The yard in front of the Thorne Building on Franklin Avenue in Millbrook hosts a large menorah. The Millbrook Chanukah Committee has scheduled a lighting ceremony for Sunday, Dec. 21, at 4 p.m. on the Thorne Building lawn.
As municipalities across the region grapple with how to balance faith, inclusion and the use of public space during the holiday season, communities are arriving at different conclusions about interfaith observances and religious symbols on municipal property.
Several towns continue to host public menorah lightings as community events. In Stanford, Millbrook and Amenia, the celebrations are framed as inclusive gatherings rather than formal religious endorsements.
In Stanford, residents are invited to a public menorah lighting on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall. The event, hosted by Chabad of Dutchess County, will include donuts and hot latkes.
Millbrook will hold its menorah lighting Sunday, Dec. 21, at 4 p.m. at the Thorne Building on Franklin Avenue. The celebration will continue afterward at Babette’s Kitchen on Franklin Avenue with hot latkes, warm apple cider, coffee, baked goods and festive singing.
In Amenia, resident Ken Topolsky installed a menorah at Town Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 16, and the town will host a lighting ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 21.
In contrast, officials in the Village of Millerton have expressed reluctance to allow a menorah in Veterans Park, citing concerns about introducing new faith-based displays on public property. Village leaders say the policy reflects a long-standing effort to keep seasonal decorations secular.
The response comes as the village continues long-standing seasonal traditions centered on secular displays. Each year, white holiday lights are strung throughout the village by the volunteer group Townscape, and the annual Festival of Lights parade features Santa Claus and other Christmas-themed imagery.
In a written statement to The News, Millerton Mayor Jenn Najdek said the village’s policy is rooted in maintaining neutrality toward religion.
“By avoiding standalone faith-based symbols like nativity scenes or menorahs, the village maintains government neutrality toward religion, preventing any perception of endorsing one faith over others or religion over non-religion,” Najdek wrote.
Debate over religious displays has become more pointed in the Village of Rhinebeck, where rumors have circulated that this may be the final year a large menorah will be permitted in Doughboy Park.
Those concerns came to light after Rabbi Hanoch Hecht of the Rhinebeck Jewish Community Center sent an email to residents urging them to contact village officials and express support for keeping the menorah in the park. Some residents believe a change in policy — potentially taking effect in 2026 — could result in the removal of all religious symbols from municipal property, including a Christmas tree.
Hecht emphasized the broader symbolism of Hanukkah amid rising concerns about global antisemitism.
“We live in a very dark world, especially after incidents like what recently took place in Sydney,” Hecht said, referring to the fatal terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia on Sunday, Dec. 14, that left 15 people dead.
He said that while the attacks feel geographically distant, it has contributed to a broader sense of unease among Jewish communities worldwide.
Rhinebeck Mayor Gary Bassett said reports of a definitive decision are premature and stressed that no final determination has been made.
“Rabbi Hecht and I are very much engaged, working in collaboration for events both this year and for the future,” Bassett said. “That’s how this conversation started, by getting together and talking.”
Bassett declined to comment on reports from web-based news source The Daily Catch that the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) advised his office to remove faith-based symbols from municipal property. The News independently confirmed those guidelines.
In a written statement, NYCOM’s executive director Barbara Van Epps wrote, “NYCOM generally advises against local governments erecting religious displays on municipal property. Although there are limited circumstances in which such displays may be permissible without violating the First Amendment, it can be difficult to navigate both legally and politically.” Van Epps added that the best course of action is to make the display entirely secular.
Graham Corrigan
Mourners assembled a collage of photographs of Olly Rea near the altar at Faith Bible Chapel on Monday.
MILLERTON — More than 150 family members, friends and neighbors gathered at Faith Bible Chapel on Monday to celebrate the life of 2-year-old Olly Rea, whose brief life was remembered through stories, laughter and faith just over a week since his tragic death.
The celebration took place at the same Silver Mountain Road church where Olly died July 25 after falling into a septic tank on the property following a wedding reception. Despite an extensive emergency response, he could not be saved. The accident stunned the close-knit community and prompted an outpouring of support for the Rea family.
The service reflected the family’s wish that the day focus on Olly’s happiness. Rather than wearing traditional black, most attendees came dressed in bright colors and casual clothing. People of all ages filled the chapel, exchanging hugs, condolences and memories before the service began.
The church was decorated with tributes to Olly’s favorite movies and characters, including Toy Story, Bluey, Lightning McQueen and Mickey Mouse. A long buffet, made possible through donations from local restaurants, church members and other supporters, stretched along one side of the room.
