Burglary, birthday and cattle
From the Archives — Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025
From the Archives — Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
An overcoat, cigarettes and canned goods were stolen from Shufelt's Inc., department store in Millerton some time Saturday night by thieves who gained entrance through a window in the door of a store room at the rear of the building. The intruders also tried to break into Hoag & Keefer's store, but failed in this attempt when they were unable to open inside shutters barring the rear window. The theft at Shufelt's was discovered Sunday.
Stanfordville Physician Says There Is No Danger Of Epidemic
STANFORDVILLE - Dr. R. V. Berry, town of Stanford health officer and school health officer in the town of Clinton, stated last week-end that in his opinion the "scarlet fever scare" in the two townships had ended.
The Millerton Fire Department extinguished chimney fires at the home of Mrs. Harry Card on Center Street Sunday and Monday. Only slight damage was done by either blaze.
Mr. and Mrs. Worthey J. Pulver returned Sunday evening after spending a few days in New York City.
Miss Shirley Ackert was hostess to twelve of her young friends Tuesday afternoon at a party on her eighth birthday. The guests were Richard DeWitt, Morton Bloch, Miriam and Marilyn Wood. Theresa Fracaro, Mirtam Swanson, Mary Canevari, Dorothea Silvernale, Jean Van DeBogart, Louise Hoffbeck, Shirley Williams and Virginia Allen.
Checks are still slowly coming in to the Millerton Super, the market's owner, Joseph Trotta Jr., reported this week.
The Route 44 supermarket was robbed of $26,000 in checks and $5200 cash by an armed bandit on Nov. 8. Trotta said that he did not know exactly how much money in checks has been reissued to the market. He said that some of his customers are waiting to get their November bank statements before they can report to him whether they cashed a check at his store on Nov. 7 or 8. Those days' revenues were taken by the robber.
New York State Police Lt. William Wolfe said Monday that the police were still investigating the case, but that they had no real leads.
Millerton Mayor John Hermans this week begins a column that will appear periodically in The News. The column will be based on questions that Millerton residents have asked him about Village concerns.
Question: What is happening with the A&P Building?
Answer: In a recent conversation with the building's owner I was assured that the IGA organization will be moving in soon. Delays due to illness of one of the financial backers have set back original plans for a Nov. 1 opening. I was assured that plans to open soon are under way — hopefully before Christmas.
An era came to an end Monday when Winchell Mountain Farm in the Town of North East auctioned off its entire prize-winning Holstein dairy herd. Buyers came from all over the country.
The herd itself was unusual because it is one of the oldest established herds, all 270 animals were registered with the Holstein-Friesian Association of America, and, according to the farm's manager, Everett Jones, all but one animal was born and bred on the farm. Cows from the herd have won many prizes for their exceptionally high milk production.
MILLERTON — Not everybody knows where Graystone Farm is, nor what enchantments lie on its 70 acres. A peaceful property near the Rail Trail with myriad animals, gardens which teem in the spring and summer and a unique view on the Webatuck Creek, it is a refuge from the bustle of Millerton.
Back turned to the camera, Merrill Sindler feeds his three lamas with a carrot. The traditional "community profile" mugshot is not to be this time. Mr. Sindler is a private person.
He opens a shed and is greeted by the llamas, a donkey, and two improbably enormous turkeys. After letting in some of his 15 sheep, who crowd eagerly around a feed trough, he whistles for his magnificent horse Sarah, a former jumper, from the acres of pasture to the south. He points to one of his sheep, which has a broken leg and gets around with a labored limp, and says it cost him $300 to have the leg pinned together by a veterinarian.
"My sister said, 'why didn't you just eat it?"' he recalls, dismissing the distasteful thought with a wave. Though not a vegetarian, he has a soft heart and refuses to sacrifice his own animals. And he also protects them against would-be poachers: as he proudly ruffles his turkeys' feathers,
Nathan Miller
The former Presbyterian church on Main Street in Millerton will soon become the second location of Caffeine Academy, a multimedia education center originally founded in West Babylon, New York.
