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Skip Fredericksen and the magic of giving
D.H. Callahan
Aug 12, 2026
Skip “Whitecap” Fredericksen at his trail magic setup in Sharon. Whitecap keeps a log of the thru-hikers who stop for refreshments.
D.H. Callahan
You could be having a really rotten day, and there are a lot them, cause it can feel like the trail is just there to beat you down. But you turn a corner and find somebody who’s passing out free food, and it brightens your whole outlook.
— Skip “Whitecap” Fredericksen
Across the 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail, there are wondrous sights to behold, incredible friendships to make and experiences that have the potential to shape the lives of the young adventurers who take on the challenge. And every so often on that fabled path, thru-hikers encounter something called trail magic.
At its essence, trail magic is the practice of local residents along the trail supplying free goods and treats for weary travelers who might not have access to more frivolous creature comforts. Skip Fredericksen, or “Whitecap,” as he’s known on the trail, wants to make Connecticut the Trail Magic state.
Since 2022, Whitecap has been a volunteer with the Appalachian Mountain Club, clearing downed trees and other debris from his designated section of trail. It’s an assignment that’s proving particularly challenging this year, with the Northwest Corner’s Fourth of July storm requiring an estimated 130 hours of sawing alone. But Whitecap doesn’t let persistent obstacles get in the way of his role. In fact, he sees the increased challenges as a reason to give more. And Whitecap knows a thing or two about challenges.
In 2021, at the age of 67, Whitecap and his two daughters, whose trailnames are Nocs and Zazu, hiked the entire Appalachian Trail together, from Georgia to Maine. As a senior hiker, Whitecap faced obstacles with a patience and grace that weren’t required of the younger, faster kids. It was early in their journey when Whitecap first felt the power of trail magic for himself.
“You could be having a really rotten day, and there are a lot them, cause it can feel like the trail is just there to beat you down. But you turn a corner and find somebody who’s passing out free food, and it brightens your whole outlook.”

Throughout his 2021 hike, Whitecap encountered countless run-ins with trail magic, including a couple of men who hiked out to a campsite far from the nearest road carrying a big camp stove and enough hot food to feed several tired thru-hikers. People have set up RVs with phone charging stations and flush toilets, while others bring homemade cookies and granola bars in individual baggies to pass out on day hikes. No matter the method, the act of giving is always magic.
A year after his 205-day hike, he and Zazu decided to give back to the trail. They set up tables and chairs at an AT road crossing in Sharon and laid out bags of chips, fruit, water, Gatorade and a little camp stove to make hot dogs and veggie dogs for exhausted hikers. Though his offerings are carefully considered, he knows full well that the specifics are secondary.
“It doesn’t even matter what the food is,” he said. “It’s the kindness of people who really care about the hikers, and that’s what makes the difference.”
You might think trail maintenance and trail magic would be enough of a tribute to the challenges and community of the Appalachian Trail, but Whitecap doesn’t stop there. He’s turned his love of the trail into a musical slideshow performance, with tongue-in-cheek songs about his journey set to musical classics. He calls it “AT: The Musical.” It’s just another way he’s spreading the gospel of kindness and nature throughout Connecticut.
Get a preview of “AT: The Musical” at bit.ly/4wEb09v
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Books, dinner and thoughtful dialogue at literary salon at Swyft
D.H. Callahan
Aug 12, 2026
A full table at House of Books’ Salon at Swyft in Kent.
D.H. Callahan
The act of sitting down with like-minded individuals to share food, and talk with each other is at once calming.
Fiction is a funny thing. There are so many ways to interpret how an author built a story, or what the meanings are behind characters, events and specific word choices. Even a novel’s title and dust jacket can garner pages of comments in online forums and book clubs.
If you’re lucky, every once in a while, you might get the opportunity to sit in on a discussion between an author and a scholar about a specific book, or even a body of work. The House of Books in Kent hosts author events on a regular basis, but the store manager Benjamin Rybeck finds value in more intimate conversations so in 2022, he started the Salon Series at Swyft.
