community member at the planning board meeting said, “I think it will be great to have the jewelry store moving up to where it is. It’ll make that area better. So it’s a win-win question.”
The planning board approved phase four of Buddhafield’s residence site plan.
The 42-acre site completed phase four of its “master development plan,” which had previously been approved by the Zoning Board for the Town of North East. This phase consists of a single-family residence with a 2,900-square-foot layout containing four bedrooms.
The main question regarding the construction of the home was what materials would be used, which was brought to the board’s attention during this meeting.
“What we have are a slate roof, a limestone veneer, and some ship siding between doors,” said Cody. “Also included in this submission package is a lighting plan because it is a single-family residence on an isolated spot.
“Thank you so much everyone,” Cody said. “It has been quite the journey with this one. We have more pieces. We will be back.”
Long-term town employees were recognized at the Town Board meeting on Thursday, June 12. Honorees pictured with Town Supervisor Leo Blackman, were Judy Carlson, Office Manager at the Town Garage, center, for her 35 years of service to the town and Megan Chamberlin, current Highway Superintendent, for 20 years.
AMENIA — Acknowledging the many years of service accumulated by town employees, the Town Board paused to honor that service at its meeting on Thursday, June 12.
“Thank you for making a difference,” said Town Supervisor Leo Blackman in recognizing Judy Carlson, Office Manager at the town garage, for her 35 years of service.
“Megan’s job is not an easy one,” Blackman said, honoring Megan Chamberlin, current Highway Superintendent who has served the town for 20 years.
Also among those honored was Town Clerk Dawn Marie Klingner for 20 years of service as Court Clerk.
Maureen Moore, Court Clerk, was also honored in absentia for her 20 years of town service.
In anticipation of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution in 2026, new historic markers are appearing at each of the local cemeteries where Revolutionary War veterans are buried. Unveiling the new marker at Amenia Union Cemetery on Saturday, June 21, were left to right, Town Historian Betsy Strauss, Jim Middlebrook representing the regional chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Gail Seymour, President of the Union Cemetery Association.
AMENIA — One by one, new historic markers are appearing at local cemeteries where Revolutionary War dead are buried. On Saturday, June 21, community members gathered to see a new marker unveiled at Amenia Union Cemetery on Leedsville Road.
A tent provided welcome shade for the attendees and refreshments as about 30 residents gathered for the unveiling and to share stories of local history with one another.
As with the first historic market installation at the Old Amenia Burying Ground, held in April, Amenia Union Cemetery graves of Revolutionary War veterans had been marked with American flags in advance.
Jim Middlebrook, representing the Columbia Mid-Hudson chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, attended along with other members of his chapter. Speaking before the unveiling, Middlebrook said that the historic marker project had begun in August 2024, and included a detailed process to certify the names on the graves.
Middlebrook described the work of the William C. Pomeroy Foundation of Syracuse whose mission is to promote “pride of place” by providing grants in support of installing historic markers and plaques nationwide to honor patriots for their service. Active now in seven or eight states, Middlebrook said, the foundation will soon add Connecticut and Massachusetts to the list.
The new Amenia Union marker honors “at least five veterans of the American Revolution interred between 1787 and 1810,” although Town Historian Betsy Strauss lists six veterans buried in the cemetery. The sixth, Gerhard Winegar, whose burial had been in 1781 could not fully satisfy the certification standards.
Strauss provided the following listing of six names:
Col. Colbe Chamberlain, 1739-1796
Capt. William Chamberlain, 1745-1810
Lieut. Samuel Snyder, 1712-1808
Gerhard Winegar, 1750-1781
Ensign Henry Winegar, 1723-1787
Capt. William Young, 1747-1806
Bee Bee the clown, face painters and a community wide scavenger hunt are among the activities planned for the Millerton Street Fair in Downtown Millerton on Saturday, June 28.
MILLERTON — The Millerton News, in partnership with the North East Community Center (NECC) and the Millerton Business Alliance, is hosting its first Street Fair on Saturday in a celebration of the town.
Rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, the fair will bring together local nonprofits and businesses, with live music, entertainment, kids’ activities, local eats, and family fun in Veterans Park, in front of the Millerton Inn, and beyond.
“The Millerton Street Fair will celebrate everything we love about this community — its spirit, its dedication to service and its creative energy,” said James Clark, publisher and CEO of The Millerton News.
Local nonprofits will showcase their work and impact, including Climate Smart Millerton, Eddie Collins Memorial Park, North East Historical Society, Townscape, Tri-Corner FEED, Village of Millerton, and the Webutuck Elementary School.Participating businesses include Bes, Little Red Bird Studio, NBT, The Elephant’s Tusk, and many more.Local retail and dining establishments will be open with special promotions. NECC’s Farmer’s Market will run during the event.
Among the planned festivities are live music from John Stey and the Resilience Brass Band, performances from Bee Bee the Clown, face painting by students from Webutuck High School, and a community-wide scavenger hunt for kids.Other kids’ activities include egg and spoon races, and a “touch-a-truck” open house at the firehouse.The Irondale Schoolhouse will be hosting a special exhibit, and the North East-Millerton Library will be offering signups for the Summer Reading Program, a science show from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., lawn games, and a cookie cook-off.
For more information, go to millertonnews.com/street-fair.
The Nine Partners Road Quaker Meetinghouse, built in 1780, will be the site of two summer lectures sponsored by the Millbrook Historical Society.
MILLBROOK — Long in the planning, the Millbrook Historical Society has announced that it is sponsoring two lectures in observance of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Both lectures relating to Quaker history are to be held in the historic Quaker Meeting House on Nine Partners Road.
For the first talk, scheduled for Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m., the historical society has invited Sarah Gronningsater, Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, to talk on “Quakers, Anti-slavery, and the American Revolution.” The topic will explore the role that New York’s Quakers, especially in the Hudson Valley, played in the rise of the anti-slavery movement that followed the American Revolution.
The second talk, scheduled for Sunday, July 27, at 2 p.m., invites Carl Lounsbury of the College of William and Mary and Colonial Williamsburg to speak on the architecture of the Nine Partners Meetinghouse. His talk is titled, “Nine Partners Meetinghouse Plan: A New Form in the Hudson Valley.” Expert in early American architecture, Lounsbury’s talk will compare Nine Partners with other later houses of worship in New York and New England.
Both lecture events will be held at the 1780 brick Nine Partners Quaker Meetinghouse in Millbrook. An earlier meetinghouse on the site had burned. The building has remained largely unchanged since the 18th century.
Given the age of the structure, handicapped access is limited and there are no rest room facilities.
Visitors should enter through the cemetery gate entrance.
The lectures are free and open to all, supported by a grant from the county and offered as part of Dutchess County’s participation in the nation’s 250th anniversary commemoration.
