From the archives

91 years ago: May 5, 1933

‘Mayor Brewer Wants Millerton Cleanest Town in the Valley’: If Millerton is not the cleanest town in the Harlem Valley by May 28, the fault will not be that of Mayor William J. Brewer. His Honor has just issued a proclamation setting aside the days of May 19 and 20, 26 and 27, as Clean-Up dates and urges all good and true Millertonians to renovate the town from top to bottom.[...] all in all, give the whole village such an appearance that when motorists pass through they will instinctively exclaim, “Oh, what an attractive town!”

‘Call Issued for Vote on Prohibition’: Tuesday, May twenty-third, is the big day-no matter on which side your feelings lie-when voters of New York State will decide on the thirteen-year-old question of repealing the Eighteenth Amendment.

‘Pine Plains Church to Burn Its Mortgage’: The Presbyterian Church ladies have completed their plans for the services Friday evening when the church mortgage will be burned. There will be speechmaking, after which refreshments will be served.

50 years ago: May 9, 1974

‘Keuka Honors Miss McEnroe’: Patricia McEnroe of Millerton was the recipient of the Pi Gamma Mu Achievement Award at Keuka College’s Honors Convocation held on April 29, She is a member of the class of 1976. [...]

‘55 MPH Limit Still in Effect’: State Police Superintendent William E. Kirwan reminded New York Motorists this week that there has been no increase in the state speed limit of 55 miles per hour.

“With the greater ease in obtaining gasoline,” he said, “we have been getting complaints that many motorists are exceeding the speed limit outside of the presence of troopers.”

Referring to the elimination by Governor Wilson of the odd-even gasoline distribution plan, the superintendent urged that motorists not interpret this “as a signal to return to the faster speeds of former days.” [...]

25 years ago: May 13, 1999

‘Millerton Honors Its Local, Beloved Miracle Worker Eugene Brooks’: Millerton – Community service and citizenship will take center stage Saturday, May 15, at the opening ceremony for the Eugene Brooks Rail Trail Station behind the North East Community Center.

As a longtime and beloved local education administrator, Mr. Brooks believes every student should know an adult – not necessarily in his or her family – to say hello to. Judging by the way he skillfully and playfully works a crowd in Millerton, he is the type of person who instantly lights up a room when he enters. He is someone who takes pride in responding to people and their needs.[...]

Mr. Brooks always had an open door for students. Today he is so well known and respected around Millerton two of his neighbors wait outside his home to greet him every day. He is a person people rely on. […]

“I’m deeply honored by the fact that I am being recognized for what I should be doing.” Mr. Brooks said. “Volunteerism is what makes rural America tick.”

And he said Millerton is full of examples of giving people.

“I can look at my neighbors and be glad at what I see,” he said. “I helped do that.”

‘Library Displays Photographs Of Egypt’: Like to see Egypt? Or have you been there and would love to go again? You’ll find some enticing photographs of some of Egypt’s ancient glories at the Northeast/Millerton Library through May.

The exhibit, entitled “Aswan Twilight” is a collection of large-format photographs taken by Millerton resident and photographer Andrew Reinhart Charlton and includes large-scale views of the Sphinx, the Giza pyramids, part of the colonnade of Amenhotep III’s Temple of Luxor and a sunset view of graceful felucca vessels sailing on the Nile. Mr. Charlton has included helpful historical notes and comments to accompany each photograph to orient the viewer. […]

‘Rail Trail Association Seeks Public Input’: Millerton —The Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association will hold a public meeting to discuss landscaping along the trail in the village of Millerton. The meeting is Tuesday, May 25, at 7:30 p.m. at the Northeast Community Center, South Center Street. Dutchess County officials will be present.

Construction will begin in coming weeks to extend the trail from Coleman Station to Route 44 in Millerton by late summer or early fall.

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Millerton News and The News does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

Latest News

Millerton Police Dept. rebuilds after fire; new cruisers on the way

Millerton Police Dept. rebuilds after fire; new cruisers on the way

The borrowed Pine Plains cruiser parked on Main Street in front of the Millerton Inn during the Millerton Street Fair on Saturday, June 28.

Photo by Aly Morrissy

MILLERTON — After receiving substantial state grant funding in July 2024 and beginning to roll out new equipment that fall, the Millerton Police Department suffered a setback when the February fire at the Village Water and Highway Department building destroyed much of its newly acquired gear — including patrol vehicles outfitted with cutting-edge technology.

Thanks to full-value insurance coverage and swift support from the Town of Pine Plains — which loaned the department a vehicle — Millerton officers were able to remain active in the community. Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik said two custom-built, four-wheel-drive Ford Interceptor cruisers are now in production and are expected to arrive by the end of the summer.

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Uncertainty looms over Millerton community pool timeline

Uncertainty looms over Millerton community pool timeline

Groundbreaking of the new pool planned for Eddie Collins Park has been delayed after the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation intervened to determine the status of wetlands in the proposed building site.

Archive photo

MILLERTON — The long-awaited groundbreaking for a new community pool at Eddie Collins Memorial Park — once expected this past April — now faces significant delays with no definitive timeline in sight, Mayor Jenn Najdek said.

The primary setback stems from a still-pending permitting process, as the village awaits final approvals from the Dutchess County Board of Health and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regarding septic placement and wetland buffers. A patch of wetlands on the site — roughly five feet by five feet, Najdek said — requires a protective buffer, which could range anywhere from 5 to 100 feet. That determination will dictate whether the current pool design needs to be altered or moved altogether.

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North East town records brought into the digital age

North East town records brought into the digital age

Chris Virtuoso reorganized parcel records in the North East Town Hall basement by parcel number during the process of scanning and digitizing the documents.

Photo by Grace DeMarco

MILLERTON — Within the walls of the two-story Victorian housing the North East Town Hall lies a room-full of town records dating back to the late 19th century. Stored in labeled cardboard boxes and protected by dehumidifiers, the records are in the process of being dated, organized, and scanned into categorized online programs.

As the Town Hall works to relocate to 5603 Route 22 at the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, the consolidation and digitalization of records, as well as the disposal of those unneeded, is a time-sensitive project. Marcy Wheatley, the Deputy Town Clerk, emphasized their current heavy focus on organizing and scanning. “Now, when we move, we can get rid of a lot,” Wheatley stated.

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Fun, food and facts bring crowds to downtown Millerton

Fun, food and facts bring crowds to downtown Millerton

Nora Garcia, 6, of Millerton, bottom right, gets a face painting treatment from Maddy Rowe, a Webutuck High School senior. Nora’s sister, Juliana, 8, top right, is decorated by Giana Kall, a Webutuck senior. The program was sponsored by the Webutuck PTA.

Photo by John Coston

Locals and visitors packed into downtown Millerton Saturday, June 28, for the first ever Millerton Street Fair hosted by the Millerton News, the Millerton Business Alliance and Townscape. Representatives from local nonprofits, businesses along Main Street, Bee Bee the Clown and face painters from Webutuck High School drew in crowds all afternoon.

Festivities officially opened at 10 a.m., and a steady stream of visitors soon followed. Volunteer firefighters hosted a bouncy castle, a duck pool, a “put out the fire” ring toss game, and the “touch a truck” event at the fire department’s garage.

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