Decluttering your digital life
Golden Living
Latest News
Police hunt for couple, Center for aged, Millerton burglary, Rattlesnakes, Mascot review
Millerton News
Aug 05, 2026
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
Aug. 8, 1935
TERA Given $34,500 Grant For August
Continued Another Month Relief Being Transferred To WPA
The Dutchess County TERA has received an allotment of $34,500 from the State TERA for the continuation of the work and home relief divisions for the month of August, at least. Some doubt had been entertained regarding the fate of the TERA in the event that no allotment was made this month. Executive Director William Wollerton stated that the August allotment is about twenty per cent less than the July allocation. This is attributed to the fact that part of the TERA work relief burden is to be transferred to the new WPA this month. The transition is to be completed in September so that by Oct. 1 all work relief under the TERA will have been concluded.
Several proposals for WPA projects will be ready for submission to the Board of Supervisors at its meeting next Monday, it is expected. Supervisor Sedgwick, chairman of the board, disclosed last week that plans were under consideration for extending the road program, for trimming brush on county and town roads, for repair and remodeling work at the county home at Oak Summit and for construction of a storage shed on property of the county high-way department on the Pleasant Valley Road.
Revival of the Taconic Parkway project for classification as a WPA job is also being studied, it was learned. Mr. Sedgwick indicated that this project must await WPA rulings, however, to ascertain whether it is eligible.
Work on the parkway, if approved as a WPA project, would include preliminary clearing of the parkway right-of-way in the county. The Taconic Park Com-mission has offered full co-operation for the advancement of the project, it was learned.
County support was also seen in Mr. Sedgwick’s statement that action of the board would depend on “whether the Taconic Park Commission wants us to do any-thing or not-it is more or less up to the Park Commission as I understand it.”
Paul T. Winslow, executive secretary to the Taconic Park Com-mission, indicated that the com-mission would give full co-operation provided no funds were required of it for this particular project. He explained that the commission is without funds at present.
About Millerton
Miss Helen Burtis of Oceanside is visiting Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hicks.
Mrs. Clayton Loan and daughter. Ethel, were in Poughkeepsie Tuesday.
Miss Leola Morrison of Lake Pleasant, a member of the Millerton school faculty, called friends in town last week.
The Rev. and Mrs. Eugene Hessel are enjoying a week’s vacation at Speculator in the Adirondacks.
Mr. and Mrs. F. Sprague and son and Mr. and Mrs. W. Evans and son visited Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Plows in Pine Plains on Sunday.
Mrs. Edward Dean has been ill at her home.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Burch were Sunday guests of Mr. Burch’s parents. Mr. and Mrs. John Burch.
Mrs. Lillian Pulver of Chatham visited Miss Helen Pulver last Thursday.
Mr. and Mrs. John Shaughnasey spent Sunday in Danbury and Brookfield.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Kimball of Dover Plains were in Millerton on Sunday.
Miss Sarah Bain is visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Miller on Barton Street.
Police Hunt Couple Wed In Amenia
Connecticut Bridegroom Is Accused Of Taking Automobile
Connecticut newlyweds, reported to have been married in Amenia on Monday, July 29, were sought by state police of that state, Massachusetts and New York last week. The bridegroom. Wilburt Tedford, 23 or 26, of Farmington and Manchester, was alleged to have taken an automobile from the Munnelly Motor Co. of Wethersfield without permission of the owner. Tedford was employed by the concern. The bride is Donna Platts, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Platts of Reynolds Bridge. Mrs. Platts told authorities the couple had been married in Amenia and were on a wedding trip. She said that she did not know the destination of the couple, but that they expected to live in Hartford or near there.
A warrant was sworn out, accusing Tedford of taking the car without permission. State police in all three states were requested by teletype to stop a car with a Connecticut dealer’s license XB-303.
August 5, 1976
County Wants A Center For Aged In North East
A facility for the feeding and care of the aged will open in the Town of North East sometime in September if all goes according to the plans of the Dutchess County Office of the Aged. It would join 434 such nutrition sites currently in operation in 57 counties in the state and the city of New York in which citizens 60 or over are served hot, well-balanced meals.
