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MILLERTON — Dine Out for History will be taking place at the following venues on the dates below. Reservations recommended.
Taro’s at 18 Main St. on Thursday, Feb. 6.
The Oakhurst Diner at 19 Main St. on Sunday, Feb. 16.
Willa at 52 Main St. on Thursday, Feb. 27.
Round III at 5523 Route 22, on Monday, March 10.
Golden Wok at 2 Main St. Suite 5165, on Wednesday, March 19, takeout only.
Dining at the Millerton Inn allows guests to step back in time while enjoying its Victorian decor.
MILLERTON — The annual Dine Out for History series to benefit the North East Historical Society began on Sunday, Jan. 26, at the Millerton Inn.
In 2015, owner and local resident Peter Stefanopoulos worked with his daughter Eleni to restore the property which dates back to the 1860s. Once a Victorian home, the Stefanopoulos’s wanted to transform the structure into a property both community members and visitors could enjoy while retaining its Victorian charm. The renovation took about two years to complete. Through their efforts, the property was restored and repurposed as a space to be enjoyed by many.
The Millerton Inn now houses an 11-room boutique hotel, a new American-Mediterranean restaurant and a tap room. Its central location in both the Hudson Valley and in Millerton itself allows the community to explore and discover all the building has to offer with its rich history. Through the boutique hotel, guests can enjoy local hospitality as well as the charm of the neighborhood. As part of its local focus and pride in being part of a farming community, the Millerton Inn uses local ingredients to create seasonal menus. Peter Stefanopoulos even makes his own feta, chevre and The Millerton Inn’s renowned Greek yogurt at their creamery.
The main dish menu for The Millerton Inn includes Saffron orange chicken, the Millerton Inn Burger, pistachio and honey crusted pork chops, almond crusted salmon, tarragon shrimp risotto, a daily dish and more. Additionally, they offer plant-based options as well as brunch, lunch and dessert.
Ten percent of the profits from Dine Out for History will be donated to the North East Historical Society to aid their content creation, research and the ongoing digitization of collections.
For more information on the North East Historical Society and its mission, visit www.nemillertonlibrary.org and navigate to the Historical Society tab.
Our community
The current conflict in the Mideast that began on Oct. 7, 2023, involving Israel, Hamas, the Palestinians, Hezbollah and Lebanon continues to show up daily on the news front. The war in Ukraine equally puts a prominent news focus on what next month will be a three-year long invasion by Russia. Both stories fight for our attention every day. Now we have a third dominant news story, the inauguration of a new president who is testing the boundaries of the presidency.
Digesting the steady stream of all this news has become a complex process, requiring that we summon and revisit a knowledge of history, that we strive for a fair footing with regard to political viewpoints and try not to rush to judgment, while not forgetting our humanity and what that means. These are not simple times. It’s not easy to settle for an ‘it is what it is’ stance.
In terms of total vote for president across the country, the tally differed by a little more than a percentage point (1.47%). In other words, while half of Americans who voted for change might be applauding the flood of executive orders coming from the White House, the other half expresses dismay.
Just as political polarization remains consistently high in the United States, civility in American society is on the decline. We must remember that we are a community. We should protect that community by acknowledging differences of opinion, recognizing that our worth as a community comes from the respect we grant each other.
This newspaper isn’t covering the war in Ukraine or the Mideast conflict or the White House. It is covering our Dutchess County communities, and our goal is to report the news of our communities accurately and fairly, and to foster the free flow of information and opinion. And we put a premium on civility for the sake of our own community.
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
January 25, 1934
‘Continuance of Parkway is Advocated; Winslow Cites Taconic Report; Urges Post Road Widening Wait’;
Pointing out that the Taconic State Park Commission had expressed its view two years ago in regard to widening of the Albany Post road in lieu of further construction of the Eastern States Parkway, Paul T. Winslow, executive secretary of the Commission, last week indicated that it would make every effort to have work on the parkway continued this year, stating that the 1932 report to the legislature reveals “just where we stand today on the proposition.” Mr. Winslow said, however, that he did not intend to engage in any controversy with Colonel Frederick Greene, state superintendent of public works, who recently advocated widening the Post Road this year in preference to continuing construction of the Parkway.
Attention was called by Mr. Winslow to a report of the commission in the 1932 edition of the Conservation Department’s report to the State Legislature which included the item: “The Commission is of the opinion that because of the urgent necessity for traffic relief on the existing truck lines, particularly state routes No. 9 and No. 22, that construction of the Eastern States Parkway should be advanced immediately, and recommend that before the very costly widening of the Albany Post Road (No. 9) is undertaken, careful consideration be given to the advantages of continuing construction of the Parkway through Putnam, Dutchess and Columbia Counties over rights of way now owned by the State.”
