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.
Leila Hawken
Tiffany Zezula, deputy director of the Pace Land Use Law Center of White Plains, presents early results of a survey of Amenia residents on their desires for local parks and recreation during a forum at Webutuck High School on Saturday, June 13. Residents were invited to hear a preliminary report on the ongoing study sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Commission to assist with charting the future of recreation and parks in Amenia.
AMENIA — Residents would like to see more amenities, programming and access at Amenia’s parks and recreational sites, according to preliminary results from a town recreation survey presented Saturday, June 13.
A status report was presented at the Webutuck High School auditorium on Saturday, June 13, by Engaging Amenia planning consultants from Pace Land Use Law Center of White Plains.
Reviewing highlights from the survey, Tiffany Zezula, deputy director of the Pace program, said 116 residents — about 3% of Amenia’s population — have completed the questionnaire to date. Full-time residents accounted for 88% of respondents, while 32% were age 65 or older.
Among respondents, 77% reported traveling to one of the town’s 12 recreational sites by car.
The most frequently visited destination was the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, prompting discussion about the need for additional parking. Residents also said that they would like to see the addition of benches along the rail trail.
Respondents also said they would also favor community gardens, more picnic areas, and provision for waterway access and even swimming throughout the area.
There are low-cost programs that might be easily implemented, such as birdwatching groups, historic walking tours, or walking/hiking clubs, Zezula said.
“This is going to facilitate the conversation,” said town councilmember Nicole Ahearn about the survey’s outcomes.
Zezula said the survey is intended to complement work already underway by the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee as it evaluates the future of parks and recreation in Amenia.
Residents can still participate in the survey through June 30. Judy Moran, chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, has arranged a display at the Amenia Library where residents can review planning materials and submit comments.
A final report is expected in July, Zezula said.
Preliminary results of the study can be viewed at www.engagingamenia.com.
Nathan Miller
MILLERTON — Plans for new apartments on South Center Street are facing uncertainty over parking regulations in the Village of Millerton.
The buildings have a total of four apartments located at 26-32 South Center St, though only three have been occupied in recent years. Owner Alex Magalhaes described plans to renovate the interior of the building and utilize the empty unit.
Planning Board members raised a concern over available parking. They noted that village code requires 1.5 off-street spaces per residential unit. The property currently has no off-street parking and owner Magalhaes said there’s no room to install additional parking.
Magalhaes explained that apartment residents would use the municipal parking lot across South Center Street.
“When we first purchased, it had in the lease that we can use the parking,” Magalhaes said.
Dutchess County owns that lot, prompting questions from Planning Board members about whether that’s permissible and under whose authority.
Board Chair Andrew Rebillard, along with board member Kevin Webb, doubted the Planning Board had the authority to permit parking in that lot.
“I would propose that we get guidance from counsel,” Webb said. “To see what our ability is here.”
Webb asked if the property could fit additional off-street spaces. Magalhaes said the property has space for a small driveway in the northwest corner, but there was not any additional space for cars.
Despite the uncertainty, board members voted to set a public hearing on the plans for their next meeting on Wednesday, July 8. That meeting is expected to happen barring news from the county that the lot can’t be used for residential parking.
“It doesn’t sound like it’s something that’s going to stop this project,” Rebillard said. “Rather just make it take longer.”
Nathan Miller
MILLERTON — The North East/Millerton Climate Smart Task Force is seeking participants for a community-wide flea market set to coincide with Millerton’s 175th celebration.
The community-wide flea market will run throughout Millerton, with Eddie Collins Memorial Park serving as a central hub. Spaces at the park are available or sellers can run a sale at their own homes.
The market effort is set to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week-long celebration’s first day on Saturday, July 11.
Task force member Kathy Chow described the flea market as an opportunity to rehome old possessions without sending them to a landfill, reducing waste and building a sense of community. She said the group is in need of interested sellers.
“The Climate Smart purpose for doing this is to help people repurpose stuff that they already have,” Chow said. “To cut down on waste and all the stuff that we throw away, and even the unnecessary storage that we have.”
For a $10 registration fee, sellers that sign up by June 30 either get a space at Eddie Collins Memorial Park to set up a display or a marker on the map of flea market vendors across town.
A third option is to give items away for free. Residents that aren’t interested in running a tag sale at home or a flea market space at the park are encouraged to place free items at the end of their driveways for passersby to take.
More information on the town-wide flea market is available online at villageofmillerton.gov/175th.
“It’s a terrific, feel-good activity,” Chow said. “Everybody loves getting rid of their stuff and finding new homes for it.”

