Collin Olenik strikes a clay bird in the trap shooting range at 110 Rod & Gun Club on Wednesday, Sept. 17, during a weekly meeting of the Dutchess County Long Rifle club.
VERBANK, N.Y. — At the end of a narrow, winding forest lane off of Route 82 south of Millbrook is the secluded 110 Rod & Gun Club, where Bob Jenks and his crew of volunteers were running their weekly meeting of the Dutchess County Long Rifles youth shooting sports club last Wednesday.
“There’s about 75 kids that come and shoot,” Jenks said, participating in air-rifle, air-pistol, target shooting with handguns and rifles and shotgun sports like trap and skeet shooting. The goal, Jenks said, is always safety first. He hauls a trailer to every weekly practice stocked with safety equipment, firearms, ammunition and targets — all owned by American Legion Post 178 in Millerton.
The mobile gun range, as Jenks calls it, allows the Long Rifle club to travel anywhere and set up a temporary gun range wherever shooting sports might be permitted.
The group meets at a different range every week, and the trailer allows them to participate in competitions and exhibitions, like last Saturday’s Game Fair at Orvis Sandanona in Millbrook.
Jenks sets up as many different activities as the space allows, and carries equipment for sports ranging from air pistol to archery to long rifles.
Jennifer LaPorte and her daughter Margot help Jenks run the archery range. Margot has been shooting since she was 9 years old when she got started at the Dutchess County Fair. She and her mother affirmed the club’s commitment to safety and education.
“If you know a little bit more, you have no fear,” Jennifer said. She and Margot trained to be archery instructors after being involved with shooting sports for years. Now they’re the qualified archery leaders, though it’s not Margot’s main sport.
Jenks and the volunteers instruct the kids in gun-handling and range procedures. Nobody moves up or down the range alone, and only when the chaperone instructs. Guns get put away when someone needs to go down the range. Safeties on. Things move slow, but the day goes on for three hours and everyone gets plenty of time, Jenks said.
The young sharpshooters displayed talents in air-rifle target shooting and trap shooting on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Jennifer explained the shape of 110 Rod & Gun Club restricted the variety of activities that could be offered that day.
Otherwise, the group would have set up as many different events as possible.
Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik was at 110 Rod & Gun Club with his son Collin. He said Collin had been shooting for years and loved the club.
“He wants to go to West Point,” Olenik said of his son.
Interested young shooting sports enthusiasts are welcome to join the club. Jenks can be contacted by email at dclongrifles@gmail.com or by phone at 518-672-1071. Membership costs $50 per year and $3 per meeting to help maintain a budget for food and snacks, Jenks said.
The Millerton Inn on Main Street will host the first dinner in this year's Dine Out for History series on Sunday, Jan. 18. A local history quiz including a free glass of wine will precede dinner service at 5:30 p.m. Reservations are requested.
MILLERTON —Diners will once again have the opportunity to support the North East Historical Society this winter while enjoying meals at local restaurants with the return of “Dine Out for History.”
Seven restaurants across Millerton and the Town of North East will be participating in this year's event, marking the highest number since the COVID-19 Pandemic shuttered the event from 2020 to 2022.
On select dates from Jan. 18 through March 23, participating restaurants will host their own Dine Out for History night, with 10% of the evening’s proceeds donated to the historical society to support research, digitization of its collection and efforts to make historic content more accessible to the public.
“We’re very happy to see the significant support we are getting from local restaurants,” said Edward Downey, president of the North East Historical Society. “We aim to bring them more business at a tough time of year, and from the feedback we’ve gotten, their patrons enjoy rallying to support local history.”
The series will begin Sunday, Jan. 18, at The Millerton Inn, 53 Main St. An optional brief presentation — a participatory local history quiz — will be held at 5:30 p.m. for those who wish to arrive early. The program includes a complimentary glass of wine, with dinner to follow. Reservations are requested.
The other participating restaurants include Taro’s at 18 Main St. on Thursday, Jan. 29; Willa at 52 Main St. on Thursday, Feb. 12 (reservations requested); the Oakhurst Diner at 19 Main St. on Sunday, Feb. 22; Pasture Kitchen at 130 Route 44, on Thursday, March 5; the Golden Wok at Railroad Plaza, 2 Main St., on Sunday, March 15 (takeout only); and Round III at 5523 Route 22, on Monday, March 23.
To get a reminder, please sign up for the North East Historical Society newsletter by contacting Ed Downey at eddowney12@gmail.com.
The North East Historical Society is on the second floor of the NorthEast-Millerton Library, 75 Main St., Millerton. Its hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays or by appointment. For more information, contact Ed Downey at eddowney12@gmail.com.
