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Tick risks rated high across Dutchess County
Graham Corrigan
Aug 05, 2026
A new tool for measuring tick activity shows that northern Dutchess County is a hotspot for the blood-sucking parasites.
According to daily risk scores compiled by TickZone, a free website and app built on public data, every municipality in Dutchess County falls into the platform’s “High” risk band.
TickZone assigns a score of 0-100 for each town to assess each area’s risk. Milan and Dover topped the county’s northeastern towns with a score of 96. While the town of North East is last on the list, its score of 85 is still high enough to inspire caution.
“Dutchess has no low-risk corner,” said TickZone founder Nathan Burnett.
A 2026 study by the Cary Institute in Millbrook found that more than 38% of the ticks tested were capable of spreading at least one disease-causing pathogen to people. In Dutchess County, those diseases include Lyme disease, Powassan disease, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. Short-term effects can include fever, chills, headache, and the tell-tale erythema migrans rash, better known as the bull’s-eye.
Over time, Lyme disease can cause facial palsy, arthritis, and a host of other painful maladies.
Avoiding ticks is a practice in vigilance — and know-how. “Ticks climb up from the ground,” said TickZone’s Burnett, “which is why treating shoes and pant cuffs with permethrin helps more than spraying your arms.”
It also helps to stay informed. In Dutchess County, that has meant increased attention to the lone star tick, a species that has steadily expanded northward over the past several decades.
“Dutchess is right at that line now,” Burnett said. “There have been reported sightings, but no established breeding population. Alpha-gal syndrome barely existed as a diagnosis 20 years ago.”
Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergic condition linked to bites from lone star ticks. The condition can cause an allergic reaction to red meat and other mammalian products, including some dairy products. Reactions can range from hives and gastrointestinal symptoms to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
TickZone uses publicly available data from the CDC to score the towns. The first and most volatile determining factor is weather.
Ticks become active in warm, humid conditions with damp ground, and pull back during drier stretches. TickZone tracks each town’s temperature and the past week’s rainfall to model that behavior. A town’s live score can shift several points day to day, even though the underlying landscape hasn’t changed.
Dutchess County ranks 8th among New York’s 62 counties for reported Lyme disease incidence, with 376.9 cases per 100,000 residents, according to CDC data.
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Millbrook considers replacing aging Highway Dept. truck
Leila Hawken
Aug 05, 2026
MILLBROOK — An aging Highway Department truck used for fall leaf collection, spring brush pickup and as a backup snowplow must now be repaired, decommissioned or replaced, village Highway Supervisor Ethan Kelly said at a special Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, July 28.
Kelly said the village had three options for the aging 2008 Ford F550 that is nearing the end of its useful life. Possibilities are to buy a new truck at an estimated cost of $122,000, eliminating expensive future repairs; repair the 2008 truck for an estimated cost this year of $15,000, plus likely future repairs; or to retire the old truck without replacing it, resulting in adjustments in services due to reduction of the village fleet.
Another option would be to use grant funding to cover part of the cost of a new truck, although doing so could reduce funding currently allocated for scheduled road maintenance projects.
“At this point the estimated repair cost is more than the truck’s value,” Kelly said.
The 2008 truck has been used for fall leaf pick-up and spring brush pick-up throughout the village. During the winter, it serves as a backup plow truck when other vehicles break down or additional equipment is needed during major storms.
Kelly advocated for some form of replacement for the truck. “I don’t know of a highway department in the snow belt that does not have a back-up vehicle,” Kelly told the board.
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Bennett Park restrooms, Woodland Trail near completion in Millbrook
Eloise Pickering
Aug 05, 2026
A sign in Bennett Park marks the future Woodland Trail, which builders expect to complete by fall.
Photo by Eloise Pickering
MILLBROOK — Two major additions to Bennett Park in Millbrook are expected to open in the coming weeks, with public restrooms scheduled to be completed by the end of August and a long-delayed Woodland Trail on track to open by early October.
Funded and organized by local nonprofit Millbrook Community Partnership, the 35 acre park opened on Oct. 5, 2025, after the demolition of Bennett College, which closed in 1970. Since then, the partnership has been in the process of building a public bathroom and completing a Woodland Trail, which have both been delayed.