MILLERTON — The long-vacant Presbyterian church on Main Street is poised for a new life after the Millerton Planning Board granted approval to a new education business Wednesday, Feb. 11.
Caffeine Academy, founded by Alex That in West Babylon, New York, plans to transform the prominent building into a center for multimedia production training, offering instruction in digital music, video production and related arts.
That sought site plan approval to renovate the building and bring it into compliance with current accessibility standards.
The next phase for That is to obtain building permits from Ken McLoughlin in the village’s building department and begin construction. That said he expects to make changes over the course of 2026, with a targeted opening for the business in 2027.
That’s Caffeine Academy — which he runs with assistance from his sons — began in 2013 as a school for DJing and music production that grew to accommodate and cater to people with special needs and abilities. Now, Caffeine Academy offers classes for all abilities in video production and multimedia arts in addition to the digital music classes.
The application passed with little discussion. That previously appeared in front of the Planning Board in December, but delayed the application to wait for a local law to go into effect that waived increased parking requirements for changes of use in Millerton’s commercial district. The law allowed the application to avoid seeking a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Leila Hawken
Ashlyn Price, 7, designs a festive Valentine’s crown with sticky hearts and pipe cleaners during a craft session at Amenia Town Hall on Saturday, Feb. 14. Children and parents created red-and-pink heart headpieces and other holiday crafts at the event, organized by the Amenia Recreation Commission. Recreation Leader Cassidy Howard said she was pleased with both the turnout and the enthusiasm.

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Nathan Miller
Webutuck senior Evan Bremmer, center left, fights through Ellenville defenders to catch a pass during a home game on Friday, Feb. 13.
AMENIA — The Webutuck boys varsity basketball team qualified for the Section IX Invitational this year for the first time in over a decade.
Varsity head coach Shawn Howard said the school hasn’t been represented at the sectional tournament in the nine years he’s coached basketball at the school.
He and varsity starters Evan Bremmer, James Singleton and Zach Hood credited the team’s success this season to long relationships on the court.

“Most of the seniors this year, I started coaching them when they were in JV,” Howard said. “They’re used to my system and they put it together this year.”
Singleton, Bremmer and Hood have all played together since middle school when they competed on Webutuck’s modified league team. They said they can communicate with each other without talking.
“You don’t even have to tell each other, you can just see on each other’s faces,” Bremmer said. “And it makes the game so much easier, when you know how teammates play and what they want to do.”
Howard said that cohesion steadily improved over the years and ultimately carried the team into sectionals.
The team maintained a 5-3 record within the Mid-Hudson Athletic League, with a 5-8 record overall for the season after a hard-fought game ended in a 60-48 loss to Ellenville High School on Friday, Feb. 13. Teams have to win at least half of their league games to qualify for the sectional tournaments at the end of the season.
“The biggest thing is playing as a team,” Howard said.
Millerton News
CANAAN — Kathleen Rosier, 92, of Ashley Falls Massachusetts, passed away peacefully with her children at her bedside on Feb. 5, at Fairview Commons Nursing Home in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Kathleen was born on Oct. 31,1933, in East Canaan to Carlton and Carrie Nott.
Kathleen retired from Housatonic Curtain Company where she was a machine operator for many years.
She was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, John A.Rosier Sr., her son John A Rosier Jr., her son Frank H. Rosier and her brother Jerome Nott.
Kathleen leaves behind her son, Brian Rosier and his wife JoEllen of East Canaan, her daughter, Theresa Morin of Ashley Falls, her daughter, Lisa Dawson of Great Barrington, a brother Henry Nott, her sister Ann Percy, 11 grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and friends.
There will be a celebration of life held in her honor on Feb. 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bitterman Center in North Canaan. All are welcome to come.
Millerton News
SHARON — Ronald Ray Dirck, affectionately known as Ron, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Jan. 17, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 85. Born on Jan. 31, 1940, in Sedalia, Missouri, Ron lived a life filled with warmth, laughter, and deep devotion to his family.
Ron shared an extraordinary 62-year marriage with his high school sweetheart and beloved wife, Jackie. Their enduring partnership was a shining example of living life to the fullest.
