Local girl model; Area Code 914 split; lightning
From the archives: Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024
From the archives: Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024
‘Local Girl Artist Model’; Marjorie Helen Baldwin daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Baldwin, of Boston Corners, was the artist’s model for the illustrations of “Hired Hostess,” a story appearing in last week’s Liberty Magazine.[sic] Miss Baldwin is a former Millerton High School student.
The illustrations were by Harold Denison, of Boston Corners, one of America’s outstanding illustrators and etchers. Mr. Denison illustrates a number of stories for Liberty and other periodicals, and frequently employs residents of his community as models.
‘Radio Star Dedicates Song to Betty Strong’; Clayton McMichen, leader of the Georgia Wildcats, popular radio stars who recently appeared at the Paramount Theatre here, sang a special number dedicated to little Betty Jane Strong way down in Millerton during his broadcast from WGY at 10 o’clock Monday morning.
‘Absentee Voters Cast 219 Ballots, President And Mrs. Roosevelt Head List; 67 Applications Rejected’; President and Mrs. Roosevelt headed the list of 2019 Dutchess County residents who voted by absentee ballot Tuesday. In addition, several other absentee ballots were mailed to members of the President’s staff by Commissioners of Election William E. Leak and John A Flynn. There were absentee voters in practically every district in the country with the third district in the Town of Hyde Park, President Roosevelt’s home district, leading the list with a total of sixteen. Fifteen absentee ballots were cast in the third district of the town of Amenia, and the second district in the town of Milan was third with eleven absentee voters.
‘Webutuck Teachers Press for Rapid Settlement’; Close to 80 teachers, their families and friends turned out en masse Tuesday evening at the monthly meeting of the Webutuck Board of Education. The teachers called for the School Board to sit down with the Webutuck Teachers Association (WTA) to reach a contract settlement.
The demonstrators represented the WTA, and were supported by several members of the Pine Plains Teachers Association.
The teachers’ attendance at the Board meeting is yet another move by the WTA in pressing for a speedy contract settlement.
‘Train Return Date Uncertain Says DOT’; Lettie Carson of Millerton, president of the Harlem Valley Transportation Association (HVTA),said this week she is “very pleased” with passage of the $250-million rail bond issue by New York State voters in last week’s general elections.
State officials however, would not say this week exactly when passenger service would be restored to Millerton.
‘Bridge Delays Cause Headaches’; MILLERTON: For months, John and Jan Gilmor, who own and operate Gilmor Glassworks, have had to cope with lost business due to construction of the bridge over the Webatuck Creek on Route 44 in the village. Now they are fighting back, and it appears they are getting results.
“Our business has been directly affected,” said Jan Gilmor, whose business specializes in hand-blown glass. John Gilmor estimated the lost parking could have cost his business upwards of $40,000.
“We thought it would be over in July,” he said. “Work started May 15, but it was supposed to start May 1. They had a skeleton crew here the whole time. There was no overtime and no work on weekends. And for three weeks in August, nothing happened.”
Mr. Gilmor’s frustration continued even after repeated calls to Sen. Vincent Leibell’s office. According to Jan Gilmor, retail business had been growing at a 30-per-cent clip annually until the bridge project slowed things down.
According to Purdy Halstead, the assistant to the regional director of the DOT in Poughkeepsie, the bridge work is in its last phase. New beams are ready to be placed under the bridge’s superstructure. Concrete is being formed to allow beams to be placed on the abutment. New sidewalks are being constructed.
“We expect it will be completed by the end of the month,” he said.
The 1907 bridge is being renovated for the first time in its history. The 20-foot span will have a see-through parapet to observe the creek below. Once the work is done, it should last at least 50 years, according to Mr. Halstead.
‘Area Code 914 to Split, Is 518 Next?’; While Dutchess County residents learned last month that area code 914 will soon be split in two, the fate of neighboring 518 has remained largely a mystery — until now, that is.
“Area code 518 is scheduled to be exhausted by the third quarter of 2000,” said Rebecca Barnhart, a spokeswoman for the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA), which assigns area codes.
As was the case with 914, the proliferation of fax machines, pagers, wireless phones and computer data lines has proliferated to the point where many area codes nationwide have needed what NANPA and other agencies call “relief.”
With the exception of Pine Plains, Millerton and North East, all of Dutchess County currently falls within 914. The sprawling 518 area code stretches from northeastern Dutchess, westward to the Rome/Utica area and northward the Adirondacks, Plattsburg and the Canadian border.
Faced with the choice of a geographic split of 518 into 2 area codes and the so-called “overlay” method, the state Public Service Commission (PSC) chose the former.