Pastor Bill Mayhew led the service. Floral wreaths and photo collages featuring Olly and his family flanked the pulpit. Among those in attendance were Olly’s siblings– Cory, 7, and 10-month-old Levi — who remained by their parents’ side throughout the service.
“When you look at those pictures, you’ll notice three things about Olly,” Mayhew said. “Either he’s smiling, he’s eating, or he has a ponderous look on his face. Because as a two-year-old, there’s a lot to wonder about in the world.”
Mayhew shared Scripture and memories of a little boy who delighted in splashing in the water, eating the frosting off cupcakes and stopping whatever he was doing whenever he heard an airplane so he could search the sky.
“Although his life lasted only two short years,” Mayhew said, “Olly’s life was rich in laughter, adventures, faith and unconditional love.”
Following his remarks, Mayhew invited those gathered to share their own memories.
Olly’s mother, Darryl Sue Rea, thanked everyone who had supported the family.
“We all loved Olly, and while we will miss him in our lifetime, we gave him one heck of a lifetime while he lived,” she said. “You were all a part of making him this beautiful, happy, smiling boy.”
Olly’s father, Johnathan Rea, said becoming a parent had changed him and that his son inspired him every day “to be an example for all children.”
Throughout the service, speakers returned to the same theme: despite his brief life, Olly left an outsized impact on those who knew him through his curiosity, smile and joyful spirit.
Mayhew closed the celebration by asking those gathered to keep Olly in their hearts in the days and weeks to come.
Additional reporting by Eloise Pickering and Christian Murray.
Millerton News
Sisters Hill Farm manager David Hambleton drives a red Farmall tractor at the Stanfordville farm he has led for more than 25 years. Former apprentices reflected on the lifelong farmer’s impact as the property’s owner, the Sisters of Charity of New York, prepares to sell.
Sisters Hill Farm manager David Hambleton drives a red Farmall tractor at the Stanfordville farm he has led for more than 25 years. Former apprentices reflected on the lifelong farmer’s impact as the property’s owner, the Sisters of Charity of New York, prepares to sell. Read the full story.
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Nathan Miller
Millerton’s currently operating well is enclosed in a small structure known as the “dog house.”
MILLERTON — Construction is expected to begin this week on the village’s new drinking water pumphouse, more than a year and a half after a fire destroyed the original facility.
The new pumphouse is the first of two structures being built to replace Millerton’s Public Works Department building that was destroyed in a fire in February 2025. The original, fire-ravaged building housed both the village’s Water Department and Highway Department operations at Eddie Collins Memorial Park, and will ultimately be replaced with separate structures for each of these Public Works functions.
Fire project manager Caroline Farr-Killmer has been in charge of replacing the building since the fire destroyed it. She said construction crews were expected to begin work this week, but rainy weather could delay the project’s start.
“You don’t want to go out and start this in the pouring rain,” Farr-Killmer said.
The new pumphouse will house one of two municipal drinking water pumps. The pump has been offline since the February 2025 fire, leaving Millerton to rely on a single well for its drinking water for the past 18 months. The operable pump, located in what’s known as the “dog house” nearby the old structure, has had to supply all of Millerton’s drinking water.
Millerton Mayor Jenn Najdek said the building’s construction should take between four and six weeks, but the pump won’t be switched on immediately. Following construction, the village’s water company and county health officials will conduct water quality tests to ensure contaminants haven’t entered the well while it was inoperable.
“It could take as long as three or four months until the Board of Health approves the well being up and running again,” Najdek said.
Najdek said she’s encouraged to see the project moving forward after months of planning and approvals. The mayor compared government projects to her day job at Millerton construction company EcoBuilders, saying village construction can often lag due to the complexity of bureaucratic processes.
“Municipal work is not that simple,” she said. “There’s always a wrench in there somewhere.”
Construction on the water department building was originally expected to start in July, but plans for the construction didn’t receive approval from the Dutchess County Board of Health until much later in the month.
Graham Corrigan
MILLERTON — The death of a 2-year-old Millerton boy who fell into a septic tank has renewed attention to the dangers associated with the wastewater and sewage storage systems that serve thousands of homes and properties across Dutchess County.
Septic tanks remain common throughout the county, where many homes, churches and businesses rely on private systems rather than municipal sewer lines.
On Saturday, July 25, 2-year-old Olly Rea fell into a septic tank located on the grounds of Faith Bible Chapel on Silver Mountain Road. His parents, Johnathan and Darryl Rea, said the boy wandered away while playing in the yard and fell through an unsecured tank cover.