January 23, 1975
‘Beard Growing Contest To Begin In Millerton’; It is hereby proclaimed that the Beard-Growing Contest of the Incorporated Village of Millerton year 1975 officially begins on Friday, Jan. 21, at 9 a.m.
The traditional Millerton Days will be combined with the celebration of Millerton’s centennial and carnivals, parades, and concerts will take place on two weekends next summer: July 25,26, 27 and Aug, 15, 16, 17.
Ronnie Smith of Ronnie’s Barber Shop on Main Street, Millerton, will begin his reign this Friday as Supreme Judge of Hairy and Bristly Appendages. Supreme Judge Smith will assume all the rights and honors normally bestowed upon a person of this rank’ and will be authorized to levy taxes and-or fines, and-or other forms of cruel punishment.
The following categories of hairy and bristly growth will be judged: most attractive, fullest (trimmed and untrimmed), most original, curliest, longest, best color (natural or ?), most pathetic (first, second and third prizes), best mustache, best mutton-chops and any other category that may grow forth.
‘Webutuck Talks Halt: Teachers Boycott Stores’; Negotiations drew to a dead halt this week as teachers protested the School Board’s latest offer by increasing job action that will affect not only the school activities but community businesses as well.
Both the School Board and the teachers now plan to publicize more fully their views on negotiation issues. No new negotiation session has been slated.
The Webutuck Teachers Association (WTA) stated this week that the teachers in the Webutuck and Millbrook school districts will jointly participate in an economic boycott of all businesses within the two districts.
“Teachers will buy groceries, gasoline, clothing, hardware and all other items outside of the two districts,” said the WTA. “Bank accounts that teachers hold within the districts should be closed. The teachers within the Pine Plains District will not boycott in their own community. but will support the Webutuck and Millbrook boycotts.
This latest job action was in response to the negotiations session last Friday, Jan. I7. The WTA contends that “the Board of Education withdrew agreement to several key items which the teachers and the mediator had considered to be settled.”
The WTA stated that “the Board further indicated that no new contract would be offered this year and teachers would have to be satisfied with the old contract.
January 27, 2000
‘County Will Reimburse Town For Special Clerk Race’; NORTH EAST—The Dutchess County Legislature approved a resolution Monday to reimburse the town for the cost of holding a special election for county clerk Feb. 8.
State Supreme Court Judge John LaCava, a Republican, ordered the special election after he ruled the ballot in North East was confusing to voters. The Democratic candidate for clerk, Richard Anderson, appeared on Row H on the Working Families Party. Also on Row H was the local slate of Good Government candidates. Four active members of the Good Government group testified that they actually mistakenly voted for Mr. Anderson on Row H, thinking they were voting for successful county sheriff candidate Adrian “Butch” Anderson.
Bill Paroli Jr., the Republican incumbent, lost in the town of North East to Mr. Anderson, 308-294, on Nov. 2.
‘Highway Appointment Splits NE Town Board’; NORTH EAST — Town Supervisor David Sherman made his proposal for subcommittee assignments at last week’s Town Board meeting, but his recommendations revealed the first public rift among board members this year.
For the fire committee, Mr. Sherman proposed the appointments of Councilmen John Merwin and David McGhee. He proposed Deputy Supervisor Catherine Fenn and Mr. Merwin for the recreation committee. Mr. Sherman also proposed to continue his own appointment to the highway committee, along with Councilman Carl Stahovec.
Mr. Merwin objected to Mr. Sherman’s proposal. “I feel Dave McGhee should be on the highway committee,” he said. But Ms. Fenn spoke in favor of maintaining the status quo. Mr. Sherman and Mr. Stahovec have served on the highway committee in previous years. “I feel we are doing a good job with highway,” Ms. Fenn said. In the end, Mr. Sherman’s proposal passed 3-2, with Mr. Merwin and Mr. McGhee voting no.
‘Author Will Give Book Talk at Oblong’; MILLERTON — There is cold and then there is the ultimate cold. Area resident Tom Shachtman delves into one of the hottest scientific races of all time, the 400-year search for the coldest cold-absolute zero.
Mr. Shachtman is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and author of 25 books. He will discuss his latest book, “Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold” at Oblong Books and Music.
The book is a fascinating examination of how and why scientists have, for centuries, sought to understand, create and preserve cold. Along the way, their discoveries have fundamentally changed society: refrigeration and air conditioning have made large cities viable; coolants have allowed rockets, satellites and space probes into outer space.