The new code, which is not expected to take effect for several months, has not yet been determined. Because it contains more numbers, Westchester County is expected to retain the 914 code, while Ulster, Orange, Rockland and Dutchess must change.
‘Associated Lightning Rod Strikes a Move to Route 22’; NORTH EAST: With business booming, Associated Lightning Rod Company is moving its headquarters from Cooper Road to a convenient location on Route 22, just north of Flood’s Sanitation and across the street from the village highway garage.
Passers-by can plainly see the construction of wood framing for the new building as it is being erected. Siding will be installed next week.
Associated Lightning Rod is a family-run business owned by Robert Cooper, his wife Mary, son Robert and daughter Liz Cooper-Wendover, The business specializes in lightning protection for both residential and commercial buildings. The company was formed in 1985.
Protecting valuable electronic equipment and personal belongings is always a good investment, but especially at a time of increasingly powerful weather systems.
Considering the fact that lightning causes more than one-third of all fire losses, the elder Mr. Cooper said in a previous interview that the installation of a protection system is a good investment because it can also save lives.
Lightning is responsible for more deaths and property loss than tornadoes. hurricanes and floods combined.
AMENIA — The first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School went smoothly, with teachers enthusiastically greeting the eager young students disembarking from buses. Excitement was measurable, with only a few tears from parents, but school began anyway.
Ready for her first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School, Liliana Cawley, 7, would soon join her second grade class, but first she posed for a photo to mark the occasion.Photo by Leila Hawken
Demitasse owner Hayden McIntosh Geer said she is excited by the shift to online sales.
MILLERTON — Some might have argued that launching an in-person retail business during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t advisable. But against all odds, Demitasse in Millerton managed not only to build a thriving, mission-based brand in a small storefront on Main Street, it developed a loyal customer base and provided a welcoming space for visitors. Last week, Demitasse announced it is closing-up shop and moving fully online.
“We are excited,” said owner Hayden McIntosh Geer, who opened Demitasse with her husband, Richard, in 2020. “Though we will miss our customers and the camaraderie on Main Street, it feels right and there was no second guessing.”
The building that houses Demitasse and neighboring Candy-O’s is on the market, leaving the future uncertain. Geer said she and Richard will continue supporting their favorite Millerton spots, now with more time to enjoy local businesses and neighbors.
Known for its carefully selected gifts and home goods, Demitasse has received frequent praise for its curation. Yet Geer is quick to deflect. “I didn’t know I was creative until I opened the store,” she joked. “When anyone talks about the curation I just point to the makers. They are the ones who create the beautiful items that hold purpose and intention. That’s what made our place special.”
The decision to open a gift shop was never part of a master plan, Geer said. “We found our way as we went along and it happened very organically.” But from day one, she knew she wanted to support marginalized artists and makers.
Demitasse owner Hayden McIntosh Geer, right, and her husband, Richard, sitting on the bench in front of the Main Street storefront. Photo by Jessica Yurko
For example, Sidai Designs, which makes beaded jewelry in Africa, provides work for 120 Maasai women and helps support their communities. Maison d’Haiti, which produces handcrafted goods in Haiti, employs nearly 100 women at fair-trade wages, giving them a reliable income through sales in the U.S. and Haiti.
One of the highlights of having a storefront — and a true testament to what she and her husband had created — came when the editor of a major culture and lifestyle magazine told Geer how much she loved shopping at Demitasse for its quality and mission-driven products.
“I could have quit right there,” Geer joked, reflecting on the highs and lows of the last five years.
Just as thoughtfully as the products were curated, every element of the store reflected care and craftsmanship. Hayden and Richard incorporated their tastes and skills into every nook and cranny, including shelving made from reclaimed wood from their home. Some of those shelves now have a new life at The Beehive, a boutique in Mount Kisco, New York.
Today, their digital shelves continue to highlight a diverse range of makers, with biographical details available on each product listing. The website carries the same aesthetic found in-store, maintaining the mission to support LGBTQ+ makers, environmentally friendly products, and Black- and women-owned businesses.
Looking ahead, Geer says, “We want people to know that if they enjoyed shopping in our store, they’ll love our website.” Shoppers can still expect beautiful gift wrapping and flexible exchange policies, and Geer is offering personal deliveries within driving distance on a limited basis.
Above all, Geer says her heart is full of gratitude for her customers. “They came in, shared life stories and became friends. We love Millerton, and I hope people will remain in touch.”
Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik shows off the new gear. Brand new police cruisers arrived last week.
MILLERTON — The Millerton Police Department has received two new patrol cars to replace vehicles destroyed in the February 2025 fire at the Village Water and Highway Department.