“We are in the very beginning stages of planning right now,” said Mary Lou Yeager, Nutrition Services Coordinator for Dutchess County. The office must first receive the approval of the Dutchess County Board of Legislators and the State Office of the Aged before it can proceed from planning to the actual implementation of the program in North East
No barriers are anticipated in gaining the necessary permission, Yeager pointed out, “since we’re not costing the County any extra funds. The money has already been earmarked for the elderly.” New York State has received $3,520,000 in additional funds to operate sites for the elderly throughout the state. Only 10 per cent of the program financing would be provided by county and local funds.
North East was one of the areas pinpointed by the County office on the basis of need. “We look for areas with a high concentration of handicapped and elderly,” Yeager explained. The office determined that in 1975, of 513 people in the North East area aged 60 or over, approximately 20 percent were in a low income bracket.
Wassaic Site
A site is currently in operation in Wassaic, serving approximately 25 to 30 people daily. It can accommodate 45.
The proposed NorthEast site would operate with a similar capacity. Yeager emphasized that “it would be more than just a meal program. We keep a lot of people out of institutions.” A variety of services such as recreation, shopping assistance, transportation, counseling and the opportunity for fun and companionship would be provided. Assistance with health and personal problems would also be available.
Outreach programs to identify persons most in need of services, as well as transportation to bring people to the meal sites, are also part of the program. “We’ll go door to door if we have to,” said Yeager, “in order to find the people who would benefit most from the program.”
Town Supervisor Frank Perotti failed to see the need for a site in North East: “I don’t see any need for wasting money when nobody has expressed any desire for such a facility. These county bureaucracies like to spend and it’s just a waste of taxes.” Perotti didn’t feel there would be enough people to use the facility and maintained that social functions and special benefits for the elderly were already in operation.
One such social function is a weekly gathering of ladies Tuesday afternoons at the Town Hall in which refreshments are served and regular meetings are held. About 10 to 15 women regularly attend these meetings and all felt that they would certainly use the new facility, at least on a weekly basis. It was also felt that the men would become more involved. But would there be enough participation on a daily basis? Answered one lady, “I think there would be enough people if they knew about it.”
Hidden Elderly
In response to Perotti’s objections, Yeager commented, “We’re looking for the hidden elderly. They don’t belong to any social clubs.” A location has not yet been found for the facility, though the Millerton Methodist Church has been mentioned as a possible site.
August 2, 2001
Sheriff Deputies Make First Millerton Burglary Arrests
MILLERTON — Investigators for the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Department report progress in a series of break-ins at businesses in the village.
Detective Robert Harpp told The Millerton News Tuesday his department has made arrests in connection with burglaries at Christina’s Restaurant on Route 22, Taro’s Restaurant on Main Street and the theft of cash from a parked car.
Christina’s was broken into on July 10. Mr. Harpp said a quantity of cash and beer was taken from the restaurant. That incident was similar to one in May when a substantial amount of cash and beer were taken from Taro’s along with the cash register.
Although arrests were made in both cases, Mr. Harpp said the two incidents are not connected. He said more arrests are expected and until they are complete names will not be released.
The third incident where a recent arrest was made involved the theft of $6,000 from a car last summer. He said more arrests may also be made in that case.
No Herrington’s Arrests
No arrests to report in the June burglary of the Herrington’s store in Millerton. Thieves got away with more than $9,000 in power tools and paint in that burglary.
Mr. Harpp had told the Millerton News last month that crime was committed by “professionals” and he said it “was a very clean” burglary.
He had said the Herrington’s burglary was probably connected with others including a break-in at a Home Depot site in Putnam County and Keil Equipment in Columbia County.
Rattlesnakes Found on Trail
BOSTON CORNER — There have been some rattlesnake sightings on the northern section of the rail trail between Boston Corner and Copake Falls. No rattlesnakes have been spotted in Dutchess County, according to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association.
The group is e-mailing members about the possibility of encountering rattlesnakes.
Snakes started appearing on Section 5 of the trail last year.
The association is talking with the Taconic State Park and the Sheffield office of the Nature Conservancy about ways to educate and keep the trail users safe.
