From our community to yours

Newspapers tie communities together. You can get a weather report by checking on your phone app. It’s also easy to scroll through social media postings to find and celebrate a connection to friends. Surfing the web offers a boundless experience.

What’s different about a newspaper can be its commitment to help a community make sense of itself. Whether it comes from the news reporting published week to week, a feature story that gives a deeper view of life in our corner of the world, the obituary pages that provide a final record of the lives of our friends and loved ones, the letters to the editor that can express a frustration or salute an achievement, the newspaper reflects back who we are.

With the pandemic largely behind us, The Lakeville Journal and The Millerton News are continuing on a mission to revitalize operations and build staff to better serve communities in New York and Connecticut, which has been the primary focus since the 19th century in the  case of the Journal, and for more than 90 years in Millerton.

We strive to be the authoritative record of news and information, and serve up a lively report week after week about arts, entertainment, culture and lifestyle for our community of readers.

That in itself is a tall order these days as community newspapers continue to close under a variety of pressures. We are not immune to the problems facing rural or remote areas, but we are fortunate to have the support of the community, and equally blessed to have a staff of writers, editors and photographers who love what they do and  who fan out every week to meet the community on its own terms.

The border between our two publications is porous — with transit back and forth between these two collective communities happening on a daily basis.  Patrons of the Oakhurst Diner drive over from Connecticut to enjoy a meal and the spirit that can be found in the dining booths overlooking the village. Similarly, residents of Millerton also frequently drive the few miles to Salisbury to meet friends on the lawn at The White Hart, or to grab a treat at Sweet William’s. In countless ways, business people traverse the border every day to conduct business.

Yet, each newspaper stands on its own, and the nonprofit organization that publishes both papers recognizes the importance of that independence. The communities in Dutchess and Litchfield counties each have their own needs. We remain committed to comprehensive coverage on both sides of the border, preserving The Lakeville Journal and The Millerton News as distinct publications. Some stories have appeal to all readers, and we’ll serve that need, too, when there are overlapping interests — as we are doing this week with a Page One story about Salisbury Central School students visiting the Irondale Schoolhouse in Millerton to experience 19th century classroom education.

The goal is to grow to meet the needs of each community. In Millerton, we have reopened our office at 16 Century Boulevard. At both papers, we are investing in operations for readers who rely more  on digital platforms, while, of course, continuing to print a newspaper.  Local communities that lack a local newspaper are the ‘have nots’ in today’s media landscape. That is a sad state of affairs. Fortunately, we are in the ‘have’ category, and are here to stay in your community.

Latest News

Gilbert Kenneth Schoonmaker

WINSTED — Gilbert Kenneth Schoonmaker, of Monroe, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2025, at the age of 77. Born on Jan. 18, 1948, in Winsted, Connecticut to Gilbert and Alta (Bierce) Schoonmaker, Gil spent four decades enjoying life on Highland Lake before settling in Monroe.

He is lovingly survived by his wife of 56 years, Sally (Gustafson) Schoonmaker, and his two daughters, Lynn Sindland and her husband Lee of Lead Hill, Arkansas, and Deb Pikiell and her husband Tim of Bristol, Connecticut. Gil was a proud grandfather to Ozzie, Tommy, Betsy, Katie, George, Lucy, Maddie, Joey, and Julia, and he cherished his time with his eight great-grandchildren. Gilbert leaves behind his siblings Ann, Gary, Gail, Jan, and Tim.

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Village meeting to explore ICE cooperation limits set for Tuesday, July 29

The Millerton Village Offices on Route 22 north of the intersection with Route 44.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLERTON — The anticipated follow-up to the May 21 special meeting regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement will take place Tuesday, July 29, at 6 p.m. Legal counsel for the village is expected to attend.

At the May meeting, nearly 20 residents and community members urged the village board to adopt a local law limiting cooperation between Millerton’s police and ICE, aiming to protect immigrants, including undocumented individuals. While no resolution was reached, Mayor Jenn Najdek committed to holding a follow-up meeting where village legal counsel would be present to help clarify questions and explore the proposal in more depth.

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Books and bites beckon at the upcoming Sharon Summer Book Signing

Author and cartoonist Peter Steiner signed books at Sharon Summer Book Signing last summer.

Photo by Stephanie Stanton

The 27th annual Sharon Summer Book Signing at the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon will be held Friday, Aug. 1, from 4:45 to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 3, at noon.

Friday’s festivities will honor libraries and the power of the written word. In attendance will be 29 locally and nationally recognized authors whose books will be for sale. With a wide array of genres including historical fiction, satire, thrillers, young adult and non-fiction, there will be something for every reader.

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Voices from Ukraine to America come to Stissing Center July 27

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Photo by Michael Churton

The spirit of Ukraine will be on display at the Stissing Center in Pine Plains on Sunday, July 27. Beginning at 5 p.m., the “Words to America from Ukraine” fundraiser is set to showcase the simultaneous beauty of Ukrainian culture and the war-time turmoil it faces, all the while fundraising in support of Ukrainian freedom.

“Words to America from Ukraine” aims to remind and spread awareness for the suffering that often gets forgotten by those who live in comfortable worlds, explained Leevi Ernits, an organizer for the event. “We are trying to make an attempt to remind people that we are human, and we are connected with human values,” she said. “With very few words, poetry can express very deep values.”

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