Dona Lee Alexander
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On-Duty Pine Plains police officer resigns after Route 199 crash
Graham Corrigan
Jul 21, 2026
PINE PLAINS — An on-duty Pine Plains police officer who was involved in a July 6 crash has resigned from the department, Town Board members were told during their July 15 meeting.
Officer Brian Johnson's resignation comes after he struck a 2003 Lincoln while he was traveling on Route 199 on July 6. According to State Police, Johnson failed to stop in time, totaling the vehicle.
The two occupants of the Lincoln sustained minor injuries. Johnson and Officer Aaron L. Fantroy, who was riding in the passenger seat of the patrol vehicle, were transported to Northern Dutchess Hospital. Fantroy was later transferred to Albany Medical Center for additional treatment.
State Police determined the crash was non-criminal. Investigators cited driver inattention or distraction as the cause, though they found Johnson was not using a cell phone or the patrol car's in-car computer immediately before the collision.
During the meeting, Officer John L. Hughes confirmed Johnson's resignation from the Pine Plains Police Department. Johnson was a recent graduate of the New York State Police Academy. It is unclear whether his resignation was related to the crash.
EMS response data questioned
The board’s agenda also included an EMS update from Pine Plains Rescue Squad 2nd Lt. Nelson Zayas. Zayas noted that Dutchess County has yet to release any reports or analysis on EMS calls in 2026. The county had previously released quarterly reports in 2025 that detailed EMS response times and responding agencies. Zayas’ own statistics were pulled from raw data he has collected over the course of the past year.
As he did in April, Zayas said county data on response times and non-response rates does not account for situations in which volunteer EMTs respond directly to a scene without utilizing an ambulance.
Of the second quarter’s 65 emergency calls received by Pine Plains Rescue Squad, 12 categorized EMS as late — meaning the response took more than nine minutes — or unresponsive. Zayas argues that number is actually three, and gave an accounting of each specific call. In some cases, ambulances were beaten to the scene by EMS volunteers. In others, a vehicle was out of service for repairs.
“I’m trying to give the public a view of what’s going on behind the scenes,” Zayas said, “and that things are not actually as bad as they look on paper.”
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Webutuck school district invites comment on draft safety plan
Millerton News
Jul 21, 2026
Archive photo
AMENIA — The Webutuck Central School District Board of Education is set to hold a public hearing on the district’s 2026-2027 safety plan on Monday, July 27, at 6:30 p.m.
A draft copy of the safety plan will be available prior to the meeting as part of the agenda packet. Community members may also submit comments regarding the safety plan online at the district’s website, webutuckschools.org, following the meeting.
The public hearing is set to take place in the Webutuck High School library, where the board regularly conducts its meetings every other Monday.
The regular Board of Education meeting will continue following the public hearing.
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Louise R. Black
Millerton News
Jul 21, 2026
MILLERTON — Louise R. Black, 86, born July 16, 1939, in Queens, New York, died on July 15, 2026, with her partner of 26 years, Mary Howard, by her side. She is also survived by her nephews David Black and Jason Black, and his wife, Kerri; and niece Tiffany Black and her husband, Shlomo Toledano.
After graduating from the University of North Carolina Women’s College and earning two master’s degrees, Louise taught physical education for 35 years at Scarsdale (NY) High School, chairing the department and serving as the first woman Athletic Director. An accomplished fencer, tennis player, and swimmer, Louise’s enduring fondness for sports included a love of the Brooklyn Dodgers, though she never quite recovered from their move to the West Coast.
Louise’s artistic talents came through in her knitting, her painting, and her gardens. A master knitter, for many years she and Mary hosted a weekly knitting group at their home. She was recognized for her Japanese watercolors and landscapes; her passion for flowers was expressed in the abundant roses bordering her property.
An avid traveler, she also found great joy spending summers at her family camp on an island in the Hudson River. Cars and jazz were perennial fascinations, and Doris Day was a favorite.
Louise dedicated much of her life to community service, first as an enthusiastic volunteer at Habitat for Humanity in Westchester County. Following retirement, she moved to Millerton, New York, and was soon immersed in the local library, developing a finders’ guide for the North East Historical Society; and the co-founding of Comida de Vida food pantry at St. Thomas EpiscopalChurch in Amenia, New York.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Food of Life / Comida de Vida Food Pantry St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 40 Leedsville Road, Amenia, NY 12501 (845) 373-9161 www.stthomasamenia.com or Habitat for Humanity: https://www.habitat.org/support
A celebration of Louise’s life will take place on BlackThursday, July 30, 2026 from 2pm to 4pm at the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546. To send an online condolence to the family, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
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Jane Lindsay
Millerton News
Jul 21, 2026
NORTH CANAAN — Jane Lindsay passed away suddenly on July 11, 2026, at Danbury Hospital. She was the longtime partner of Dennis Smalley.
Jane was born on Jan. 14, 1953, the daughter of Sally Hart and the late Raymond Hart.
