Fashion and fun mark a century of service

Tom Barret shows off some Rummage Sale finds.
Natalia Zukerman


Tom Barret shows off some Rummage Sale finds.
On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Cornwall Woman’s Society hosted its 100th anniversary celebration at Mohawk Mountain ski lodge.
“This celebration is to thank the people of Cornwall for their support and to celebrate the 100 years that the Woman’s Society has contributed to Cornwall and to needs near and far,” said Nancy Barr, co-chair of the Cornwall Woman’s Society (CWS).
There was food and beverages, even several cakes with wonderful decorations proclaiming the 100th year, but the main part of the event was a fashion show. Cornwall residents modeled outfits that they purchased at the Woman’s Society Rummage Sale, the annual CWS fundraiser held by each July.
The majority of the rummage sale proceeds go to support Cornwall’s high school graduates who plan to continue their education and the many important local organizations that serve education, health/nutrition, social services, and emergency needs.
The history of the society was highlighted by member Susan Hellmann who created a wonderful and informative history display. All guests were also handed a pamphlet containing the history of the society upon entering the ski lodge. The Woman’s Society of the First Congregational Church was formed in 1924 when 26 women from the First Congregational Church gathered at the Manse in West Cornwall to support missions and strengthen their community. They organized fundraisers like tea parties, fairs, and a 1932 “25-cent supper” for 140 people. Over the years, they expanded their efforts, helping with everything from Ellis Island clothing drives to local church improvements.
In 1956, CWS member and reporter Bessie W. Blake wrote an article in The Lakeville Journal titled “A Big Light from a Small Candle,” showcasing the incredible impact of this small group.
In 2006, the women separated from the church and became the Cornwall Woman’s Society. Their famous Rummage Sale, which started in 1955, now funds over 20 local causes, scholarships, and holiday cheer. They still meet on the second Thursday of every month at the UCC in Cornwall Village.
The fashion show was filled with hilarity, hoots and hollers of support, and some very funny antics. Said Cornwall Selectman Gordon Ridgway, in a short speech to present an award to the CWS, “The rummage sale takes recycling to new heights and even saves tax payer dollars.” Ridgway highlighted the many programs that CWS supports and ended by saying, “Seeing value in what others throw away is a great New England trait.”

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.
Millerton News
Canaan Carnival
6 to 10 p.m.
Bunny McGuire Park
Old Time Bingo
6 to 10 p.m.
Bunny McGuire Park Pavilion
Fire Truck Rides
6 to 10 p.m.
Canaan Carnival
6 to 10 p.m.
Bunny McGuire Park
Old Time Bingo
6 to 10 p.m.
Bunny McGuire Park Pavilion
Fire Truck Rides
6 to 10 p.m.
Canaan Carnival
6 to 10 p.m.
Bunny McGuire Park
Old Time Bingo
6 to 10 p.m.
Bunny McGuire Park Pavilion
Fire Truck Rides
6 to 10 p.m.
4th Annual Fly-In - CANCELLED
New England Accordion Museum
9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Canaan Union Station
Canaan Union Depot Museum
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Canaan Union Station
Canaan Carnival
3 to 10 p.m.
Bunny McGuire Park
Barbecued Chicken Dinner
5 p.m. until sold out
St. Martin of Tours
4 Main St.
Canaan Fireman’s parade
6 p.m.
Bed Race
Following parade
Main street in front of
St. Joseph’s Church
Fireworks
Around 9 p.m.
Ambulance Buffet breakfast
8 to 11 a.m.
New England Accordion Museum
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Canaan Union Station
Canaan Union Depot Museum
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Canaan Union Station
Nathan Miller
Joey Duncan decorates his bicycle at the Irondale Schoolhouse on Saturday, July 11, in anticipation of wowing visitors and spectators as part of the kickoff parade for Millerton’s nine-day 175th anniversary celebration.
MILLERTON — The village’s 175th anniversary celebration kicked off Saturday, July 11, with a full day of activities for children, families and attendees of all ages.
Millerton will spend the next week celebrating its anniversary, commemorating the village’s history since the arrival of the Harlem Valley Railroad in 1851, a moment that the village’s founding fathers and historians have long heralded as the birth of the community.
The Saturday’s main event was the parade, which rolled down Main Street around 4 p.m., marking the official start of the nine-day celebration. About 200 people gathered along Main Street’s sidewalks and beneath the shade trees in Veterans Park to watch.
More than two dozen craft vendors set up shop in Eddie Collins Memorial Park on Saturday, selling a myriad of handmade goods ranging from decorative to practical including pottery, jewelry and soaps.
Also taking up residence in the park was a community flea market. Millerton and North East community members peddled gently used items at the park, and two residents in the village signed up to have yard sales put on a map of the town for interested shoppers to go visit.
The day included a dedication ceremony at the Town of North East’s Highway Garage, where town officials dedicated the building to the late Bob Stevens. Stevens served as the town’s Highway Superintendent for more than 20 years at the time of his death in March.
Millerton resident Tim Watson was sitting in his wheelchair underneath the shade at Veterans Park around 2:45 p.m., waiting for the parade to start. He said the week-long celebration coming to fruition and the crowd downtown that came out to celebrate demonstrated a strong sense of community.
“This is a perfect example of community support,” Watson said.
Eloise Pickering
Children enjoy a spin in a carnival ride at the 2025 Fire Department Carnival in Millbrook.
MILLBROOK — This weekend, evenings in Millbrook will be filled with rides, games, live music, food, and a celebration put on by and for the local volunteer fire department.
Wednesday, July 15, Millbrook will be hosting their annual Millbrook Fire Department Carnival. Lasting four days, the event culminates on July 18, with a parade down Franklin Avenue starting off the evening.
The proceeds from the carnival go to the firehouse. The money helps fund the day-to-day operations, maintains equipment, and provides training.
“Every person who attends the carnival is helping to support our volunteers,” said Millbrook Fire Department Captain and President Kelly Tomasulo.
The event will be located at 3323 Franklin Avenue from 6:00 p.m. to midnight each day. There will also be new food, including gluten-free options, and wine added to the bar booth.
“The continued generosity of our community is what makes it possible for the Millbrook Fire Department to provide the high level of emergency service our residents and neighboring communities have come to rely on,” Tomasulo said.
Past Chief Chris Hawks is the parade marshall this year, joined by the fire station dog, Tyson. Millbrook Mayor Peter Doro will also be walking in the parade with his three children.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our community together as a family, and I’m looking forward to sharing that experience with them while honoring the dedicated volunteers who do so much for Millbrook,” Doro said.
The Millbrook Fire Department answers around 1,000 emergency calls each year.
“They serve our community every day with professionalism, courage, and dedication,” Doro said.


Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.