MILLERTON – The Village of Millerton Board of Trustees will convene on Monday, Jan. 12, for its monthly workshop meeting, with updates expected on the village’s wastewater project, Veterans Park improvements and the formal recognition of a new tree committee.
The board is scheduled to receive an update from Erin Moore – an engineer at Tighe and Bond, an engineering and consulting firm – on the status of the village’s wastewater project. The presentation will focus on funding secured to date, as well as additional grant opportunities that may be pursued to support the long-term infrastructure effort.
Trustees will also discuss a proposed local law to formally establish a village tree committee, a group that has been in development for several months. The committee aims to improve the overall health and sustainability of Millerton’s trees, and plans to seek funding to support its work. An initial tree audit would be the first step in assessing the condition of existing trees, but the group must be officially recognized by the village to do so. The law will be discussed during Monday’s meeting and a public hearing will likely be set for a later date.
In addition, the board will review the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process related to planned renovations at Veterans Park. Required by the state, this process will examine any potential environmental, social or economic impacts on the renovations that will be made to the park. In the works for more than a year, the renovations will include both landscaping and hardscaping improvements intended to enhance the space as a central gathering space in downtown Millerton. The work is funded through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awarded in 2024. Village officials previously secured an extension on the grant, and construction is now expected to be completed by Memorial Day.
The meeting, which is open to the public, will take place at Village Hall at 5933 N Elm Ave. at 6 p.m.
Aimée Davis in her Millerton massage studio at 65 Main St. Davis offers massage therapy, relationship coaching and reiki in her studio and through home visits.
MILLERTON — While many view the new year as a starting line for resolutions and new habits, Millerton-based massage therapist and relationship coach Aimée Davis suggests a different course — a marathon, not a sprint. She believes a slower, more embodied approach can lead to greater fulfillment than ticking boxes off a list.
“I’m more of a daily-moment person,” Davis said, explaining that she focuses on small, consistent practices rather than big, rushed goals. Practicing conscious living year-round allows her to forego new year’s resolutions. “I made one yesterday and I’ll make one tomorrow — I’m constantly tracking what’s coming up, what’s drifting and what I want to change.”
As an intuitive healer, Davis has developed a deep appreciation for the human body over the years — and makes it her mission to help others do the same. “The body is so powerful — it’s just brilliant,” Davis said from her cozy, wood-paneled massage room in downtown Millerton.
Located at 65 Main St., the unassuming pink building is also home to naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist Brian Crouse. Davis laughs about their serendipitous meeting — which happened while she was eating a tomato sandwich — a chance encounter that eventually led to their shared workspace. Today, Davis is 12 years into her own practice, shaped by decades of training and experience in both bodywork and relationship counseling.
Although her work exists at the intersection of health and wellness, Davis is reluctant to embrace either label. “I’m in the business of people,” she said after a moment of reflection, adding that she believes there is a light inside of everyone.
Davis said she first discovered this light at age 18 when she worked at Berkshire Meadows, a facility for students with complex medical and developmental disabilities. She felt a pull to work alongside students with the greatest needs — many of whom were in wheelchairs and nonverbal. During this four-year period, Davis was responsible for feeding, bathing and bringing a sense of joy to these students. “We would play music and we became close like family,” Davis reflects on a period of her life when she stepped into the role of nurturer and caregiver. It was around this time that Davis also became a young mother.
The work and her role as a mother ignited a lifelong passion for learning about and supporting people. Davis said that, as a Capricorn, she tends to go all in when it comes to studying or understanding something. From training in chakras and reiki to studies in neurology, anatomy, and physiology, Davis has embraced lifelong learning and continues to see value in gaining knowledge from both peers and her community.
One mantra Davis lives by is “if it’s not a heck yes, it’s a heck no,” a mentality rooted in trusting intuition, being present, and coming back to your body. Each career stop has been a stepping stone to her current practice, which itself continues to evolve with the addition of relationship coaching and intuitive healing to supplement massage therapy.
Trusting intuition is core to her job, and was core to her following her own path. While it can feel scary to take a leap and start something new, Davis said she knew she was ready to put her “sunglasses on and jump into the bright abyss.” For anyone thinking about taking their own leap, Davis said, “the rhythm begins if you’re in alignment and doing what you’re meant to be doing.”
Today, she works with clients in a variety of ways — and no two sessions are the same. Davis said she has moved away from lengthy intake forms in favor of simply sitting with someone and meeting them where they are. “What I care about is how you are today,” she said, noting that what emerges in one session may look entirely different in the next.
