Light gun to be shown, Aged center, Keeping cool in the heat

The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.

Aug. 22, 1935

Light Gun To Be Shown At State Meet Bullets Travel At Speed Of 187,000 Miles Per Second

LAKE PLACID - A gun which shoots bullets of light, which travel at the speed of 187,000 miles per second, or more than 350,000 times faster than bullets from a standard army rifle, will be demonstrated at the state-wide rod and gun meet here Sept. 12 to 14 as part of New York’s celebration of fifty years of conservation. This gun, built in the research laboratories of the General Electric Company, contains a small powerful light source in the breech. When the trigger is pulled, the light flashes from the barrel for an instant. The target is painted on a box containing a photo-electric relay, and the bull’s-eye is a narrow slit in the face of the box, behind which was a photo-electric tube or “electric eye.” When the projected light “bullet” strikes the “electric eye” a hit is scored, and a large red colored lamp is lighted, or a bell can be automatically rung. Unlike the army rifle bullets, the light bullets are perfectly harmless; the gun doesn’t have to be reloaded after each firing: the firing is silent, and the “bullets” are not deflected by wind or the downward pull of gravity. It operates at practically no expense, the ammunition being the electricity required by a small incandescent lamp.

The light gun will be set up in the Olympic arena and will be in operation during the three days of the meet for the free use of all who want to use it.

About Millerton

Mrs. Miles Jenks and daughter, Janet, and Miss Violet Simmons were in Great Barrington Tuesday afternoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Myron Puff attended a dinner party in Copake Monday evening.

John Canevari, who has been ill at his home, is steadily improving.

Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Simmons and daughter, Jean, returned on Saturday to Mountain Lakes, N. J., after a week’s visit with relatives here.

Mrs. Helen Secor of Dover Plains is spending the week with her daughter, Mrs. Oliver Valentine.

Miss Edna Mae Prancis leaves this week for the Green Cross Nurses Association at Newark, N. J., where she will take a nurse’s training course.

Wallace Hoster has obtained a position as cook at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, He will begin his duties Sept. 9.

Over 200 At Bake

More than 200 people attended the clambake held by the Methodist Church last Thursday night.

Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Clark are the parents of a son born last Wednesday at Sharon Hospital.

Miss Marian Sadler with a party of friends spent the weekend at Lake George.

Dr. Gilbert S. Tabor was honored with a family dinner party Saturday evening in celebration of his thirty-seventh birthday. Guests were present from Dover Plains, Monticello and New York City.

Injures Foot

Clayton Sprague suffered painful injuries Saturday when a radiator fell on his right foot.

Howard St. John has returned to his home in Boston after a visit with Mr. and Mrs. David Traver.

Miss Helen Hallenshead of Hackensack, N. J., was a week-end guest of Mr. and Mrs. Ward Blanchard.

Mr. and Mrs. David Traver are spending the week-end at Moosup, Conn.

Mr. and Mrs. John Butler of New York City visited Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Swanson on Sunday. Mr. Butler and Mr. Swanson were both members of the 323rd machine gun company, first division, during the World War.

August 19, 1976

North East Board Backs Aged Center In Town

The NorthEast Town Board has sent a letter to the Dutchess County Office of the Aging encouraging the placement of a nutrition site in the town. By a 3-2 vote at its Thursday, Aug. 12 meeting, the Board resolved that there was a need for a facility for the area’s elderly.

North East is currently under consideration by the County Office as a possible site for a facility for the feeding and care of the aged. In a letter addressed to County Nutrition Coordinator Mary Lou Yeager, the Board wrote that it was “in favor of funds being allocated to the Millerton-North East area regarding a center for the aging and having the “meals on wheels” programs available to the aged in our community.”

The vote was taken after a lengthy discussion in which County Legislator William Bartlett cited the vital statistics involved. Bartlett stated that each meal would cost an average of $2.38 including transportation to the center. He mentioned that people could leave a donation for the meal, but that the average at the site in operation at Wassaic is 75 cents.

Town Supervisor Frank Perotti voiced opposition to a local site on what he felt to be a lack of need. “I don’t mind taking action for people who need it,” he commented. “I don’t like the idea of the County soliciting people to go on the program.”

