Left, author/editor Bryan Bunch introduced David Brinckerhoff at a Rotary dinner Wednesday, Dec. 13, at the Millbrook Cafe, where Brinckerhoff was made an honorary member after more than 50 years as a Rotarian.
MILLBROOK — When the Millbrook Rotary Club recognized David Brinkerhoff at a dinner Wednesday, Dec. 13, it was with a great amount of enthusiasm for a life well-lived and spent in serving others.
Brinckerhoff is still serving and was elevated to an honorary member of the Millbrook Rotary. The dinner was held at the Millbrook Café. Bryan Bunch, a writer/editor and teacher as well as someone who knows Brinckerhoff well, gave the introduction.
He told the diners quite a bit about the guest of honor, beginning with the fact that Brinckerhoff is the last of the charter members who continued as an active member of the club, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023. A past president of the club in 1976-’77, he has also served as historian for a great many years, and gave an account of the club and its beginnings at the anniversary dinner.
The Millbrook Rotary Club was originally the Dutchess Rotary Club. It had to be started by another club and have well-attended meetings for one year before it could actually become a club. It was started by the Rotary Club of Hyde Park, which met at the Cottonwood Inn.
The bell, still rung at the meetings, is inscribed “Central Dutchess Rotary Club.” After much work and bringing ideas to fruition, the Millbrook Rotary Club was born, and it then helped three other clubs get started: Pleasant Valley, East Fishkill and LaGrange.
It was also mentioned that Bunch was originally recruited into the Rotary Club by Brinckerhoff, as were many others. In fact, Brinckerhoff has brought more new members into Rotary than any other member.
He is most known, however, for having been the catalyst for many local projects. The Veteran’s Monument at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and North Avenue was restored mostly at the determined insistence of Brinckerhoff. The signs welcoming visitors to Millbrook were also a pet project that he diligently worked to see to fruition. The Business Directory of Millbrook is a major means of funding for Rotary projects, and his work on that project has been immense.
Brinckerhoff was born in Sullivan County, and while not giving away his exact age, he will admit that he not only attended the Woodstock festival, but that he walked to the now-famous music venue. Brinckerhoff likes people; he waited tables in Catskill resorts, then pursued an education at Purdue University in Indiana. After earning degrees in the field of psychology, he was employed by the university.
Moving to Millbrook when he started a career in executive placement, he later went on to earn a certificate for counseling in alcohol and drug misuse, starting a second career instead of retiring. As president of MARC Agency, which deals in alcohol and drug recovery, Brinckerhoff negotiated a merger between MARC and Mental Health America.
A man who believes in the value of work and service, today, in his 80s, Brinckerhoff still works on large projects that will provide lasting benefits to communities for many years to come. On a personal basis, he will help a friend at the drop of a hat; he has helped with tasks such as writing a resume for someone, and helping to cut up and remove a fallen tree from a friend’s driveway. He commuted back and forth to New York’s Sloan Kettering Hospital to care for a friend and one of his sons who had terminal cancer whenever they needed his help.
In his closing remarks, Bunch said, “Again, welcome to Dave in his new status as an honorary Rotarian. It is our hope that he will take advantage of the opportunities that arise where he can still join us at meetings and other events.” Knowing the verve and energy of this octogenarian, their wishes will probably be manifested, and often.
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.