She retired last year from Geer Village, where she entertained residents with her songs, poems, and wit, and, when not working, spread her music around town whenever she could.
Janey’s creativity was woven into every part of her life, from her love of music to her unmistakable artistic talent. Her unique style was recognizable, and each piece she created had a way of bringing a smile to those who experienced it—a reflection of the joy and imagination she shared so freely.
Jane is survived by her mother, Sally Hart; her sister, Diana Hart; her nieces, Allison Latulipe and Riley Hart; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is predeceased by her brother, Jonathan Hart.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 2:00 p.m. at the North Cornwall Church. A reception will follow at the Parish House, 8 Bolton Hill Rd., Cornwall Village.
Memorial donations may be made to any animal shelter of your choosing.
In honor of Janey’s vibrant spirit, the family kindly asks that guests leave the dress clothes at home and instead wear tie-dye, something with cats on it, or a fun hat or headband—anything that celebrates the joy and individuality she brought to the world. Informality is a plus!
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
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Paul Chester Rooney Jr.
Millerton News
Jul 21, 2026
SHARON — Paul Chester Rooney Jr. of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Sharon, Connecticut died peacefully in Ft. Lauderdale on June 13 with family by his side. Born to Mary Katherine Brennan and Paul Rooney on Oct. 23, 1943, in Evanston, Illinois, he grew up in the US and London.
Paul graduated from The Oratory School, Reading, England, and Harvard College and Law School. After four years in the Navy, he was honorably discharged as full lieutenant in 1973. He built a 25-year career at global law firm White and Case in Manhattan, becoming a partner and corporate tax department head; he was known internationally for his legal acumen and creativity. He led an active social life in Manhattan, making life-long friends who enjoyed his sharp wit and repartee. Out of the office, he enjoyed playing squash at the Union League and University Clubs, and the city’s cultural offerings. A true patriot, Paul was honored to serve, until his death, on the Advisory Board of the Atlantic Legal Foundation, whose advocacy for individual liberty, free enterprise, property rights, sound science, and effective education aligned with his values. Upon retiring in 1998, the firm’s managing partner described his essence: “Spending time with Paul is like an Outward Bound adventure--physically and mentally demanding, and ultimately very gratifying.”
Paul eventually moved to his weekend Sharon home. He savored its small-town values, the opportunity to make friends from all walks of life and participate in local organizations. A perpetual student, he developed new interests, including gardening, reading all he could find about plants and trees, memorizing their Botanical Latin names, and hunting for specimens. After much studying and practicing, he became an avid bridge player and amateur chef. An outdoorsman, he played tennis at the Sharon Country Club; shot at nearby Mashomack Preserve; and skied and fly fished locally. He developed and owned golf courses in New York and Maryland in partnership with a friend. He devoured modern books on Greek and Roman history and re-read classics in ancient Latin and Greek. He also learned modern foreign languages and listened to classical music, discovering the varied interpretations and arrangements of different musicians and composers. In 2014 Paul became a Florida resident, spending over half the year there.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Maria Elena; daughter, Isabel Rooney; brother Peter Rooney; sisters, Margaret Rooney and Briahna Kelly; and sister-in-law Isabel La Vaute and her children and grandchildren. He will be remembered as a kindhearted optimistic gentleman. A celebration of his life will be announced later.
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Wildfire smoke may not be gone for good
Alec Linden
Jul 21, 2026
The worst of last week’s wildfire smoke cleared by the late weekend, though meteorologists say residents shouldn’t assume it’s gone for good as shifting weather patterns could carry smoke back into the region as powerful wildfires continue to burn in Canada and the northern Great Lakes region.
Air Quality Index readings across much of Connecticut consistently reached unhealthy to very unhealthy levels between Tuesday and Saturday, with the worst conditions affecting southern parts of the state.
According to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, air quality across the state on Sunday returned to “Good to Moderate” levels, meaning prolonged outdoor exertion was safe for all but especially sensitive individuals.
Residents should enjoy the break from the haze, Bethel-based meteorologist Jack Drake said, but he cautioned that smoke could return if shifting winds carry it back into the region while the wildfires continue to burn.
“The position of these fires is a little unfortunate,” he said, “since a prevailing wind direction [for the region] is west-northwest.”
Because of the jet stream, a high-altitude ribbon of wind that steers weather systems across North America, smoke from summer fires in the Upper Midwest and western Ontario can be carried into the Mid-Atlantic and New England.
“It’s kind of right upstream,” he said.
Conditions were similar across New York State, with the Department of Environmental Conservation issuing warnings on Wednesday and Thursday about unhealthy atmospheric conditions.
DEC issued statewide health advisories on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, saying conditions in the Lower Hudson Valley, which includes Dutchess County, were unhealthy for sensitive groups.
A smoky haze dominated the sky in Millerton on Wednesday, but visibility returned to mostly normal by the weekend.
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