The series is based on the 19th-century tradition of the artistic and academic salons, which were seen as cultural hubs for the upper echelons of society. There, writers, artists, dancers, musicians and actors would gather in intimate settings, often the parlors of the wealthy and aristocratic patrons. While House of Books isn’t exactly equipped for such an event, the restaurant it is affiliated with, Swyft, certainly is. Known throughout the region as being one of the most consistently delicious and innovative restaurants, Swyft shares a common owner with House of Books, making for some seamless collaborations.

After pausing for a few years, Rybeck believed the time was right to revive the series, so he invited Hannah Lillith Assadi, author of the new novel “Paradiso 17,” for the first Salon of the season. The novel is based on the story of her late father’s life, beginning with his family’s expulsion after the Nakba of 1948.
Israeli-Palestinian relations are a particularly sensitive subject these days, often leading to passionate arguments between opposing sides. But the well-read literature enthusiasts at the salon weren’t interested in the politics of the book so much as they were the art of it. Over a family-style dinner of fresh salads, pizza and specialty cocktails, the conversation was surprisingly civil and curious. The group discussed structure and narrative, sense of place and the feeling of transience.
The whole evening was a wonderfully refreshing departure from the vitriolic divisiveness of today’s online discourse. While the anonymity of the internet can frequently lead to heated rhetoric, the act of sitting down with like-minded individuals to share food, and talk with each other seems to do the exact opposite. It’s at once calming, intellectually satisfying and culinarily enriching.
The next Salon on Aug. 27 will feature Natasha Stagg, author of the new novel “Grand Rapids,” and painter Sam McKinniss, whose art is featured on the book’s cover.
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When a kitchen island isn’t the answer
Kerri-Lee Mayland
Aug 12, 2026
Kitchen islands remain popular gathering spots, but they’re just one of many ways to create a functional, welcoming kitchen.
Kerri-Lee Mayland
Here in the Northwest Corner, many homes were built long before oversized islands became fashionable. Trying to squeeze one into a modest kitchen can leave the room feeling cramped instead of comfortable.
If you’ve ever hosted a party, you’ve probably noticed the same thing.
You can spend hours setting a beautiful dining table, fluffing pillows in the living room and arranging fresh flowers in the entry. Guests arrive, compliment your home, and then, almost without fail, everyone ends up standing in the kitchen.
If there’s an island, that’s where they’ll gather.
Kitchen islands have become the social center of many homes, but while they feel timeless, they’re actually a relatively modern invention. In colonial, Georgian and Victorian homes, you were much more likely to find a freestanding harvest table, butcher’s block or sturdy worktable in the middle of the room than a built-in island.
Don’t get me wrong. Islands are wonderful in the right space. They provide extra storage, generous prep space and casual seating. In many newer homes, they’re built right into the floor plan, and if there’s room, homeowners often dream of making them even larger — or adding a second one.
But here in the Northwest Corner, many homes were built long before oversized islands became fashionable. Trying to squeeze one into a modest kitchen can leave the room feeling cramped instead of comfortable.
Sometimes the better answer isn’t another cabinet. It’s borrowing an idea from the past.
When I recently gave my own kitchen what I affectionately call a “Band-Aid renovation,” I changed everything except the cabinets. I installed new countertops, a backsplash and lighting, but the biggest transformation came from what I removed.
Out went the island.
In its place, I brought in a rustic wooden worktable with deep drawers for onions, garlic and potatoes, plus an open shelf below for pots and pans. The tabletop has become my everyday prep station, while a small overhang allows friends to pull up a stool and chat while I cook. The warm wood also breaks up long stretches of identical cabinetry and stone, making the room feel instantly warmer and more collected than constructed.
If space is tight, think vertically, too. A ceiling-mounted pot rack above a farmhouse table frees valuable cabinet space while adding character. Woven baskets suspended overhead can hold herbs, linens or dried flowers, creating texture where there might otherwise be another expanse of countertop.
The beauty of a freestanding piece is its flexibility.
A butcher’s block on locking casters moves wherever you need it. A vintage library table becomes a holiday baking station. A worktable found on Facebook Marketplace can roll into the dining room during a party and double as a buffet.