The new Ford Interceptors are custom-built for law enforcement. “They’re more rugged than a Ford Explorer,” said Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik, noting the all-wheel drive, heavy-duty suspension and larger tires and engine. “They call it the ‘Police Package.’”
Olenik worked with The Cruiser’s Division in Mamaroneck, New York, to design the vehicles.
“We really want to thank the Pine Plains Police Department for their tremendous support,” Olenik said. After the fire, “they were the first ones to come forward and offer help.”
The new police cruisers are outfitted with lights with automatically adjusting brightness to best perform in ambient conditions.Photo by Aly Morrissey
Since February, Millerton officers have been borrowing a patrol car from Pine Plains. With the new vehicles now in service, Olenik said he plans to thank Pine Plains officers by treating them to dinner at Four Brothers in Amenia and having their car detailed
Erin Rollins of Millbrook in the Fashion Feed booth, open year round, at the Millbrook Antiques Mall. All proceeds from Fashion Feeds go to the Food of Life Pantry.
MILLBROOK – In a time when optimism and unity can feel elusive, sometimes a walk down Franklin Avenue is enough to feed the soul. With Millbrook Community Day just around the corner, one highlight will be Fashion Feeds, a community effort led by Millbrook native Erin Rollins, whose mission is to fight local hunger.
The concept is simple. People donate new or gently used designer fashion, which is sold at affordable prices, and all proceeds benefit The Food of Life/Comida de Vida Pantry at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia.
Since hosting her first charitable clothing swap 12 years ago, Rollins has raised nearly $100,000 for the pantry. She expects to hit six figures this month.
“Food insecurity is a real issue, and when I’m able to walk into the church and hand over money to a need that is so significant, it fills my cup,” Rollins said.
Fashion Feeds plays a vital role in sustaining the pantry, which serves 653 individuals from 156 households each week. Rev. AJ Stack, priest-in-charge at St. Thomas Episcopal Church and executive director of the Food of Life Pantry, said Fashion Feeds has become one of the pantry’s most successful fundraisers. “With the rising costs of food, housing, healthcare, and transportation, food pantries have become essential for families’ survival,” Stack said.
Fashion Feeds clothing is available year-round at the Millbrook Antiques Mall, but the annual pop-up will take place during Community Day. This year’s sale runs Sept. 18-20, featuring racks of one-of-a-kind finds on the patio and inside Corcoran Country Living from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
New this year is a $25 pre-sale Sip & Shop, which includes a glass of prosecco or sparkling water and early access before doors officially open Friday morning.
From J.Crew to Giorgio Armani, shoppers can find designer clothing and accessories at unbeatable prices — from $5 to the thousands — with every dollar going to local families.
An interior designer by trade, Rollins backs up her artistic eye with research to ensure garments and accessories are priced to sell, while also respecting the value of each donation.
“It’s time-consuming,” Rollins said. “But you want to make sure you’re valuing everything that’s donated to you.”
After becoming empty nesters in 2013 and selling their Millbrook landscaping and garden center business, Rollins and her husband were ready to start a new chapter. Rollins found inspiration after attending a clothing swap in Rhinebeck.
“On the way home, I thought, ‘I can do that,’ so I planned my own event that fall and had my friends donate their clothes,” she recalled, laughing about how she made soup for more than 30 women.
While soup is no longer served, the warmth of community continues to fuel the mission.
Millbrook Antiques Mall donates a year-round booth to Fashion Feeds, allowing all profits to go directly to the pantry. When donations outgrew Rollins’ basement, Global Self Storage offered a free unit to hold garment racks — donated by J.McLaughlin — and boxes of designer items. Corcoran Country Living also provides space during Community Day for the annual sale.
“It’s a true community effort in support of our neighbors,” Rollins said.
Beyond feeding families in eastern Dutchess County, Fashion Feeds also aims to address climate change and reduce pollution by promoting secondhand shopping. “Fast fashion is the second biggest polluter in the world, and by donating or purchasing vintage clothing, we’re preventing items from entering the waste stream,” Rollins said.
Though she has stitched Fashion Feeds from the ground up, Rollins prefers to stay out of the spotlight. Lakeville resident Susan Simmons discovered Fashion Feeds last year and was inspired by the mission. She now helps amplify Rollins’ work.
“She is an unsung hero because she does it all herself,” Simmons said, who is helping organize the Thursday Sip & Shop event. “It’s incredible what she quietly does for members of our community.”
Shoppers can support the cause by purchasing items from Fashion Feeds. Accepted payment methods are cash, check or credit card through Zeffy, a platform designed for charitable organizations.