Double wedding, then a car crash
From the Millerton News Archives; Thursday, Oct. 2
From the Millerton News Archives; Thursday, Oct. 2
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
‘Double Wedding Performed Friday’; Miss Christine Hoffbeck became the bride of Arthur McGhee, son of Mrs. Catherine McGhee, of Millerton, and her sister, Miss Elda Hoffbeck, was married to Howard Wheeler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Wheeler, of Wassaic, in a double wedding performed Friday evening in the Smithfield Church by the Rev. Arthur James, pastor. Both brides were the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Hoffbeck, of Millerton.
‘Married Two Hours, Couple In Accident’; Married just two hours and leaving Millerton on a wedding trip, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur McGhee suffered minor injuries Friday night when their automobile was struck head-on by a car driven by Elisha Austin, of Winchell Mountain. Mrs. McGhee was formerly Miss Christina Hoffbeck, of Millerton.
The accident occurred on Route 22 in front of Sharkey’s Restaurant. Austin, arrested on charges of reckless driving by Police Chief Van De Bogart, will be arraigned in town court Monday night.
‘About Millerton’; Robert Lane, proprietor of the local movie theatre, has made the Millerton school a splendid proposition. He has selected a subject taught in all the grades, written the name of the subject on a piece of paper, placed the paper in a sealed envelope, and the envelope is now resting in the school safe. When the six weeks report cards are issued the envelope will be opened and all pupils in the grades having 90 or above in that subject will be admitted free to the movies for one night.
‘Downey Gains Nomination As Independent Candidate’; Edward Downey, a local attorney, has been nominated as an Independent candidate to seek a 4-year term as Councilman in the Town of North East. A petition signed by over 70 Town voters was filed with the Dutchess County Board of Election on Wednesday: Downey was recently nominated for the same office by the Democratic Party.
“My Independent candidacy is a response to the many Republican and independent voters who have expressed their support for me.” Downey stated.
Downey, a lifelong resident of the Town, was graduated from the Webutuck Central School, Union College and the Indiana University School of Law. He has also served 2 years in the field artillery of the United States Army.
‘Manson To Head Ticket For North East Dems’; The North East Democratic Caucus, meeting Sept. 25 in the Millerton Library community room, selected Willis H. Manson as candidate for Town Supervisor. Manson will face incumbent Frank Perotti, the Republican candidate. Seventeen Town Democrats attended the Caucus.
‘Boards To Take Up Comprehensive Plans’; The North East Planning Board began Wednesday evening, Oct. 1, with North East Town Board and Millerton Village Board members, to take the final steps in considering and possibly enacting a comprehensive land use and zoning plan for both the Town and Village.
North East Zoning Board of Appeals members were also invited to attend the meeting.
The Comprehensive Plans will have to be approved or rejected by the Town and Village Boards, after they are brought before a public hearing.
Planning Board member Dave Sherman said of the complex plan, “The Boards have to be taken through it.”
No timetable has been established by the 2 Boards to consider the plans. Planning Board member Edward Downey said, “We want to sit down with the Boards and work out a schedule.”
Land use plans for the Town and Village were developed by the North East Planning Board with the assistance from Dutchess County Planners.
‘Grey House Coming to NE, Hamilton Inn Moving’; MILLERTON—There’s some moving and shaking going on including one convert from a neighboring town. Millerton businesses,
At least one business on Main Street will relocate to accommodate the Hamilton Inn restaurant, and a Lakeville company will move into the current Hamilton Inn location.
Grey House Publishing, a publisher of business, health and demographic reference books with offices now in Sharon and Lakeville, is consolidating offices and moving to North East, a press release from the company said.
Completing the musical chairs, North East Travel shifts over next door to what’s known as the Benedict House, the pale yellow house which hosts A Stitch in Time.
Massage Therapist Matthew Schwartz said he has been allowed to stay on in the office spaces in the rear of the Platt A. Paine House.
‘NE-Millerton Library Will Dedicate Children’s Room to Sapersteins’; MILLERTON — Refreshments, remembrances, a bronze plaque and new additions to a colorful mural: all are happening this Saturday at the North East-Millerton Library, as it holds a ceremony dedicating the children’s room to the memory of Irving and Shirley Saperstein.
