Anthony Macagnone of Amenia shakes hands with Jennifer Buitrago, the housing and financial coach for Habitat for Humanity of Dutchess County on Wednesday, July 31 in Millerton. Habitat CEO Maureen Lashlee looks on as the partnership agreement is signed.
MILLERTON — Habitat for Humanity of Dutchess County’s (HHDC) board of directors met on July 25 to approve the family elected to the house in the Town of North East.
The Macagnone family of four has been chosen to move into the HHDC house at the end of winter. The Macagnone’s have two children, a 15-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter, who attend Webutuck School District.
Jennifer Buitrago, the housing and financial coach for HHDC, said the family was elected by their committee members, and the final step was for the family to be approved by the board of directors.
“He thought ‘Maybe I wasn’t selected,’ and a couple of days went by, weeks progressed, and he said he was going to text me just to thank us for the opportunity,” Buitrago said. “He had a 360 spin.”
The house is approximately 1,400 square feet with three bedrooms and 2 bathrooms on a half-acre plot of land.
Nine families were eligible and being considered while finding new homeowners. Under an affordable housing initiative, the program allowed families to apply for this ranch-style house at 30% of their household income. The Macagnone family has been paying more than 50% of their income for their housing cost.
“They really do reflect exactly what we are doing this for,” Jennifer Radicone, the COO of HHDC said. “From the standpoint of HUD’s recommendation of paying no more than 30% of your income, it is almost flipped for them. Somehow they have been managing to survive and this is going to give them a new lease on life.”
The Macagnone family said they frequently swim in the Rudd pond, and the other day, when their daughter was supposed to swim with friends, they stopped to look at the lot of their future home.
“They are beyond thankful and say God works in many different mysterious ways and are very excited for their next chapter,” Buitrago said.
On Thursday, Aug. 8 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. HHDC will hold a volunteer presentation at the North Eeast Community Center at 51 South Center St.
PINE PLAINS — Barbara A. Long of Pine Plains, passed away peacefully on June 7, 2025, at Noble Horizons where she had resided since December. She was born on Jan. 5, 1942, in Queens, New York to the late Otto & Anna (Scheich) Hafner.
A graduate of Fordham University, Barbara earned her Master’s in Social Work and dedicated her career to serving individuals suffering from domestic violence, drug, and alcohol abuse within New York State. Her unwavering determination to uplift those around her illustrated her belief in the power of support and understanding.
Barbara’s life was marked by her profound compassion and commitment to helping others.
Barbara cherished her family deeply and is survived by her daughters, Jean Prager, Jennifer Loveday, Jodi Pantley and her fiancé, Julio, as well as her beloved grandchildren: Shawn Prager, Gessner Pantley Jr., Delaney Pantley, Jordan Escobar, John M. Long, and Emily Kirschenbaum. Additionally, she is survived by her brother, Charles (Malay) Hafner, along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Predeceased by her brother, Otto Hafner.
Barbara had a deep appreciation for nature; she loved gardening and spending time outdoors where she found peace and joy. Her fondness for marine life was evident in her passion for dolphin and whale watching during her visits to Cape Cod. She also had an affinity for wolves and Native American culture.
Barbara will be rememberedfor the warmth and love she brought to her family and friends. Her legacy of compassion, strength, and dedication will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to have known her. Services will be held at the convenience of the family.
Donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to Noble Horizons, Activities Department, 17 Cobble Road, Salisbury, CT, 06068. Please visit www.peckandpeck.net to leave a message of condolence for the family.
The street fair was a big draw for the younger crowd on Saturday, June 28.
‘Does this happen every weekend?” It was a question from an out-of-towner who was visiting the Millerton Street Fair held on Saturday, June 28.
“This is like Norman Rockwell’s world,” said another who stopped at The Millerton News booth on the lawn in front of the Millerton Inn.
The News, in partnership with The Millerton Business Alliance and the North East Community Center, kicked off summer in Millerton with a fact-and-fun filled day of activities, food and entertainment for young and old.