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Graham Corrigan
PINE PLAINS — The Planning Board unanimously approved the environmental review for a proposed storage facility expansion and farm stand at 2818 Church St. during its meeting Wednesday, June 10.
The property, located across from the high school, would expand the neighboring Stissing Storage business. Steve Hobson of HTWO Properties presented updated site plans that include additional storage units at the rear of the lot and a free-standing farm stand near the road.
Since first presenting the project in January, Hobson has made several revisions to the proposal. A row of Green Giant Arborvitae have been planted on the property’s north side to screen the additional storage units. A fence will be replaced along the south side, and a right-of-way for pedestrian traffic to the school has been added from the dead end at Nine Partners Lane.
More parking spaces were also added to Hobson’s plans. The next phase will include the demolition of an existing structure on the property, which will be replaced by storage units. Hobson says pending final approval from the county and a site visit from the New York Department of Transportation, he hopes to have the demolition done and new concrete laid before year’s end.
Leila Hawken
Artistic talent is on display at the Fountains’ Summer Art Show, which opened Thursday, June 11. The exhibition features works by several residents and drew a strong turnout of artists and guests, who were welcomed on opening day by art instructor Ellen O’Shea.
MILLBROOK — There is no shortage of talent at The Fountains in Millbrook evidenced by the opening of the Summer Art Show on Thursday, June 11.
Works of several residents are on display in the Gallery for the coming weeks.
Resident Shirley Fernekes is one of the featured artists with several paintings on display, selected to show the breadth of her works over a lifetime. Included are depictions of wildlife, seascapes and New England scenes, reflective of her travels. She recalled beginning in acrylics before switching to her preference for oils and watercolors.
“I’ve always been painting…all my life,” Fernekes explained, having attended Wooster and Silvermine art academies for her studies.
Her work has brought several awards, including recognition by the Connecticut-based Kent Art Association.
“It’s almost like I can’t not do it,” said resident artist Gail Curcio whose father Theodore Wheldon was an accomplished artist, as was her grandfather.
“I’m thrilled with the art classes and Ellen’s encouragement,” Curcio said, speaking of Fountains art instructor Ellen O’Shea who mounted the exhibit.
“The talent is fantastic. Everyone is very interested in learning,” O’Shea said of the show, noting that all are welcome to join in art classes or work on their own. Several works were included that were by six resident artists who are improving with good results. They are Lucy Johnson, Margaret Cornell, Reiko Ramsey, Graham and Sheila Attlesey and Mary Kay Blasi.

Olivia Montoya
DOVER PLAINS — Francis “Butch” Lynehan, 75, a twenty-year resident of Dover Plains, New York, formerly of Sharon, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Vassar Bros. Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Born Aug. 29, 1950, in Sharon, he was the son of the late William W. and Nellie (Kluun) Lynehan.
Butch grew up in Sharon and attended Sharon Center School and Housatonic Valley Regional High School. At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the United States Army and is a Vietnam War Veteran.
After his military service of three years, he was employed at the Kimberly-Clark Corporation and later worked many years for the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation.
Butch was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a member of the Chestnut Ridge Rod & Gun Club in Dover Plains, Millerton Gun Club and the Sharon Fish & Game. He was a longtime member of the V.F.W. Post 5444 in Dover Plains and the Sharon American Legion Post 126. He was a former member of the Sharon Fire Department.
Butch is survived by his devoted wife, Nancy (Stark), his former wife, Rosemarie (Marchi) Larosa and their two sons, Michael and Stephen. He was the proud grandfather of three grandsons, Mason, Noah and Tucker. He is also survived by his loving sisters, Pat of Sharon, and Yvonne of Chapel Hill, Tennessee, and several cousins and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother William “Billy” Lynehan and his niece Lisa Hoglen.
There will be no calling hours. A private burial will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Hillside Cemetery in Sharon, with Standard Military Honors, followed by a Celebration of Life at the Sharon Fire Department, 36 West Main Street, Sharon. All are invited to attend. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon American Legion Post 126, 15 New Street, Sharon, CT 06069 or Sharon Little League/NWCTSBLL, P.O. Box 569, N. Canaan, CT 06018. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Butch’s honor, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com

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