John Roccanova displays the woodcrafts he creates, standing with his wife, Jean, who helps direct the funds from each sale toward supporting students in Kenya.
MILLERTON – John Roccanova developed a passion for craftsmanship in 1960s Brooklyn, where he spent childhood summers tagging along with his father to work at one of the countless woodworking factories that lined the waterfront and industrial side streets.
“Sometimes you’d be drilling four thousand pieces of wood over the course of a few days,” Roccanova recalled of his factory days, where he made display cases for department stores. “I got to see how things were made, and I got comfortable with the equipment.”
During this time, Roccanova said he and his friends did their woodworking outdoors, asking store owners for their discarded crates, using the wood and storage boxes to make scooters and forts.
What began as summer work evolved into a hobby and eventually, a career as a shop teacher in the Webutuck school district.
This fall, Roccanova’s craftsmanship fills the Irondale Schoolhouse in Millerton, where his handmade items will be on sale Nov. 22–23 and 28–30.
From salad bowls and trays to jewelry and children’s toys, shoppers can get a head start on the holidays with artisan-made pieces crafted from mahogany, walnut, maple and ash.
Former Webutuck educators John and Jean Roccanova are selling handmade wood goods to benefit a Kenya-based nonprofit fighting poverty in the African nation.Photo by Aly Morrissey
Grow Against Poverty
Roccanova and his wife, Jean – both former Webutuck school teachers now living in Ancramdale – spend their retirement supporting a nonprofit organization in Kenya. Every dollar from John’s woodworking goes directly to children there.
Their involvement began after reading a New York Times article about extreme overcrowding in Kenyan schools. Moved to learn more, they eventually established the U.S. arm of Grow Against Poverty, the Kenya-based nonprofit they now support through John’s crafts.
Seven years ago, the couple traveled to Busia County, Kenya, to meet Helen Mukanda, founder of Grow Against Poverty. “It’s poverty like we’ve never seen before,” said Jean. Thanks to that visit and – and with the help of WhatsApp – the Roccanovas receive real-time updates and photos showing the impact of their donations. Mukanda and her board identify the areas of greatest need and share them with John and Jean.
Their contributions sustain an organic gardening program that provides fresh produce for student lunches, which increases attendance at schools and is often a child’s best meal of the day. They also support efforts to reduce period poverty by building restrooms and showers and supplying sanitary products.
Roccanova grows emotional when he talks about the conditions in Busia County.
“When I retired, I didn’t know what I was going to do,” said Roccanova. “So I started making things. And then I had all this stuff. So we said, ‘Well, we can donate it.’”
To date, the Roccanovas have raised more than $75,000 for Grow Against Poverty. Wood crafts will be available at Irondale Schoolhouse this weekend and after Thanksgiving. Donations are also accepted online through GlobalGiving.org.
The Millerton Village offices on North Elm Avenue.
“I urge you to be public in showing our community your moral compasses,” Millerton resident Eliot Ramos said. “Please show us that we have elected people who really do care.”
MILLERTON — Immigration enforcement became a central focus of the Village Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday, Jan. 27, which drew a group of residents who called on officials to take a public stance in support of vulnerable community members.
Following routine agenda items, community members used the public comment period to urge the board to publicly oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity and affirm protections for local residents. It marked the fourth time in eight months that residents have appeared before the village board to urge action on immigration enforcement, with no significant action or policy change to date.
Mayor Jenn Najdek declined to comment following the meeting and would not say whether the board plans further discussions or next steps. Other trustees — Deputy Mayor Matthew Hartzog, Matt Soleau, and Daivd Sherman — did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication.
In contrast, Trustee Katie Cariello — who is several months into her first term on the board — made her position clear during the meeting and in a follow-up statement, saying she appreciated the group for holding local leaders accountable.
Cariello also acknowledged Joe Olenik’s dual roles as police chief and highway superintendent.
“This week's been really tough for lots of reasons,” Cariello said. “I just want to say, I hope we can keep snow out, and hopefully keep ICE out.”