I’ve helped clients do exactly that. Rather than spending thousands on a custom-built island, we’ve found beautiful antique or secondhand pieces, added wheels and created kitchens that feel personal instead of predictable.
We’re fortunate to have wonderful antique shops throughout our region, and they’re worth visiting often because inventory is always changing. Estate sales, Facebook Marketplace and even a grandparent’s barn can uncover pieces with far more character than anything ordered from a catalog. Their worn edges, scratches and patina tell stories no brand-new cabinet ever could.
Another option is something we don’t see nearly enough anymore: a kitchen table in the middle of the room. Not one tucked into an eat-in nook, but a true worktable where meals are prepared, homework is spread out, cookies are decorated and conversations naturally unfold.
The kitchen island isn’t going anywhere, nor should it. In the right home, it’s a terrific solution. It’s simply not the only one.
Whether the centerpiece of your kitchen is a marble island, a weathered farmhouse table or a rustic workbench on wheels, the goal has always been the same: create a place where people naturally gather. Because the true heart of a kitchen has never been the island. It’s the life that happens around it.
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The sounds of summer on Music Mountain
D.H. Callahan
Aug 12, 2026
Oskar Espina Ruiz and the Erinys Quartet
D.H. Callahan
High atop a mountain in the foothills of the Berkshires lies a bucolic oasis of tranquility, community and a whole lot of music. For more than 95 years, Music Mountain has hosted a litany of fine classical and jazz concerts. But you’ll find more than just music alive in these hills.
Beneath the towering willows on the Music Mountain campus sits Gordon Hall, the main performance space. Gordon Hall was named after Jacques Gordon, Chicago Symphony concertmaster from 1921 to 1930 and the founding first violinist of the Gordon String Quartet. In 1930, he came to Falls Village and created Music Mountain. To build his campus, he enlisted Sears, Roebuck & Co., whose prefabricated housing division installed all of the buildings. Because many of the houses by Sears, Roebuck have been lost to time, Music Mountain’s well-documented collaboration with the company earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
But Music Mountain doesn’t rest on its historical laurels. While it honors its past, carefully noting in its programs when prominent classical pieces have been previously performed, it also takes pride in its premieres. Most recently, Artistic Director Oskar Espina Ruiz was involved in such a premiere.

On Sunday, Aug. 2, Alfonso Fuentes, a Puerto Rican composer, improvisation pianist, poet and educator, joined Ruiz and the Erinys Quartet, which won first prize at the 2025 Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition in Norway, for the premiere of his Clarinet Quintet. The performance was one of three clarinet premieres happening throughout August; the other two were composed by Seth Grosshandler on Aug. 16, with the Ulysses Quartet, and by Javier Montiel on Aug. 30, with Cassatt Quartet.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Music Mountain without some classics, so Ruiz will join the quartets for additional pieces by Mozart, Weber and other legendary composers.
But classics aren’t always classical. Jacques Gordon’s son, Nicholas Gordon took over as artistic director in 1974, and during his tenure introduced the Twilight Jazz Concerts on Saturday nights. These performances allow the audience to let their hair down, and revel in the unpredictability of the genre.

Jazz has developed in remarkable ways since Music Mountain’s founding, and many of its subgenres take their place on the stage of Gordon Hall. This year has seen straight-ahead jazz pianist Helen Sung, vocalist Nicole Zuraitis, swinging big bands like Bob Parker’s Jive by Five and Music Mountain’s 20-piece house band. Still to come are Grammy Award winners Bill Charlap with his trio, andZaccai Curtis and his Afro-Cuban quartet.
This season also features a couple wild cards that fall outside of the jazz and classical circles. The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players brought the silliest operas of the 19th century to Gordon Hall on Aug. 8, and on Aug. 22, pianist Donald Sosin and singer/percussionist Joanna Seaton will accompany Buster Keaton’s silent film “The General” with a live score, breathing new life into an old cinematic classic.
With all this, and many more Sunday afternoon classical performances running through Sept. 13, there’s still time to catch some incredible magic on the Mountain.
