Deer bill, trains, twisters, affordable housing

The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.

March 28, 1935

Dutchess County Deer Bill Becomes Law

Governor Lehman signed the now famous Dutchess County deer bill on Monday, making the bill law. The measure provides that deer may be killed with shotguns within the boundaries of the county at fixed seasons by sportsmen having special licenses. The probable season is the first two weeks in November. The exact date will be set by the Conservation Department. Deer are said to be abundant in the county.

New Crossing Device Approved

ALBANY - The Public Service Commission has approved an interesting device for the protection of the grade crossing of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad situated one-half mile north of Millerton in the Town of North East, Dutchess County.

When the interlocking device is installed New York Central trains will be permitted to proceed over the crossing if the signals indicate they may safely do so, and all New Haven trains will make stops.

Bird House Draws Much Attention

COPAKE FALLS, March 28 - The new bird house at the Hoheline residence on Main Street is attracting a great deal of attention by its size and beauty. It was built by Mr. Hoheline’s son-in-law and weight [sic] 70 pounds. The last word in a modern two-story house, it is divided into four apartments. The house is well lighted on all sides by many glazed windows and it has a spacious porch enclosed by a picket railing. The house is painted yellow with white trim.

March 25, 1976

Miraculously No One Was Hurt: Twister Rips Through Town

A wicked twister ripped through the Town of North East on Sunday, tearing up 100-foot trees, bursting sheds, bombarding houses, and knocking cars clear off the road, miraculously no one was hurt.

The winds picked up around 3 p.m. Florence Scasso was sitting on her porch at her house on a hilltop overlooking Route 22 south of Millerton. Suddenly she saw a “great big cloud just like a funnel” come down out of the sky and whip through a field on the east side of Route 22.

“Dust and stuff was flying through the air,” she said. She saw the tornado (“it was the oddest-looking thing”’) head toward Downey Road at North East Center when torrents of rain hit and “we could see nothing.”

March 29, 2001

County Tells North East About Lack Of Affordable Housing

NORTH EAST — Just by glancing through the classified advertisements in a local newspaper, one can discern that affordable housing is difficult to come by in this area.

That is the concern the North East Town Board addressed at a special meeting March 22.

The board met with Pat Sasserman, executive director of the Rural Preservation Company (RPC) of Dutchess County, and Anne Saylor, housing coordinator for the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Developing (DPD), and discussed the local housing shortage and possible solutions to the problem.

As a result of this discourse, the board decided to invite community members to help in developing a housing survey for residents. The goal of the survey is to pinpoint the specific housing needs of the community. Once known, fund-raising efforts can be focused to fulfill these needs.

Ms. Sasserman said the RPC’s mission is to help communities develop an array of housing.

“There is a need for many kinds of housing here in North East, including senior citizens and family residences,” said Ms. Sasserman.

MTA PromisesTo Stifle Idling Engines

WASSAIC - It may be a small consolation to the noses and ears of those who live near its new station here, but Metro-North said this week within 60 days it intends to reduce the number of trains that idle overnight at its Wassaic yard.

*We have been idling more trains than we expected we would,” Metro-North spokesman Marjorie Anders acknowledged this week.

Residents Peeved

The railroad’s need to idle more trains has irked nearby residents who have complained since last summer of a continuous rumble and a persistent smell of diesel exhaust, especially overnight and on weekends.

“The noise is the worst,” said Wassaic resident Carl Rennia, whose Old Route 22 home sits directly behind the station. “And we get the fumes when the wind blows the wrong way.”

Brad and Jean Rebillard, who live across the street from Mr. Rennia, say they have been frustrated at their inability to get answers from Metro-North.

“In reviewing the EIS [environmental impact statement], it looks to me like Metro-North is misleading the public by not following the plan,” Mr. Rebillard said earlier this week before the railroad told The Millerton News of its new plan.