In a statement, Cariello invited residents to continue the conversation by emailing her at katie.cariello@millertonny.gov.
“I heard our Police Chief say that he will uphold the law, and I believe that to be true,” Cariello said of the dialogue that occurred between Olenik and residents. “And I heard all of us say that we care about our neighbors and want everyone to feel safe.”
The village is not required to respond to public comments, but members of the board and the police chief engaged in a conversation with attendees and answered questions about hypothetical scenarios that could play out in Millerton.
Olenik said it is highly unlikely that ICE would notify the Millerton Police Department of their plans or request assistance given its part-time status and lack of involvement in immigration enforcement.
“If our police officers are present and another officer — whether federal, state, or sheriff’s department — was breaking the law and abusing somebody against the law, we would have to take action,” he said, though it was unclear whether that action would be through force in the moment or through a report and investigation.
“We treat all our people in this community with dignity, respect, and compassion,” Olenik added. “I won’t accept anything less than that from my officers.”
Nine residents used the public comment portion of the meeting to voice their concerns about what they described as increasingly violent and deadly immigration enforcement nationwide.
Resident Eliot Ramos, who has previously addressed the village board on the issue, read from prepared remarks, explaining that she was "extremely distressed and emotional.”
She asked the board and police department to take action, adding that she feels ready to lose faith in local elected officials if they do not commit to protecting the human rights and safety of all residents.
“I urge you to be public in showing our community your moral compasses,” Ramos said. “Please show us that we have elected people who really do care.”
Laura O'Loughlin also read prepared remarks that were co-written by what she described as a large group of Millerton and North East residents.
“We just want to keep naming that immigrants are not outsiders in our village,” O'Loughlin read, adding that they are coworkers, neighbors, business owners and friends who contribute to the strength of the community. “When they are targeted with fear, intimidation, or violence, it harms us all.”
O'Loughlin went on to express concerns about the national pushback on protesters by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy,” she read. “Responding to it with force, especially against communities that already face disproportionate scrutiny and harm, is unacceptable.”
North East resident Bill Kish spoke to the importance of civic responsibility.
“I feel that if there's one thing I can do — and that others can do — at this point in time, it's to speak to power at every level, starting with the people who are here in this room,” Kish said, gesturing toward the board.
He urged trustees to recognize that “people are sad and angry and scared,” asking them to carry those concerns up the chain of command.
Kish concluded the final 30 seconds of his allotted time with a moment of silence for the lives that have been lost at the hands of federal officials.
Police Chief Joe Olenik shared highway and police department reports, with trustees expressing thanks to the short-staffed highway crew, which continues to operate without its full fleet of vehicles. The department has been working with the Town of North East to borrow equipment as needed.
“Bob Stevens has been fantastic,” Olenik said of the town’s highway superintendent.
The board voted to amend its fee schedule for fire inspections, doubling the cost for commercial properties from $50 to $100, a change that Najdek said aligns with other municipalities.
Trustees also approved the village’s annual agreement with Dutchess County to participate in its DWI control campaign, which aims to prevent people from driving while under the influence.
Village budget discussions are expected to be held throughout February, following the circulation of an initial draft to trustees on Tuesday night by Lisa Cope, village clerk and treasurer.
The board once again delayed its State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) — a state-required process to evaluate potential environmental, social or economic impacts — related to planned upgrades at Veteran’s Park. The village is awaiting final designs from the engineer based on recent minor feedback from the county. Once those revisions are complete, Najdek said the project will be “ready to roll” and can go out for bid, adding that she hopes it won’t push back the targeted completion by Memorial Day.
The village is also expected to submit a letter of intent to apply for this year’s Community Development Block Grant funding, with the application deadline approaching on March 3. Trustees said the most likely use of the funding would be to complete additional sidewalk work, possibly on North Center Street.