Krista Fragos, special assistant to Oakleigh Thorne, president of the Millbrook Community Partnership, said work on the trail was pushed back after the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation approved the project later than anticipated.
The Woodland Trail will begin in the park and extend to the property line on Franklin Avenue.
“It’s going to be beautiful. There’s an upper loop that circles a natural waterfall, and then there are two bridges that go over the stream,” Fragos said. “That’ll be a really nice way for people to walk or hike from the village to the park.”
The trail will also be adorned with stone benches and signage. The partnership expects the trail to be completed by early October.
The public bathrooms will be open by the end of August. Construction on the building began after the opening, as the Millbrook Community Partnership negotiated a landswap with nearby condominiums. The building was at one time a poolhouse.
Fragos said that they’re waiting on a few materials, such as the countertops and stalls. The plumbing and tiling have been completed.
“We’re turning them into beautiful public restrooms for the park, and they’re coming along beautifully,” Fragos said. “They’re going to be elegant, simple restrooms.”
There will also be an additional parking lot near the restrooms.
Once the trail and bathrooms are complete, the partnership will begin to raise funds for a lookout tower and a new bandshell, although the park has already hosted live music and events.
The lookout tower will be constructed with stones preserved from Bennett College, and funding will come from community donations.
One Millbrook resident said she has used the park almost weekly since it opened.
“It’s a good place, it’s beautiful,” the resident said, adding that it’s very convenient to use particularly for seniors. “I love it.”
Barriers block access to the Woodland Trail while crews complete construction.Photo by Eloise Pickering
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Former farm apprentices praise mentor as sale looms
Sophie Gardiner
Aug 05, 2026
STANFORDVILLE — Since 1999, Dave Hambleton has trained nearly 70 apprentices at Sisters Hill Farm, helping launch farming careers across the Hudson Valley and beyond. Now, the future of that apprenticeship program is uncertain after the Sisters of Charity of New York announced plans to sell their Stanfordville property as part of winding down the congregation.
The farm, owned by the Sisters of Charity of New York, was founded on the belief that agriculture and education go hand in hand.
“Our mission is to grow healthy food, which nurtures bodies, spirits, communities and the earth,” Hambleton said. “So it’s about food, but it’s also about bringing people together, and community, and connection, and all these wonderful things. Part of the farm’s mission also is to educate the next generation of sustainable farmers.”
The Sisters of Charity of New York announced about three weeks ago that it plans to sell the entire property that includes Sisters Hill Farm as part of the congregation’s wind-down, a process that began in 2023. While Sisters Hill Farm has said it intends to complete the current growing season, it has not announced what will become of its apprenticeship program beyond this year.
For the dozens of former apprentices who built careers under Hambleton’s guidance, he has been far more than a farmer. Over three decades, they have come to know him as a teacher, problem-solver, mentor and, perhaps most importantly, a coach.
John Crooke, who apprenticed under Hambleton in 2012 and now operates Tinicum CSA in Pennsylvania, describes him as more than a teacher.
“I often describe Dave as a coach,” Crooke said. “He had a background in athletics and he’s still really into running and biking. So some people get frustrated, because he pushes: ‘You’re doing it right, but let’s do it faster. Doing it right is doing it faster.’ If somebody’s not getting it, he’ll find a way to explain it efficiently.”
Crooke said he chose Sisters Hill after reading Hambleton’s promise on the farm’s website.
“One of the things that attracted me to the farm was that on the website, Dave said, ‘My goal is to help you start your own farm next year,’” Crooke said. “And I thought, ‘wow, I’ll definitely learn something from this guy.’”
Although Crooke didn’t expect to launch a farm so quickly, that’s exactly what happened. A former Sisters Hill apprentice had been farming land in Pennsylvania and was ready to move on after three seasons. He contacted Hambleton, who connected the opportunity with Crooke and fellow 2012 apprentice Stefan Streit. The pair took over the land and founded what became Tinicum CSA.
“I always think back on the Sisters Hill experience as foundational in my farming career,” Crooke said.
Erin Bullock, like Crooke, was an apprentice at Sisters Hill who founded her own farm – Mud Creek Farm CSA – just a year after apprenticing with Hambleton in 2008. She then founded additional farms over the following 10 years, including EquiCenter Farm in 2015 and Wild Hill Farm CSA in 2016.
