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Gabriel Sousa as Jack and Marilyn Olsen as Bridgit in “Death By Design.”
Photo provided
Take your seats in the spacious Nancy Marine Studio Theatre at the Warner Theatre in Torrington to be transported to a cozy 1930s English country manor house, the setting for “Death By Design,” a farcical murder mystery by playwright Rob Urbinati and presented by the resourceful volunteer-run Stage @ The Warner.
A pleasing amalgam of classic drawing room English comedy and Agatha Christie-style murder mystery — with sharp dialogue, eccentric characters, and suspenseful plot twists —the play keeps the audience guessing and laughing until the final curtain.
The premise involves playwright Edward Bennett and his actress wife, Sorel (played by Darrel Cookman and Christiane M. Olson), who withdraw to the country after a particularly disastrous evening. Unexpected guests arrive, much to the dismay of the couple and their staff, and a murder takes place. Their sassy, smart and resourceful Irish housekeeper, Bridgit (Marilyn Olsen), is determined to solve the mystery instead of just reading about them in novels.
Playwright Rob Urbinati has a clear love of his source material and his writing often out-Cowards Noël Coward with witty wordplay (Coward’s famous line from “Private Lives,” “Don’t quibble, Sibyl,” here becomes “Mustn’t quarrel, Sorel”) and other delightful turns of phrase and aperçus. Under Jonathan Zalaski’s able direction, the production’s game cast dives gleefully into their over-the-top characters, including, in addition to those previously mentioned, an inquisitive chauffeur (Gabriel Sousa); a conservative politician (David Macharelli); a bohemian, free-spirited artist (Adriana Medina); a high-strung revolutionary (Ron St. John III); and a nearsighted ingénue (Zazzy Cores).
The creative team includes David Verdosci (set designer), Renee Purdy (costume designer), Chris Lubik (lighting designer), Nicole D’Amico (props master), Alyssa Archambault (production stage manager), Kyla Madore (assistant stage manager), Charlene Speyerer (production manager), Lee Evans (technical director), Marrianne Parks (choreography), Tracy Liz Miller (intimacy coach), Chet Ostroski (fight coordinator), and Melissa “PK” Tonning-Kollwitz (dialect coach).
The cast’s enthusiasm and the play’s inherent wit provide ample laughs and intrigue to keep the audience amused, engaged and guessing until the end. Though not a play, as one character puts it, of “social significance,” “Death By Design” definitely sets its sights, as another character says, on “cocktail and caviar.” It makes for a fun evening of murderous mayhem.
“Death By Design” runs through Nov. 16th, with an ASL-interpreted performance at 2 p.m. on Nov. 16.
Stage @ The Warner is a community theatre program with over 800 volunteers producing Broadway-style shows at the Nancy Marine Studio Theatre, 84 Main St., Torrington. Founded by Jim Fritch and Neil Pagano, the company makes quality theater accessible at reasonable prices. Stage @ The Warner inspires local performers while enriching the community through exceptional theatrical experiences.
Running time for “Death By Design”: Two hours, including a 15-minute intermission. For tickets, go to warnertheatre.org.
Richard Feiner and Annette Stover have worked and taught in the arts, communications, and philanthropy in Berlin, Paris, Tokyo, and New York. Passionate supporters of the arts, they live in Salisbury and Greenwich Village.
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Legal Notices - November 13, 2025
Nov 12, 2025
Legal Notice
Brevi Properties LLC
Brevi Properties LLC, a domestic LLC, filed with the SSNY on 8/27/2025. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 16 Peaceable Way Dover Plains, NY 12522. Purpose: Real estate management. Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law.
10-09-25
10-16-25
10-23-25
10-30-25
11-06-25
11-13-25
Legal Notice
Notice of Formation of Studio Yarnell LLC
Notice of Formation of Studio Yarnell LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on October 20, 2025. Office location: Dutchess County, NY. 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: 279 McGhee Hill Road, Millerton, NY 12546. Purpose: Marketing consultancy.
