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Let's hear it — September 24, 2026

This Week

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a temporary statewide ban on new data center construction earlier this summer, while communities in neighboring Connecticut are considering more permanent bans on data center development.

Should our towns consider permanent restrictions on new data centers?

Send your responses to social@lakevillejournal.com by Monday, Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. or comment on Facebook or Instagram.
We’ll publish a selection in next week’s paper.


Last Week’s Question

What fall activities are you most looking forward to this season?

“The Salisbury Fall Festival”

— Larissa Vreeland

“Litchfield Highland Games!”

— Lime Rock Park

“Hot drinks!! Teas, coffees, lattes, hot chocolates! All wonderful!”

— Honey Tuttle Griffin

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Millerton News and The News does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

Latest News

Mark Edward Peck

Mark Edward Peck

VILLAGE OF MILLERTON­­ — Mark Edward Peck, 70, a lifelong area resident died peacefully at his childhood home in Millerton, New York, just as his beloved father had several years prior. Mark worked as a self-employed roofing contractor for MCM Construction in Millerton, prior to his illness.

Born June 5, 1956, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Alan G. and S. Jean (Bathrick) Peck. He was educated in the Webutuck School District and he graduated high school with the class of 1974. On Sept. 22, 1984 in Copake Falls, New York, he married the love of his life, Jane E. Robertson. Mrs. Peck survives at home in Millerton.

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John H. Belter

John H. Belter

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt.­ — John H. Belter Jr. 77, of South Burlington, Vermont died on Tuesday Sept. 15, 2026, at home, following a battle with liver cancer.

He was born on June 12, 1949, in Sharon, Connecticut, the son of John and Doretta Beaupre Belter. He graduated from Housatonic High School and the Ag School at the University of Connecticut. He was married in St. Marks Church in New Canaan, Connecticut to Joyce Nelson.

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Joseph J. Stoeckert

Joseph J. Stoeckert

MILLERTON — Joseph J. Stoeckert (Uncle Joe), of Millerton, New York, passed away peacefully on Sept. 18, 2026, at the age of 87.
Joe was born in Brooklyn, New York on Nov. 15, 1938, to Anthony Stoeckert Sr. and Martha Kirchman. He served in the U.S. Army in the late 1950s before settling down in the Hudson Valley, where he opened Taconic Sports and Camping next to Rudd Pond. He also worked at the main library on the SUNY New Paltz campus, where he became a mentor to many students.

Joe was a beloved uncle, and he will be missed by his family; Karen, Joe, Ellen, Allyn, Oliver, Tim, Chris, Ryan, Pat, Lena, Mimi, Carl, and Anthony. He also enjoyed spending time with his neighbors, Kathleen and Carl, and his other friends in town. He was preceded in death by his father, Anthony Sr., mother, Martha, and brother, Anthony Jr.

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Ronald Aakjar, Sr.

Ronald Aakjar, Sr.

SOUTH KENT ­— Ronald Aakjar Sr. of South Kent, Connecticut passed away peacefully July 9, 2026, at the age of 83.

He is survived by his wife Amy, and predeceased by his first wife, Linda. He is also survived by two sons, Peder of South Kent, Connecticut and Ron Jr., of Plympton, Massachusetts, several grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Raymond of Sharon, Connecticut, and a sister, Melanie of New York City, as well as nieces and nephews.

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A fishing two-fer: Fly tying and a new Farmington River guide

I wandered into Center on Main, a community center in Falls Village, on Thursday evening, Sept. 17. where resident Greer Sillick was hosting his monthly fly-tying meetup.

I don’t tie my own. I’ve got enough problems. I know what would happen, too. In addition to an apartment packed to the bursting point with fishing gear, fishing books, and fishing DVDs, I’d also have feathers everywhere, and stray hooks on the floor, just waiting to be stepped on in bare feet while groping for the coffee maker in the early a.m.

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Five years of nonprofit local news

Five years of nonprofit local news

Five years ago this September, our communities made a bet that strong, independent local reporting was worth preserving – and that a nonprofit model could help preserve it.

It was a new model for sustaining newspapers that had served this region for generations – The Lakeville Journal since 1897 and The Millerton News since 1932.

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Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

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Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.