“Dave was a true mentor and shared everything he knew,” Bullock said. “When I told him I wanted to have my own farm, he was so supportive and inspiring. He just believed in me when other people didn’t, and said, ‘you can do it’.”
Bullock, a first-generation farmer, also said that she’s found “real gender difficulties being a woman in this field.” While previous male mentors of hers sometimes believed that there were women-specific and male-specific roles on a farm, she said Hambleton never made her feel that way.
Since establishing three farms of her own, Bullock has gone on to mentor more than 30 apprentices. She said Hambleton’s guidance — from staying ahead of weeds to developing organized systems — gave her the foundation to build successful farms and, in turn, teach the next generation of growers.
“Dave has a golden heart, and it was such a joy to work with and learn from him,” Bullock said. “He’s had such a profound impact on my career and all my apprentices know who he is because I always talk about the lessons I learned from him with them.”
Ella Schwarzbaum was an apprentice at Sisters Hill Farm in 2019 and remained on staff for the following three years. Now, she said she brings her experience from Sisters Hill to Phillies Bridge Farm Project, where she is the Education and Food Justice Director.
“Sisters Hill entirely grounded my agricultural experience and knowledge,” Schwarzbaum said. “Dave loves to teach. There’s nothing that gives him more joy than passing on the knowledge he has.”
This depth of education is what compelled current apprentice Noemi Romero to apply to the program at Sisters Hill. Although the work is challenging, Romero said that it’s extremely rewarding to watch herself grow as a farmer.
While the future of the farm and its apprenticeship program is still unclear, Hambleton’s mark on the region’s agricultural community isn’t.
“I mean, if you add up all the apprentices Dave’s apprentices have trained, he’s probably spawned almost 1,000 farmers in the region,” Bullock said.
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Legal Notices - August 6, 2026
Millerton News
Aug 05, 2026
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.
07-23-26
07-30-26
08-06-23
08-13-26
08-20-26
08-27-26
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.
07-23-26
07-30-26
08-06-26
08-13-26
08-20-26
08-27-26
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.
07-16-26
07-23-26
07-30-26
08-06-26
08-13-26
08-20-26
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.
08-06-26
08-13-26
08-20-26
08-27-26
09-03-26
09-10-26
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.
07-23-26
07-30-26
08-06-26
08-13-26
08-20-26
08-27-26
Legal Notice
Please take notice that the Town of Pine Plains Town Board will be accepting sealed bids for the purchase of the following materials for the year 2027:
1) Bituminous asphalt (various sizes) including cold mix asphalt using the most current posted price index.
2) Crushed stone (all sizes).
3) Ice control sand- all crushed stone shall meet Section 703 of the NYS-DOT 'Standard Specifications' and Natural and Processed Sands and Gravels, Crushed Stone, Aggregate, Run of Bank Gravel specifications of County of Dutchess. All stone and asphalt materials shall come from NYS-DOT approved plant. Bid prices on all of the above materials per ton, with the exception of asphalt should be for both F.O.B. and delivered.
4) Liquid calcium chloride for summer and winter.
5) Blended diesel fuel.
6) #2 Heating oil for garage, winter mix December through February for heating oil only.
7) Mid-Grade and Regular no lead gasoline.
8) Liquid Propane for garage and library.
All bids should use the Albany OPIS for the Friday immediately preceding the bid opening date. Bids will be accepted until 12:00 noon Friday August 14, 2026 at the Town Clerks Office, PO Box 955, 3284 Route 199 Pine Plains, NY 12567 at which time they will be opened and read aloud. In order for your bid to be considered complete, the following must be submitted as required by Section 103D of the Municipal Law:
Non-Collusive Bidding Certificate
Certificate of Insurance Naming Town of Pine Plains as Certificate Holder
All bids must be submitted in sealed envelopes with the following information on the outside:
1. Materials Bids 2027
2. August 14, 2026, 12:00PM
The Town Board reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. The F.O.B. plant price will be analyzed with full consideration given to the distance of the plant to the project location.
Any questions should be directed to the Highway Department at (518) 398-6662.