11-13-25
11-20-25
11-27-25
12-04-25
12-11-25
12-18-25
Notice of Publication
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS
Index No. 2025-51557
FORECLOSURE SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
LLACG COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND,
Plaintiff,
-against-
DONNA PARILLO, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF EDWARD P. SWEENEY, DECEASED; BRENDA J. SWEENEY, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF
EDWARD P. SWEENEY, DECEASED; DONALD E. SWEENEY AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE
OF THE ESTATE OF EDWARD P. SWEENEY, DECEASED; EDWARD P. SWEENEY AS HEIR,
DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF EDWARD P. SWEENEY, DECEASED; JAMES
RICHARD SWEENEY AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF EDWARD P.
SWEENEY, DECEASED; ROSEMARY SWEENEY AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE
ESTATE OF EDWARD P. SWEENEY, DECEASED; SCOTT P. SWEENEY AS HEIR, DEVISEE,
DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF EDWARD P. SWEENEY, DECEASED; THOMAS SWEENEY AS
HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF EDWARD P. SWEENEY, DECEASED; RENEE PERRY AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF EDWARD P. SWEENEY,
DECEASED; ANY AND ALL KNOWN OR UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING AN INTEREST BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST THE ESTATE OF EDWARD P. SWEENEY, DECEASED; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; “JOHN DOE #1- #50” and “MARY ROE #1- #50”, the last two names being fictitious, it being intended to name all other parties who may have some interest in or lien upon the premises described in the Complaint,
Defendants.
TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to serve upon plaintiff’s attorney an answer to the complaint in this action within twenty days after service, or within thirty days after service is complete if the summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty days of service hereof. If you fail to answer, judgment will be taken against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.
Trial is desired in the County of Dutchess. The basis of venue designated above is that the real property that is the subject matter of this action is located in the County of Dutchess.
NOTICE
YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME.
If you do not respond to this Summons and Complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.
Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the Summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.
YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR
THE. PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
Dated: October 14, 2025
MCMICHAEL TAYLOR GRAY, LLC
By: s/ Patricia Pirri, Esq.
Attorneys for Plaintiff
3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
(404)474-7149
10-23-25
10-30-25
11-06-25
11-13-25
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North East Town Hall
Maud Doyle
MILLERTON — The North East Town Board held a special workshop meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 4, to finalize a years-long review of its commercial district zoning code — a process that has spanned 100 meetings over four years.
Town officials had hoped the meeting would mark the completion of the most complex phase of the overhaul — approving a final draft of zoning edits to be sent to the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development for review before scheduling a public hearing.
But the process was delayed after Town Attorney Warren Replansky, who joined the meeting via Zoom, raised procedural questions about whether the document before the board was a “preliminary draft” or a final version.
Replansky said that although the zoning document itself is largely complete and not expected to undergo major revisions, the accompanying local law still needs to be reformatted before it can “pass muster” with the county and the state. The update is primarily technical — ensuring the law is structured correctly for formal adoption and filing — but it delayed the board from scheduling a public hearing.
Regardless, the Board voted unanimously to adopt a resolution authorizing the Town Supervisor to forward a copy of the proposed zoning amendments to the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development and the town’s Planning Board for “preliminary review” prior to the commencement of the formal local law adoption process.
The board also approved a motion to allow Town Clerk Tilly Strauss to send copies of the Zoning Code amendments to the Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Advisory Committee, Village of Millerton, Town of Amenia, Town of Ancram, Town of Pine Plains, Town of Stanford and Town of Salisbury, Connecticut.
In the meantime, the town’s legal counsel will work to finalize the local law’s formatting to comply with official filing requirements. If acceptable, the town may schedule the official public hearing at this week’s board meeting, to be held on Thursday, Nov. 13.
“This is an important waypoint in the work that we have done to rezone the commercial portion of the town,” said Supervisor Kennan at the special meeting before giving credit to those involved in the lengthy process and its 100 meetings. “I just want everyone to wrap their heads around that,” said Kennan. “That’s a lot of volunteer time. That’s a lot of work that went into this.”
Without making any promises, Kennan expressed his hope that the process can be completed before the end of the year, prior to the conclusion of Councilman Ralph Fedele’s term, allowing him to cast a vote to approve the zoning changes after dedicating significant time to the effort.
Town officials said they hope the County review process will not drag on as they have already reviewed an earlier draft. The document is currently 181 pages long.
In addition to the zoning discussion, the Board approved two additional resolutions.
The first authorized a grant application to the Hudson River Valley Greenway for $30,000 to hire planning consultant Nan Stolzenburg, who will guide the residential and agricultural zoning review expected to begin in early 2026.