Town resident Louis Peck raised the idea of writing a letter to the County office. He contended that if North East didn’t get the federal and county money, then some other community would. Councilman Robert Russin, who also voted against the resolution, took issue with Peck’s reasoning and voiced general disapproval of welfare spending.

Councilman Ed Downey concurred with Peck and urged that the letter be written “It’s good to have Millerton considered as a center for anything,” he commented, adding “I think there is a need and that the money will be used.” Eleanor Singleton and Art Royal voted with Downey to write the letter.

August 16, 2001

Area Keeps its Cool in Heat

MILLERTON — Not since 1995 has this area had to endure such oppressive temperatures as was the case last week. The bank thermometer read 103 degrees at one point and the official high temperature recorded at The Millerton News Aug. 9 was 100 degrees.

Although temperatures finally cooled off after some help from summer showers, last week’s heat called for cold water, shady places and slow movement. The temperature reached triple digits in the village center Aug. 9 and, because of the extreme levels of humidity, the heat was literally sticking to people. But with good sense and caution, most residents were able to “stick” it out.

Gov. George Pataki launched a “Beat the Heat” initiative in order to keep New York residents cool and conserve energy at the same time. “When it gets this hot, we all need to work together to “beat the heat,” read a press release from Mr. Pataki’s office. “Go to a movie, go to the mall, hit the beach. Just don’t go home and turn on the air conditioner.”

The governor encouraged residents to seek air conditioning in public places, rather than using individual units.

In order to conserve energy, the governor closed state offices at 2 p.m. last Thursday and Friday and encouraged officials of major public employee unions to also dismiss their workers early.

Under the governor’s direction, the Department of Environmental Conservation also waived admission fees to state park beaches last Thursday, hoping that New York residents would cool off with a swim, rather than using their air conditioners.

Mr. Pataki said, “As the temperatures continue to soar, I am urging all New Yorkers to take advantage of nature’s air conditioning at any one of our state’s spectacular parks with swimming beaches.

Meanwhile, the state continues to offer a $75 rebate to residents who replace their working air conditioners with an Energy Star unit. So far, roughly 20,000 units have been replaced.

Despite the free admission, Rudd Pond and Lake Taghkanic did not see an increase in visitors. In fact, there were hardly any swimmers at all.

Sharon Hospital had an increase in heat-related illnesses during the high temperatures, according to Dr. Jared Zelman, head of the hospital’s emergency room. “We had not just elderly [patients] and people without air conditioning, but occupational injuries,” Dr. Zelman explained, referring to two chefs who were brought in for severe heat exhaustion and high fevers.

The hospital had a total of five cases related to the heat.

Despite the heat, Central Hudson managed to avoid brownouts and black-outs, having taken preventative measures. “We were pleased with the way things held up,” said Denise VanBuren, vice president of corporate communications. She expressed gratitude to Central Hudson customers who made an effort to conserve energy. “Customers were great in helping us out.”

The only brownout that occurred in Millerton was due to a tree which fell on power lines, affecting roughly 50 residences.

The heat wave was a hot topic of conversation everywhere, including during town meetings. Amenia Supervisor Arlene Iuliano told her colleagues prior to last Thursday’s workshop session, “The thermometer outside my house read 120 degrees this afternoon. But right now, it’s a downright chilly 88.”

Another heat wave is not expected in the near future and temperatures should remain cooler and closer to normal, according to the National Weather Service.

Pie Contest Successful

MILLERTON — The lure of last Saturday’s parade attracted a number of onlookers to Eddie Collins Field for the pie-baking and pie-eating contests, both part of the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the village of Millerton.

The Altar Rosary Society of St. Patrick’s Church of Millerton sponsored both contests.

The winning apple pie was baked by Millerton’s Mary Hoysradt. Her recipe will be shared with executive chef Mike Myers of Simmon’s Way Inn and will be featured on the menu.

Following the baking contest, the 22 pies, baked in nine-inch pie tins, were served up for the pie-eating contest. Contestants attempted to eat the pies in the traditional pie-eating manner with their hands behind them.

Twelve-year-old Courtney Herman of North East, her hair and face smeared with blueberry pie, ate her way into first place.