Trustees spent a significant portion of the meeting discussing a proposed local law that would formally establish a new tree committee and allow Millerton to pursue national recognition as a Tree City USA. Village legal counsel attended the meeting to outline the requirements of the program.
Under the proposal, the village would be required to pass a local law designating responsibility for all public trees, adopt a formal tree management plan, set aside at least $2 per capita annually in the budget, and hold an Arbor Day observance each year.
The committee would consist of five volunteers to be appointed by the village board, with potential oversight from the town board or a town employee. Members will likely be able to join from throughout Dutchess County, though the hope would be to limit members to the village and town. Once the committee is established, the village could then apply for various funding and grants.
The Millerton 175th anniversary committee's tent during the village's trunk-or-treat event on Oct. 31, 2025.
MILLERTON — As Millerton officially enters its 175th year, the volunteer committee tasked with planning its milestone celebration is advancing plans and firming up its week-long schedule of events, which will include a large community fair at Eddie Collins Memorial Park and a drone light show. The events will take place this July 11 through 19.
Millerton’s 175th committee chair Lisa Hermann said she is excited for this next phase of planning.
“As we enter our anniversary year, there is a clear sense of excitement throughout the village and surrounding communities,” Hermann said. “Local businesses and organizations have been eager to get involved and help make this a truly special event for our community.”
Throughout 2025, committee members attended local events and gatherings to promote the celebration and hear ideas from businesses and residents.
Hermann said momentum continues to build as the committee works to finalize details and ensure the celebration honors Millerton’s rich history while remaining fun and engaging for all ages.
“It has been especially meaningful to hear longtime community members share stories from past celebrations and reflect on their cherished village memories,” she added.
In the months ahead, organizers plan to finalize vendors, secure additional sponsors, and continue spreading the word. Submissions are now open for musical acts, food truck vendors and sponsors wanting to promote their business while offsetting the cost of hosting such an event. Several sponsorship opportunities are available, including support for fair elements such as a stage, tent, activation and more.
The committee is also working with local businesses, including The T-Shirt Farm, to stock branded anniversary merchandise. Marketing efforts have increased, and members plan to attend more community events and seek opportunities to spread the word on TV, radio and printed materials.
Locals and visitors can follow updates on the committee’s Facebook page, which is beginning to reveal a schedule of events packed with family-friendly fun. Organizers hope people will share the page widely as a one-stop-shop for event information.
“This week-long celebration is shaping up to be another unforgettable chapter for our community,” Hermann said. “We hope the event itself will become one of the many memories that make Millerton such a wonderful place to call home.”
As I noted here in an article last spring entitled “Hands off Greenland”, the world’s largest island was at the center of a developing controversy. President Trump was telling all who would listen that, for national security reasons, the United States needed to take over Greenland, amicably if possible or by force if necessary. While many were shocked by Trump’s imperialistic statements, most people, at least in this country, took his words as ill-considered bluster. But he kept telling questioners that he had to have Greenland (oftenechoing the former King of France, Louis XIV who famously said, “L’État c’est moi!”.
Since 1951, the U.S. has had a security agreement with Denmark giving it near total freedom to install and operate whatever military facilities it wanted on Greenland. At one point there were sixteen small bases across the island, now there’s only one. Denmark’s Prime Minister has told President Trump that the U.S. should feel free to expand its installations if needed. As climate change is starting to allow a future passage from thePacific Ocean to the Arctic, many countries are showing interest in Greenland including Russia and China but this hardly indicates an international crisis as Trump and his subordinates insist.
Researchers believe that, buried beneath the mammoth glaciers covering most of the land are rich deposits of various rare earth minerals including those needed for modern batteries and other hi-tech devices. Trump has already made a deal with Ukraine to supply them more arms in return for rights to its underground “rare earth” deposits. Some have called this extortion but to Trump it was business as usual. Greenland’s buried treasures could be a much bigger deal.
But perhaps Trump’s lifelong obsession with size is the dominant reason he feels he must have the world’s largest island; like his planned White House ballroom, for him this is essentially an ego trip.