The second resolution approved a contract with LAN Engineering for the new Town Hall renovation project. The firm will handle both the engineering and architectural work, including updates to ensure bathrooms are ADA-compliant and interior modifications. The town previously rejected a $940,000 renovation bid from another architect earlier this year. “I believe that we’re going to be able to get this done for a lot less,” said Kennan, adding that while the new proposal is “not inexpensive,” it’s a comprehensive and complete plan to move the project forward.
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The Dutchess County Real-Time Crime Center, which came online over the course of the past year, is being hailed as a first-of-its-kind collaboration between county, state and local law enforcement agencies, District Attorney Anthony Parisi told The News on Friday, Nov. 6.
Real-time crime centers are emerging nationwide as powerful surveillance tools. They link networks of government, business and privately owned security cameras into centralized systems accessible to police. These centers often employ artificial intelligence technologies such as facial recognition, license plate scanning and video analysis that can compress hours of footage into minutes of usable data.
Dutchess County’s new center — officially called the Analysis & Real-Time Crime Intelligence Center, or ARTCIC — brings those capabilities under one roof for use by the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and local departments.
“This is really one of the first collaborations of all agencies into a single project, a single real-time crime center,” Parisi said.
Among the vendors supplying equipment and software is Flock Safety, a rapidly growing company that produces license plate readers and AI-driven video systems designed to detect suspicious activity and alert law enforcement.
Parisi said the cameras process video on site, using artificial intelligence to identify possible threats such as a firearm on school grounds or a crime in progress. Alerts are sent directly to the center’s analysts, who review the footage and dispatch officers as needed.
Flock’s software platform, FlockOS, serves as the backbone of the Dutchess system, connecting camera feeds from across the county and processing that video in real time, generating data that law enforcement can search to track people and vehicles across wide areas.
According to the company’s website, FlockOS is now used by thousands of law enforcement and public safety agencies nationwide. Its widespread adoption, however, has drawn criticism from privacy advocates.
Use of the products has come under scrutiny amid concerns about data security and allegations that unrelated agencies — including federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement and police departments in other states — have been able to access local law enforcement data without warrants, and in some cases potentially violating state privacy laws.
In May 2025, the tech outlet 404 Media reported that Flock data stored by local law enforcement had been accessed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents through informal “side door” requests. The report also cited a Texas case in which police allegedly searched the national Flock database to track a woman who had an abortion, noting that officers recorded the reason as “had an abortion, search for female.”
Following that report, several police departments in Washington State suspended use of Flock’s system. The company responded in June, saying it had restricted access to databases in Washington, Illinois, California and Virginia to comply with local data privacy laws. Flock also disputed the reporting, stating its audits found “not a single credible case of law enforcement using the system to locate vulnerable women seeking healthcare.” The company said the Texas case involved a missing person investigation, not a criminal probe.
Parisi stressed that Dutchess County’s data remains under local control.
“We own our data and we control our data,” he said. “No one can have access to our data outside of the people we give access to.”
The News has submitted public records requests for Flock search data to both the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office, which have not yet been fulfilled.
Parisi said crime prevention was a major motivation for creating the center, describing it as a tool to help law enforcement act proactively rather than reactively. He added that transparency and public engagement are priorities for his office, and said a public-facing transparency portal is planned.
Those initiatives have yet to materialize. As of early November, the Dutchess County government website contains no mention of the real-time crime center, its policies or community outreach programs. The only public statement remains a November 2024 announcement of grant funding to establish the center.
The District Attorney’s independent website, dutchessda.org, uses the CRIMEWATCH platform to share information online. The site includes a link under “ARTCIC – Analysis & Real-Time Crime Intelligence Center” that redirects visitors to a Flock Safety-maintained page, where residents and businesses can register private security cameras to the county network.
Parisi has discussed the center with The Daily Catch in Red Hook, New York, but no other area media outlets have reported on the center since the county received the grants last year. Local stakeholders told The News that they had little to no knowledge of the Real-Time Crime Center.
Parisi admitted his office has had some trouble drumming up community interest in the program.
“I think I was somewhat naive in how much interest I thought the community would have in being a part of those types of projects,” he said. “There really hasn’t been the interest that I thought there would be.”
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