By order of The Town Board of the Town of Pine Plains
07-30-26
08-06-26
LEGAL NOTICE
TOWN OF AMENIA MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT BIDS
BIDS FOR THE PERIOD 9/17/26- 9/16/27
NOTICE is hereby given that sealed bids for the purchase of material and equipment used by the Town of Amenia during the year will be received until 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2026 at the Town Clerk's Office, Town of Amenia, Town Hall, 4988 Route 22, Amenia, NY 12501 and opened and read at the Amenia Town Hall, 4988 Route 22, on Monday, August 24, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.
Bids are requested for the following road materials: Bank-run, sand, Item #4, crushed quarry stone and washed gravel, light, medium, and heavy stone fill, sub base NYS DOT Type #2, calcium chloride, bituminous mix hot and cold, road oils, concrete, catch basins and equipment rentals, Tree Work, Sweeping.
Detailed specifications may be obtained at the Highway office at 845-373-9922. All bids must include a notarized non-collusive statement and corporate bidders must file a corporate resolution with a corporate seal. All envelopes must be clearly marked "Bid 9/17/2026 to 9/16/2027".
The Town Board reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. Bids will be awarded at the next scheduled Town Board Meeting September 17, 2026.
Megan Chamberlin
Superintendent of Highways
Town of Amenia
07-30-26
08-06-26
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Boondocks Film Society brings exclusive screening to drive-in
Graham Corrigan
Jul 30, 2026
Jorma Taccone, left, takes part in a Q&A before a screening of "Hot Rod" at Four Brothers Drive-In in Amenia on Aug. 31, 2023.
AMENIA — Four Brothers Drive-In will host a screening of the new dark comedy Over Your Dead Body on Thursday, Aug. 6, with director Jorma Taccone on hand for a pre-screening Q&A as part of a partnership with the Boondocks Film Society.
The film stars Samara Weaving and Jason Segel as a married couple. Each is secretly plotting to kill the other. Taccone, a North Canaan resident and founding member of the comedy troupe The Lonely Island, will discuss the film before the screening.
The event marks the third time Taccone has screened one of his films at Four Brothers, following presentations of Hot Rod and MacGruber. He first discovered the drive-in while passing through Amenia and later reached out to its owners about hosting a screening.
"The Four Brothers Drive-In is a delight on every level,” said Taccone. “I had never been to a drive-in movie theater before attending the screening of Hot Rod at Four Brothers. I will forever pat myself on the back for forcing John and Boondocks Film Society to play the movie there.”
Drive-in movie theaters like Four Brothers are a return to better days when people gathered together to celebrate life, community, art, and miniature golf. I'm a big fan.”
Jeff Palfini, a Boondocks co-founder alongside Cindy Heslin, says the Drive-In has been a perfect partner. Boondocks has hosted 15 events there, by Palfini’s count.
“It’s a well-oiled machine,” Palfini said. “And our audience loves it. They’re always asking when we’re going to do another movie at the Drive-In.”
In their nine years of operation, Boondocks Film Society has become a pillar of the local film community. Screenings have moved beyond the Northwest Corner into the Hudson Valley area, and programming has expanded to include premieres and Q&As, like the Over Your Dead Body event next week in Amenia.
Palfini said the film feels particularly well-matched to its venue. It’s set in the woods and “jump scares and a drive-in go hand-in-hand.”
But it all started in North Canaan.
Palfini said the re-opening of the Colonial Theatre in 2017 inspired their first screening — a little-known '90s film starring Johnny Depp, Faye Dunaway, and Jerry Lewis called Arizona Dream. “We decided early on that the way to get people out was to have the events be in a variety of places,” Palfini said. “Sometimes theatrical settings, and sometimes very non-traditional settings.”
Boondocks has emphasized that uniqueness by finding local food partners to create custom menus that referenced the films. The same goes for the playlists that welcome attendees — the music references the source material in a way that beckons audiences to a deeper understanding of the film.
Thus far, it’s been working. Palfini and his team aren’t looking to change things, despite the recent news that the Colonial Theatre is on the market. Palfini helps to manage the theater, but he says one of Boondocks strengths is their ability to be mobile. “Over the years, I think we made a smart decision in terms of the sustainability of this thing by making it a pop-up. It removes almost all of the financial pressure.”
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