A Taconic State Park brochure: [sic] on the subject states, “Timber rattlesnakes are by nature very shy animals, much preferring to slither away unseen at the approach of a large mammal such as a human. Timber rattlesnakes are rarely known to bite people and usually will do so only after they are harassed or when they are accidentally cornered or surprised at close quarters.”
The brochure gives this advice if you should encounter a timber rattlesnake or a copperhead: “A careful retreat is advised. If the snake is in a remote area, simply leave it be and go on your way. In no circumstances should you approach or pursue or in any way harass the snake.”
Hikers are asked to report any sightings and note the location of any rattlesnakes to the state park, immediately. The park phone number is xxx-xxx-xxxx.
A handout about rattlesnakes will be in the brochure box at the rail trail head soon.
Statewide Bike Tours End in Village
MILLERTON — Forty-one bicyclists rode into Millerton Saturday afternoon, the last stop on a tour that began in Niagara Falls. The First Annual New York Ride, or FANY, ended at McArthur’s Pub and Grill where bike riders enjoyed a well-deserved meal.
FANY is a new bike tour that goes through central New York. It is open to all ages and all levels, and part of the proceeds made from the registration fees goes to the Firemen’s Home in Hudson.
Cyclists were accompanied by a van throughout the trip, which carried their belongings, as well as cyclists wishing to take a break from the road. Each night the cyclists stayed at local fairgrounds and schools.
Meals were mostly eaten at local restaurants, although several fire departments in different towns provided food, including a dinner at the Cobleskill department and a chicken barbecue in Waterloo.
Other sponsors included Saratoga Water and Saranac Brewery.
Ages ranged from 9 to 68, and the group averaged about seventy miles a day.
“Some people are maniacs,” said Karen Empie, coordinator of the program, but others went at a slower pace. Despite the varying levels, Ms. Empie said that the group was “a wonderful mix.”
“It was hard but a lot of fun,” said Kevin Donschine, 11, of Milford, Conn. He had seen the brochure in a bike shop and had showed it to his mother. Mrs. Donschine, whose husband is a firefighter, decided to take Kevin and her 9-year-old son Kenny.
Kevin explained, “I would definitely do it again if it was shorter.”
At the other end of the age range was Jim O’Leary, 68. He said that the meaning of the acronym FANY should be changed to Fully Appreciate New York, attesting to the beauty of their surroundings as they rode through New York.
The ride was advertised in both brochures and in Bicycling magazine.
Webutuck Mascot Review Continues
WEBUTUCK — The Mascot Committee met [to]sic again July 25 to discuss Webutuck High School’s mascot and whether or not it is offensive to Native Americans. Unlike the previous meeting, Wednesday evening was not a forum for discussion but focused, rather, on gathering information.
The committee was formed in response to a memorandum from New York State Commissioner of Education Richard Mills in which he asked for schools to discontinue the use of mascots which Native Americans might find offensive.
Rudy Eschbach, committee chair, said that the committee is “just fact finding at this point.” From now until the beginning of the school year, members of the committee will be conducting research, focusing mainly on the local history in regards to Native Americans.
Committee members will be gathering information from several Indian reservations, including one in Westchester County, Washington, Conn., and the Schaghticoke reservation in Kent, Conn., which has ties to the Webutuck Indians.
They will also do research at the Amenia, Millerton and Sharon public libraries, as well as the private libraries of citizens living in Amenia and Millerton.
Mr. Eschbach explained that the committee also wants to “look into the rationale behind the commissioner’s letter,” specifically, what research led to the commissioner’s memorandum.
The committee will also hear from guest speakers, including Glen Myers and his wife, who have co-authored a book which focuses specifically on correcting the misrepresentations that Native Americans endure.
Committee meetings are open to the public. The next meeting will be held on Sept. 4. The committee hopes to come to a decision by October so it can respond to the commissioner.
Keep ReadingShow less
Community gathers to celebrate life of 2-year-old Olly Rea
Graham Corrigan
Aug 05, 2026
Mourners assembled a collage of photographs of Olly Rea near the altar at Faith Bible Chapel on Monday.
Photo by Graham Corrigan
MILLERTON — More than 150 family members, friends and neighbors gathered at Faith Bible Chapel on Monday to celebrate the life of 2-year-old Olly Rea, whose brief life was remembered through stories, laughter and faith just over a week since his tragic death.