Greenlanders and Danes have made it clear from the beginning that they do not wish to become American and are not for sale, Trump’s subordinates have tried to advance a scheme whereby Elon Musk might buy a majority of the individual Greenlanders’ votes to sell their country to the U.S.; however Denmark has the last word and is not about to agree to selling Greenland to anyone.
Although Greenlanders have largely been in favorof eventual independence, since Trump’s intemperate demands they have locked arms with Denmark. Recently, large demonstrations in both places have expressed anger, but even more, sadness that their staunch ally would turn against them.
Other than Trump’s appointees those who support the President’s claim to Greenland are hard to find in the U.S. or elsewhere. While most Republican political leaders have avoided speaking out on the matter, a few have including Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and former Majority leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, both condemning the possible “taking” in no uncertain terms . Seasoned diplomat, Michael McFaul has called Trump’s insistence on “owning” Greenland as “the worst idea in American history.”
After speaking to the assembled crowd of political leaders and industrialists at Davos, Trump began discussions with Mark Rutte, secretary General of NATO and others after which, in a striking turnaround,he announced that they had put together the basis of a “deal” regarding Greenland.
But neither Greenland nor Denmark had been involved in those discussions; both rejected the agreement’s proposal that the United States would have sovereignty over the military bases both new and existing. Another facet of the proposal giving the U.S. control of underground mineral rights may proveexcessive to both Greenland and Denmark.
Although everyone seems relieved that the crisis appears to be largely over, the rupture between Europe and the U.S. remains. Considering President Trump’s erratic state of mind (in his speech at Davos he referred to Greenland as Iceland at least 3 times), who knows what he may demand tomorrow?
Architect and landscape designer Mac Gordon lives in Lakeville.
It is hard not to equate military spending and purchasing with diplomatic or strategic plans being made, for reasons otherwise unknown. Keeping an eye out for the physical stuff can often begin to shine a light on what’s coming – good and possibly very bad.
Without Congressional specific approval, the Pentagon has awarded a contract to Boeing for $8,600,000,000 (US taxpayer dollars) for another 25 F-15A attack fighters to be given to Israel. Oh, and there’s another 25 more of the F-15EX variant on option, free to Israel as well.
Meanwhile, many European countries have switched their purchases of the F-35 fighters to the French Rafale or the Joint European Fighter as well as Saab’s advanced concept fighter Gripen.Turkey and Airbus, meanwhile, have sold the Hurjet trainer to Spain and other countries over the US trainer. And France is about to begin laying the keel for a new aircraft carrier (though that will take almost a decade). Meanwhile, Airbus is now, since 2024, the primary supplier to all EU countries for military helicopters… Saab is making GlobalEye airborne aircraft for France, Italy and Germany… France’s Rafale Company is making and delivering Iron Beam high-energy laser weapons… Airbus has ramped up delivery to all its new EU customers of 18 new C295 tactical transports.
Some may wonder why EU leaders as well as the UK, have been so soft tongued when it comes to this Administration’s recent diplomatic transgressions over Greenland (oops, Iceland?). The reason is simple: For decades the US has been the cheapest and best supplier of the finest military hardware – planes, tanks, weapon systems, and defense capability. What every nation understood was that the US held the controls of the safe operation of those aircraft. For example, the electronics of every F-35 can be controlled remotely from the US. Go against us? We can pull the plug. That was never an issue before, where we had trust and mutual goals. The current rush to re-prioritize local EU manufacture and longer term self reliance in the EU is a direct consequence of this Administration’s changing of priorities and allied trust.
It is true that DJT can take credit for EU and UK increased military budgeting and preparedness, his actions have forced them to that reality. It is also true that his long term damage to American jobs and industry are just now becoming evident as less of our hardware is attractive to foreign buyers and our military oversight will be slowly eroded to a position where nations no longer feel the need for diplomatic or industrial reliance on America.
Peter Riva, a former resident of Amenia Union, New York, now lives in Gila, New Mexico.