The child was taken by ambulance to Sharon Hospital in Connecticut, where he was later pronounced dead.
The tragedy is grimly familiar to area residents. In 2023, a 2-year-old child in Pleasant Valley died in a similar accident after falling into a septic tank. While such incidents are uncommon, they underscore the potentially deadly risks posed by unsecured or deteriorating septic systems.
While falls and drowning are a serious concern, septic tanks also run the risk of releasing unhealthy gases. Hydrogen sulfide, methane, and ammonia are potential byproducts caused by the breakdown of waste. There’s also a chance of ground collapse after a heavy rain.
The septic tank is a French invention. Jean-Louis Mouras patented his “Automatic Scavenger” in 1881, and the devices soon spread to the United States. They replaced the leaky, brick-lined cesspools prevalent at the time, and became a popular choice as rural expansion increased through the mid-1900s.
The design has remained relatively unchanged over time: a tank made from plastic or concrete is buried in the ground next to a home. The tank allows solids to settle, and lighter liquid waste is released into an adjoining drain field.
Experts suggest pumping a septic tank every few years to clear out waste and scum that doesn’t break down naturally. Replacing the whole tank should happen every 20 years, though it depends on the materials used to make the tank. Concrete tanks last the longest.
Dutchess County’s Sanitary Code requires septic tank covers to remain accessible for inspection and maintenance, but any ground-level access cover must be secured.
The code states that septic covers “shall not be brought flush with the ground surface, unless the cover can be locked to prevent tampering.” The county also recommends periodic inspections, particularly for older systems where risers or covers may have deteriorated over time.
Dutchess County participates in New York’s Septic System Replacement Fund, which provides grants to eligible homeowners to replace failing septic systems that threaten groundwater and surface water quality. Poorly maintained or aging septic systems can allow disease-causing pathogens and other pollutants to contaminate nearby wells, streams and groundwater.
Further information about the Septic System Replacement Fund is available through New York State.
In Millerton, a long-awaited wastewater and sewer project will begin in early 2027. Estimated at $13 million, the first phase of the project will bring a sewer system to Main Street and its surrounding blocks. Properties within the proposed service area currently rely on individual septic systems, including tanks with leach fields, and outdated systems like seepage pits, cesspools and holding tanks.
But for more remote properties, like that of Olly Rea’s church, prospects of a wastewater system seem far off at best. Neighboring towns like Amenia are also on a septic system. Amenia has been debating the feasibility of a sewer system since 1995, but the project’s cost and complications have slowed progress. In 2024, Amenia selected Albany’s Laberge Group to submit a report on the potential system.
Graham Corrigan
PINE PLAINS — Parents, caregivers, business owners and childcare providers will have an opportunity later this month to speak directly with state and federal officials about the challenges of finding affordable childcare in rural Dutchess County.
The Child Care Council of Dutchess and Putnam will host a community focus group on Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 5:30 p.m. at the Pine Plains Free Library. Representatives from the offices of Congressman Pat Ryan, Assemblymember Didi Barrett and State Senator Michelle Hinchey are expected to attend and hear directly from residents about barriers to accessing child care.
The focus group comes at a historic moment for childcare in New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2027 budget included $4.5 billion to expand universal Pre-K in the state, up $1.7 billion from 2026.
The central issue is affordability. Childcare costs have soared in recent years, with the Child Care Council of Dutchess County saying it reliably ranks among a family’s top four expenditures alongside housing, food and taxes. Average childcare expenditures, according to state data, range between $10,000 and $20,000 annually.
Democratic County Legislator Chris Drago, who represents Milan, Millerton, North East, Pine Plains, east Red Hook and Stanford, counts childcare as one of his constituents’ most pressing concerns. “Childcare is connected to so many things,” Drago said. “It’s become exceedingly difficult to live and work and raise a family in northeast Dutchess, and part of that is because there isn’t childcare available.”
In January, Dutchess County was selected as one of three rural New York counties to pilot universal daycare in 2027. The county will receive $20 million in state funding for a childcare program focused on infants and toddlers. Drago hopes the focus group serves as an opportunity to make sure that money is going to the right places.
“We need people to step forward,” he said. “It could be an individual who wants to open a home-based center, or it could be a municipality who has identified a space they can use. We need people who are willing to get certified, so that when money becomes available, there is a place to send the money. We need creative problem solving.”
Locally, childcare centers have been grappling with declining enrollment, high costs and facility closures. Millerton’s North East Community Center discontinued its daycare program last year, citing mounting financial concerns.
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