The celebration took place at the same Silver Mountain Road church where Olly died July 25 after falling into a septic tank on the property following a wedding reception. Despite an extensive emergency response, he could not be saved. The accident stunned the close-knit community and prompted an outpouring of support for the Rea family.
The service reflected the family’s wish that the day focus on Olly’s happiness. Rather than wearing traditional black, most attendees came dressed in bright colors and casual clothing. People of all ages filled the chapel, exchanging hugs, condolences and memories before the service began.
The church was decorated with tributes to Olly’s favorite movies and characters, including Toy Story, Bluey, Lightning McQueen and Mickey Mouse. A long buffet, made possible through donations from local restaurants, church members and other supporters, stretched along one side of the room.
Pastor Bill Mayhew led the service. Floral wreaths and photo collages featuring Olly and his family flanked the pulpit. Among those in attendance were Olly’s siblings– Cory, 7, and 10-month-old Levi — who remained by their parents’ side throughout the service.
“When you look at those pictures, you’ll notice three things about Olly,” Mayhew said. “Either he’s smiling, he’s eating, or he has a ponderous look on his face. Because as a two-year-old, there’s a lot to wonder about in the world.”
Mayhew shared Scripture and memories of a little boy who delighted in splashing in the water, eating the frosting off cupcakes and stopping whatever he was doing whenever he heard an airplane so he could search the sky.
“Although his life lasted only two short years,” Mayhew said, “Olly’s life was rich in laughter, adventures, faith and unconditional love.”
Following his remarks, Mayhew invited those gathered to share their own memories.
Olly’s mother, Darryl Sue Rea, thanked everyone who had supported the family.
“We all loved Olly, and while we will miss him in our lifetime, we gave him one heck of a lifetime while he lived,” she said. “You were all a part of making him this beautiful, happy, smiling boy.”
Olly’s father, Johnathan Rea, said becoming a parent had changed him and that his son inspired him every day “to be an example for all children.”
Throughout the service, speakers returned to the same theme: despite his brief life, Olly left an outsized impact on those who knew him through his curiosity, smile and joyful spirit.
Mayhew closed the celebration by asking those gathered to keep Olly in their hearts in the days and weeks to come.
Additional reporting by Eloise Pickering and Christian Murray.
Keep ReadingShow less
Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.
A farmer’s legacy
Millerton News
Aug 05, 2026
Sisters Hill Farm manager David Hambleton drives a red Farmall tractor at the Stanfordville farm he has led for more than 25 years. Former apprentices reflected on the lifelong farmer’s impact as the property’s owner, the Sisters of Charity of New York, prepares to sell.
Photo by Sophie Gardiner
Sisters Hill Farm manager David Hambleton drives a red Farmall tractor at the Stanfordville farm he has led for more than 25 years. Former apprentices reflected on the lifelong farmer’s impact as the property’s owner, the Sisters of Charity of New York, prepares to sell. Read the full story.
Construction to begin on water pumphouse
Nathan Miller
Aug 05, 2026
Millerton’s currently operating well is enclosed in a small structure known as the “dog house.”
Photo by Graham Corrigan
MILLERTON — Construction is expected to begin this week on the village’s new drinking water pumphouse, more than a year and a half after a fire destroyed the original facility.
The new pumphouse is the first of two structures being built to replace Millerton’s Public Works Department building that was destroyed in a fire in February 2025. The original, fire-ravaged building housed both the village’s Water Department and Highway Department operations at Eddie Collins Memorial Park, and will ultimately be replaced with separate structures for each of these Public Works functions.
Fire project manager Caroline Farr-Killmer has been in charge of replacing the building since the fire destroyed it. She said construction crews were expected to begin work this week, but rainy weather could delay the project’s start.
“You don’t want to go out and start this in the pouring rain,” Farr-Killmer said.
The new pumphouse will house one of two municipal drinking water pumps. The pump has been offline since the February 2025 fire, leaving Millerton to rely on a single well for its drinking water for the past 18 months. The operable pump, located in what’s known as the “dog house” nearby the old structure, has had to supply all of Millerton’s drinking water.