The occasion marks a gift by Susan Saperstein Rabin of a piece of land from the Saperstein estate, said library board of trustees President Carol Decker. The land will eventually be sold to benefit the library and its programs for kids.
The Sapersteins were a fixture of the community since the 1940s, when they arrived in town and opened a shop next to the Village Diner. The store bearing his name at the corner of Dutchess Avenue and Main Street is owned by Irving’s son, Louis.
SALISBURY — Amanda Cannon, age 100, passed away Oct. 15, 2025, at Noble Horizons. She was the wife of the late Jeremiah Cannon.
Amanda was born Aug. 20, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York the daughter of the late Karl and Ella Husslein.
She was widowed at the age of 31 and worked as a bookkeeper for the Standard Oil Company and other oil companies in New York City until she retired at age 72.
Amanda moved to Noble Horizons in 2013 to live near her daughter Diane and son-in-law (the late) Raymond Zelazny.
She enjoyed her time in the Northwest Corner and was an avid nature lover, albeit considered herself a native New Yorker as she was born and resided in NYC for 88 years.
She was a faithful parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Lakeville and attended Mass regularly until the age of 99.
Amanda was the grandmother of (the late) Jesse Morse and is survived by her daughter, Diane Zelazny, her grandsons, Adam Morse, Raymond Morse and his wife Daron and their daughter and her great granddaughter Cecelia Morse.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m. at St Mary’s Church in Lakeville, Connecticut.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains FFA Ag Fair brought a crowd to the high school on Church Street Saturday, Oct. 11.
Kicking off the day was the annual tractor pull, attracting a dedicated crowd that sat in bleachers and folding chairs for hours watching Allison-Chalmers, International Harvesters and John Deeres compete to pull the heaviest weights.
A large collection of food was on offer from the Pine Plains FFA and each one of the classes in the Pine Plains Central School District. The football team was selling pickles.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd enjoyed a dip in the dunk tank to raise money for the Pine Plains teachers’ union-sponsored scholarship.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd got dunked several times during his half-hour shift in the dunk tank. Proceeds from the throws benefitted the Photo by Nathan Miller
The Rev. AJ Stack, center right, blessing a chicken at the pet blessing event at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia on Saturday, Oct. 4.
AMENIA — After serving more than five years as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia, the Rev. AJ Stack announced Tuesday, Oct. 7, that he will resign from the church and Food of Life/Comida de Vida pantry. His last day at his current post will be Sunday, Nov. 2, the conclusion of the Feast of All Saints.
The news was shared in two emails from Stack — one to Food of Life pantry subscribers and volunteers, and another to parish members.
“I write tonight with difficult news, and I wanted you to hear it from me as soon as the Vestry and I had a chance to meet,” he wrote. “After much prayer and careful discernment, I have submitted my resignation to the Vestry as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas, and therefore as Executive Director of Food of Life/Comida de Vida.”
Stack provided few details about his departure. At time of publication, he had not announced his next steps but said the decision was “not sudden,” and followed careful consideration over a period of months. He will not be leaving the area or the diocese.
An announcement about his path forward and the transition process is expected soon. In the meantime, Stack said he remains “fully present” at the church, and the food pantry services will continue without interruption.
Stack expressed gratitude for the community and the growth of St. Thomas’ mission during his tenure. “Together we have welcomed new neighbors and strengthened our outreach in meaningful ways,” he said. “I trust that good work will continue.”
He joined St. Thomas in March 2020 and guided the church and community through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent interview with The News about the food pantry, Stack estimated that it serves 653 individuals from 156 households each week, highlighting a significant contribution to the community.
The announcement was met with messages of reassurance from pantry volunteers. Jolly Stewart, a Vestry member and volunteer, wrote to the community with words of reassurance following the announcement. “I have complete faith in the strength of the parish of St. Thomas,” she wrote. “Our history shows how we have done this time and again, each time becoming more than what we were before. We can, without a doubt, do this now.”
The “Elusive Ki Shusui” koi were temporarily relocated into a tub before being returned to their home pond at Maxine Pietro’s annual koi harvest at Broccoli Hall Farm in Amenia on Friday, Oct. 10. Speaking of their yellowish beauty, Pietro is pictured pointing out that the fish are scaleless but for scales that grow along the “zipper” on each fish’s dorsal ridge. The koi in the photo are estimated to be 6 or 7 years old.