Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.

Letters to the editor: Thursday, March 27, 2025

Why small town living is the best

Screeching sounds in the dark of the late night, two horrendously loud crashes far beyond what a trash-seeking bear could make, and an unknown smashed up car in our front yard led to a 911 call on Saturday. All that, in turn, resulted in a perfect example of why small town living is the best.

While the 911 operator was still taking details, neighbor and Assistant Chief of the Millerton Fire Department Cary Farray was on the spot, checking the driver, assessing the damage and reassuring us that all would be well.

Sirens blared as nearly a dozen emergency vehicles brought company volunteers who willingly braved the freezing temperatures to handle the wide variety of tasks that kept the area safe.

The Northern Dutchess Paramedics brought help to the driver.

Deputies from the Dutchess County Sherrif’s department traveled from Pleasant Valley to investigate and let us know what procedures were to come.

Neighbors, including Jen Lima who even beat the sirens, gathered as neighbors do — just checking to see if anything was needed.
Consolidated Towing took the car away after the witching hour, and all who had stayed to be sure there were no further problems, were finally able to go back to their warm homes.

But the thoughtfulness didn’t end there. On Sunday morning, neighbors Crystal and Brandon Smith worked their way — unasked — along the path the car had followed from their yard through four lawns, picking up debris including the tree branches, downed shrubs, glass and metal bits that had been left behind in the night.

To all, a heartfelt thank you for making Millerton such a wonderful place to call home. How lucky we all are.

Carol and Theodore Kneeland
Millerton

Thank you to our doctors in Sharon community

This Sunday, March 30, marks an important occasion in the field of healthcare as we acknowledge and honor physicians everywhere on National Doctors’ Day. In celebration of this annual observance, I would like to take a moment to honor the dedication, skill and unwavering commitment of our local physicians in the Sharon community. By providing high-quality health care to our friends, neighbors and family, these professionals we’ve come to know and trust play a pivotal role in safeguarding our health and way of life. On behalf of myself and the team at Sharon Hospital, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation for the tireless efforts of our local physicians.

Christina McCulloch,
MBA, BSN, RN
President, Sharon Hospital

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

Empress outlines EMS plans for northeast Dutchess

The former Northern Dutchess Paramedics substation, now owned by emergency medical service provider Empress, sits along Route 22 south of the Village of Millerton. The building would become one of a network of substations utilized by emergency medical technicians and paramedics as they roam North East, Amenia, Washington and Stanford in a proposed dynamic EMS model.

Photo by Nathan Miller

MILLERTON — Empress Executive Director Robert Stuck provided details of a proposed regional emergency medical service system to North East Town Board members on Wednesday, Nov. 4. He said the changes would save each town hundreds of thousands of dollars in EMS costs by pooling resources with neighbors.

Stuck said the new so-called dynamic system would better use the company's labor and equipment and would ultimately reduce the total number of ambulances servicing North East, Amenia, Washington and Stanford. Under the new agreement, the four towns would share three ambulances that, placed strategically between each of the towns and repositioned to provide backup for occupied EMTs and paramedics. Stuck said the dynamic model would cut North East's upcoming 2028 contract by $675,000.

Keep ReadingShow less

Democrats earn big wins in 2026 elections

Democrats earn big wins in 2026 elections

Voters wait in a line that stretch out the door to receive their ballots at the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voting machines had recorded a total of more than 700 ballots cast in Millerton by 4:45 p.m.

Photo by Graham Corrigan

Democratic candidates in northeast Dutchess County succeeded along with their counterparts in state and federal elections. Voters turned out to express dissatisfaction with a turbulent economy, the Trump administration and — in the case of Pine Plains's race for Town Supervisor — issues with transparency and police surveillance.

Pine Plains was the only town in northeast Dutchess County with a contested Town Supervisor race. Republican incumbent Brian Walsh, seeking his third reelection, lost to Democratic challenger Trevor Roush. Roush is a sitting Town Board member who was first elected to the board in November 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

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

Eric Alexander wins County Legislature reelection campaign

Eric Alexander wins County Legislature reelection campaign

County Legislator Eric Alexander leads a meeting of the Dutchess County Legislature's Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Alexander represents the towns of Amenia, Washington, the Village of Millbrook and a portion of the Town of Pleasant Valley

Photo by Aly Morrissey

Democratic candidates made gains and held ground across Northern Dutchess County in elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

County Legislator Eric Alexander has retained his seat after winning against Republican challenger Stefanie Hubert. As of 10:15 p.m., Alexander had secured 56.8% of the vote.

Keep ReadingShow less
A Halloween scream with David Arquette

David Arquette, left, talks with moderator Victor Dandridge during “Behind the Scream” at the Warner Theatre in Torrington on Oct. 31.

D.H. Callahan

This December marks the 30th anniversary of Wes Craven’s “Scream,” one of the most influential movies in horror history. On Saturday, Oct. 31, David Arquette, one of the film’s stars, came to the Warner Theatre in Torrington for a Halloween screening and conversation billed as “Behind the Scream.”

“Scream” was met with critical praise when it premiered in 1996, with many noting its satirical, self-aware look at the horror genre without the usual trappings of camp or kitsch. Featuring a cast of mid-1990s A-listers including Drew Barrymoore, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Liev Schreiber, Neve Campbell and “Friends” star Courteney Cox, the movie was destined to be part of the cinematic zeitgeist.

Keep ReadingShow less
After 30 years, Dave Jones is shifting into lower gear


Now, 30 years later and in his late 60s, Jones is at the point in his life where he’s ‘figuring out how to land the plane.’

My husband and I first met Dave Jones in 2019, after we’d just moved into our house in Lakeville, a former auto repair garage with 14-foot-high ceilings that had been renovated into a residence. One day, when we woke up to a dead car battery, we called Lakeville Automotive, the nearest repair shop. Jones answered the phone a bit gruffly but then surprised us by showing up in half an hour to jump-start our car. We invited him inside for coffee, and looking around, he said with a grin that for 10 years, back in the day, he’d stored his Mazda Miata right in our living room.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

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

google preferred source

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