Millerton Mayor Jenn Najdek said the building’s construction should take between four and six weeks, but the pump won’t be switched on immediately. Following construction, the village’s water company and county health officials will conduct water quality tests to ensure contaminants haven’t entered the well while it was inoperable.
“It could take as long as three or four months until the Board of Health approves the well being up and running again,” Najdek said.
Najdek said she’s encouraged to see the project moving forward after months of planning and approvals. The mayor compared government projects to her day job at Millerton construction company EcoBuilders, saying village construction can often lag due to the complexity of bureaucratic processes.
“Municipal work is not that simple,” she said. “There’s always a wrench in there somewhere.”
Construction on the water department building was originally expected to start in July, but plans for the construction didn’t receive approval from the Dutchess County Board of Health until much later in the month.
Keep ReadingShow less
After tragedy, septic tanks retake a grim spotlight
Graham Corrigan
Aug 05, 2026
Screws secure the cover of the septic tank at Faith Bible Chapel after the death of 2-year-old Olly Rea.
Photo provided
MILLERTON — The death of a 2-year-old Millerton boy who fell into a septic tank has renewed attention to the dangers associated with the wastewater and sewage storage systems that serve thousands of homes and properties across Dutchess County.
Septic tanks remain common throughout the county, where many homes, churches and businesses rely on private systems rather than municipal sewer lines.
On Saturday, July 25, 2-year-old Olly Rea fell into a septic tank located on the grounds of Faith Bible Chapel on Silver Mountain Road. His parents, Johnathan and Darryl Rea, said the boy wandered away while playing in the yard and fell through an unsecured tank cover.
The child was taken by ambulance to Sharon Hospital in Connecticut, where he was later pronounced dead.
The tragedy is grimly familiar to area residents. In 2023, a 2-year-old child in Pleasant Valley died in a similar accident after falling into a septic tank. While such incidents are uncommon, they underscore the potentially deadly risks posed by unsecured or deteriorating septic systems.
While falls and drowning are a serious concern, septic tanks also run the risk of releasing unhealthy gases. Hydrogen sulfide, methane, and ammonia are potential byproducts caused by the breakdown of waste. There’s also a chance of ground collapse after a heavy rain.
The septic tank is a French invention. Jean-Louis Mouras patented his “Automatic Scavenger” in 1881, and the devices soon spread to the United States. They replaced the leaky, brick-lined cesspools prevalent at the time, and became a popular choice as rural expansion increased through the mid-1900s.
The design has remained relatively unchanged over time: a tank made from plastic or concrete is buried in the ground next to a home. The tank allows solids to settle, and lighter liquid waste is released into an adjoining drain field.
Experts suggest pumping a septic tank every few years to clear out waste and scum that doesn’t break down naturally. Replacing the whole tank should happen every 20 years, though it depends on the materials used to make the tank. Concrete tanks last the longest.
Dutchess County’s Sanitary Code requires septic tank covers to remain accessible for inspection and maintenance, but any ground-level access cover must be secured.
The code states that septic covers “shall not be brought flush with the ground surface, unless the cover can be locked to prevent tampering.” The county also recommends periodic inspections, particularly for older systems where risers or covers may have deteriorated over time.
Dutchess County participates in New York’s Septic System Replacement Fund, which provides grants to eligible homeowners to replace failing septic systems that threaten groundwater and surface water quality. Poorly maintained or aging septic systems can allow disease-causing pathogens and other pollutants to contaminate nearby wells, streams and groundwater.
Further information about the Septic System Replacement Fund is available through New York State.
In Millerton, a long-awaited wastewater and sewer project will begin in early 2027. Estimated at $13 million, the first phase of the project will bring a sewer system to Main Street and its surrounding blocks. Properties within the proposed service area currently rely on individual septic systems, including tanks with leach fields, and outdated systems like seepage pits, cesspools and holding tanks.
But for more remote properties, like that of Olly Rea’s church, prospects of a wastewater system seem far off at best. Neighboring towns like Amenia are also on a septic system. Amenia has been debating the feasibility of a sewer system since 1995, but the project’s cost and complications have slowed progress. In 2024, Amenia selected Albany’s Laberge Group to submit a report on the potential system.
Keep ReadingShow less
Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.
loading