The spotlight was on community and the event was blessed with sunny weather following weeksof rainy Saturdays.One visitor walking down Main Street was overheard exclaiming to her friends that “this is small town America.” What this visitor was seeing is the product of years of hard work by volunteers, nonprofits and elected officials to nurture the spirit of Millerton, showing off what they love about their town.
There was a definite sense of resemblance to the depictions of American culture created by Norman Rockwell. In front of the Methodist Church, where a brass band played, two children — a boy and a girl — were absorbed in sword play with balloon tubes just made for them by Bee Bee the Clown.
At the volunteer Millerton Fire Department on Century Boulevard, an inflated slide inside the fire house drew toddlers and watchful parents. Across the street there was a ‘touch a truck’ event held by the North East Fire District. District Chair Dave McGhee was on hand, along with Kelly Roger, treasurer and a fire police captain of the Millerton Fire Department. Roger had pulled together the fire department’s food court, which served hot dogs, hamburgers and home-made french fries along with drinks and cold treats. Families parked on picnic tables outside the firehouse, watching the stream of fairgoers pushing strollers along the boulevard. Every few minutes, the blast of a fire truck siren punctuated the scene, a sign that ‘touch a truck’ was still happening.
An engineering study recently reported that Century Boulevard could accommodate more than 150 parked cars with perpendicular parking. On Saturday, it was full house of cars with license plates from New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Katie Cariello, food programs coordinator at NECC which manages the farmer’s market, had counted 471 visitors to the market by 1:15 p.m. on Saturday.
There was something for everyone. Nonprofit organizations showcased their work at tables on the lawn along Main Street and Dutchess Avenue.
They included, besides The Millerton News, the NECC and the Millerton Business Alliance:
Townscape
Climate Smart Millerton
North East Historical Society
The Moviehouse
Village of Millerton Eddie Collins Memorial Park
Village of Millerton 175th Celebration Committee
Webutuck Elementary School
Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association
NorthEast-Millerton Library
Millerton Fire Company
Webutuck PTA
Irondale Schoolhouse
TriCorner FEED
Businesses also exuded small town charm, including Bes, Little Red Bird Studio, NBT Bank, The Elephant’s Tusk along with others. Millerton Wine & Spirits held an impromptu wine tasting. Candy-O’s ice cream cones were another sweet sign of summertime fun.
The Millerton Street Fair was a fitting tribute to Millerton’s hometown spirit. It celebrated the community and the many nonprofits that have helped make the community a better place to live. The many dedicated volunteers who give their time and energy were able to meet to talk about their work with townspeople — not via email or press release, but face to face.
“Let’s do it again,” was a comment heard more than once by the volunteers who made the Millerton Street Fair a success.
2024 High School Theater Apprentice Alex Wilbur building scenery.
The Sharon Playhouse has announced its 2025 cohort of High School Theater Apprentices, a group of talented students from Housatonic Valley Regional High School (HVRHS), made possible through an ongoing partnership with the 21st Century Fund for HVRHS.
This summer, five students — Sara Ireland (Salisbury), Jackson Olson (Falls Village), Celestia Galvin (Sharon), Mira Norbet (Sharon), and Ishaan Tantri (Lakeville) — have been selected for the prestigious Theater Apprenticeship Program. Now in its fourth year, this competitive opportunity immerses high schoolers in the full spectrum of professional theater production.
Funded through a generous grant from the 21st Century Fund, an independent nonprofit that champions innovative education, the program places students alongside theater professionals and Broadway veterans at the Sharon Playhouse. Apprentices receive hands-on experience in scenic design, stage management, lighting, sound, arts administration, and more.
“The 21st Century Fund’s support has been transformative,” said Michael Kevin Baldwin, Education and Community Director at the Playhouse. “These students aren’t just observing, they’re contributing in meaningful ways. They’re building confidence and gaining real insight into careers in the arts.”
The impact of the program is deeply felt by its alumni. “My four weeks at the Playhouse were the best part of my summer,” said Katelin Lopes, a 2024 apprentice. Fellow apprentice Tess Marks added, “Everyone I worked with was incredibly kind, supportive, and interested in helping me succeed. This opportunity was incredibly valuable to me.”
For more information and a schedule of performances, visit: https://www.sharonplayhouse.org