While Davis is trained in anatomy, physiology and neurology — and works regularly with muscle tension, injury recovery and post-surgical care — she is also attuned to the emotional and energetic patterns that can surface in the body. She describes her approach as intuitive and often guided by things that are difficult to articulate. Information can come to Davis through sensation, temperature or imagery that arises as she works.
One early experience in her practice remains formative. Davis recalled working with a client whose blood tests suggested something was wrong, though no diagnosis had yet been made. While working near the client’s liver, Davis said she experienced a powerful and unsettling visual that gave her pause. Unsure how to proceed, she sought guidance from trusted mentors before eventually encouraging the client to pursue further care.
A later diagnosis confirmed liver cancer. More than a decade later, Davis continues to work with that same client and has at times served as a patient advocate, accompanying her to medical appointments.
While Davis is adamant that she does not replace medical care, she trusts what shows up. “I’ve learned not to ignore it,” she said.
As the new year unfolds, Davis hopes people will resist the urge to overhaul themselves overnight and instead consider what it might mean to slow down and build support. She encourages people to think in terms of a “care team,” recognizing that wellness does not have to take a single form.
“I just want people to give their wellness a better chance,” she said. For Davis, the work is less about resolutions and more about relationships — to the body, to one another, and to the rhythms that already exist beneath the noise.
“We still have choices,” she said. “And when we take care of ourselves, we’re better able to take care of each other.”
Demolition crews from BELFOR Property Restoration began demolishing the fire-ravaged Water and Highway Department building in the Village of Millerton on Oct. 27, 2025.
MILLERTON — With another winter underway and new snow-removal equipment now in place, the village is reminded of the February morning when a fire destroyed Millerton’s highway and water department building on Route 22, wiping out everything inside and setting off a year of recovery and rebuilding. The blaze broke out in the early hours of Feb. 3, as snow covered the ground.
Demolition and planning
Nearly a year later, reconstruction efforts are ongoing. Demolition for the fire-damaged building began on Oct. 27, more than eight months after the fire broke out. The removal, which was completed by BELFOR Properties, marked a significant milestone in efforts to rebuild.
“It has been a work in progress that individuals have poured a lot of their time and effort into,” said Caroline Farr-Killmer, who was appointed as the fire project manager. She acknowledged that while it may have seemed like progress was slow, the process required thoughtful and thorough management. She added, “It’s not something that can be accomplished overnight — I am grateful for the team effort put in by all those involved.”
In the weeks after the fire, Farr-Killmer visited the charred site nearly every day, documenting damage to the structure and photographing debris to help the village rebuild its lost inventory.
Two new buildings on the horizon
The village plans to construct two separate buildings on the Route 22 site — one for the highway department and one for water operations.
The separation is now required by the Dutchess County Department of Health because a municipal water well sits on the property. Officials emphasized that Millerton’s water supply has remained safe. Weekly testing by VRI Environmental Services continues, with results submitted to the Department of Health.
BELFOR Properties is expected to handle the rebuild, though an official construction timeline has not been announced by the village.
A year of recovery
With a full lineup of new snow removal equipment, longtime Highway Department member Jim Milton said the crew is ready for the season. He credits Police Chief Joe Olenik with replacing inventory that was lost to the fire.
Olenik became highway superintendent on Sept. 26, following the resignation of former superintendent Peter Dellaghelfa. Although this winter will be his first leading the department, he brings extensive knowledge of village operations and already has a close working relationship with the crew. In the months immediately following the blaze, the village relied on borrowed equipment from the county and towns such as Ancram and Amenia.
The fire also destroyed Millerton’s police vehicles. Replacement Ford Interceptors — designed by Olenik and the Cruiser’s Division in Mamaroneck — arrived in early September. From February through September, Millerton officers used a loaned patrol car from Pine Plains.
To help the village manage the loss of space, the Town of North East signed an intermunicipal agreement allowing the Millerton Police Department vehicles to be parked at the town’s highway garage until the rebuilding is complete.
Record-setting year for firefighters
The fire marked the start of what became one of the busiest years on record for the North East Fire Company. In 2025, the all-volunteer department responded to more than 425 calls — the highest total in at least eight years.
Looking ahead, the Board of Fire Commissioners approved a $787,813 budget for 2026, representing a 2% increase, consistent with typical year-over-year growth.
The fire company enters 2026 with a mix of veteran and new leadership and a command staff that blends career firefighting, EMS expertise, and military experience. With an emphasis on rigorous training and a tight-knit culture, leaders say the department is positioned for a demanding year ahead.
