It’s hard to find the correct word to use when describing Otto Penzler’s relation to America’s greatest mystery novels and thrillers.
The first expression that pops into my mind is “the god of …” but that would probably make him roll his eyes. So maybe “impresario” works better, even if it doesn’t fully capture his importance and the reverence with which his name is treated, especially among voracious fans of crime fiction, and especially among such fans who have lived in New York City and shopped at Penzler’s Mysterious Bookshop in SoHo.
To continue the religious theme, the bookstore is the temple over which Penzler presides. From it (and his love of and encyclopedic knowledge of the genre) grew the Mysterious Press, which publishes detective fiction (including 20th-century American icons such as Donald Westlake, James Ellroy and Ed McBain).
Anyone looking for the perfect holiday gift for a mystery fan need only search for Otto Penzler anthologies online; there is even a collection called, “The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries.” I know, because I own a copy.
Although he mostly lives in New York City, Penzler is also frequently up here at the house in Kent, Conn., that he built in the 1980s (with a giant library that at one point housed 60,000 books — he auctioned most of them off a year ago).
Sadly, when he is up here in Litchfield County, Penzler says he is usually at home, reading manuscripts and sifting through wonderful tales that are worthy of inclusion in an anthology.
So you’re unlikely to fulfill your dream (well, my personal dream) of finding him alone at a coffee shop and plonking down to discuss your favorite mystery tales.
However, a rare opportunity to meet Penzler in person is coming up this weekend when he interviews mystery author Gregory Galloway in a live and Zoom event on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m.
Galloway, a resident of Cornwall, Conn., is a relative newcomer to crime fiction, with three novels including the brand new “Just Thieves,” which starts off with the memorable line: “We didn’t know how it happened, but when we woke up there was a dead horse in the street in front of the hotel.” And, as they say, from there you’re off to the races (but no, this is not a racehorse-themed Dick Francis tale).
Galloway’s writing has been described as a combination of George V. Higgins, Patricia Highsmith and David Mamet. I found “Just Thieves” to have a strong feeling of Georges Simenon and especially his Inspector Maigret police procedurals. These are stories that are less about explosions and chase scenes and more about psychology and worldview — told in this novel by the two thieves for whom the book is named.
Does Otto Penzler think Galloway is destined to join the ranks of America’s greatest mystery writers? I guess I’ll find out when I join the Zoom on Saturday.
For those who want to come in person, this will be the final opportunity to spend time in the cozy little boutique that has been home to the House of Books on Main Street in Kent for the past couple years, while extensive renovations were done to the (actual) home of House of Books. The date of the Grand Opening and Big Reveal for the return to 10 North Main in Kent was just announced: It will be Saturday, Nov. 27, just in time for holiday book shopping.
To reserve a space for the in-person conversation between OttoPenzler and Gregory Galloway, or to sign up for the Zoom (and to get details on the return to 10 North Main), go to https://houseofbooksct.com.
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
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.
Downtown Millerton
MILLERTON — Voter turnout in the Village of Millerton dropped sharply in 2025, with just 58 ballots cast in this year’s village election — less than a third of the record turnout seen just two years earlier.
The election on June 17 marked a stark contrast to 2023, when signs littered the intersection of Route 22 and Route 44 and 208 voters headed to the polls to decide a competitive mayoral race between incumbent Jenn Najdek and challenger Kelly Kilmer. That year also featured two contested trustee positions and generated the highest turnout in at least five years.
This year’s ballot looked much different. All three candidates — Mayor Jenn Najdek, Trustee David Sherman, and newcomer Katie Cariello — ran unopposed. With no contested races, just 57 voters turned out, plus one absentee ballot and one spoiled ballot.
Participation in village elections has fluctuated significantly over the past five years, often correlating with whether races were contested.
An uncontested trustee race during the first summer of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 saw unusually low turnout with just 17 ballots cast. The 2022 election, which also featured two unopposed trustee candidates, saw a more typical 135 ballots.
Years with competitive mayoral or trustee races saw spikes in participation. In 2021, 147 voters turned out, followed by a special runoff one week later that drew 157 ballots after a tied trustee race. During that race, three trustees ran for two seats, with David Sherman and Laurie Kerr ultimately elected.
The most recent contested election in 2024 drew 122 voters. Matthew Hartzog, Matthew Soleau and Kelly Kilmer ran, with Hartzog and Soleau elected. While that marked a dip from the previous year, it was still more than double the number who turned out this year.
While elections in small villages like Millerton often see modest turnout, the wide swings from year to year suggest that competitive races — and clearer distinctions between candidates — play a major role in mobilizing voters.
Despite the lack of competition, this year’s election produced a few notable results. Trustee David Sherman led all candidates with 52 votes, including 13 on the Republican line and 39 on the Democratic. Mayor Najdek was re-elected with 47 votes — 41 on the Democratic line and six on the Republican. Newcomer Katie Cariello received 39 votes — 34 Democratic and five Republican. There were also four write-ins for mayor and three for trustee.
The Amenia Free Library on Route 343 in Amenia.
AMENIA — Fans of reading will want to attend an upcoming book talk at the Amenia Library on Saturday, June 28, 11:30 a.m., when local author Jorge Sanchez will discuss his short stories based on his own life, finding enough about his life that was amusing and engaging to want to share it with others.
Sanchez will discuss his stories published as Sanchez 5 Inbound: Collection 1 and 2. He also plans to answer questions, discuss the process, and sign copies.
Recognized for his self-deprecating sense of humor, the stories flow with plot lines that find the humorous side of muddling through chaos, promising a talk that will captivate and entertain.
A lifelong interest in writing suggested that the best path would be a series of short stories. Sanchez chose the format as preferable to a full-length novel, choosing to write the stories that grew out of his own life’s experiences.
Sanchez was raised in Spanish Harlem, going on to attend college in Buffalo, NY. After pursuing a musical career, gigging in New York City with a variety of bands, he returned to school to study web design and development, his career for the past 24 years. Within the past year, he has reconnected with his passion for writing.