Ron served his country as a captain in the US Marine Corps, flying helicopters during the Vietnam War. He then flew commercially for TWA for 25 years, both domestically and internationally. He finished his flying career with Nippon Cargo Airlines. Ron enjoyed the outdoors and enjoyed taking care of their beloved Sharon, home for more than 50 years. He was also an avid builder and enjoyed his many projects over the years.
In retirement, Ron and Jackie split time between Sharon, and Phoenix, Arizona, before settling full-time in Phoenix two years ago. Ron loved his evening cocktails with Jackie and their many friends, as well as a hand or two of gin rummy.
He was a devoted father to Melissa Dirck Appel and her husband, Jeff Appel, and Patrick Dirck and his wife, Lisa Dirck. He carried the memory of his son Kevin with enduring love throughout his life. His legacy continues through his cherished grandchildren; Alexandra, Caroline, Emma, Natalie, Evan, Cooper, Elle, and Tanner. Ron is also fondly remembered by his brother, Jim and wife Lena.
Ron had a tender heart for animals. The loyal companionship of his beloved dogs Mini and Mae brought him comfort and joy over the years.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jackie, and parents, Raymond and Gladys Dirck.
In honor of Ron’s love of animals, the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Aussie and Friends Rescue, www.aussiefriendsrescue.com.
His light lives on in the hearts of all who knew him. May his memory continue to bring comfort and smiles to those he touched.
A private celebration of life for the family will be held at a later date.

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Public debate on North East’s zoning rewrite to continue March 20
Nathan Miller
MILLERTON — Town Board members voted last week to continue the public hearing on the town’s proposed zoning overhaul, setting a new date of Friday, March 20, at 7 p.m.
The North East Town Board also scheduled a special workshop for Tuesday, March 3, at 5 p.m. to review public comments and concerns raised during February hearings, including calls for clearer explanations of the new code’s intent and requests to expand permitted uses in commercial districts. Board members set those dates at their regular meeting Thursday, Feb. 12, which included a public hearing on the zoning rewrite along with routine department reports.
North East’s 181-page draft zoning code would update much of the town’s existing regulations, with a particular focus on revising standards and approval processes in commercial districts to encourage development and expand housing opportunities. Public comment on the new zoning code during the hearing was brief. Just two people — North East residents Rob Cooper and Kathy Chow — offered comments at the third public hearing on the zoning overhaul since the Town Board opened debate on the draft on Jan. 8.
Cooper requested more permitted uses in the west Boulevard District, but he didn’t specify what additional uses should be included. The Boulevard Districts comprise parcels along Route 44 between the eastern border of the Village of Millerton and the Connecticut state line, and was a central focus of the current re-zoning effort.
Cooper said his property — the historic Mobil gas station on Route 44 across from CVS — is divided by the village border. “It divides the building in half,” Cooper said, explaining that Millerton land use regulations are more permissive than the Town of North East.
“Part of the property is in the village, and I’m allowed to do a tremendous amount of things over there,” Cooper said. “It wouldn’t look too uniform if I did everything on the left side of the property and we couldn’t do anything on the right side.”
Chow suggested the Town Board include purpose statements for each of the altered sections of the code. “Especially the Irondale district,” Chow said. “It’s a very different character than the boulevard and I’d like to see that explained.” She said some narratives explaining the changes and the purpose of the new code would be helpful for residents and developers seeking a deeper understanding of the process and how it benefits the community, echoing North East resident Ed Downey’s comments at a prior hearing.
In other business, Town Clerk Tilly Strauss read a complaint about gunfire noise at the Millerton Gun Club. Millerton resident David Decker submitted the complaint and asked to have it read into the public record, Strauss said.
The newly-formed Communications Committee provided an update following its first-ever meeting.
Councilwomen Rachele Grieco-Cole and Meg Winkler said the committee has set its sights on improving the town’s website, laying out short- and longer-term goals including basic readability and organization on the site’s homepage, revitalizing the town’s FaceBook page, and starting a regular digital newsletter to aid in proactive communication efforts.