For a full listing of performances and tickets, visit musicmountain.org
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Classifieds - August 11, 2026
Millerton News
Aug 11, 2026
AUTOS FOR SALE
1990 Mazda Miata hard top/soft top. Manufactured Oct. 1989. 64,000 plus miles. 99% original parts. $20,500. 203-215-0729.
HELP WANTED
Garden Help. Looking for an experienced person to weed my acre garden and cut back some plants. In Salisbury. For July and August. Could continue into Fall. naylor99@gmail.com
Wyantenuck Country Club is seeking waitstaff. Lunch shifts available for weekdays with flexible shift options for weekends and some dinners as well. Call 413-528-0350 or send resumes to brandon@wyantenuck.org
Simple part-time help needed in Millerton garden, pleasant environment. Must have basic knowledge of plants/weeds. Pays well. Call 518-789-9289.
SERVICES OFFERED
Hector Pacay Landscaping, LLC. Residential & Commercial. Tree service, Painting, Masonry, Stone Walls, Lawn Mowing, Gardens, Construction. 845-636-3212. CT and NY.
LOJA CLEANING AND JANITORIAL Home and Apartment Cleaning. Commercial Janitorial and Maintenance. Offices & Commercial Spaces. Move In/Move Out. Customized Deep Cleaning Projects. Licensed & Insured. 475-746-8621 or 475-529-6484. lojacleaningservices@gmail.com
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
PUBLISHER'S NOTICE: Equal Housing Opportunity. All real estate advertised in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1966 revised March 12, 1989 which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color religion, sex, handicap or familial status or national origin or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All residential property advertised in the State of Connecticut General Statutes 46a-64c which prohibit the making, printing or publishing or causing to be made, printed or published any notice, statement or advertisement with respect to the sale or:rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, age, lawful source of income, familial status, physical or mental disability or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.
HOUSE FOR RENT
1 bdrm cottage for rent in Millerton. W/D, hardwood floors, garden. On a small farm with beautiful views. 15 min. drive to Harlem line. $1750/month plus heat & trash removal. References required. Call or email Shanna 845-337-7173 shannabarney@gmail.com
MT RIGA LAKEFRONT CABIN. Private beach, canoe, kayaks, fishing. $1,275/week. 585-355-5245.
RENTALS WANTED
ISO reasonably priced winter storage for small car and 16' boat within 20 miles of Millerton. Approx. October-May. 252-412.0228.
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Legal Notices - August 11, 2026
Millerton News
Aug 11, 2026
Legal Notice
Notice of Formation of Chapters & Charm LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on May 22nd 2026. Office location: Dutchess County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 16 Barton Street, Millerton NY 12546. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. 0
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LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (LLC). Name: Garnet IT Consulting LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 07/01/2026 . Office location: Dutchess County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 22 South Randolph Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
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LEGAL NOTICE
Coldworks Mechanical LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/28/2026. Office location: Dutchess County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: P.O. Box 353, LaGrangeville, New York 12540-0353. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
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LEGAL NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that an Application for Authority of Jones & Daughters Hudson Valley LLC, a foreign limited liability company, was filed with the Secretary of State of New York pursuant to Section 802 of the Limited Liability Company Law. The name of the limited liability company is Jones & Daughters Hudson Valley LLC. The jurisdiction of its formation is Connecticut. The date of its formation is January 28, 2026. The county within New York State in which the office of the limited liability company is to be located is Dutchess County. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served, and the post office address to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process served upon the Secretary of State is Jones & Daughters, 34 Main Street, Millerton, NY 12546. The principal office address of the limited liability company is 34 Main Street, Millerton, NY 12546.
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Legal Notice
Notice of Formation of GREEN VILLAGE CONTRACTORS LLC Articles of Organization filed with the NYS Department of State (SSNY) on 05/15/2026. Office location: Dutchess County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to: Tomas Tun Ico 766 Old Route 22 Amenia, NY 12501 Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
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Legal Notice
Notice of Formation of Polonia Hudson Valley, LLC (the "LLC"). Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York ("SSNY") on July 27, 2026. Office location: Dutchess County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to: 4 Marshall Rd, Unit 143, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
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